A Cute-Cute Story

How often do we see the Box and guess the rest part, only to either find something great or something really bad.
When you make a Great Title, you make a promise, a promsie that the end will justify the time spent.
The story I am sharing with you today is the story of the "STORY".
It's been long, even with my stint with MICA, in those lonely early mornings,
this Story has taken a large portion of my time.
The story of a Story, is based on the belief that a Good Product tells a Great story.
For instance, let's take Movies as the product today...

And yes, Before we Begin, I know the Title made you click my Link.

A story has three layers as I understand.
The Mystic- which forms the Core,
The Reflections- which forms the Middle Layer,&
The Memorable- which is the Outer Layer.


Kindly click the Image to enlarge on How these three layers of a story are entwinned with each other.


As you can see, the outer layer is all about the Memorable what I prefer to call the Entertaining Layer. This outer layer helps the audience to remember the story, like for example, remember the 6 packs abs of Shahrukh, which Movie was it?
Yeah! it was OSM, or remember the Hairstyle of Aamir Khan with Well Built Body,
Yes Ghajani,
or Remember the Kiss Scene of Forthcoming Hrithik's "Kites".

All these are the Thread attached to the story, the Outer layer which helps us remember the Story. This Outer layer is Thin, but runs long, more the Better.
like, It was Double Role of Shahrukh, Double Role of Deepika, Transformation from Poor to Richi Rich, from Complete lehgaa Choli to Those Cheesy Legs of Deepika, or maximum Film stars in a single Song( Remember- and say "Om shanti Om" ) etc etc. They are many like these.

The Second Middle layer is usually Fatter than the first, but smaller. It is the Reflection layer.These are important moments because even after time passes, these Reflections acts as Trigger to re associate ourselves with the Story.
You know thats why, still 48% of the Market is all about Movies in India.
Zee Cinema gets the Highest GRP ( Gross Rating Point) because once people start watching a Movie they associate so well with it that they watch atleast couple of scenes in continuation. This Middle layer helps the Narrator create a Bridge with the Listener. Hence more and More insights are drawn and used in this Layer..

The Third Layer, is the Core, the Mystic layer, which most of the Story teller Lacks.
Its this layer which generate Emotions within the audience, its this layer which makes the Narrator a Friend and partner rather than just a Story teller.
Take the case of Three Idiots. When it says, "Aggarbattiyaan Rakh ho gayee, God toh saala Mila Nahin..." it is trying to corelate with this Inner Core,and listening this you don't say, your self says, "Yes Man, this is what I did".

But whats Happens is Most of the stories lack this important Layer.
It was Missing in OSM OR Saawariyaan, but was there in 3 idiots.
Without this Layer in a story, you just feel Empty from inside when you watch the movie or interact with the audience.
While its presence, helps you connect with the Self, and you feel Silent.
Thats what the difference this layer creates, its the difference between being Empty and being Silent.

Consider the case of a Product Called FaceBook.
What Facebook Promise is "Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected".
The Story:
Layer 1: Memorable:- It remembers everything, your Older Post.
Layer 2: Reflections:- Quizess and Games, Helps you know yourself.
Layer 3: Mystic:- You never Know whom will you find today, the Cute guy next door, the Hot girl from your Town. You never Know, what that friend will write about you.

So, where is the Catch?

Whenever you try to do Marketing & Branding,
Think of these three aspects of your Story.
If you Miss one, the Whole story becomes a thing not to be talked about and however great your product is, it will never take off............

Now since I promised a Cute Story here it goes,
"There lives a Beautiful Girl, who loved the Guy Next Door, but was always in doubt whether to tell him or not".
So what she did?

She thought let me collect everything He uses.
" She picked those Chocolate Wrappers, those used Pencils.....
She also took his Keyrings without even letting Him Know.
Then after it was long and the enough things were collected ( The MEMORABLE )

She started giving him Cards, of friendship, Roses ( Off course Yellow- they are still friends) and filled his rooms with her Things, The T shirt he wore was given by Her, the Chain around his Neck was gifted by Her, she Gave him money for that Basket Ball bat he wanted for so Long.............( THE REFLECTIONS)

and then when it was a Rainy Evening, and it was getting Cold,
She Kissed him..................Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Thats the Close of Sales Pitch My friend ( The Core- The Soul what I call Mystic)

and then They Lived Happily ever after.

So the Catch...........

By not building your thoughts around these aspects of Story, you are doing just one thing,

Killing your Product Potential...............

and at the End what could become a Most lovable story, it will become...............


You know......................

Cheers Learning.

Thanks for your Time.