What Hollywood Teaches Us: 7 Ways to Become a Speaking Star

To become a better speaker, consider going to the movies.Learn from Hollywood

That is the premise of my popular presentation, How to Add Hollywood to Your Presentations. Think about it. If you had unlimited resources to design the keynote that would make you the most in-demand professional in your industry, where would you go for the best writers, directors, and production talent?

Hollywood.

In Hollywood, hundreds of creative professionals collaborate to produce one unforgettable movie. Most of us cannot hire that dream team; however, we can borrow their techniques. Here are seven proven Hollywood strategies you can use to make your presentations more compelling, more memorable, and more persuasive.

  1. Open with a Flavor Scene

In screenwriting, if the first three pages of a script do not grab attention, producers never read the rest. The same applies to your presentations. The first 30 seconds either win or lose your audience.

Open with what David Freeman calls the “flavor scene.” It might be a story, an intriguing statistic, or a bold question. The goal is to spark interest immediately and set the stage for what follows.

  1. Use Scene Changes

Every great film has turning points. The hero decides, the stakes rise, challenges multiply, and the audience leans in. The same is true for speeches. Variety is your best weapon against monotony. Change your pace, energy, examples, and visuals. Each new story or point is a scene change that keeps attention alive.

  1. Tell Hollywood-Worthy Stories

Hollywood runs on stories, and so do your presentations. Stories are what your audience remembers and repeats. They give meaning to your data, context to your ideas, and emotional connection to your message.

Like movies, your stories need a beginning, middle, and end. They need tension, dialogue, and a payoff. Most importantly, they must be based on truth and relevant.

  1. Create Captivating Characters

Hollywood does not rely on one hero. A cast of characters brings stories to life. As a speaker, your stage should be populated with people your audience can relate to, such as customers, colleagues, mentors, or family members.

Give them dialogue. Make them likeable. And remember, the best characters are often flawed, because that makes them human and relatable.

  1. Construct Vivid Dialogue

Dialogue is what transforms a story from narration into experience. Instead of telling me what happened, let me hear the exact words exchanged. That immediacy brings authenticity and emotional punch. Dialogue also reveals character, builds tension, and delivers humor.

  1. Provide a Lesson Learned

Sam Goldwyn once said, “If I want to send a message, I’ll use a telegram.” He was right that stories must entertain, and the best films—and the best speeches—also deliver a clear lesson. Without a takeaway, even the most dramatic story is just entertainment. With one, it becomes transformational.

  1. Collaborate for Brilliance

No Hollywood film is created in isolation. Directors, producers, writers, and actors build on one another’s strengths. The same is true for world-class presentations. Rehearse with colleagues. Ask for feedback. Hire a coach. Record yourself and review. As Oscar-winning actor, Sir Michael Caine said, “Rehearsal is the work; performance is the relaxation”.

When designing your next presentation, think like a Hollywood producer. Identify the story you want to tell. Fill it with characters your audience cares about. Add dialogue, suspense, and a clear lesson learned. Rehearse until you can perform with ease.

That is how to shine like a star—on screen, on stage, and in the boardroom.

“Your customized approach before, during, and after has resulted in more and larger sales.”

Scott Hamilton, Vice President of Sales, Distech Controls

“Your ability to hold an audience in the palm of your hand with a story is incredible.”

Michelle Kabele, Channel Marketing, Zebra Technologies

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Why Your Audience Connection Determines Your Presentation Success

When preparing for a presentation, most speakers focus on their content and slides.

That’s important—but it’s not enough. The real question you must ask yourself is: Who is my audience, and why should they care?

Your content may be brilliant, but your impact depends on the relationship you build with your listeners. Do they feel you understand them? Do they trust that your ideas are relevant to their world? That connection—both intellectual and emotional—is what transforms a presentation from forgettable to persuasive.

