We reviewed the seven elements of Digital Storytelling in class, as well as in the article for today's class. Which of these elements seem to be the most difficult to incorporate into a story? How do you plan on utilizing all seven elements in your next project?
I would think that dramatic question would be the most difficult to incorporate because it is supposed to be an outcome that the viewer is not expecting. One needs to be lucky or have the right subject for that to happen. Just an ordinary story or something functional doesn't lend itself to a surprise ending. The emotional content would also be difficult to acheive because it is hard to find things with the materials that we have available to create the emotion that we perceive in our head. I think a PSA stands for "Public Service Announcement". I'd really like to see a few more examples to get an idea of what we are supposed to be doing. It seems for PSAs to be effective, they usualy are heavy with the emotional content and the dramatic question, like the latest real one, the condom over the cell phone with the comment "Practice Safe Text" Pretty clever. Gets one's attention. Or like the ones last year showing guys pregnant. PSAs lend themselves to the shock value in order to be successful. And short. As a PSA, people don't want to be lectured.
ReplyDeleteNancy
The 2 most difficult elements in the video analysis for me were Dramatic question and emotional content so I expect these to be the most difficult when writing the story as well. What I want the viewer to feel and what they end up feeling could be two entirely different emotions depending on how things are perceived or viewed just like a work of art. We are trained to recognize the dramatic question as we read in the article however could change it from beginning to end by manipulating expectations yet it makes your stories rich and complex when you establish one.
ReplyDeletePSA
PoV. Middle-high school
1.Dramatic Question¬-Sexting..Do you know where your password is??... both thoughts....
2.Emotional Content. Make you stop and think
3.Voice..none
4.Power of Sound Track. Find a song that works
5.Economy. Not longer than 30 seconds
6.Pacing. Faster and slower depending on images
7.pov.Parents of middle high school students
kel
I think that the dramatic question would be most difficult. Trying to come up with a non -predictable answer or twist at the end would also be challenging.
ReplyDeleteI will have to be very conscious of the 7 elements to be sure that I do include all of them.
For a PSA, I think that the dramatic question will again be the most difficult. Depending on the topic, emotional content and point of view might be the easiest. The hardest thing for me is coming up with a topic!!
Sue
I think I will have the most difficulty with Economy. I’m still not exactly sure what it is! For the most part, I think it is just making sure I have a purpose for every image, transition, statement, etc. Less is more! I will continually refer to the Significant Seven to make sure everything I share and present in my PSA falls under one of the categories.
ReplyDelete~ Eden
I think each element will bring new challenges depending on the subject matter and who the film is being presented to. As an educator it is important not to include your bias or position on various topics. I believe because of this the emotional content could be an issue for me if I was in a classroom environment if I was covering a topic that I strongly believed in.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the class I think the most difficult would be economy- keeping it within a certain time frame- and possibly pacing. It is important to get the ideas across but at the right pace. The real test for me will be incorporating everything into the actual storyboard (I can visualize things but have a hard time putting it down in that context).
I plan on using the seven areas as follows in my next assignment:
(Thanks Kel for the format idea)
1.Dramatic Question. The visuals and the music used should help create/establish the dramatic question for the PSA
2.Emotional Content. Find images that focus on the true issues at hand. Stay truthful, include a little bit personal but not too much as to turn away other viewers.
3.Voice..Preferably not mine :) Just kidding. The voice being portrayed that from someone watching in from the outside who has already been in a similar situation. This will alllow for empathy.
4.Power of Sound Track. In the video the lack of music may be powerful in projecting the voice.
5.Economy. Not longer than 30 seconds may be difficult. Need to focus on providing enough information to make a point but not too little to leave others wondering what happened.
6.Pacing. Faster and slower depending on images
7.Point of View. My point of view and those surrounding.
We shall see how this all turns out. I have changed my mind several time with regards to the PSA assignement. :) No stress :)
I think emotional content will be the hardest. Emotion is such a personal matter, individual to everyone, like fear, sadness, joy, those are things people experience on different levels. What is emotional to me may not be so emotional to someone else. And, what I think of as a powerful topic might not come across that way in film.
ReplyDeleteHere we go
*Dramatic question - I plan on creating this first, then working backwards. Don't know if it will work, but it seems to make sense.
*Emotion - ?
*Voice - a personal account will be the most dramatic.
*Sound track - don't get me started! I hear Musak in stores and end up humming along, it drives my family crazy! I am always thinking about music, and I will be picky about what I use. This is important to me.
*Economy - I think shorter is better with a PSA, you need to bring the point across and leave your audience thinking about the message and wondering about it later. A dramatic question is a great way to end a video!
*Pacing - I liked in the article where it said a video needs to breathe. That is true.
*Point of view - again, a personal statement is most dramatic.
I am pretty stumped about what to make my final assignment. I see plenty of ideas, but need to focus. The dramatic question is what I think you need to start with, and work backwards...but what should I do? I am not ready to say how I will use the 7 elements. - Liz
I agree with my digital story telling peers when they replied to the question about what is the most difficult element to tackle and convey to your audience would be “dramatic question” and “emotion.” I really appreciate all aspects of art and the components that make-up all the elements of different mediums. Appreciating a finished creations and actually doing it are two very different things for me. I find it very difficult for me to create myself and stretch the boundaries to be honest about what I really want to convey and how to do it without having too much of one element where my overall outcome is lost. I think getting over the hurdle of taking a chance and being okay with not having the most perfect piece is okay – Knowing that there is no such thing a perfect piece of art.
ReplyDeleteI think having a frame work (7 elements) is just what I need to get started creating. I also think when planning the story board is going to help me target which elements are going to fit in various aspects of my projects
This article was useful in giving more information on the nuts and bolts of story telling. I feel I have a better sense of what is required and desired for digital story telling. While one might be aware of what goes into good storytelling, this was an excellent article to refresh and remind one of these elements.
ReplyDeleteI liked that the author made us aware of the fact no one likes hearing their own voice, be it on the answering machine or recorded for a digital story. But it can be the most important part of telling your story, be it a personal memoir or a presentation for work.
I find that many people struggle with starting a story or just plain have troubles getting started. And now I understand why “over loaded memory bank” was an excellent explanation of this phenomena . For example, it can be difficult to relate events from childhood if you feel you have to tell EVERYTHING that ever happened to you. Using your internal editor to relate the important parts…sometimes you get there simply by talking about it to a friend… makes focusing on a story much easier. The interview questions can help as a jumping off point for this exploration. It is all a process.
I am not sure if we will use microphones in class this class period (#3) but if we do I think a voice would distract from the message of the project I have planned. I am also interested in playing with pacing of the PSA in relation to music. So yes, I have drawn a story board and put some thought into it….Julie M
PS You did read correctly...drawn a story board......