Priscilla’s step-by-step guide to creating
a compelling multimedia feature story
By: Priscilla Wentworth
Georgetown University Cause Consultant
About Priscilla
• Currently pursing a masters degree in Public Relations and Corporate
Communications
• Georgetown University cause consultant
• Interests in multimedia technology to create promote and manage cause
marketing efforts
• I enjoy this topic and I am happy to keep this conversation going. Feel free to
reach me anytime at on LinkedIn.
• Webinar available here:
https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/csic/?p=3979
Introduction
• http://kidsgoals.com/thoughts-of-the-day/how-to-educate-a-child/
Clearing the Clutter: Multimedia Storytelling
Audio
Photos
Greater
attention
from
audience
Key Definitions
• Multimedia is a combination of text, still photographs, video clips, and audio interactivity presented in a
nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant.
• Digital storytelling is the new practice of ordinary people using digital tools to tell their story. Digital stories are
often compelling and emotionally engaging.
• A storyboard is a sketch of how to organize a story and a list of its contents. A storyboard helps you: Define
the parameters of a story, organize and focus a story, and figure out what mediums to use to tell the story.
• Layering, is combing your audio and photos on a storyboard to create a video that will enhance your message.
• Nonprofits are all trying to tell their stories in memorable ways. By creating simple, short multimedia videos
you can connect with your audience.
The four W’s for Nonprofit Storytelling:
Who, What, When, Where
Who would benefit from making a multimedia
media piece?
Anyone in your organization (donor, staff member, caregiver,
volunteer) who can tell a first-hand story of what makes your
organization worthwhile or promote your mission.
What makes a compelling multimedia story?
Emotion through the sounds that are happening in the photo, a
photo that describes what is happening through the narration.
No more than 9-12 minutes and 20-40 photos.
When is there value in telling your story through
When you need to bring awareness and a call to action. When
briefing new donors or to break the ice and ramp up emotion.
a video over writing it or visually displaying it?
Where do you share your videos once they are
created?
Embed on your website (recommended), share the links via
social media pages and ask others to share, comment, and join
the conversation.
What Hardware/Software Will You need?
 Computer (PC or MAC will work)
 Flash drive or hard drive to store and back up files
 Audio recorder: iPhone, Android default recorders (free and work well!). Make sure you
check your recording format settings
 A storyboard: a blank wall and some sticky notes will do!
 Audio editing software: Audacity (PC), Hindenburg (PC), or Garage Band (MAC). Or any
software you personally prefer to work with
 Layering Audio and Photos software: Soundslides
 Camera: Professional SLR or point-and-shoot (whatever you are most comfortable using)
Step-by-step Directions for Software
•
•
•
•
•
Audio recording (PC) Audacity (or any Audacity tutorials on website)
Hendenburg (PC)
Audio recording (MAC) Garage Band (or any Garage Band tutorials on website)
Creating the multimedia piece (MAC & PC) Soundslides
Posting to your website
• http://support.soundslides.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=117
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsSGPh-TzA
Examples & Resources:
Books, Blogs, & Websites
Must See: Inspirational example:
•
NY Times, 1 in 8million project
Blogs/Websites
•
Multimedia Shooter: Different tools and different people using and good stories you wouldn’t see.
•
This American Life: best audio storytelling out there, weekly show
•
Radiolab: opposite of This American Life, on the edge with sound and storytelling, NPR program
•
NPR, The Picture Show , 1st news photo blog
•
NY Times, LENS, more traditional approach
Books/ TED Video on book
•
John Maeda, The Laws of Simplicity. A good, quick read about creative simplicity. TED video on this topic.
•
Jessica Helfand and John Maeda, Screen: Essays on Graphic Design, New Media, and Visual Culture, Washington Post (Note: all quotes from this post are
from this reference)
Audio Tips
• define: tracks, acts, ambiance
• tips on actual recording and editing
Tracks, Acts, Ambi: Important Elements
to Audio
• Tracks: You. The guide.
• Acts: Those you interview. Your subjects.
• Ambience (ambi): Sounds. Sets the mood.
• “Audio works when it touches our hearts,
tickles our imagination, and intrigues our
minds.”
• “Make them feel like they’re wherever you are,
not reading the postcard you sent.”
Tips for Recording Audio: What do you really
want to know from your interviews?
