If you want storytelling that’s a feast for your eyes as well as your ears, check out PechaKucha!
PechaKucha (“chit-chat” in Japanese) is pronounced something like “p’chak’cha,” and it’s graphic storytelling. Storytellers create a slideshow which runs on auto while they’re telling their 6-minute-and-40-second-long story, but—here’s the scary part—the slideshow has exactly 20 frames which auto-advance every 20 seconds. PechaKucha storytellers must carefully time their words to match the frames.
Recently, 14 people told PechaKucha in a hybrid show originating in Bridgeport, CT, and the time went by like lightning! Some people used their own fine photography or charming illustrations for their 20 slides; others focused on wordcraft and paid less attention to their visuals. It didn’t matter—there was something wonderful from every speaker.
The hands-down, knock-‘em-dead, consummate PechaKucha champ is our own Miyo Yamauchi. Oh, StoryMasters, do please watch her video: https://www.pechakucha.com/presentations/how-to-poison-your-roommate. Note the enchanting images, the laugh-out-loud writing, and the impeccably timed delivery as each new slide hits *bang!* on a keyword or punchline.
“Oh, I was nervous,” Miyo told me afterwards. “Missing a few seconds would’ve ruined the jokes, so yes, I practiced a lot.” That’s our Miyo!
“Where did your visuals come from?” I asked her. “Most are from photo stock sites like pixabay.com, unsplash.com, and shutterstock.com,” she said. ”And I crafted some images (like the superhero, conga line, and boric acid) by combining other images.”
StoryMasters, if you’re interested in trying this fascinating storytelling form, let me know! Maybe we might put together a little work group to support each other while we learn how to craft PechaKucha.
What fun this visual storytelling form could bring to the Storytelling Café!
Tina Tomiyama
The live audience was able to see Miyo telling, together with the images.
