Capstone in Digital Storytelling
COMM 6997 - 701 3 credits
Spring 2013 Tuesday 5:30PM-8:10PM
Instructor: Carole Burns
Office: 122 Johnston Hall
Phone: 288-3449
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays noon – 4:00PM
Email: carole.burns@marquette.edu
REQUIRED TEXTS
None
In lieu of a textbook, please purchase a 500GB USB powered external hard drive.
In addition to there will be electronic reading and video posted on the D2L site.
PREREQUISITE SKILL SET
This course will dive deep into the craft of digital storytelling. It is assumed that students have basic knowledge of
still photo, video and audio skills. Knowledge of multimedia editing software is also an expectation of students in
the program. If at any time you feel the need for more instruction in these two areas, refer to www.lynda.com .
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Digital Storytelling can take many forms from the most informal personal story to documentary style production.
Working with a chosen topic you will develop five different stories using the following six story styles.
- Mobile- a quick short story from a ‘man on the street’ standpoint
- Short Topic – 1-3 minute narrative piece – from a third person point of view
- Silent – 1-3 minute, instrumental/visual, (no narrative) piece
- Interview – 3-5 minute marketing piece – from a sales or second person point of view
- Personal – 3 minute story that has an emotional impact – first person point of view
- Documentary – 10-30 minute – Informative documentary style – produced on DVD, compressed for YouTube
COURSE BENEFITS
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Discover the power of a strong personal story
Provide you with an understanding of the steps and procedures needed to create, design, organize, and post
a story for a specific client and for a targeted audience.
Provide tools to critically examine and critique visual stories.
Develop a website that incorporates several forms of digital media, including text, photographs, and video
Expand your understanding of the use of digital storytelling in advertising, journalism, history and personal
formats.
Expand your understanding of storytelling as a form of communication from practical and theoretical
perspectives.
Develop an understanding of the different types of video equipment and supporting components (lights,
audio) required to complete a successful and professional product.
Develop an understanding of the postproduction process.
COURSE METHOD
This course will consist of lectures, class discussions, online video instruction, lab assignments, critiques; in-class
presentations, and a completed prototype of a client/journalistic website.
Class time will be devoted to presenting story ideas, discovering the proper use of equipment, instruction on
professional quality lighting and audio, developing storyboards and shooting schedules to fit the identified story
style.
D2L will be utilized to share ideas and analyze story goals, share information, critique, and video instruction
components.
The story presentations will allow students the opportunity to offer input on the storytelling process and assist with
refining the content. Hands on class time will be provided for completion of digital projects. Student feedback will
be required – creating a teamwork atmosphere and enabling class members to focus their stories down to the ‘true
story with-in’.
Client sites are not required, but a way to utilize all five styles into one portfolio piece. Discussion on possible
clients/focus will take place during the first class session.
Two types of sites are possible:
- Resume site - provide a venue to showcase your background and experience.
- Client site - give you the opportunity to interact with content with a specific purpose.
EVALUATION
Your grade in this course will be based on your performance in class, on your presentation, and on your five projects.
Your websites will receive a grade based on effectiveness, to what degree they meet the intent of the site, viewer
interest, appropriate organization and structure, creativity, technical mastery, and evident ability to work effectively
with a client.
Your grade will also be based on participation: regular attendance, helping other students, locating and offering
information about story design, and offering constructive criticism during critiques. You are encouraged to submit
your stories to the student film festival, and will get extra credit upon proof of entry.
10% participation
10% in-class presentation
40% digital presentations
10% digital storytelling journal (online D2L site)
30% client/portfolio project
Software/Hardware Requirements
While Final Cut Pro X has been taught in the program, it is not a requirement for completion of projects.
The best camera (and software for that matter) for the project is what you have in front of you – what I
mean by that is simply, the tool is not what I am hoping to teach in the course, but the content and the
reason behind telling the stories.
Cameras will be available for checkout from the Wakerly Technology Training Center. You are welcome
to use your own personal camera, given that it will provide you with the best quality project you can
produce.
Graduate/Undergraduate Notice
Both graduate and undergraduate students can enroll in this course; however, to receive graduate
credit, students must be enrolled in a graduate program at Marquette and must register for the class
using the 5000-level course number. Graduate students fulfill all requirements expected of
undergraduate students, but they must also do extra course work that demonstrates thinking at a
higher conceptual level, greater ability to analyze and synthesize information, and a more advanced
level of critical thinking.
