Introduction to Digital Storytelling
April 1st – April 3rd 2014
Digital Storytelling – Some Definitions
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digital story (dig·i·tal sto·ry)
A short, first person video-narrative created by combining recorded voice, still
and moving images, and music or other sounds.
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digital storyteller (dig·i·tal sto·ry·tell·er)
Anyone who has a desire to document life experience, ideas, or feelings
through the use of story and digital media. Usually someone with little to no
prior experience in the realm of video production but time to spend a few days
attending a workshop and developing a story with creative support and
technical assistance from compassionate, highly experienced facilitators.
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Established 1994, San Francisco, USA
Center Director is Joe Lambert author of Digital Storytelling
Cookbook, Digital Storytelling – Capturing Lives, Creating
Community and Seven Ages of Story
http://www.storycenter.org/
Holds workshops across the world
Digital Storytelling in a Time of Crisis, Athens, May 8-10 2014
International Day of Storysharing – May 16th
DigiTales: started life as a pilot digital storytelling project that
took place in six countries 2005 – 2007 as part of the
Inclusion Through Media partnership funded by EQUAL part of the European Social Fund.
DigiTales Ltd was established in 2008
Silver Stories
Digital Storytelling: Methodology
DigiTales enables people to:

tell their own stories

learn digital media skills

build confidence and self-esteem
The method places the stories under the control of the storyteller.
Digital Storytelling: Methodology
Digital Storytelling is fun:
 a way to reach people who think that education is ‘not for them’
 can help to develop language and literacy skills through
storytelling and script-writing
 can give people a kick-start in developing their skills and improving
their chances to gain employment
 a way to engage thoughtfully with experience
Digital Stories Screening
A digital story is:
 a 2-minute film (~250 words)
 a personal story
 written, recorded and edited by the film maker
 uses photos/drawings by the film maker (10-30
photos)
 can also use video, animation and music
 any images or music have to be copyright free
(eg. if you use images off Creative Commons, use the
right section and remember to credit the photographer
www.flickr.com/creativecommons
Part 1: Story circle
Create a warm, trusting atmosphere and get
to know each other through games
My favourite object
Matchstick game
Introduce storytelling through
writing exercises
Hear each other’s stories
When your script is ready, record a voiceover
You need about 10-30 images for your film
You can scan
photographs
from your
family album
or take new
photos
You can get creative with
drawing
or use simple stopframe
animation (stills camera on
a tripod)
or Flash (requires more time
and a trainer who knows
Flash)
Part 2:
Editing
Once you have gathered your materials
(voiceover and images) you can start editing
PC: Windows Movie Maker
Mac: iMovie
Then screen the films at the end of the
workshop or at a later date - invite friends!
Films posted onto the Websites
---->
Exhibitions in public spaces
<---- BBC Big Screen, Liverpool
Think about the needs of the group you are working with
and adapt the method.
Timescale of workshop ?
Language support ?
Artistic support ?
 Educational knowledge and support?
With a refugee group in Leeds
we had extra support to work
one-on-one with the participants
to help with writing the scripts
and creating images.
Some people explored their story
idea in their mother tongue first.
Let’s start storytelling!