Intellectual and Emotional Connection

You-Focused Language
You-Focused Language = Connection

There are two ways to connect:

  • Intellectually, through logical arguments, statistics, and well-structured reasoning. Logic makes people think.
  • Emotionally, this is achieved through stories, you-focused language, and authenticity. Emotion makes people act.

The most powerful presentations do both.

Four Ways to Connect Emotionally

  1. Tell Stories. Stories make ideas authentic and memorable. They help your audience see themselves in your message.
  2. Use “You-Focused” Language. Compare these two openings: “I want to talk about our strategy” versus “You will discover three ways this strategy will make your job easier.” Which one would you rather hear?
  3. Be an Audience Advocate. Frame your ideas from their perspective. Employees care more about job security than shareholder value. Shift your language to what matters most to them.
  4. Make Eye Contact. Eye contact builds trust and confidence. In person, hold each person’s gaze for a complete thought. In virtual meetings, treat your webcam like a trusted colleague.

A Real-World Example

A sales manager at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel had just eight minutes to convince a convention committee to award them a $500,000 contract. We crafted this opening together:

“In the next eight minutes, you will decide that the best choice for your association and members is to bring your convention to San Francisco and the Fairmont Hotel.”

Notice the five uses of “you” or “your” and only one mention of the hotel. That balance builds an instant emotional connection. He then delivered logical reasons to support the decision and closed with a powerful emotional vision of attendees fondly remembering San Francisco years later. The committee awarded him the contract.

Connection Requires Effort

Tom Drews is reading Deliver Unforgettable Presentations, and Yoda looks over his shoulder.

Even small gestures count. When I delivered presentations in Taiwan, I learned my opening in Mandarin. Audiences appreciated the effort, even though my interpreter translated the rest. The attempt itself created goodwill and respect.

Remember

Yes, your content is essential. However, if you want to be remembered, repeated, and acted upon, focus on your audience first. When you make them the hero of your presentation, you win their attention—and their trust.

“The way you captivate an audience with a story is nothing short of remarkable.” Michelle Kabele, Channel Marketing, Zebra Technologies

“Your tailored approach—before, during, and after our sessions—directly led to bigger wins and more sales.” Scott Hamilton, Vice President of Sales, Distech Controls

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Do You Want to Inspire Action and Commitment? Use More Active Verbs

At an all-day event, my client asked me to speak briefly to promote my afternoon session.

I said, “I know your morning is full, just give me three minutes.” I only took two and a half.

I began with an amusing story about a request for an interview, which made the point that your message must be of interest to your audience. Then I continued,

“This morning, you enjoyed your executives’ presentations because they acknowledged your contributions, celebrated your success, revealed fascinating industry statistics, previewed your company’s future, and confirmed that your executives are in harmony.”

Notice the effectiveness of those short phrases, each driven by a strong verb. They grab attention, paint pictures, and move ideas forward.

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Are You Missing Out on a Great Way to Improve Your Presentations?

From Good to World-Class: How to Improve Your Presentations

Socrates said, “Know thyself.”

I say, “Put your words under the magnifying glass.”

If you want to improve all of your presentations, here’s a simple process that works for seasoned professionals as well as ambitious beginners.

Step 1: Watch Yourself Like a Coach

Take a video of one of your best presentations and sit down to watch it—not as the speaker, but rather as a high-priced speech coach.

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8 Smart Steps to Set Yourself Up for Speaking Success

Even the most seasoned presenters know: preparation off stage sets you up for success on stage. Here are eight practical and frequently overlooked steps that will help you feel confident, in control, and ready to make your message memorable.

  1. Check in early.

Arrive with plenty of time to get familiar with the space. Notice the setup:

  • Is there a platform or stage?
  • Where will you stand when you’re introduced?
  • How many steps will you take to reach the lectern or center stage?

Pay attention to lighting and sound. Is the spotlight on you—not the banner, lectern, or ceiling? Remember, when the lights go down and the volume goes up, audiences often think they can’t hear clearly.

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The Power of Structure: Theater Meets Speaking

Recently, I had the joy of seeing the magnificent show A Beautiful Noise at The Smith Center in Las Vegas.

