Digital Storytelling is a form of personal, heartfelt expression that enables individuals, communities and organisations to reclaim their personal cultures and stories while exploring their artistic creativity. Digital Storytelling has been used by community change organizations to empower community members, educate stakeholders and the public, and as a way to evaluate change.
Digital storytelling is a relatively new term which describes the practice of everyday people who use digital tools to tell their ‘story’. digital stories are multimedia movies that combine photographs, video, sound, music, text, and often a narrative voice.
A tool to help you develop your own digital storytelling to empower community members, educate stakeholders, and evaluate change.
- Photos (digital files, printed, digital video clips, scannable objects)
- Device capable of recording video and audio (Phone, Digital Video Camera)
- Necessary cables/card readers or USB to transfer video to your laptop
- Laptop or desktop computer capable of video editing, with editing software (iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Final Cut) and audio editor (Audacity, Audition etc).
The process of creating a digital story is usually interactive. Community members are invited to a workshop-like setting and a facilitator takes them through the process of creating their digital story. Participants are invited to bring photographs, clips and/or music to help tell their story. The facilitator guides participants through the principles of a story, such as setting the context, building to a climax, sharing lessons learned, etc. The process from the participants’ experience can be very empowering. They have the opportunity to work with people who have similar experiences, are provided a process to work through emotions, and are given a voice and a platform for sharing.
Digital stories can then be shared as part of an engagement event to educate the wider community (for example, by hosting a screening event) and then can be leveraged for other engagement activities and even for qualitative evaluation.
COMPONENTS OF THE DIGITAL STORY-
The script –
Write a short story that you will later narrate and record. For a movie between 2 and 3 minutes long, your story should be about 200 to 250 words.
The Audio –
Once you are happy with your written story you will need to create an audio file which can be used in the digital story. It is good to save your narration as a .WAV file (some other audio files, such as MP3s and WMVs, may also work depending on your program). You will need to be in a fairly quiet space with your recording device. Be aware that background noise from cars, birds, air conditioners etc may appear in your sound recording. You can record the whole script in one track, or you can record it in multiple tracks.
The Video –
You can use still images or moving video for your digital story. All files need to be saved on your computer and you can then use Windows Movie Maker or iMovie to create your video.
Examples –
White Ribbon Campaign – It starts With You
http://www.itstartswithyou.ca/
California Listens
Capture Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/audiovideo/sites/galleries/pages/capturewales.shtml
Queensland Stories http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/queensland-stories/digital-storytelling-manual
