Richard Fleming

Stories dramatically improve learning and retention. My job as a film director and story designer at Sage Media is to determine a storyline that will engage adult learners who must go through soft-skills training. To do that, I first have to analyze the culture of my clients and their leaners to find what will emotionally resonate with them. Employees need to feel something if they're going to change behavior. I then build fictional but relatable characters, write the scripts, and direct actors on set to make sure all the pieces come together. I also work on the look and feel of the finished film in postproduction.

Outside of Sage, my absolute obsession is storytelling - particularly filmmaking. I watch an insane number of films, and study film history extensively. I love all kinds of movies, and will watch anything. I’m particularly drawn to older films in the early 1900s, when people were experimenting with this new art form, as well as foreign movies that play with the expressive language of movies.