EVENTS

The Villain’s Victor Story:

Empowering The Victors In Jury Selection &
Exposing The Villains On Cross Examination

The Villain’s Victor Story:

Empowering The Victors
In Jury Selection &
Exposing The Villains
On Cross Examination

When

October 9th-10th

9:30am – 4:30pm

Where

Cottonwood Center
for the Arts

427 E Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, CO

Cost

Registration is $1500 
plus fees (Stripe policy)

Seats are limited

Instructors

Jesse Wilson & Mike Smith

Instructors

Jesse Wilson
& Mike Smith

Villains — adverse witnesses — never see themselves as villains. They see themselves as Victors. In this two-day workshop, you will discover a counterintuitive, game-changing approach that transforms how you cross-examine adverse witnesses when you know, own, and trust your personal connection to the Villain’s Victor Story.

What You
Will Learn

Jesse Wilson and Mike Smith bring together cutting-edge techniques from Wilson’s books “Witness Preparation: How To Tell The Winning Story” and “The Most Important Juror: Embrace The Winning Story in Jury Selection, Opening Statement, & Rebuttal,” alongside approaches drawn from significant verdicts achieved in their years of collaboration. Together they will show you how to frame your entire case for judge and jurors — and motivate them to act.

Identify the true villain of your client’s story and how to tell it powerfully
Free yourself of judgment for your adverse witness — the single greatest roadblock to delivering the villain’s victor story
Make a more powerful connection to your client’s victor story, casting them in their rightful role as victor, not victim
empower your jurors — framing your case so they are motivated to protect your client

What You
Will Learn

Jesse Wilson and Mike Smith bring together cutting-edge techniques from Wilson’s books Witness Preparation: How To Tell The Winning Story and “The Most Important Juror: Embrace The Winning Story in Jury Selection, Opening Statement, & Rebuttal,” alongside approaches drawn from significant verdicts achieved in their years of collaboration. Together they will show you how to frame your entire case for judge and jurors — and motivate them to act.

Identify the true villain of your client’s story and how to tell it powerfully
Free yourself of judgment for your adverse witness — the single greatest roadblock to delivering the villain’s victor story
Make a more powerful connection to your client’s victor story, casting them in their rightful role as victor, not victim
Massively empower your jurors — framing your case so they are motivated to protect your client

Workshop
Structure

ACT I

Discovering The
Villain’s Story

ACT II

Developing The Villain’s Story With Your Jurors

AcT III

Delivering The Villain’s Story On Cross Examination

“It’s not that easy to tell the villain’s story as a victor. It seems counter intuitive to think that way. However, when it’s done it is very powerful. Jesse is tireless and so passionate and a great teacher. What I learned is to try to capture the victor’s moment in a word, a short sentence, a gaze or a pause. Thank you, Jesse.”

Paul Tash

“What I learned is that by letting the opponent tell their victor story, we give them the chance to come clean in front of the jury’s eyes. Maybe they will admit to the jury that they screwed up, that they lied, or that they turned their back on a friend — and when they fail to come clean, the betrayal is ongoing. When we force concessions out of them, they fight back, but when we let them ‘be the victor’ that they imagine themselves to be, they reveal themselves in a much more frightening way. Pure judo!”

Jeff Lee

“It was a scary idea at first, and now I just don’t want to cross examine a witness any other way. I saw the power of it by taking the TLC-style cross and amping it up with Jesse’s powerful ideas and theatrical approach. Boy, am I glad I attended. It was magical. It was a game changer.”

Chris Madeksho

“It feels dangerous to give that much control to the defendant. To not catch them and block them. Instead, let them tell their story. They will probably end up telling a better story than the one you had planned for them. Let them tell the story of their promises and good intentions. A jury can compare words to deeds and reach conclusions more powerful than the ones you try to spoon-feed. Plus, it makes cross-x a whole lot of fun. Thank you so much.”

Chris Dove

PROGRAM AGENDA

Day 1

9:00am – 12:00pm MT

Act I – Discovering
the Villain’s Story

Warming Up The Body, Your Storytelling Instrument

— Breath, Body, Voice Connection

— Storytelling Improvisation

— “Emotional State” Management Exercise

— Brief Explanation and Overview of the Victim to Victor Approach

— Introducing Your Stage Character Through the 4 Steps of The Stage

Breakout
Session #1 — The Stage Monologue

— Application of “State Before Story,” “The Crossroad,” and “Victim to Victor”

— Attendees work in pairs (Director and Storyteller) with Directing “Checklist”

Monologue Group Demonstrations

— Directing process and 4 Steps Application

— Crossroad Connection

Returning To The Client & Villain

— Introducing Your Client through the 4 Steps of The Stage

— “The Final Scene” — The Vision of Who Your Client and Villain Need to Be For The Jury

Day 2

9:00am – 12:00pm MT

Act 2 – Developing the
Villain’s Story with
Your Jurors

Warming Up The Body, Your Storytelling Instrument

— Breath, Body, Voice Connection

— Round Robin Group State Change Improvisation

— Introducing The Villain Through The 4 Steps of The Stage

— Case study: Anthony Bribriesco and Nicci Unsicker share their use of 4 Steps in Sue Boutwell’s Illegal Firing Case

Director’s Choice — Discovering Your Client’s or Villain’s Emotional Truth in Monologue Form

— Fundamental #5: “Transforming The Client From Victim To Victor”

Breakout
Session #1

— Discovering, Developing, and Directing The Client or Villain Monologue

— Both partners share and are directed by each other

Client
Monologue Group Demonstration

— Introduction of directing techniques for Witness Preparation and Direct Examination

-Lunch Break-

Day 2

1:00pm – 4:30pm MT

Act 3 – Delivering The
Villain’s Story On
Cross Examination

Breakout
Session #2 — Putting The Director/Story teller To Work

— The Role Reversal of Client, Villain or Witness and Director/Storyteller

— Speed-timed sessions applying 4 Questions to Direct Examination of Client’s, Villain or Witness’ Story

Directing The Client’s Story — Group Demonstration

— Round Robin 4 Questions/Steps Direct

— “Hot Choice” Speed Session of either Client or Villain’s Story

Closing Exercise
& Wrap Up

— The 4 Steps And You… A Vision for The Lawyer

About Mike Smith

FEATURED INSTRUCTOR

Mike Smith is a trial lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia and is a partner at Calvin Smith Injury Law. Mike is a graduate of the September 2019 Trial Lawyers College and was elected co-President of his class. Mike has successfully tried to verdict negligent security, premises liability, and car crash cases.

About Jesse Wilson

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
& TRIAL CONSULTANT

A Juilliard theater graduate and bestselling author, Jesse Wilson has spent thirty years in theater before creating Tell the Winning Story — a platform that empowers trial lawyers to deliver high-impact presentations and rapidly transform communication skills for witness preparation. His hands-on training is featured in seminars, law-firm retreats, intensives, and workshops across the country.

Ready to Transform Your Storytelling?

take the first step towards owning your story and revolutionizing the way you tell your villain’s victor story.

Registration is $1500 plus fees (Stripe policy)

Note: Seats are limited to ensure an intimate and
impactful experience. Register early to secure your spot!

Registration is $1500 plus fees
(Stripe policy)

Note: Seats are limited to ensure an intimate and impactful experience.
Register early to secure your spot!

REGISTER NOW