Digital Storytelling

1. Digital Storytelling Area 5 LTC Deb Greaney

2. What is Digital Storytelling? An electronic memoir, a digital story is a mini autobiographical movie that spins its tale through a combination of digital media. Blending photos, images, and artwork with sound bites and video clips, the digital storyteller multiplies the effect of each medium as a form of self-expression. These short films not only describe the individual’s experience, but also attempt to convey their voice, emotions, and perspective. A sneak peek into the soul, a digital story gives its audience a brief glimpse of the world as seen through the eyes of the storyteller. Mamie Marcuss

3. Why Digital Storytelling? • Scanning photographs and hand-drawn images into the computer, using a digital camcorder, importing music, recording voices, and composing and editing their stories using Apple's iMovie program comprised a technological process that enabled students to develop and share a clear, structured, effective story. • One student captured it best: "This year I have learned that places are not just physical matter but emotional places in peoples' hearts. iMovie has made all my thoughts and feelings come alive in an awesome movie.“ Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the Classroom by Tom Banaszewski • Educator/Multimedia Author, Maria Hastings School, Lexington, MA

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

5. Why Digital Storytelling? • Understanding cannot be memorized • LOTS vs. HOTS • Students are: • Fact Rich • Info Poor • Wisdom thin

6. Examples • www.digitales.us

7. Post Production Pre-Production Production Publication Seven Steps to Create a Digital Story

8. Pre-Production: Writing a Script • Digital storytelling script is a first person narrative that tells the story in your own voice and style. • Written script will be made into a digitized voiceover during production. (500 words) • Begin by reading or “telling” your story out loud. • Revise the sentence structure and vocabulary choices until the story has a conversational style that you might use with friends, family and colleagues.

9. Six Elements • Living inside your story • Unfolding lessons learned • Developing creative tension • Economizing the story told • Showing, not telling • Developing craftsmanship 6

10. Pre-Production: Planning the Project • Use three planning tools to prepare for post-production: • paper/electronic storyboarding templates • image/shot lists templates • music/sound lists templates..

12. Pre-Production: Organizing Project Folders • Each digital story is considered a project. • Keep all six sub-folders of resources and assets organized together within the final project folder. • It is essential that these files all stay together! • If these files are stored randomly or separately from the production file, then you may find yourself having to hunt down the location of each moved file and reconnect or “re-reference” it for the software program.

13. Production: Making the Voiceover • Voiceovers are the digital files created by recording your final script in your own voice. • Voice performs the story rather than reading it. • Your voice with all its power and flaws expresses the real magic in your story because the story is told in a way that no other than you can deliver.

14. Production: Gathering & Preparing Resources • Use the image/shot lists along with the music/sound lists gather and prepare all media prior to the post-production stage. (15-20 images or memorabilia items: photos, video clips, art work, report cards) • The completed digitized voiceover organizes the final selection of all resources needed to extend the emotional power, depth and meaning of your story.

15. Post-Production: Putting it All Together • All the elements are mixed together following the storyboarding developed in the pre-production phase. • Ultimate goal is to draw viewers into the story and keep them there as it unfolds. • Rough cut with the images and voiceover ONLY is created first. • Finally, other media elements are then mixed for a final cut. • Music soundtracks are added last • Take time to cite your sources with “rolling credits” at the story’s end as well as adding any acknowledgements you want to make. The End

16. Distribution: Applause, Applause! There are many ways to distribute. • Exporting to email or creating story files suitable for web publishing is one great way to share with others. • Exporting stories to DVD format is another popular way to distribute. • You can even port your movie to Bluetooth enabled cell phones to impress any and all friends or strangers.

17. Macintosh Software 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 Required: • iTunes (no cost)• iPhoto (no cost)• iMovie (no cost)• GarageBand (no cost)• iDVD (no cost)• Quicktime (no cost) • Photoshop Elements ($99) Optional but Recommended:• Image Blender ($44.95) or• Inspiration ($50)• SmartSound Movie Maestro ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30) BASIC MAC Software Cost: $99

18. Windows Software Required: • iTunes (no cost)• Adobe Photoshop Album + Elements ($129.00)• Adobe Premiere Pro ($700)• SmartSound Sonic Fire ($275)• Inspiration ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30) Optional:• Photoshop CS ($650) PRO WIN Software Cost: $1184 Required: • iTunes (no cost) • Ulead's Video Studio 8 ($84.99) • QuickTime (no cost) • Adobe Photoshop Album + Elements ($129.00) Optional but Recommended: • Image Blender ($44.95) or• SmartSound Movie Maestro ($50)• Inspiration ($50)• QuickTime Pro ($30) BASIC WIN Software Cost:$211.99

19. Optional Software (for the kids) • ImageBlender (Mac & Win) • Kidspiration2 • MegaBlender • SmartSound Movie Maestro • VideoBlender

20. Hardware • Workstation Function Checklist • Memory – more is better! Recommended 1 Gig RAM and 80-120 Gig hard drive • Processor speed – faster is better! Minimum 600 MHz with 2 GHz Pentium Processor recommended. • Fire wire cards for importing and exporting files • Sound cards • CD burners • DVD burners

21. Windows Hardware Specialized Hardware Function Checklist • Internet connection • Multimedia headphones (Logitech Multimedia Headset) • An analogue to digital video converter box (Dazzel Hollywood DV Bridge) • A color flatbed scanning station • An external fire wire 200+ gig hard drive • A digital movie camera w/ tripod and fire wire connection • A still digital camera with USB connection

22. Optional Hardware • Optional: A PRO Voiceover Recording Station • Sound Forge software (WIN) • M-Audio Mobile Pre USB (audio interface w/ computer) • Condenser microphone (Shure) • Boom Stand • Aspiration (spit) Guard • Microphone cable

23. Evaluating Digital Products • Informal reflecting • Formal reflecting • Informal evaluating • Formal evaluating

24. Thank you! • Questions? • dgreaney@lth5.k12.il.us • Resources • www.digitales.us