Digital StorytellingDigital Storytelling

Area 5 LTCArea 5 LTC

Deb GreaneyDeb Greaney

What is Digital Storytelling?What is Digital Storytelling?

An electronic memoir, a digital story is a miniAn electronic memoir, a digital story is a miniautobiographical movie that spins its tale through aautobiographical movie that spins its tale through acombination of digital media. Blending photos,combination of digital media. Blending photos,images, and artwork with sound bites and video clips,images, and artwork with sound bites and video clips,the digital storyteller multiplies the effect of eachthe digital storyteller multiplies the effect of eachmedium as a form of self-expression. These short filmsmedium as a form of self-expression. These short filmsnot only describe the individual’s experience, but alsonot only describe the individual’s experience, but alsoattempt to convey their voice, emotions, and attempt to convey their voice, emotions, and

perspective.perspective.A sneak peek into the soul, a digital story givesA sneak peek into the soul, a digital story givesits audience a brief glimpse of the world as seenits audience a brief glimpse of the world as seenthrough the eyes of the storyteller.through the eyes of the storyteller.

Mamie MarcussMamie Marcuss

Why Digital Storytelling?Why Digital Storytelling? Scanning photographs and hand-drawn images into Scanning photographs and hand-drawn images into

the computer, using a digital camcorder, importing the computer, using a digital camcorder, importing music, recording voices, and composing and editing music, recording voices, and composing and editing their stories using Apple's iMovie program comprised their stories using Apple's iMovie program comprised a technological process that enabled students to a technological process that enabled students to develop and share a clear, structured, effective story. develop and share a clear, structured, effective story.

One student captured it best: "This year I have One student captured it best: "This year I have learned that places are not just physical matter but learned that places are not just physical matter but emotional places in peoples' hearts. iMovie has made emotional places in peoples' hearts. iMovie has made all my thoughts and feelings come alive in an all my thoughts and feelings come alive in an awesome movie.“awesome movie.“

Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the ClassroomClassroom by Tom Banaszewski • by Tom Banaszewski • Educator/Multimedia Author, Maria Hastings School, Educator/Multimedia Author, Maria Hastings School, Lexington, MA Lexington, MA

Why Digital Storytelling?Why Digital Storytelling?

““Digital storytelling begins with the Digital storytelling begins with the notion that in the not too distant notion that in the not too distant future, sharing one’s stories through future, sharing one’s stories through the multiple mediums of digital the multiple mediums of digital imagery, text, voice, sound , music, imagery, text, voice, sound , music, video and animation will be the video and animation will be the principle hobby of the world’s principle hobby of the world’s people.” people.”

-Anonymous-Anonymous

Why Digital Storytelling?Why Digital Storytelling?

Understanding cannot be memorizedUnderstanding cannot be memorizedLOTS vs. HOTSLOTS vs. HOTSStudents are:Students are:

Fact RichFact RichInfo PoorInfo PoorWisdom thinWisdom thin

ExamplesExamples

www.digitales.uswww.digitales.us

Seven Steps to Create a Digital Seven Steps to Create a Digital StoryStory

         

                  

     

                  

     

                  

      

                  

     

                  

     

                  

         

                  

 

Pre-Production Production

Post

Production Publication

Pre-Production: Writing a Pre-Production: Writing a ScriptScript

Digital storytelling script is a first person Digital storytelling script is a first person narrative that tells the story in your own narrative that tells the story in your own voice and style. voice and style. Written script will be made into a digitized Written script will be made into a digitized

voiceover during production. (500 words)voiceover during production. (500 words) Begin by reading or “telling” your story out Begin by reading or “telling” your story out

loud.loud. Revise the sentence structure and vocabulary Revise the sentence structure and vocabulary

choices until the story has a conversational choices until the story has a conversational style that you might use with friends, family style that you might use with friends, family and colleagues. and colleagues.

Six ElementsSix Elements

1.1. Living inside your storyLiving inside your story

2.2. Unfolding lessons learnedUnfolding lessons learned

3.3. Developing creative Developing creative tensiontension

4.4. Economizing the story toldEconomizing the story told

5.5. Showing, not tellingShowing, not telling

6.6. Developing craftsmanshipDeveloping craftsmanship

Pre-Production: Planning the Pre-Production: Planning the ProjectProject

Use three planning Use three planning tools to prepare for tools to prepare for post-production:post-production:paper/electronic paper/electronic

storyboarding templatesstoryboarding templatesimage/shot lists image/shot lists

templatestemplatesmusic/sound lists music/sound lists

templates.. templates..

