Digital Storytelling - Story Universals

I've been reading S.T. McClean's Digital Storytelling book.

Although the focus of the book is about digital storytelling and visual effects, Ms. McClean has probably the best chapter I've ever read on Story and Storycraft [Chapter 2]
Her definitions of story are spot on. She provides background from some of the greats including Socrates and Aristotle. Her descripton of the 6 elements of tragedy on page 17 are particularly well done.

She devotes one of the chapters to one of my favourite story tellers: Steven Spielberg. [Chapter 9]

Actually, the chapter speaks to the works of Spielberg, George Lucas and James Cameron [a fellow Canadian]. There is a terrific quote by Mr. Lucas. It goes like this:

"My films deal with...

1. the need for humans to have friendships
2. to be compassionate
3. to band together
4. to help one another
5. and to join together against what is negative
   

Source: Digital Storytelling - by S.T. McClean - Page 187

Call up in your mind some George Lucas films and it won't be very difficult to connect the universals he speaks about in this list.

Enclosure: The enclosure in this post is one of my favourite G.L. clips. "Communication"

Capture Wales - Everyone has a story to tell.

If you haven't happened upon Capture Wales, now is your chance.

Capture Wales was one of the first digital storytelling sites I found to help me on my dst journey.

Many years ago they started with only a few categories. They were family, passions, etc. Now I see they have expanded and have categories from A to Z.

The story here is about a young woman and the memories she has of her Grandfather.

This type of digital story is called a Memorial Story. Memorial stories deal with memories of people who are no longer with us. These stories are often difficult to produce and to watch but are emotionally powerful and can help with a person's grieving process.

A Memorial Story is just one type of Personal Reflection Story.

Note: Capture Wales encodes all their digital stories using Real Player.
Download: BBC Capture Wales - Guide to Digital Storytelling

Here's the text of "Someone is Watching Over Me" by Rhian Williams

"Ever since I was little me and my Granddad have been close. Unfortunately not long ago he became a very ill man but, although he was very ill, he was the strongest man I knew. He had struggled through a heart transplant and lung cancer, each time coming out stronger than ever.

Last November he developed a nasty cold and when he was admitted to hospital I remember thinking there's no need to worry, he's going to be fine. He always is, Granddad always gets better. But then it turned nasty, to pneumonia. Granddad suffered, gradually getting worse until he passed away on the 2nd January 2006. It was hard to get over such a big loss but I had to concentrate as I had my GCSEs later that year and Granddad has always pushed me to do my best in school. Thankfully I did well and wished he could have been with me to celebrate.

However, the following Christmas I lay restless in bed and that's when Granddad came to visit me. There he was standing at the bottom of my bed saying, "Congratulations on your exam results. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to congratulate you." This visit meant the world to me and my family and now I can be sure he's always there when I need someone watching over me. I just hope he pays another visit soon."

Make a Movie - That Tells a Story

I was shuffling through my collection of "storytelling" resources today and came across Billy Field's book: "Make a Movie That Tells a Story"

If you don't know Mr. Field's work that's O.K. You may have watched some of his television shows on some of the retro channels or if you are my age, when you were younger. He wrote for the television show "Fame" and was mentored by Beth Sullivan the creator of the television series "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman".

What I like about Mr. Field's book is that he begins by writing about how to write a story and screenplay. He talks about having:

1. A strong main character.
2. A pivotal problem the character encounters.
3. A decision the main character has to make.
4. A goal the character has to achieve.
5. An obstacle the main character has to overcome.

With these 5 areas he describes the story basics. Really good stuff. Also, at the end of the book he describes his "Hero Next Door" film project. Heros next door have always been a topic that I think garner some of the best digital stories. There are sample project topics on the website he has had students create.

If you get a chance to see or attend one of Billy Field's workshops it will be well worth it. At the very least you can browse his website. I had the good fortune to be part of a day long "telling a story" session with Mr. Field in Toronto a number of years back and I continue to use his ideas in my video and digital storytelling sessions today.

Improve Your Stories - Find Your Character

Brent Foster directed "The Digital Journalist" our way today.

A couple of articles caught my eye. Both have to do with writing better stories. The first is a story written by Ken Kobré & Jerry Lazar. If you want to know how to write better stories their 10 Tips story is worth your time.

Midway in Ken and Jerry's article is a link to Kathy Krauss' article on developing the main character, or protagonist in your story. This was my find of the day. She has links to a couple of amazing stories which have a central character that not only holds the story but moves you as you get to know each character.

So if you have the time watch:

Part of the Family

CREDITS:
Video and Photos by Susan L. Angstadt & Ben Hasty


A Day with Fransisco

CREDITS:
Video and Editing by Michelle Cassel
Produced by Nicole Shea and Miranda Harple

Digital Storytelling - How to

Learn how to create an original digital story using Windows Movie Maker. Combine original compelling writing, an effective voice and interesting digital stills.

Personal Discovery Story

Here's a personal discovery story from one of my adult educator digital storytelling sessions.

In this story, Ruth uses an effective narrative, connecting images and a heartfelt story about an adventure with her son to bring home what digital storytelling is all about.

DigiTales - The Art of Telling Digital Stories

Bernajean Porter's book arrived this week.

I've followed Bernajean's stories and website for years, used her materials in my workshops and she has been one of my digital storytelling gurus but had never bought her book which was published in 2004. Am I ever glad I did. The magic of Bernajean's website translates to the written words in her book. It is not surprising as she began her career as a writer.

In a recent Commun-it.org discussion with my Will Richardson PLN we were discussing teaching differently, even without computers. The discussion occured just as I was reading the introduction to Bernajean's book. Here's the quote:

On page 3 Bernajean writes: "Anyone crafting or leading a storytelling experience will need to focus their thinking on developing a story first rather than technology. No amount of technology will fix a poorly written or flat, impersonal story. When the digital storytelling is finished, you want your story to be remembered for its soul, not the bells and whistles."

All too often we may lean towards the bells and whistles but we know it is the story that drives the piece. Now I'm wondering why I waited 5 years to buy this book.

Lessons Learned - B.Porter

Listen to Bernajean Porter give a terrific definition of Digital Storytelling.

This interview was recorded at NECC 2008 in San Antonio. Ms. Porter also talks about a new storytelling environment in Second Life.

The photo in this post is from "Creative Educator" where you will find the article.

Digital Stories from BLC '08

At Marco Torres' digital storytelling session, offered as a two day pre-conference hands-on workshop on July 14th and 15, 2008, Marco and his team of SFETTers, who now market themselves worldwide as Alas Media, have done it again.

Here are the finished results from the Marco & Crew Pre-Conference.

Rural Voices - Maine

iTunes U has started K-12 offerings available as of July 1st, 2008.

The best one I've discovered for D.S.T. is the Maine Writing Project. 7th and 8th graders, with their laptops are writing and creating digital stories about "Place". There are 10 topics for stories currently. In each segment students read their stories. An adult narrator sometimes accompanies the stories. All the stories make up an "electronic anthology" of rural Maine.

Subscribe in iTunes

Jason Ohler

Jason Ohler's new book arrived today via Amazon.ca. I discovered his 2004 electronic publication a while back and enjoyed it. The book looks like an extended and updated version of his digital book intended for the classroom.