109. Do exercise (page 20) SMALL GROUP IDEAS May want to ask each participant to briefly describe a vivid, non-legal image before starting opening practice to have participants demonstrate to self how well they can communicate images. Have the participant play the role of their client (or appropriate character). The coach then does a direct of the participant. Have participants first just work the opening 30 seconds (The hook). Let everyone do this before doing full opening to develop confidence and work on performance techniques. The participant in monotone or too slow or fast a. do opening in gibberish (a la Sid Caesar) b. Sing opening c. Change the setting. Do opening as if it were over a cup of coffee to a friend in a restaurant. 5. Without Tarzan-witness-by-witness recitation, have the lawyer tell the story. 6. Paint the picture rather than announce the conclusion. “Generality is the enemy of all art.” Stanislavski. 7. God is in the details: not, “they had a good marriage,” but, “for 25 years he woke and brought her coffee.” Joshua Karton. 8. Have participants get out dollar bills. When the lawyer gives them real eye contact, they have to hand over the money. – Jodie English 9. If a participant is having difficulty telling the story with good flow, ask them to assume that what they wish to describe to the jury has been videoed, and then have them pop the video into their brain, and with their mind’s eye watching, tell the jury what they are seeing. – Jodie English 10. Pretend you’re in a bar with a bunch of drunks and talk about your case with the intensity necessary to have the whole bar listening to you 11. In your mind say, “once upon a time,” and then, start your opening, in story form 12. have half the participants get up and simultaneously give the first few minutes of their openings to the rest of the participants - and then switch 13. ask the participant to identify a favorite relative, dramatic or cartoon character and have them do a piece of the opening as that character. Accents and strong personalities fill the space that the fear of not sounding like a lawyer formerly occupied. The dramatic personae can at times free the participant from the paralyzing weight of lawyering and get them to the place where they are communicating as a human, to the humanity of the jury – Jodie English 14 Ask the participant to name her best friend, and then give the opening as if on the phone to that friend - note the change in investment and intensity that typically results 15. fast forward the video of the opening to illustrate redundant mannerisms 16. Red Light/Green Light. When the coach calls out “red light” the participant stops the flow of the story and gives specifics on that subjects. For example – “red light on the car”. The coach then calls out green light for the participant to continue the opening. This exercise can be done with cross and closing as well.
174. " Be proud of yourself when you take the time to help another criminal defense attorney with their problem. Be prouder when another criminal defense attorney takes the time to help you. The sharing of strengths is what distinguishes the criminal defense bar." - Larry Pozner
