A Digital Storytelling Seminar
The “Signature Series” for Thornhill News
Monday, January 17, 2011 – Week 4, Number 3
First
Just this last week we delivered our first seminar. It was exhausting, exhilarating and confirmed the value of the series. This was a learning experience for the participants and the producer. Together we confirmed the need for a resource that can show you how to go from a story concept to a full-blown documentary – along a simply charted digital trail.
The agenda for creating, maintaining and upgrading my brand of storytelling covers 50 items or categories. Each one is offered in the Thornhill News Digital Storytelling seminar and confirmed in our initial tutorial in a way that shows how to be competitive in the specific category, yet blend them all into a meld that guarantees continuity and continuous improvement.
Seminar participants are asked to take the pursuit of their game seriously. To travel along this trail will cost about two years of each producer’s life and somewhere between $50,000 and $3,000,000 dollars of someone else’s money. Time to grow up...
Now the big question; will this Storytelling Seminar occur weekly or monthly? Your thoughts?
So… Based on the gritty production meetings, the follow-on focused research, the willing, patient participants and the offers made from those not able to attend, we’re diving into the next outing.
With this short on-ramp into the game, we have agreed to our first road show. February 17, 2011 there will be an exciting presentation in downtown Los Angeles. Amazingly, we’re producing in association with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Seminar
Los Angeles, California
With the support of Cultural Affairs and two community partners we will offer the Seminar at no cost to our participants. We do have a limit on the number of people we can bring in, but just the idea of the Thornhill News Digital Storytelling Seminar being in such close proximity to Hollywood is exhilarating.
Plus, there is a rumor about an after-mixer in one of the hottest spots in the newly-social downtown Los Angeles. If you are interested in attending, watch for our post next week. Full details, including how to register in advance, will be available.
With such an important opportunity pending, it seemed a good idea to start working on the details as early as possible.
Here’s the first draft of the intended proceedings:
Agenda
Introductions
What’s Your Story? Participants will have 10 Minutes each to describe a current digital storytelling project. It will be hard work to stick to initially describing the story – and only the story.
Telling your story sometimes is enhanced by the tools you have for telling the story or making the presentation. A strong voice, attire, props, flipcharts, whiteboards, slide shows or video might help – or hinder the affect. Telling the story sometimes can be best realized in painting a scene, constructing a photo essay – or shouting!
Is the environment a part of telling the story – or even part of the story. Is your story different in a supermarket, at the dinner table or on a stage?
Digital options are available for information collection, processing and distribution as you prepare and deliver your communications.
What part of this arsenal can be called interactive? Is a two-way conversation interactivity or are we only interested in digital download?
We will allow time throughout the event to exchange thoughts and gain input.
Tutorial
A package of notes and referrals is being bundled into a strong tutorial. The notes are still in a very rough outline, but will not be for long. There will be additions made to the list and the descriptions of each segment by friends in the media, entertainment industries, fashion, design, and digital media production.
The launch of the first edition will be March 10, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. What a glorious time!
Inspirational Hospitality
Not content with a life-changing seminar, Thornhill News has added a list of preferred tastes and beverages to be served during the event.
In the first seminar we had the staples. Dianne Dickeman brought Starbucks Coffee and Shane Hyatt loaded us up with locally-made donuts.
Future options can include coffee, tea, water, cupcakes, muffins, donuts, salty snacks and/or wine.
With so much mental stress over one’s story, one can be inspired and spurred by a treat.
Schedule
The rough 2011 schedule for Thornhill News Digital Storytelling seminars now includes:
February 17
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Imagination
Digital Storytelling – From The DTR National Tour To DTR Journey
Draft of Tutorial
Location To Be Announced
February 18
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Imagination
From DTR Journey To The Food & Beverage Stories Documentary
Location To Be Announced
March 10
Seattle, Washington
Seminar
Introduce The Thornhill News Digital Storytelling Seminar Tutorial
Special Emphasis On “Creativity”
Catherine Person Gallery
April 9
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3rd Annual Each One Teach One Music Conference
Panelist
Radio As Anchor For Digital Storytelling
The Union Project
June
Florida
Location To Be Confirmed
Blog
Our operation is just getting into blogging. We are certainly open to professional help. The original reason for starting the weekly was to give background and support information for the Thornhill News Digital Storytelling Seminars.
