Weta Workshop

For fans of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (and much more movies) they are also known as the Wizards of Weta. They know how to make dreams come to life.

Founded over 25 years ago by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger, started in their own flat. By now they are world famous for what they do best, creating dreams.

I've had the pleasure of meeting people from Weta at conventions. And they all talk with the same passion, enthousiasm and love for their work.
And I have been able to visit the Weta Store and the Window on the Workshop. To really be where the magic happens. To see people from Weta create new figurines. 

This short movie "A Single Dream" shows what I think is Weta: love and craftsmenship.

Weta as a company tells a very strong story. Which they show in everything they do. From contact with their fans online, in the store or at conventions, to what they make and how they let the world know they are so very proud of what they do. I'm a big fan!

I see fire

Hobbit week at Story time

Ed Sheeran wrote the theme song for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smoke after seeing the movie. He uses the quote Richard Armitage (Thorin) said to be his favourite of the entire movie: "If this is to end in fire, than we shall all burn together." 

I have not yet seen the movie, but from this song there will be a very sad ending, with lots of fire and probably a lot of damage (I saw a city burning). And all from the perspective of the dwarves. Since he sings about my brothers and Durin's folk.

Take a listen (or a few more, that's okay, I have him on repeat...)

And I will let you know later, when I have seen the movie, if I think the song fits the movie. Or you may tell me, what do you think?

Traveling through images

Murad Osman is a photographer. 
His girlfriend is a model. 
Together they travel the world.

And he takes pictures of her leading him by the hand on their travels.

Below a few of his images.

But go to his website, so see how he tells their story of world travel.

Have you heard about ....

Rumor or gossip; it sounds so negative. But when you refrase it to "rumor around the brand" or "word of mouth" it all of a sudden sounds much more like something you can use to spread a message.

People love to talk about things they think others don't know about. It can be about a person, but also about upcoming situations or changes.

There is even a Basic Law of Rumor:

R~I x A x 1/C

And this codes back to:

Rumor is a function of Importance x Ambiguity x 1/Critical Sense

And now in understandable English:

When there is an important subject in a situation where the audience doesn't have much clearity on the subject, and if the audience isn't very critical about the resources they use for the information on the subject, there is a very large chance rumor will spread.

Just think about it. You think a co-worker is pregnant (important subject), but she doesn't tell (no clearity) and you ask a co-worker if he thinks she is pregnant (not a very reliable source) and you believe him if he confirms, you have a big rumor on your hands your co-worker is pregnant. Now, that is a nasty rumor.

But if you have a business and you want to introduce a new product. You just let slip somewhere, there might be something happening soon. Somebody hears this, doesn't have much information to go along, but he or she does talk about it with a friend. Who talks about it with a friend. Who talks about it with a friend. You have a rumor happening. And free publicity for your product launch.

Storytelling with a different twist.

Goodbye sweet storyteller

Today the world lost one of its great storytellers.

Goodbye mr. Mandela.
May your spirit dance through the heavens and your story be told on for generations to come.

Because, he had a story to tell.

What I posted earlier this day. Important stories are the ones that matter, the ones that stay in your mind.

Mr. Mandela's story was on that mattered. To stop discrimination, to stop Apartheid (that one dradded Dutch word the entire world knows). And it stays in your mind. Just think about it, being imprisoned under the worst conditions, just because you stand up for what you believe.

Besides the importance of the story, he also was able to tell his story. He had a good voice to tell his story; he danced his story; his fist up in the air; and of course his smile with that twinkle in his eye.

Please keep spreading his story, it is one that matters!

The tales that really mattered

or the ones that stay in the mind."

Some people reading this line will recognize it immediately. It is from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Samwise Gamgee is talking to Frodo when they struggle on their path in Mordor.

They are talking about the important stories. How people in those stories had chances to change their paths, back out so they wouldn't get into trouble. Being in a situation like Sam and Frodo at that moment. But they didn't, they kept on going. Making it in the end a beautiful story. A story to be told: "Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring!" And they"ll say: "Yes, that's one of my favourite stories."

Lord of the Rings has become one of those famous stories. Still being told after almost 60 years. Read by millions of people. And turned into three billions earning movies. It is one of the first fantasy novels recognized as literature. Most fantasy books afterwards have their roots in The Lord of the Rings.

But all stories can learn from what Sam is saying. Make your story so that it really matters to your readers. Or make sure it stays in the mind of your readers. With those ingredients you have a good story to tell.

Sinterklaas

Today, December 5th, is a very important day for Dutch children. 

Because today we celebrate Sinterklaas. 

This Saint comes each year to The Netherlands. On his ship, all the way from Spain. Bringing with him gifts for the little children. Assisted by his loyal helper Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).

The story around Sinterklaas dates back from a very, very long time ago. First he came in the form of Wodan, one of the old Northern European Gods. Collecting the offerings from the people and bringing them new seeds for next years harvest.

Later the Catholic church gave Saint Nicolas, protector of children and sailors, the role of the bringer of gifts in the cold December month.

Nowadays Sinterklaas arrives half November and from that day children are allowed to put out their shoe during the nights. Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet come around to bring some sweets and maybe a small present. In return they love to receive letters, drawings and maybe something for Amerigo, Sinterklaas' loyal horse.

And on December 5th they bring around the big gifts. For the adults in the evening, so they can have fun unwrapping, reading poems and teasing eachother a bit. For the kids, a big pile of gifts awaits them December 6th in the morning.

Hmmm, it just came to my mind
Writing about a story this kind
I should write in rhyme
That belongs to this time.

So on this day fair
A story to share
A tale for you
To give to friend or two

And now, off to unwrapping gifts. Lets see what Sinterklaas has brought me.
And do tell me, what did you get?