Digital Digital StorytellingStorytellingAn introduction to using An introduction to using

digital pictures and Windows digital pictures and Windows Movie Maker to create Movie Maker to create

compelling storiescompelling stories

What is Digital What is Digital Storytelling?Storytelling?

Digital Storytelling is a Digital Storytelling is a multimedia multimedia presentationpresentation using photographs, music using photographs, music and narration to communicate a and narration to communicate a messagemessage.. Storytelling – relating a tale to one or more Storytelling – relating a tale to one or more

listeners through voice and gesturelisteners through voice and gesture Not just reading a story out loud – the storyteller Not just reading a story out loud – the storyteller

re-creates a series of mental images through re-creates a series of mental images through words, gestures and soundswords, gestures and sounds

Each listener derives own meanings from the Each listener derives own meanings from the storystory

What is Digital What is Digital StorytellingStorytelling

What makes up a compelling story?What makes up a compelling story? DramaDrama EmotionEmotion MusicMusic Powerful ImagesPowerful Images Descriptive WritingDescriptive Writing Something to which the listener/viewer Something to which the listener/viewer

can relatecan relate

Types of Personal StoriesTypes of Personal Stories

The Story About Someone Important to The Story About Someone Important to YouYou Character StoriesCharacter Stories

Finding meaning in a relationship with person or Finding meaning in a relationship with person or petpet

Why is this person or pet important to you?Why is this person or pet important to you? Family Member or FriendFamily Member or Friend Girlfriend?Girlfriend? A professional athlete or actorA professional athlete or actor

Memorial StoriesMemorial Stories Honoring or remembering people who have Honoring or remembering people who have

passed awaypassed away

Types of Personal StoriesTypes of Personal Stories

The Story About an Event in Your LifeThe Story About an Event in Your Life Adventure StoriesAdventure Stories

Could be a vacation or time spent in a new Could be a vacation or time spent in a new environmentenvironment

Could be a emotional adventureCould be a emotional adventure

Accomplishment StoriesAccomplishment Stories Stories about achieving some kind of goalStories about achieving some kind of goal

Athletically, Academically, etc.Athletically, Academically, etc. 5 W’s and How5 W’s and How

What, Where, When, Who and HowWhat, Where, When, Who and How

Types of Personal StoriesTypes of Personal Stories The Story About a Place in Your LifeThe Story About a Place in Your Life

What places in your life are important to you?What places in your life are important to you? Church or School?Church or School? Your Room or Your House?Your Room or Your House? Your Car?Your Car? Football Field?Football Field? A place you would like to visitA place you would like to visit

The Story About What I Do?The Story About What I Do? Is your hobby or job important to you?Is your hobby or job important to you?

What is your job/hobby and why is it important to you?What is your job/hobby and why is it important to you? Highlight and Lowlights?Highlight and Lowlights? Mentor?Mentor? How has the job/hobby affected your life and family?How has the job/hobby affected your life and family?

Seven Elements of Storytelling Point of View

Define what you are trying to communicate with your story – WHAT IS YOUR POINT?

The viewer may forget the story… but should always remember your point

Dramatic Question Sets up your story and alerts the viewer of what to look for

What is the meaning of friendship? What is love? Why is Lebron James so good? How has LSCHS helped me grow as a person? Who am I?

The question should be answered by the end of the story!

Seven Elements of Storytelling Emotional Content

Emotions of the story should grab attention of the viewer Love and Friendship Death and Loss Acceptance and Rejection Growth and Fighting Through Adversity Honor and Remembrance

The Gift of Your Voice Your Voice-Over is a Powerful tool

You can “say” something to someone without having to say it to them directly

Rare opportunity to hear your own voice Your script should be a well-written emotional short essay about

your topic

Seven Elements of Storytelling The Power of the Soundtrack

Music is an extremely powerful tool through out life Music can stir emotions Make sure song is appropriate including lyrics The music should ADD to the project and compliment the voice-over

The viewer may forget the story… but should always remember your point Economical Writing

You need to say a lot in as few words as possible This is not an 6 page English Paper – 2 minutes maximum Pictures and Script should work together to create an appealing project Storyboard your project using pictures and script to envision the project

Closure Wrap up the topic by the end of the project – answer the dramatic question!

Seven Elements of Storytelling Pacing

Rhythm of a story keeps people interested Use dramatic pauses when necessary Use change of speeds to indicate change in

emotion Edit your pictures to work with the audio – quick

edits for exciting action Make sure your story can breathe! If it is too

long, take out some copy… don’t just talk faster!

Examples of Digital Storytelling www.bliptv.com

High school students

http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling/examples.htm University of Houston students

http://www.streetside.org/stories/digital-stories.htm 7th Grade Students

Where to Begin?Where to Begin?

