The Building Blocks of Digital Storytelling Gitner: pages 165-190

Agenda Importance of variety in visual storytelling Necessary components Some things to avoid Important Final Tip! Make your audience feel comfortable and natural as they watch the final film

Video storytelling is a means of communication that can influence opinions and change minds through stories that are engaging and informative, but it demands careful strategy and thought.

Choosing Between Photographic or Video Storytelling 1. Starting the Shoot Choosing Between Photographic or Video Storytelling

A-Roll B-Roll General interview footage, both audio and video. A-Roll is melody... B-Roll All visuals that are shot, excluding interviews. B-Roll is harmony, A-Roll of Interview subject B-Roll of what they are talking about (images or film) A-Roll of interview subject A-Roll of soccer match B-Roll of fams

Rule of Thirds #

180-Degree Rule Relationship of two subjects in a scene forces an “axis of action” from one to the other. The camera on one, consistent side of the line Sequencing A series of shots that build the visual narrative. Consists of a variety of shots at varying focal lengths, such as tight, medium, wide and long Use a Tripod Lock the camera down to avoid shaky-camera syndrome. Benefits of being quicker and more convenient, even for smaller camera or mobile smart phones.

Action / Reaction What is the action? What is the reaction?

Visual and Compelling Elements of Storytelling 2. Necessary Components Visual and Compelling Elements of Storytelling

POV Shot A complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image, namely making it possible to absorb large amounts of data quickly.

POV Shots Fiction Rugged, wearable mounted camera Nonfiction Pov shots can increase tension and drama, put the viewer in the place of another character or object Nonfiction More difficult to execute because you are not always working with actors/set scenes Rugged, wearable mounted camera Recent development in POV shooting GoPro

Cutaway Other scenes within the overall scene Can be used to get from one shot to another during edits

Interview Shot Lead room -- employing the Rule of Thirds Subject off-center Subject’s focal point offside

Tight Shot Super Tight For showing details, good transitions

Medium Shot Wide Shot Establishes setting Above-the-waist / Head-and-shoulders shots Allows for body language Establishes setting Includes all or most characters

Advantages & Challenges 3. Advantages & Challenges Techniques, principles, and things to avoid when shooting your digital story

Bunch of people standing around BOPSA Bunch of people standing around

SLOBR Serious lack of B-roll

AMD Avoid Mindless Documentation

Spray and Pray

Camera movement

high and above

eye level

Quiz!

Place your screenshot here What kind of shot is this? POV Rule of Thirds Tight shot rule of thirds

What kind of shot is this? overall setting wide shot

When conducting an interview with an iPhone camera, should the camera be facing horizontal or Vertical? horizontal

What should you keep in mind while you're shooting?

Any questions? Alison Angelo Meg Carlson Kaitlin Neinstedt thanks! Any questions? Alison Angelo Meg Carlson Kaitlin Neinstedt