Sharing our stories, our way
Tagalikha workshops are back! This July, writer and filmmaker Chloe Samillano collaborated with the Tagalikha team on an exciting topic: Challenging Norms in Storytelling. On Sunday night, she challenged the attendees to question the traditional norms of storytelling that they’ve learned to accept. With a professional background in film and cinema, Chloe discussed different narrative patterns, inspired by Jane Alison (Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative) that helped the audience re-visualize their story structures. Instead of the traditional bell curve, could your story be inspired by the shape of a wave or a spiral? Chloe expanded on patterns we could use that allow us to better represent our stories and be heard the way we actually want to, when the three-act-structure doesn’t get you there.
Alternative narrative patterns, from Jane Alison (2019)
Chloe started the workshop asking what TV shows the attendees loved. This simple question illustrated the diverse tastes and interests in the room. She then shared about the roots of her passion in film and how TV became her escape from dealing with being an immigrant and all the stress of school. “Growing up I was the smart, quiet Asian kid who studied all the time and got straight A’s... All the stories in TV and film helped me imagine different lives, different worlds, and really was the seed of me being a storyteller as a career path.”
A highlight of Chloe’s talk was her analytical breakdown of one of her favorite shows, “I May Destroy You”. This show starred and was created by Michaela Cole, and has gone on to win many industry awards. Chloe shared how the way the series was filmed and edited was a powerful way to depict trauma and healing. This show, she explains, was a game changer for the industry, even more so with the narrative being controlled by a Black woman - a storyteller not usually seen in western media. As Filipinxs, we can draw on the power of storytellers like Michaela to tell our own stories with the same bravery.
During the workshop’s creative reflection section, the audience shared their own insights on what Chloe shared. Many shared their excitement to try new patterns of storytelling with their current projects. Moira T shared how she wants to tell more joyful stories, because she felt those experiences were foreign to her before. “You don’t really hear about the boring or less traumatic parts of being an immigrant, and I feel that there needs to be space to be able to share the laughter you’ve had in your life just as much as the struggles”.
Chloe agreed, and told attendees that their own narrative logic is the guide they can use. It’s up to you to know the stories you want to tell. How you decide to tell it is also up to you. She concluded by telling everyone that “it’s okay to show joy. Show joy, actually. Show how rich our lives are despite everything else”.
Chloe’s suggested guide to reshaping our narratives in our image
