Digital Storytelling
Hi everyone, my name is Terence Tan. A student from First City University College at Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Currently in, BA (HONS) in Mass Communication. Whereby, I'll be sharing what I have learned in class. The subject is called Digital Storytelling & Pre-Production.
The first class that I learn on Monday morning 12th October 2020 is about Digital Storytelling and Pre-Production. It was interesting and fun. I have gained a lot of knowledge about it.
Enjoy!
So let's begin with a small introduction to Digital Storytelling. Digital storytelling or visual storytelling is a story primarily through the use of visual media. The story may be told using still photography, illustration, or video an can be enhanced with the graphics, music, and other audio.
Another term for Digital Storytelling also can be Visual storytelling. Here's why, visual narrative" has been used to describe several genres of visual storytelling, from news and information photojournalism, the photo essay, the documentary film to entertainment (art, movies, television, comic books). The visual narrative has also been of interest to the academic community as scholars, thinkers, and educators have sought to understand the impact and power of image and narrative in individuals and societies.
It's also about the corresponding discipline is called visual narratology. Distinguishing characteristics of the visual narrative by a persuasive story with a point of view.
Constructing photographs and framing
Framing is about the shots that are all composition. Rather than pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose an image. As mentioned, framing is the process of creating a composition. The framing technique is very subjective. What one person finds dramatic, another may find pointless. What we're looking at here are a few accepted industry guidelines which you should use as rules of thumb.
There a few Camera Shots that I want to introduce in this topic:
1. Close up
A picture that shows a fairly small part of the scene, such as a character's face, in great detail so that it fills the screen. A framing in which the scale of the object shown is relatively large. In a close-up, a person's head, or some other similarly-sized object, will fill the frame
2. Long Shot/Wide Shot
In a framing in which the scale of the object shown is small, a standing human figure would appear nearly the height of the screen. It makes for a relatively stable shot that can accommodate movement without reframing.
3. Point of View Shot
(POV) point of view shows what the character sees. These are often freehand and are used in horror films. The editor may change the audience’s point of view to create certain effects.
For the next topic is about camera angle:
1. High Angle
A high angle is a power position. Not so extreme as a bird's eye view, the camera is elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview.
2. Low Angle
Low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer, of powerlessness within the action of a scene. The background of a low-angle shot will tend to focus the sky on the lack of detail about the setting adding to the disorientation of the viewer. The added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen.
Also, I have learned the differences between a story and a report. Reporting is about nature, that is somewhat dull. So we expect numbers, charts, and straightforward facts. We don’t expect to really be moved by a report the way we expect to be moved by a story. Whereas, storytelling is 22 times more memorable than facts alone. So if we want to move our stakeholders to get their attention and even listen to the facts we would do well to harness the power of a story. In storytelling uses qualitative information. Qualitative goes beyond just asking open-ended text questions, though. It also includes social media listening, focus groups online or in-person, and even scanning relevant discussion forums for information. Even scanning relevant blog posts and news articles can give more context to some of the data you’ve collected.
Break-Time: 5 Minutes in Class
So back from the 5 minutes break and then continue the 2nd topic called Pre-Production.
Pre-Production
What is Pre-Production,
Pre-production is the process of fixing some of the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance. There are three parts in production pre-production, production, and post-production. Pre-production ends when the planning ends and the content starts being produced.
In the lecture that I notice, is about the Director Vision, or a Director's point of view. A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay or script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, production design, and the creative aspects of filmmaking.
The key of Pre-Production People there is 3 category.
Firstly, Director, Secondly, Screenwriter and Thirdly, Production Designer. A film’s overall look may exist in the director’s imagination, but the screenwriter and the production designer are the people who actually create the fictional world of the movie.
In pre-production, the director and cinematographer plan how to photograph each scene. The director may create storyboards to communicate his ideas to the cinematographer. The director will work with the production designer to create the sets, props, and costumes.
As for screenwriters, they imagine the world through words. Screenwriting is a freelance profession.
No education is required to become a professional screenwriter, just good storytelling abilities, and imagination. Screenwriters are not hired employees but contracted freelancers. What separates a professional screenwriter from an amateur screenwriter is that professional screenwriters are usually represented by a talent agency. Also, professional screenwriters do not often work for free, but amateur screenwriters will often work for free and are considered "writers in training."
The production designer turns words and the director's ideas into real-life sets, props, and costumes. This research is often the first step. It refers to the produces sketches and miniature models of sets, props, and costumes. Once the director approves designs, construction begins.
What is SET? I learned that SET is the place or site of each scene. A set may be the interior of a building, such as an office, a courtroom, a train station, or even a train car. Or the set may be exterior locations, such as porches. Usually, Sets are constructed.
The Scenery, it can be relatable to Set. The scenery needs to refer to landscapes and outdoor locations. The scenery can be constructed, such as the backdrop seen through a window. This includes mountains, beaches, fields, public parks, etc.
Props are a part of a short property. A prop is a moveable object that is part of a set. For examples include wall hangings, tableware, computers, street signs, and weapons.
To conclude, everything that I have learned about this topic is about the basic and practical of Digital Storytelling and Pre-Production.
Thank you for reading.
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