There was no ready plan for the great questions that came in and the opportunity to extend the value of the blog through examples, referrals and introductions. What a joy!
Our original design partner was swept away by an opportunity to participate in a great project. Our start date had been set for January 1, 2011 and we stuck to it. What you will see in our product is not a big splash, but continuous improvement in the seminars, the tutorial, the blog and all administration.
Our very presence and the ability to gain acceptance from our audiences will depend on an attractive user interface, appropriate back end architecture and navigation.
If you have experience in engineering, digital distribution and project-by-project promotions, we would like very much to hear from you.
Referrals
Each week there are links to resources and examples of suggestions contained in the narrative for our weekly A Digital Storytelling Seminar. Either listed in the list under referrals or following a segment of our blog, each will illustrate a point we believe in.
This week: Social Media Success Pyramid
www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=142830&nid=122597
Creative Team
As creative folks, we are no longer restricted to desktop computers, stand-alone cameras, printers and personal binding.
With an Olympus recorder, a Flip camera, or even a camera on a cell phone, one could become a walking studio.
Many companies are enjoying tremendous success because they offered a way for every person to document themselves.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and the mighty Blogspot are just a few of the successes riding the wave of “digital storytelling” and the surging wave of digital media, digital devices and digital expectations.
This year, the tablet computer and downloads on our smartphones give us presentation possibilities from basic color to full-motion video to onboard projectors.
Even the e-reader has made a strong comeback. There is no turning back.
To search, capture, process and distribute your data, information or entertainment, the 50 Digital Storytelling Seminar steps becomes your, and our, checklist.
The entertainment industries are now using these digital storytelling steps to seek new creative talent, to review works-in-progress and to even build their own television shows and movies. I am banking on the premise that individuals, organizations, companies and government offices will soon become very sophisticated communicators.
The project, Thornhill News Digital Storytelling, will not be taken lightly. The 2011 model not only has the advantage of my experience with the concept, but also the continued input from many others through production meetings and partnerships.
To get that movement started, I will be in touch with related organizations throughout the year. To make input easier, there will be ongoing research and scheduled crew meetings.
Then we look ahead.
A referral: The Writers Store
www.writersstore.com
Engineering
Yes, there are many areas to build, to improve and to support. Innovation is expected on every front. Every partner has the opportunity of supporting the team and to make their special interest stunning.
We want this effort to be run by, judged by and to become a major player because of, engineering. From design engineering, software engineering, telecommunications engineering to network engineering the burden will be on the clear-thinking men and women in the front office. That’s the engineer.
Making It Happen...
Designing a series would be difficult without a General Plan. More and more of my time will be spent with administrative personnel, engineers and designers as we craft a road map for our buildout.
There will be an overview and even a financial planning schedule.
I have given serious thought and many hours to every stitch of the general plan to develop a seminar series based on my interpretation of Digital Storytelling – and I am now ready to reveal all for the benefit of seminar participants and move on it in my own production roster.
This year, I will publish “50 Steps To Documentary Success.” The narrative for the book will start as the tutorial for our Thornhill News Digital Storytelling seminar. For the many that need to learn these processes faster than I can travel the country, a supportive document could help in many ways.
The preview copy will be distributed on March 10, 2011 at the Catherine Person Gallery. For participants registered for the Seminar, the text-only booklet will be complimentary. For all others, this first step will be $10.00.
For general distribution and sales the tutorial will be available in April 2011.
The printed tutorial was created for the Thornhill News Digital Storytelling Seminar. It begins as a simple service document – a literal checklist. It will certainly grow.
The new creative team will constantly work on changes to make elements more attractive. The whole publication will be updated and refreshed aesthetically within the year.
As we roll out our schedule, I must be sure that the structure, events, publication and results are beneficial for all of Thornhill News and for you.
To insure that we have a solid program, each of our seminar presentations will be delivered in a how-to workshop style that everyone can use and will display specific examples from my own inventory to show actual working models. Questions are always welcome.
In the first season, we will limit each session to 12 persons. Advance registration is required.
Background
I have spent the last 40 years developing campaigns geared to the affluent consumer market. Now, the luxury market and the person of modest means creating an individual identity or storyline can use the same planning processes and tools.
A personal commitment… After careful consideration, this new offering is titled “Digital Storytelling.” It arrives with more than three years of trials, surveys and testing.