This is, of course, the life story of Neil Diamond. Having seen him perform live before, I knew to expect magic, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Part of the show’s brilliance is in its structure. It opens with Neil as he is now, in conversation with his therapist, looking back on his life through the lens of his songs. We are drawn into his world, from humble beginnings and self-doubt to becoming a worldwide megastar with more popularity than Elvis. Along the way, we see the highs and lows, the struggles, the joy, and the unwavering devotion to the music that gave meaning to his life and happiness to his audiences.

By the final curtain, the audience is on its feet, carried away on a wave of music and emotion.

And here’s the connection that struck me: the show’s structure is precisely the type of framework I help my clients use to craft their speeches when they share their own life experiences.

The Power of Structure: Theater Meets Speaking

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Do You Want to Build Emotional Connection with Your Audience? This is How

Eye Contact: The Silent Superpower in Presentations

Suppose you want to connect with your audience on an emotional level. In that case, whether it’s one decision-maker, a boardroom full of executives, or a conference ballroom of hundreds, your eyes are one of your most powerful tools. In Deliver Unforgettable Presentations, we emphasize that eye contact is not just about looking—it’s about connecting. Here’s how to maximize its impact.

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Avoid These Costly Sales Presentation Mistakes

Here are 12 Proven Fripp Suggestions

Sales professionals carry a unique responsibility. Every time they speak, they represent themselves, their team, and their entire organization. Whether they succeed or fail can come down to one factor—how well they present their message.

Even the most experienced sales professionals can benefit from expert coaching. Why? Because clear messaging, emotional connection, and persuasive structure are not optional—they are essential. These are the top 12 mistakes I see in the first coaching sessions with my clients. By the time we’re done, they know how to avoid them and win more business.

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Do You Agree Many Political Speech Openings Miss Opportunities?

You know how often I speak and write about the critical importance of a strong speech opening.

The first words your audience hears don’t just begin your message; they set the tone, command attention, and signal your confidence. In short, the opening arouses interest in the subject and the speaker.

This is true whether you’re addressing a conference, leading a sales meeting, or standing on the world stage in a political arena.

Open your presentation with impact

The Political Trap: Protocol Over Power

Yes, political speeches come with their own rules and expectations. I understand that protocol often requires recognizing dignitaries, thanking the host, and following formalities. After all, the political stage is also a diplomatic one.

However, I believe this: You can honor protocol and still open with power.

Some of the most memorable lines in political speeches; those that move minds, shape history, or inspire action, are too often buried halfway through the script. By the time the speaker gets to them, attention has already wandered.

Let’s not waste the audience’s freshest attention span on “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Let’s use it to make an impression that sticks.

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The Actor’s Secret That Makes Great Speakers Unforgettable

The Secret to Impactful Speaking and Performing

“What an actor has to do is be personal in public,” said the legendary acting teacher, Lee Strasberg. That phrase resonates deeply with anyone who has stood on a stage or in front of a camera—or who leads a team, pitches an idea, or delivers a keynote.

Strasberg wasn’t just teaching actors to “perform”; he was urging them to connect with their audience. His method encouraged authenticity, vulnerability, and presence. The same is true for speakers. Being in front of an audience makes you larger than life. That’s the nature of the stage. But size without sincerity is hollow. You must be both commanding and personal. That’s where the magic happens.

Let’s take this idea from theory to the screen…

Modern Movie Examples: When Actors Are Personal in Public

  1. A Star Is Born (Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga)

Watch Ally’s first solo performance. She’s terrified. She doesn’t perform at the audience—she invites them in. That vulnerability is what makes the moment unforgettable. It’s personal. It’s public. It’s powerful.

  1. King Richard (Will Smith)

Smith plays Richard Williams, the intense, flawed, loving father of Venus and Serena. His speeches to his daughters and their coaches aren’t textbook performances—they’re emotionally charged, deeply personal declarations. Audiences felt it. So did the Academy.

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