Directions
- Read over the material about Multimedia & Digital Storytelling, and the Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling below
- Watch the Digital Storytelling Movie at the bottom of this page
- Answer these Questions about this material
Digital Storytelling & Multimedia
Digital Storytelling at its most basic core is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. There are a wealth of other terms used to describe this practice, such as digital documentaries, computer-based narratives, digital essays, electronic memoirs, interactive storytelling, etc.; but in general, they all revolve around the idea of combining the art of telling stories with a variety of Multimedia: including images, graphics, audio, video, and web publishing.
Digital Storytelling is a relatively new term which describes the new practice of ordinary people who use digital tools to tell their 'story'. One can think of digital storytelling as the modern extension of the ancient art of storytelling.
Today, Digital Storytelling involves the use of Multimedia; the integration of text, graphics, images, animation, music, video and voice narration. Digital stories often present in compelling and emotionally engaging formats, they are usually short in length (time) and can be interactive (somethings happens when you click on it.)
This newer form of storytelling emerged with the advent of accessible media production techniques, hardware and software, including but not limited to digital cameras, digital voice recorders, iMovie, WeVideo. These new technologies allow individuals to share their stories over the Internet on YouTube, Vimeo, podcasts, and other electronic distribution systems.
Digital Storytelling is a relatively new term which describes the new practice of ordinary people who use digital tools to tell their 'story'. One can think of digital storytelling as the modern extension of the ancient art of storytelling.
Today, Digital Storytelling involves the use of Multimedia; the integration of text, graphics, images, animation, music, video and voice narration. Digital stories often present in compelling and emotionally engaging formats, they are usually short in length (time) and can be interactive (somethings happens when you click on it.)
This newer form of storytelling emerged with the advent of accessible media production techniques, hardware and software, including but not limited to digital cameras, digital voice recorders, iMovie, WeVideo. These new technologies allow individuals to share their stories over the Internet on YouTube, Vimeo, podcasts, and other electronic distribution systems.
Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling
The Center for Digital Storytelling has defined seven elements for creating effective and interesting multimedia stories. Constructing a story is not a simple process that follows a recipe or prescribed formula. These elements require consideration for every story and determining the balance each element occupies in the story can take a lot of thinking and re-thinking.
Make A Point
Stories are told to make a point and should not be presented as a recitation of mere facts. Define the premise of your story so that all parts can serve to make the point. Consider your audience and direct the point to them.
Example: The Chicago Bulls team of the 90's was a dynasty featuring Michael Jordan.
Example: Teen Suicide is a problem among teens and preventable with help and counseling.
A Dramatic Question
You want to capture your audience’s attention at the beginning of the piece and hold their interest throughout. Typically you want to pose the dramatic question in the opening lines and resolve it in the closing lines.
Example: What are the effects that pollution has on the world and society?
Example: Who was Steve Jobs? and how did he change our world?
Emotional Content
Emotional content can help hold your audiences attention. The images, effects, music and tone of voice all lend to contributing emotion to the piece. Try to keep the elements consistent with the emotion of the moment.
The Gift of Your Voice
Most likely the first time you heard your recorded voice you couldn't stand the way it sounded. And you still can’t. Suggestion….get over it! Your voice is a great gift and even thought you don’t like to hear it, others do. If you “read” your script your audience will not know how to react. Take time to learn and practice your script so you can speak in a conversational voice. Record several takes and select the best one. Trust that your audience will think it is perfect.
The Power of The Soundtrack
Music is a big plus to a digital story. The right music can set the story in time and can convey emotion. Play music behind an image and a specific emotion is generated. Change the music behind the same image and an entirely different emotion is experienced. Sound effects can add tension and excitement to a piece, but be careful, they can be a distraction too.
Economy
Plan to leave some of your work on the “cutting room floor”. A compact, fast moving digital story will contain only those elements necessary to move the audience from beginning to end. We know that our brains are constantly filling in (from our own experiences) details from suggestions made by sights and sounds. Don’t give every minute detail to clarify your story, let your audience fill in some of the blanks.
Pacing
The rhythm of the piece is what keeps your audience’s interest in the story. Changing pace within the story can facilitate moving the audience from one emotion to another. Music tempo, speech rate, image duration, and panning and zooming speed all work to establish pace. Generally pace will be consistent, but one in a while it will pause, accelerate, decelerate, stop or blast-off.
Make A Point
Stories are told to make a point and should not be presented as a recitation of mere facts. Define the premise of your story so that all parts can serve to make the point. Consider your audience and direct the point to them.
Example: The Chicago Bulls team of the 90's was a dynasty featuring Michael Jordan.
Example: Teen Suicide is a problem among teens and preventable with help and counseling.
A Dramatic Question
You want to capture your audience’s attention at the beginning of the piece and hold their interest throughout. Typically you want to pose the dramatic question in the opening lines and resolve it in the closing lines.
Example: What are the effects that pollution has on the world and society?
Example: Who was Steve Jobs? and how did he change our world?
Emotional Content
Emotional content can help hold your audiences attention. The images, effects, music and tone of voice all lend to contributing emotion to the piece. Try to keep the elements consistent with the emotion of the moment.
The Gift of Your Voice
Most likely the first time you heard your recorded voice you couldn't stand the way it sounded. And you still can’t. Suggestion….get over it! Your voice is a great gift and even thought you don’t like to hear it, others do. If you “read” your script your audience will not know how to react. Take time to learn and practice your script so you can speak in a conversational voice. Record several takes and select the best one. Trust that your audience will think it is perfect.
The Power of The Soundtrack
Music is a big plus to a digital story. The right music can set the story in time and can convey emotion. Play music behind an image and a specific emotion is generated. Change the music behind the same image and an entirely different emotion is experienced. Sound effects can add tension and excitement to a piece, but be careful, they can be a distraction too.
Economy
Plan to leave some of your work on the “cutting room floor”. A compact, fast moving digital story will contain only those elements necessary to move the audience from beginning to end. We know that our brains are constantly filling in (from our own experiences) details from suggestions made by sights and sounds. Don’t give every minute detail to clarify your story, let your audience fill in some of the blanks.
Pacing
The rhythm of the piece is what keeps your audience’s interest in the story. Changing pace within the story can facilitate moving the audience from one emotion to another. Music tempo, speech rate, image duration, and panning and zooming speed all work to establish pace. Generally pace will be consistent, but one in a while it will pause, accelerate, decelerate, stop or blast-off.