Digital Storytelling Workshop Returns To NZ

Digital Storytelling Workshop Returns To New Zealand

After a successful first course in Wellington's (e)-vision in December last year, Joe Lambert, founder of the Center for Digital Storytelling in San Francisco is returning to New Zealand to teach digital storytelling techniques in April. The three-day course will be run in Wellington and Auckland.

Digital Storytelling is a technique which produces dynamic presentations based on narrative. It uses still photographs, recorded sounds and video to produce the computer equivalent of a short film.

Participants at the workshops learn to construct narrative, write scripts, use software and edit work online.In the three-day course held in Wellington and Auckland, they will construct a 3-5 minute 'digital story' and take it away on CD rom.

The technique has been taught from San Francisco for seven years. Resulting stories have covered many topics including tales of survival and achievement; corporate brand stories, cultural and oral histories and memorials to loved ones.

Last year twenty people from around New Zealand piloted the technique in this country at (e)-vision in Wellington. The resulting projects included a three minute piece describing a university project documenting graffiti artists, and a man's personal dedication to his father using photos and recorded voice. For New Zealand participants' experiences, see http://www.evision.org.nz/works/frame_digitalworks.html

(e)-vision director, Jan Bieringa says "This is a fantastic, simple process that utilises technology whilst teaching the simple art of storytelling. The workshop will tend to the needs of the multimedia novice or the communications professional wanting to work with digital imaging and digital video softwares."

In San Francisco, the technique has been of use to communications specialists, oral historians, educationalists, film makers and individuals. For examples of projects that the Center is been involved in, see the Center's website: http://www.storycenter.org/storyplace.html

Joe Lambert, co-founder of the Digital Storytelling Center says the storytelling technique is changing approaches to presentations and digital communication.

"Power Point presentations are synonymous with boredom. People are saying: `Tell me a story in your own voice'."

Corporations are sending staff to his workshops in increasing numbers to learn the art of piecing together a good narrative.

"A presentation has to lure an audience in with a strong point of view. One has to provide some sort of story," Lambert says.

The workshop uses Adobe's Premiere editing software and also Adobe PhotoShop. Participants have the opportunity to make to complete one project.

(e)-vision has limited places available for the three-day Wellington and Auckland courses in April.

The Auckland course will take place at the Auckland University of Technology School of Communication Studies Wednesday 18th - Friday 20th April.

The Wellington course will be run at (e)-vision, No 2 Blair Street on Saturday 21st - Monday 23rd April.

For more information visit (e)-vision's website http://www.evision.org.nz/works/frame_digitalworks.html or contact (e)-vision on 04 384 3550 or mailto:info@evision.org.nz

(e)-vision Digital Media Centre for Communication Art and Technology

http://www.evision.org.nz mailto:info@evision.org.nz

Phone: 384 3550 Fax : 384 3552 No. 2 Blair St P.O. Box 19070 Wellington

© Scoop Media