Set a clear objective for your speech before you start scanning movie titles. State your principal message in one or two sentences and write them down. Identifying the specific message you want to convey will help you to choose a movie clip that is effective and relevant to your goal.
Identify your target audience. Think about how your listeners will react to your message and what kind of stories will be relevant to them. Though "Saving Private Ryan" may inspire feelings of courage and comradeship in some, it may not serve the motivational needs of your junior high volleyball team.
Make a list of movies that inspire you. For ideas, do a web search for "motivational movies" or a more specific search such as "inspirational movies about friendship". Choose a movie which tells a story that will illustrate the lesson you want to impart.
Look for a clip which doesn't require too much explanation of plot, but which tells a story that will support your message. To avoid distracting your audience and drawing focus away from your speech, don't use more than 10 minutes of the film.
Don't start your speech with the movie clip. Choose a more dynamic method of introduction which will help your audience understand the purpose of your speech. The movie clip will have a stronger motivational impact on your listeners when they are able to understand its significance in the context of your message.
Introduce the story briefly after you have made your main points, and are ready to show the clip. Provide any details about the plot and characters which are necessary to understand the basic story, but don't spend too much time describing complex themes or extraneous details. Have the clip ready to play without having to search for the section you want.
Incorporate the story into the rest of your speech after you show the clip,using it to bring your main points together. To engage your listeners, ask them directed questions about the characters and how they respond to the challenging situations presented by the story. Remember that the movie clip is not the main focus of your speech, but should provide support for your message. Use the story you have presented to lay the foundation for a call to action, a vital part of the conclusion of any motivational speech in which you challenge your audience to achieve a desired goal.