“You will find that trust is one of the best elements of a great story. Be respectful of that trust, from the interview to the edit. Know that it
may take many sessions before a subject will allow themselves to really open up.”
•
Prep your questions. so that the interviewee answers them in a complete sentence and not just a simple “yes” or “no”. For example: “Tell me how you
felt when…” or “Describe for me…” Ultimately you want your acts to describe the story in their words with your voice used only as the putty molding the
overall story.
•
Be as close to the mic as possible. Otherwise, it will be harder to change the levels of sound between people when editing later. For that reason, get
comfortable with your subjects since you will be close to them while recording.
•
Background noise. For example, a mistake I made before was not pausing a recording for a plane flying overhead. I lost a quality statement from my
subject. Ask to pause and resume once the plane passes, your interviewee may not think to do this so be listening for all distraction noises.
•
•
Speed of delivery. Keep your voice natural and remind your subjects; if you think you are talking slow, you could probably talk slower.
The power of a pause.
•
“The spaces between sounds can be as important as the sounds themselves. Once you start to edit, you’ll notice how crucial breaths can be, how
powerful a pause is. Sometimes you are only a breath away from your goal: an edit that is invisible to the ear.”
Audio Equipment and Editing Tips & Tricks
• While editing listen to yourself and your acts through headphones.
• Your smart phones standard recorder is fine for recording audio. Can also buy the app Audio Pro
for the iPhone.
• WAV or MP3 files. Audacity (PC) and Garage Band (MAC). There are loads of free tutorials
online that will walk you through how to record in these files, save, and convert files types.
• Copywriting/ethics: Unless it is free copywriting (music on garage band and other editing
software programs) do not use it. Even if you buy it off iTunes, you do not have the rights to use
it in your story. There is plenty of free music sites but makes sure you get permission when
needed. Even with YouTube you must get permission or pay for the rights.
“Tell a compelling, worthy story with words and sounds the same way you tell it with images. Capture emotion. Get
close. Approach things from a new angle with a curious mind and a sensitive heart.”
Visual tips
•
define: the five photos needed to tell a compelling feature story
•
tips on lightening, rules of vision, and for stories
Five Photos to Telling a Compelling Feature
Story
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Scene setter
1.
4.
Medium shot
Portrait
Detail shot
Action shot
2.
3.
5.
Photo Flow
When you are taking pictures you are not thinking about how they will flow later, keep
the following in mind:
• Leveling. Prop the camera on something wherever you can to get a level photo.
• Rule of thirds. Take a photo of the subject on one side or the other, but not in the
middle of the screen.
• Flash. Photos should be taken with natural light and the flash off as much as
possible. When layering them later, if you have photos with flash and photos
without they may not flow as nicely from one to the next in the story.
• Cropping. If you must only crop what is competing with your subject/focus.
Layering: Time to bring your story to life!
File Storage
Storyboard
Soundslides
Layering Continued
• Once you have all of your audio and photos you are ready to begin editing. This is the most time consuming part so leave
plenty of time to get your thoughts together and edit.
• Combine all audio and photos into one main folder on your computer. Back-up on your flash drive or hard drive with the
original source content.
• Begin importing your audio into the audio editing software program. Segment your audio into blips that you want to use.
• Make a folder for final edits and export them into this folder and move copies of photos you are sure you want to use here.
Don’t discount anything too early.
• Time to write your story! My favorite way to do this is to place Post-it notes on a wall with specific audio tracks and acts on
each one and then either printed photos or write out on the sticky notes which photos you want to use.
• Take a few weeks with this up on the wall. Don’t be afraid to let the story take up the whole wall!
•
Move things around, walk away, come back, over and over, and your story will unfold organically.
• You are now ready to use Soundslides to create the edited audio and final photos for your story into a digital story.
Conclusion
•
Key Takeaways:
•
Methodology: Leave yourself plenty of time. Don’t try
to do audio recording and take photos in the same
interview--make sure you can meet with your subjects
more than once and spend time to get comfortable
with them.
•
Multimedia pieces are a cost effective, creative and
simple way to build your brand and raise awareness of
your mission.
•
We are all creative when we open up and are
passionate about the story we want to share.
•
I am happy to keep the conversation going! Reach out to me
anytime via LinkedIn for tips, suggestions, or resources
•
Thank you and happy storytelling!