Developed by Bernajean Porter

Story Boarding Template Page # _____

Scene # ___

Scene # ___

Scene # ___

Transition

Transition

Voice-Over Text Voice-Over Text Voice-Over Text

Sound/Music Sound/Music Sound/Music

Notes Notes

Notes

Pre-Production: Organizing Pre-Production: Organizing Project FoldersProject Folders

Each digital story is considered a project. Each digital story is considered a project. Keep all six sub-folders of resources and Keep all six sub-folders of resources and

assets organized together within the final assets organized together within the final project folder. project folder.

It is essential that these files all stay It is essential that these files all stay together!together!If these files are stored randomly or separately If these files are stored randomly or separately

from the production file, then you may find from the production file, then you may find yourself having to hunt down the location of each yourself having to hunt down the location of each moved file and reconnect or “re-reference” it for moved file and reconnect or “re-reference” it for the software program.the software program.

Production: Making the Production: Making the VoiceoverVoiceover

Voiceovers are the digital files Voiceovers are the digital files created by recording your final script created by recording your final script in your own voice. in your own voice.

Voice performs the story rather than Voice performs the story rather than reading it. reading it.

Your voice with all its power and Your voice with all its power and flaws expresses the real magic in flaws expresses the real magic in your story because the story is told your story because the story is told in a way that no other than you can in a way that no other than you can deliver. deliver.

Production: Gathering & Production: Gathering & Preparing ResourcesPreparing Resources

Use the image/shot lists Use the image/shot lists along with the music/sound along with the music/sound lists gather and prepare all lists gather and prepare all media prior to the post-media prior to the post-production stage. (15-20 production stage. (15-20 images or memorabilia images or memorabilia items: photos, video clips, items: photos, video clips, art work, report cards) art work, report cards)

The completed digitized The completed digitized voiceover organizes the voiceover organizes the final selection of all final selection of all resources needed to extend resources needed to extend the emotional power, depth the emotional power, depth and meaning of your story. and meaning of your story.

Post-Production: Putting it All Post-Production: Putting it All TogetherTogether

All the elements are mixed together All the elements are mixed together following the storyboarding developed in following the storyboarding developed in the pre-production phase. the pre-production phase.

Ultimate goal is to draw viewers into the Ultimate goal is to draw viewers into the story and keep them there as it unfolds. story and keep them there as it unfolds.

Rough cut with the images and Rough cut with the images and voiceover ONLY is created first.voiceover ONLY is created first.

Finally, other media elements are then Finally, other media elements are then mixed for a final cut. mixed for a final cut.

Music soundtracks are added lastMusic soundtracks are added last Take time to cite your sources with Take time to cite your sources with

“rolling credits” at the story’s end as “rolling credits” at the story’s end as well as adding any acknowledgements well as adding any acknowledgements you want to make. you want to make.

Distribution: Applause, Distribution: Applause, Applause!Applause!

There are many ways to distribute. There are many ways to distribute. Exporting to email or creating story files Exporting to email or creating story files

suitable for web publishing is one great suitable for web publishing is one great way to share with others.way to share with others.

Exporting stories to DVD format is Exporting stories to DVD format is another popular way to distribute. another popular way to distribute.

You can even port your movie to You can even port your movie to Bluetooth enabled cell phones to Bluetooth enabled cell phones to impress any and all friends or strangers.impress any and all friends or strangers.

Macintosh SoftwareMacintosh SoftwareRequired:Required:

• • iTunes (no cost)iTunes (no cost)• iPhoto (no cost)• iPhoto (no cost)• iMovie (no cost)• iMovie (no cost)• GarageBand (no cost)• GarageBand (no cost)• iDVD (no cost)• iDVD (no cost)• Quicktime (no cost) • Quicktime (no cost) • Photoshop Elements • Photoshop Elements ($99)($99)

Optional but Optional but Recommended:Recommended:• Image Blender ($44.95) • Image Blender ($44.95) oror• Inspiration ($50)• Inspiration ($50)• SmartSound Movie • SmartSound Movie Maestro ($50)Maestro ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30) • QuickTime Pro ($30)

