A Master Storyteller

Emmy-nominated comedy writer and storyteller Brian Finkelstein shared both stories and the art of storytelling on Tuesday, spinning tales during an evening Circle Talk and working with students in classes and workshops over two days.

 

To Finkelstein, just about everything is storytelling. “Writing scripts is storytelling,” he said. “In every job interview, you have to tell a story.” Even those college essays: stories. 

Self-centeredness may be a lousy trait in a friend, but it’s key to good storytelling, according to Finkelstein. “Make yourself an important character,” he said. “You can talk about other people—but your perception of them.”

The comedy writer, who regularly hosts The Moth and performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, advised Groton storytellers not to wait to hit their high points. “How long did Jurassic Park take to show the dinosaurs?” he wondered aloud. Not long! “Whatever your dinosaurs are, show me your dinosaurs,” he urged. For serious and sad stories, he added, insert some levity: “You have to let people off the hook.” 

Finkelstein described a tough and unforgiving world inside TV comedy writing, where often times a flat, dispassionate “that was funny” was high praise. Not so at Groton: the audience in the Campbell Performing Arts Center laughed readily, appreciating every sarcastic aside and humorous story.