1. Digital Storytelling Crafting your story

2. Knowing and writing your story is the first step. How will you use your story? An introduction to a book or a reading assignment An introduction to a lesson; i.e., about a point in history Special content to get across in a lesson

3. Something should happen. Your story should contain: Beginning Middle End Dramatic quality Point of view (1 st or 3 rd person) Will you use video as the message or the medium?

4. Consider focusing on a character in order to tell your story. An important part of a compelling story is a character to care about.

5. Have a script. 1 double-spaced page of typed script = 1 or 2 minutes OR, 120 words = roughly 1 minute Tell your story in the simplest way possible. You may need to narrow your topic.

6. 1. Sound bites a. Single phrases of importance taken from an interview b. Main ideas that express a paragraph in a story 2. Voice-overs - Pre-written scripts recorded onto tape or the computer Sound

7. 3. Nat-sound - Natural sounds that enhance a story 4. Additional audio elements Sound effects Copyright free music tracks Music from CDs - Copyright issues

8. Sound Choose background music that will not compete with your narration. Natural sound helps to convey a sense of place.

9. Narration Be aware of voice quality during narration. Use: Emphasis Inflection Variation in speed/ pace Variation in pitch Variation in volume

10. Dramatization Helps students: Retain information Maintain interest Create meaning

11. Shooting Use a steady camera, unless you are trying to convey a sense of dis-ease or distortion Pay attention to the horizon line and keep it square. Few things detract from an otherwise good picture as quickly as a tilted horizon. Also remember the Rule of Thirds and don't place the horizon line in the middle of the photo.Rule of Thirds

12. Types of Shots Establishing – shows setting/ time period Wide – shows figure and environment Full/ long – frames entire person Medium – frames person waste up Tight – close-up Action/ reaction – used in sequence

13. Camera Angles Bird’s eye view: suggests fatality High – from above: suggests inferiority Worm’s eye view: disoriented, self- conscious shot Low – from below: suggests superiority/ dominance

14. 180 Degree Rule if a viewer is introduced to a space in which person A is on the right and person B is on the left, the camera should not rotate beyond 180 degrees, because that would invert the relative positions of person A and B (person A would suddenly appear on the left and person B on the right).

15. Framing Rule of Thirds Place important elements of your composition where these lines intersect. Place the eyes in one of the upper intersections. Place the horizon along one of the horizontal bars.

16. Rule of Thirds http://jl-site.com/Oklahoma/RuleofThirds.html

17. Rule of Thirds http://www.hippasus.com/resources/viscomp/RuleThirds.html

18. Framing Head room - the amount of space between the top of a person's head and the top of your frame: Less is best. Lead/ nose room - space in front of your subject. Leave extra space in the direction your subject is looking or moving. Natural cut-off lines- neck, elbows, waist, knees and ankles.

19. Which is Best? http://www.mapacourse.com/DVpages/headroom.htm

20. Head room should increase with longer shots http://www.mapacourse.com/DVpages/headroom.htm

21. Framing and Primary Movement (of subject) Figure on right – suggests dominance/ heroism Figure on left – suggests subordinance/ antagonism Movement from left to right - natural Movement from right to left - unnatural

22. Secondary Movement (of camera) Zoom Pan Tilt Tracking

23. Lighting 3-point lighting - A key light (the brightest light) is supplemented by a fill light, to one side, and a light in back. This allows subjects in the frame to appear three- dimensional. Otherwise, the subject may appear flat or blend in with the background.

24. Lighting High-key - comparatively little contrast between the light and dark areas Low-key - creates a strong contrast between light, dark and deep shadows

25. Let’s do some math. On average, a shot should last 3-5 seconds. A pan, maybe 7 seconds. 20 pictures at 3 seconds each = 60 seconds

26. Editing Say Bear, See Bear! Set a tone through the pace of your movie: Quick suggests action, urgency, excitement, nervousness Slow suggests contemplation, romanticism, simple pleasures

27. Start Simple Start with basic content and sweeten your movie afterwards.