Specifically, this course requires graduate students to demonstrate complete knowledge of the use of
digital storytelling.
Graduate students will prepare a final analysis of digital storytelling. This analysis will include
information in respect to the perspective audience; explain reasoning for method of delivery and
topic area focus. Furthermore the paper should create a case review of why the particular form of
media was chosen as the vehicle for each type of story (mobile, short, interview, personal and
documentary).
The paper must include at least three scholarly references for each story type listed above.
Useful text for entrepreneurs:
Digital Storytelling:
Capturing Lives, Creating Community
by Joe Lambert
3rd Edition, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-61623-849-0
Available from www.storycenter.org - $35.00
KNOW
Field Guide to Filmmaking
By Still Motion
Available from www.stillmotion.ca – Free Download + Apps!
Detailed outline of course
Date
Topic
Discussion
Assignment
Deliverable
Jan 15
Know your
voice
-Choosing a Story
-Multimedia Storytelling
-Alternate Story Forms
-Challenges of Mobile
Journalism
-Audience
Online Tutorial:
Know video part 1 – 1st hour
First rough copy of Personal
Story – 250 words (Send via D2L
to class during winter break)
Man on the street interview
– 1-3 minute (short story)
Reflection Statement – Dropbox
D2l - 3 Over 1 Rule
Lecture: Web 2.0
The Apollo 13 Project
Mobile Video – Short Story
The plan – the use of
storyboards during pre
and post edit.
Online Tutorial:
Reflection Statement – Know
Video Part 1 – 1st hour
Introduction of
Mobile
Devices
Jan 22
Audience and
Medium
Online
Discussion
topic – Why do
we tell stories?
Jan 29
Story
Development
Know video pt 1 – 2nd hour
View Apollo 13 Video
Questions of
Storytelling
Apollo 13 Video (Short
Topic, 1-3 minute – 3rd
person point of view)
Apollo 13 Storyboard
Silent Plan
Apollo 13 Video
Online
Discussion
topic – Who is
the Audience?
Feb 5
Treatment
Lecture: Composition
-
Online
discussion –
Know Video
part 1 – 2nd
hour
Storyboard
Shoot list
Topic Research
Reflection Statement – Know
video Part 1 – 2nd hour
2nd draft of personal story
Know Video Part 2 –
Lighting
Interview topic proposal
Feb 12
Light Basics
Jon Lamb, IMC, Guest
Speaker
Online
discussion Critique of
Apollo 13
Video
Feb 19
Feb 26
Audio Basics
Photo
Journalism
Silent Video
Critique
Light plan
Silent video
Written Silent Plan
Reflection Paper – Know Video
Part 2 - Lighting
Interview Topic Proposal
Jon Pray, IMC, Guest
Speaker
Interview Video
Bill Frakes, Guest
Speaker
Personal Story – Final
Revision
Silent Video
Reflection Paper – Light Basics
Interview Video
Reflection Paper – Audio Basics
Date
Topic
Discussion
Assignment
Deliverable
Mar 5
DSLR Intro
Chris Whitman, Guest
Speaker
Personal Story Storyboard
DSLR Reflection
Online
Discussion –
Interview
Critique
Watch 3-5 of the Silence
Speaks digital stories
Mar 12
Spring Break
No Class!
Mar 19
Tell me a
story
Review the Digital
Storytelling Cookbook
Final Documentary
Proposal
Personal Story Storyboard
Personal Story Video –
Open Lab
Final Documentary
Storyboard/Shoot
Schedule
Final Documentary Proposal Due
Personal Story
Video review in class
Documentary Project
Personal Story Video Due
Online
Discussion Critique of
two peer
video
12 Tips to Make a
Documentary
Website layout
Final Documentary
Storyboard/Shoot Schedule
April 9
Open Lab
Documentary Draft
Website Layout
April
16
Open Lab
Documentary Project
work – Carole
available for
consultation/questions
Open Lab
April
25
Open Lab
Open Lab
Documentary Final
Be prepared to discuss
other social services
opportunities for digital
storytelling
March
22
Open Lab
Online
Discussion –
the strength of
digital stories
April 2
Reflection – Silence Speaks, the
power of the digital story
Documentary Draft
Documentary Final
May 7
Movie Time
May 14
Celebrate
Final Cut Pro X
Certification Exam –
Retake
Review of
Documentaries &
Websites
Review of
Documentaries &
Websites
Documentary Final
Final Reflection
Grad Students – Reflection Paper
Due