BASIC MAC Software Cost: $99BASIC MAC Software Cost: $99

Required:• iTunes (no cost)• iPhoto (no cost)• Photoshop Elements ($99)• Final Cut Express ($99)• iDVD (no cost)• SmartSound SonicFire ($275.00)• Inspiration ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30)

Optional:• Final Cut Pro ($999) • Photoshop CS ($650)

PRO MAC Software Cost: $553

Windows Software Windows Software Required:Required:

• • iTunes (no cost)iTunes (no cost)• • Ulead's Video Studio 8 Ulead's Video Studio 8 ($84.99)($84.99)• • QuickTime (no cost)QuickTime (no cost)• • Adobe Photoshop Album Adobe Photoshop Album + Elements ($129.00)+ Elements ($129.00)

Optional but Optional but Recommended: Recommended: • Image Blender ($44.95) or• Image Blender ($44.95) or• SmartSound Movie Maestro • SmartSound Movie Maestro ($50)($50)• Inspiration ($50)• Inspiration ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30)• QuickTime Pro ($30)

BASIC WIN Software Cost:BASIC WIN Software Cost:$211.99$211.99

Required:Required:• • iTunes (no cost)iTunes (no cost)• Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Photoshop Album + Elements Album + Elements ($129.00)($129.00)• Adobe Premiere Pro • Adobe Premiere Pro ($700)($700)• SmartSound Sonic Fire • SmartSound Sonic Fire ($275)($275)• Inspiration ($50)• Inspiration ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30)• QuickTime Pro ($30)

Optional:Optional:• Photoshop CS ($650)• Photoshop CS ($650)

PRO WIN Software Cost: PRO WIN Software Cost: $1184$1184

Optional Software (for the Optional Software (for the kids)kids)

ImageBlender (Mac & Win)ImageBlender (Mac & Win)Kidspiration2Kidspiration2MegaBlenderMegaBlenderSmartSound Movie Maestro SmartSound Movie Maestro VideoBlenderVideoBlender

HardwareHardware

Workstation Function ChecklistWorkstation Function Checklist Memory – more is better! Recommended 1 Memory – more is better! Recommended 1

Gig RAM and 80-120 Gig hard drive Gig RAM and 80-120 Gig hard drive Processor speed – faster is better! Minimum Processor speed – faster is better! Minimum

600 MHz with 2 GHz Pentium Processor 600 MHz with 2 GHz Pentium Processor recommended. recommended.

Fire wire cards for importing and exporting Fire wire cards for importing and exporting files files

Sound cards Sound cards CD burners CD burners DVD burners DVD burners

Windows HardwareWindows Hardware

Specialized Hardware Function ChecklistSpecialized Hardware Function Checklist Internet connection Internet connection Multimedia headphones (Logitech Multimedia headphones (Logitech

Multimedia Headset) Multimedia Headset) An analogue to digital video converter box An analogue to digital video converter box

(Dazzel Hollywood DV Bridge) (Dazzel Hollywood DV Bridge) A color flatbed scanning station A color flatbed scanning station An external fire wire 200+ gig hard drive An external fire wire 200+ gig hard drive A digital movie camera w/ tripod and fire A digital movie camera w/ tripod and fire

wire connection wire connection A still digital camera with USB connectionA still digital camera with USB connection

Optional HardwareOptional Hardware

Optional: A PRO Voiceover Recording Optional: A PRO Voiceover Recording StationStation

Sound Forge software (WIN) Sound Forge software (WIN) M-Audio Mobile Pre USB (audio interface M-Audio Mobile Pre USB (audio interface

w/ computer) w/ computer) Condenser microphone (Shure) Condenser microphone (Shure) Boom Stand Boom Stand Aspiration (spit) Guard Aspiration (spit) Guard Microphone cable Microphone cable

Evaluating Digital ProductsEvaluating Digital Products

Informal reflectingInformal reflectingFormal reflectingFormal reflecting Informal evaluatingInformal evaluatingFormal evaluatingFormal evaluating

Thank you!Thank you!

Questions?Questions?dgreaney@lth5.k12.il.usdgreaney@lth5.k12.il.us

ResourcesResourceswww.digitales.uswww.digitales.us