The Power of Storytelling:

Social Impact Entertainment

Written By
Robert Rippberger

With Additional Writing By
Spencer Moleda
Read The Foreword

About The Book

Storytelling can be hugely transformative to how we view ourselves, those around us, and our place amidst the world. The Power of Storytelling: Social Impact Entertainment is a look at how entertainment has had a positive and negative impact by looking at specific films and TV shows. Readers will be left with unprecedented insight into how a simple narrative can change everything.

What others say about the book

My job at Lucasfilm had me overseeing every ancillary use made of Star Wars—from toys to books to video games and everything in between. Day after day, I witnessed the truth that Rob Rippberger describes so compellingly in the book you’re about to read.
Howard Roffman
Former Vice President of LucasFilm
The Power of Storytelling is a dynamic advance in the field of scholarship because it pulls together and analyzes many disparate elements that may have existed separately, but were never combined into the cohesive whole that was necessary to capture the magic and importance of the SIE field--not just for storytellers but for society in general.
William Nix Co-Executive Director, SIE Society/CEO, Creative Projects Group
Author and Filmmaker Robert Rippberger takes us through the first 100 years of Film and TV through the lens of social impact in The Power of Story Telling and thoughtfully examines the good, bad, and ugly of some of TV, Radio, and Film's most notable projects. Rippberger shares dozens of powerful campaigns and examples that inspire, entertain, educate - and sometimes caution. The Power of Storytelling is an essential compilation for anyone serious about social impact entertainment and is a must-read for anyone remotely curious about TV and Film's true power to educate and inspire audiences to action. This book should have a permanent place on every executive and producer's bookshelf.
Rebecca Graham Executive Producer, Grandi Storie, Inc. Head of Strategy, SIE Society. Former Vice President, Producers Guild of America

About the Author

Robert Rippberger is an award-winning filmmaker with an impressive slate of films spanning almost over two decades. He has established himself as a trailblazer in the film industry, known for his unique storytelling and broad array of creative and executive experience.

Rippberger is set to direct two upcoming films; the new drama-comedy “A Good Fight” and the creature feature “Monstrosity”. He also recently wrapped production directing the new sci-fi thriller “Renner,” starring Frankie Muniz and Violett Beane.

Rippberger’s current projects include producing the documentary “How to Build a Truth Engine” with Executive Producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, which will be World Premiering at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival. He’s also producing the documentary “The Mouse That Roared” from Academy Award-nominated director Judith Ehrlich.

Rippberger was lead producer on the stop-motion animated film “The Inventor” from “Ratatouille” writer Jim Capobianco, starring Daisy Ridley, Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, and Matt Berry. The film was released theatrically in September ‘23, and is now available On Demand. Rippberger also executive produced the drama “Our Son” starring Luke Evans and Billy Porter, which had its World Premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, was picked up by Vertical Entertainment and released in theaters December 2023.

Previously, he directed and produced the horror film “Those Who Walk Away” starring BooBoo Stewart and prior to that directed and produced the Harlem drama, “Strive,” starring Danny Glover. Both were released theatrically and received dozens of accolades worldwide.

Rippberger has also directed and produced critically-acclaimed documentaries, including “Public Enemy Number One” from Executive Producer ICE-T, exploring the U.S. war on drugs, along with “7 Days in Syria”, an exploration into the human side of the war in Aleppo, Syria. 7 Days in Syria was personally championed by Angelina Jolie, screened at Britain’s House of Lords, to senior members of the U.N., and was released on Hulu and Amazon.

Rippberger is a member of the Producers Guild of America and is on the PGA’s Social Impact Entertainment Task Force. In addition to heading SIE Films, Rippberger is the founder and co-executive director of SIE Society, a leading global alliance of Social Impact Entertainment filmmakers. His second published book, “The Power of Storytelling: Social Impact Entertainment”, is available through book sellers everywhere.