STEP 1: Choose a topicSTEP 1: Choose a topicTopic Suggestion: Who Am I?Topic Suggestion: Who Am I?

Find a person, thing or event in your life that Find a person, thing or event in your life that you would like to write about and of which you would like to write about and of which you have picturesyou have pictures

Topic : Select from list of topics we went Topic : Select from list of topics we went over in classover in classCould be about family, friends, hobbies etc.Could be about family, friends, hobbies etc.

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 2: Collect PhotographsSTEP 2: Collect PhotographsCollect as many photographs as possibleCollect as many photographs as possible

At Least 25 Pictures At Least 25 Pictures Digital PicturesDigital Pictures

Bring in pictures on a CD/DVD or memory cardBring in pictures on a CD/DVD or memory cardFilm Pictures Film Pictures

Bring in by Wednesday at latest to scan imagesBring in by Wednesday at latest to scan images Internet ImagesInternet Images

Download images from the WWW and save them Download images from the WWW and save them to specific folderto specific folder

Find Images that will help tell your story!Find Images that will help tell your story!

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 3: Write the EssaySTEP 3: Write the EssayWrite a Write a one-page double spacedone-page double spaced

essay about your topicessay about your topicStart with an outline Start with an outline Use the words from the outline in your essayUse the words from the outline in your essay

Remember to shorten text!Remember to shorten text!Essay DUE: WEDNESDAY at Start of Class!Essay DUE: WEDNESDAY at Start of Class!

Print out 2 copiesPrint out 2 copiesClassmate will serve as an editor for your draft Classmate will serve as an editor for your draft

and correct mistakesand correct mistakes

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 4: Choose MusicSTEP 4: Choose MusicChoose at least 1 song, preferably more Choose at least 1 song, preferably more

than 1than 1Use music to introduce and end your projectUse music to introduce and end your projectAlso use music under narration to add Also use music under narration to add

energy or emotion to scriptenergy or emotion to scriptMake sure the music and narration Make sure the music and narration

works with your theme!works with your theme!Bring in music on a CD or Thumb driveBring in music on a CD or Thumb drive

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 5: Construct Story BoardSTEP 5: Construct Story BoardTake your essay and decide how many Take your essay and decide how many

pictures you will need for musical pictures you will need for musical introduction – no more than 5introduction – no more than 5

Follow along your essay and determine Follow along your essay and determine which pictures will go where in the final which pictures will go where in the final projectprojectKeep pictures visible for 5-10 seconds at the Keep pictures visible for 5-10 seconds at the

mostmostChoose pictures for the musical closingChoose pictures for the musical closing

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 6: Record NarrationSTEP 6: Record NarrationWhen essay is proofread and corrected, When essay is proofread and corrected,

you will record your narration digitally in you will record your narration digitally in WEXPWEXPYou will need to have narration done at some You will need to have narration done at some

point by Thursdaypoint by Thursday Set up an appointment to see me during or after Set up an appointment to see me during or after

school on Wednesdayschool on Wednesday

Rehearse your script several times prior Rehearse your script several times prior to recordingto recording

Mark script where you need to make Mark script where you need to make pauses or emphasize wordspauses or emphasize words

The Storytelling ProcessThe Storytelling Process

STEP 7: Construct your ProjectSTEP 7: Construct your Project You will begin editing the project on Thursday You will begin editing the project on Thursday

using Windows Movie Makerusing Windows Movie Maker Project will be due on Wednesday (Exam Day) Project will be due on Wednesday (Exam Day)

by 3 pmby 3 pmYou will have class time and you can use the lab You will have class time and you can use the lab

after/before school and during breaks on your exam after/before school and during breaks on your exam daysdays

Remember to use pictures, music, animation Remember to use pictures, music, animation and titles to create an appealing projectand titles to create an appealing project

Project should be 2-3 minutesProject should be 2-3 minutes

Windows Movie MakerWindows Movie Maker What is Windows Movie Maker?What is Windows Movie Maker?

It is a video editing program which comes for free It is a video editing program which comes for free with all Microsoft Windows operating systemswith all Microsoft Windows operating systems

Click on: ProgramsClick on: Programs Find – Windows Movie Maker and Click on itFind – Windows Movie Maker and Click on it

The program is much like Adobe Premiere Pro, The program is much like Adobe Premiere Pro, but with a much more user-friendly interfacebut with a much more user-friendly interface

The program allows us to:The program allows us to: Edit Video and PicturesEdit Video and Pictures Add narration, music and sound effectsAdd narration, music and sound effects Create text, graphics and creditsCreate text, graphics and credits Use Animation on text and transitions to add visual Use Animation on text and transitions to add visual

appealappeal

Windows Movie MakerWindows Movie Maker

Click here for help with Windows Click here for help with Windows Movie MakerMovie Maker http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/uhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u

sing/moviemaker/default.mspxsing/moviemaker/default.mspx