Digital storytelling is a narrative form that is typically short (2mins) and uses digtal media to tell it - ie it brings old and new together to communicate experience through story (I adapted Barrie’s* explanation). And the beauty is you don’t have to ‘read’ you just watch – it is a mini movie.

I love it because it is dynamic and real and true and fun!

The two men, Daniel and Barrie, who I was honoured to be taught my foundational course by, led the BBC’s Digital Storytelling sections Capturing Wales and Telling Lives, respectively. Like them I advocate the scrapbook asthetetic. Though the first digital story I made uses video, more often it is made using photographs.

Want to see my first digital story?

Before you do allow me to extend a "Thank you" to all the people in my workshop for collaborating with me so that I could get this end result!

Also: Know it requires quicktime movie, turn up the sound. OH and it is meant to be out of sync until the end…it will make sense when you watch the whole 2-odd minute thing. When you click the link below it will take you there…

Now You can have a look at my first one, if you like.

I am still learning and exploring this process however I am increasingly looking to do (and doing) work (ie facilitating workshops) in areas like this.

Some digital storytelling links:

UK-based (but teach globally)

- Daniel Meadows and his photobus. He also has a complete tutorial you can download for free. Though I recommend taking a course if you want to pursue it further. Teaches workshops in Digital Storytelling

- *Barrie Stephenson - runs Digistories "to continue to pass on the skills of digital storytelling to a wide range of communities". Teaches workshops in Digital Storytelling.

USA-based

- Next Exit - works of the late Dana Atchley, founder/father (?) of Digital Storytelling. Work now carried on by Denise, his wife, and others. 

- Digital Storytelling Festival – annual digital storytelling festival. I went this year.

- The Center for Digital Storytelling - offers workshops

- me (one day soon but email to find out in case by the time you read this ‘soon’ = ‘now’)

Australia

- ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image (Melbourne based)

- me (one day soon but email to find out in case by the time you read this ‘soon’ = ‘now’)

Please note, in my mind digital storytelling is about fun and personal authentic voice/stories – not therapy/marketing. That said, I also believe that the process is often therapeutic for individuals.  And a well told story may have the upshot of being an effective marketing tool.

PS Special thanks again to my fabulous digital storytelling workshop group – you know who you are and your stories ROCK!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 17th, 2005 at 1:49 am and is filed under art, digital storytelling, fun, stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.