Lesson #44: ACTION: "Victorious"- Wilson Portorreal

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Storytelling School with The Moth! As we reach the end of yet another very eventful year, we hope this story will give you the strength to power through. For this month’s blog, we’re taking a look at a story about saving the day.

This week’s Storytelling School story is:

“Victorious” by Wilson Portorreal

• Watch the video:

• Read the transcript of Wilson’s story.

After you’ve watched and read the story, you can do the following activities: 

Talk to each other about Wilson’s story. 

For each post, we’ll highlight a different crafting strategy for how to make your story compelling. For this post, we’ll focus on ACTION. Action in a story can reveal character or demonstrate change. We act on what matters to us most and that can make for a very compelling story. Wilson keeps us on the edge of our seats in this story by throwing us in the action of the scene. In a story like this, with really high stakes, it’s important to describe the events sequentially and in detail so that we’re holding our breath in anticipation of the outcome.

• What do we learn about what matters to Wilson through his actions? 

• What are the techniques Wilson uses to build suspense?

• What parts of this story were you able to really picture while you were listening?

Write or tell your own story.

At The Moth, we believe in celebrating the diversity and commonality of human experience. Often, listening to someone’s story will remind us of a story from our own lives. While you almost definitely have not had Wilson’s exact experience, it still may have reminded you of a story from your life. Get inspired by these prompt questions to tell your own story!

• Tell us about a time you wanted a pet

• Tell us about a time you wanted protection 

• Tell us about a time you asked for something you really wanted 

• Tell us about a time you took on a big responsibility

• Tell us about a time you followed through 

• Tell us about a time you had too much trust

• Tell us about a time you took a risk

• Tell us about a time you felt like a superhero

• Tell us about a time you were on a mission

• Tell us about a time you were cheered on by a stranger

• Tell us about a time you felt victorious 

Activities

• Do you have a pet you love? Does it have an online presence? If it doesn't, what image or video might you create to showcase how awesome it is? If it’s already insta-famous, what’s something new you could create to add to its repertoire? 

• What’s one way that you could be a real life superhero, like Wilson saving Hershey? We may not always have a high speed chase to participate in, but sometimes even the smallest gestures can save the day for someone.

Share this post with a friend!

And check back the second Tuesday of next month for another story.

Storyteller bio

Wilson Portorreal participated in the Moth High School Program as a student at the Bronx Leadership Academy and was the winner of NYC spring 2014 High School Grandslam. He's now a college graduate from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

IG handle: Will_TNO

 

The Moth Education Program works with young people and educators to build community through storytelling workshops, performances and innovative resources. To learn more, visit themoth.org/education

The Moth Education Program is made possible by generous support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust, the Kate Spade New York Foundation, and Alice Gottesman, and The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation.

Additional program support is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the New York State Council on the Arts, ConEdison, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.