Pre-Production Phase -- Finding and Organizing Ideas Worth Communicating
Step One: Writing the Script
The written narrative script telling the story in the author’s own voice is the heart and soul of digital storytelling. It is meant to organize all the other media elements used and should be completed FIRST! The script is tightly crafted to tell a memorable story of understanding while also keeping in mind how the various media can help show, rather than tell, the information or ideas with words. Whatever story is chosen to make into a digital story, the written script needs to be about how this particular topic touched the author’s life — not just presenting the facts and information gathered. The narrative written script is captured later as a digital voiceover during the production phase.
Time management: Some hours over a week
Processes: Mind mapping, drafting, teacher conferencing, peer review, rewriting and rewriting
Technology tools: Word processor and printer
Step Two: Planning the Project
This step of creating storyboards and image/sound lists is the modern version of making an outline for a written report. The time spent here increases the quality of the communication as well as definitely saving lots of time and frustration during the Production and Post-Production phases. Storyboard templates are graphic organizers that allow authors to visualize and detail out all aspects of their story — narration, images, titles, transitions, special effects, music, and sounds — BEFORE actually using any of the technology tools. Start the storyboard with the actual text from the script along with the images and titles being planned. Then fill in the storyboard with any transitions and special effects being used. Sound effects and music are added last, even though ideas may be forming along the way. The storyboards may look similar to comic books, but they are rough sketches, keywords, or symbols as the scenes are mapped out enough to out show how all the media mixes together.
Time management: 2-3 hours over a week
Processes: Storyboarding, Image/Sound Lists, and Teacher Conferencing / Peer Review
Technology tools: Word processor and printing
Step Three: Organizing Folders
Each student needs his or her own folders containing all media elements.
Time management: 5 minutes
Processes: File management with back-up procedures
Technology tools: Flash Drive
Production Phases: Gathering and Preparing Digital Media
Production includes creating the digital voiceover from the written script, collecting guest voices or digital interviews, filming, photography, downloading files from digital libraries, digitizing images or sound, and creating or editing your own media resources. The image and sound lists will guide you in how many media resources you really need. Without the image/sound lists, time management may get away from authors at this stage.
Step Four: Practicing the Voiceover
Earlier in the process, students created a written narrative script that will now be recorded into a digital voiceover. Coach students to perform the meaning and emotional tone rather than read or recite the words on the paper. The author’s voice should be the emotional conduit for viewers to experience the information or story being told.
Time management: Until you are comfortable with the script
Processes: Oral speaking -- performing, pacing, and living in the story as a storyteller
Step Five: Gather, Create, and Edit Media Resources
Each media chosen either decorates, illustrates, or illuminates the message. Encourage students to gather, create, or edit images, sound, music, and other media with the deliberate intention of extending the understanding and increasing the power of their message. While there may be temptation to indulge dabbling in the novelty bumps and fun of this technical playground — this is where the time taken to develop a storyboard and image/sound lists to guide the work will pay off!
Creating and editing your own music loops or ambient sounds likewise gives students an opportunity to experience technical and creative skills in communication. George Lucas says that music/sound is 50 percent of the information or story experience. Music and sound provide tone, setting, emotional context, and nonverbal meaning to the message. Sound and music should not be used as a background to the story — each piece of music or sound chosen illuminates and extends the message.
Time management: ?
Processes: Using image/sound lists, understanding file formats, honoring copyright
Technology tools: Cameras, Internet access, scanning, music-making software, royalty-free subscriptions
Post-Production: Putting it all Together
Step Six: Creating rough cut FIRST and final cut LAST
Watch your story. Make sure everything is perfect. Be sure you have included ALL of the elements of Digital Storytelling.
Step Seven: Applause! Applause!
And now each digital story will be able to live happily ever after, literally a living artifact that each storyteller now leaves as a personal legacy to others. What a joy to finish a digital story! The bringing together of the author’s own voice, the images, music, and sounds with technical craftsmanship into a meaningful story is a sheer delight for the soul! It is time to celebrate as well as find a multitude of ways for others to experience the author’s work in real time. This is the time for pure celebration for what has been accomplished!
