Canadian documentarian, Sandy Chronopoulos, on emotion in storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
For Toronto documentary filmmaker and television producer Sandy Chronopoulos, emotion makes a great story – when you can feel the story in your gut.
The director of House of Z, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, follows the life and career of designer Zac Posen, and pulled back the curtain on one of fashion’s biggest rise and fall (and rise again) stories.
Fashion and lifestyle issues are at the forefront of her career, as Chronopoulos is supervising producer of lifestyle and entertainment programming at Rogers Media. Her 2012 TV documentary, ‘Project Runway Spotlight: Marchesa,’ starring Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, and Anna Wintour, and produced by The Weinstein Company and Rogers Media, was recognized by the New York Festivals for best direction.
As a storyteller, Chronopoulos says you need to feel a story to be able to relate to it, and the best documentaries have an exciting narrative style. Relating to the character – whether that’s hate or love – is key to storytelling success.
The best stories she’s ever heard are the documentary films The Summit and Citizenfour. The Summit, because it was told like a thriller and kept her riveted; Citizenfour because of its “palpable” drama, and the way director Laura Poitras made viewers feel like they were in the room with Edward Snowden.
Two stories Chronopoulos would love to tell are those of designers Alexander McQueen and John Galliano for the “glamor and the excess,” though she says she has ideas for non-fashion stories as well.
What's the Story? is sponsored by Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), the first global network for branded product integration in the entertainment industry, across all media, including the influencer space.
Filmed at Tribeca Film Festival
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Other episodes in the series
Episode 1
Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles, on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 2
Hip-hop icon Warren G and director Karam Gill on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 3
Glenn Gainor, Sony Pictures Screen Gems exec on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 4
Documentarian Cheryl Dunye on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 5
Sony Pictures Screen Gems exec, Glenn Gainor, on successful brand integration in film
After 25 years in the entertainment business, Glenn Gainor, head of physical production at Sony Pictures Screen Gems, knows plenty about great films and stories. He also knows what it takes to create successful integration for brands — and points to the seminal ET/Reese's Pieces hookup as the gold standard of integration.
Episode 6
Prop master Scott Bauer on how brands can drive a story
As a story unfolds in film and TV, there are plenty of those who help craft the work. Though writers, producers, directors and actors get the spotlight much of the time, the rest of crew plays invaluable roles in making it all come to life.
Episode 7
Sir John Hegarty on the best brand story he’s told
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 8
Brand storyteller and film producer Tim Perell on great storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 9
Amir Bar-Lev, Long Strange Trip director, on passion in storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 10
PopSugar's co-founder, Lisa Sugar, shares what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.