My start with the process was to help writers. I am glad to report that we have had great response from hobbyists, students, biographers, columnists, screenwriters and reporters.
Then, photography appeared to be the next logical step. Illustrations will be included as we upgrade the blog. Photographers have greatly enhanced the look of many Internet-based operations.
Fortunately, a long-standing interest in radio has helped to pave the way to include audio – and right after that – video.
In these difficult financial times, broadcasters, production studios and broadcast media professionals are naturals to take full advantage of Digital Storytelling. Will they?
The lessons learned from experience over the years, the input from friends and associates and the changes in the digital media marketplace were just the start points in creating this series.
Beyond the thinking and the personal review, I have written an overview for 2011 – which covers operations, financial planning and growth issues.
The new digital platform in contemporary media allows us to bring all of these parts together – and continue to be productive individuals and crew members as we learn and earn.
Try it. And be confident that the research, hard work and cautious optimism will pay off for all of us.
This is now the “Signature Series” for Thornhill News. I do appreciate your attention and I hope you will participate in the seminars.
Much More
Digital Storytelling covers owning your story, telling your story and adding digital tools to more efficiently handle information gathering, processing and distribution.
In order to insure that you will be competitive, Thornhill News will introduce you to:
1. Digital Storytelling - 50 Steps To Documentary Success
2. Digital Media Devices - Tablets, Smartphones, Readers
3. Design Continuity - Concept, Base Element, All Together and Continuous Improvement
4. Business Development - Partnerships, Subscribers, Sponsors
Digital Storytelling as a work process is a hotbed for collaborative development and production. Team members and workshop participants will learn from one another and your end product will surely gain from the combined intellect, energy and projections.
And please remember, if our thoughts and conversations about business collaboration are going to be relevant, some financial gain will have to come from these successes.
If your associates can’t relate to Digital Storytelling, try the terms Multimedia or Branded Entertainment. We will offer examples in these and many other subcategories
To insure that we have a solid program, each of our seminar presentations will be delivered in a how-to workshop style that everyone can use and I will display specific examples from my own inventory to show actual working models.
With new search, production, and distribution tools being offered every week, I am sure that each of us will want to know how to make our message clearer and our image stronger.
I know there is so much more to offer.
Questions
At the most recent production meeting we promised to start planning for additions and improvements:
We start with your questions and suggestions.
Q: How Can I Bring A Seminar To My Community?
In mid-February we will take our show on the road to Los Angeles. As we prepare for this jaunt, I’m sure there will be a lot of new questions raised. My suggestion; put your request in and let us consider the issues.
Q: Could You Post A Quarterly (If not annual) Calendar?
In this issue we made our schedule a bit more robust. This will continue to be more attractive. We can usually see three months ahead.
Q: Will There Be Examples Of Stories?
In March.
Q: Overall Design & Layout Needs Help.
I agree! There will be a big change when the creative team is formed. Expect a new look within 90 days.
Q: When Will You Have Audio?
Our approach for development is to work on the structure and the narrative. Then will come design help and photographs. By then, the engineers will be on board and will take the reins. The programming and architecture upgrades will include the ability to present audio and video in an attractive manner.
Q: Video?
Please see the (audio) above.
Q: Do You Have Suggestions For Workspace?
I highly suggest creating a writing space, room or office to develop your story, the digital elements and eventually your own documentary style and product. I will include a few contacts in my next issue.
Q: The Blog Writing Schedule – Including Deadlines.
If you mean deadlines for submissions, consider 30 days in advance. Thus far, the writing schedule has been make notes everyday, start outlining on Tuesday, start writing on Saturday morning and publish in the early hours of Monday morning.
Q: Information On Current Partners
Because of our long research time in assembling the Digital Storytelling seminars and schedule, we gathered interest and offers from a nice variety of potential partners. We will have announcements, with background information in March.
Q: Opportunities For Sponsors and Additional Information About Thornhill News.
First. We would be happy to talk with sponsorship candidates at any tome. Our big push now is for partners.
Thornhill News, in one form or another, has been around since 1971. In response to your request, I added a list of current activities at the end of this post. Let me know how else I can help.
We hear you! Stay tuned. And feel free to pass this along to any and everyone.
Thanks.
Andrew W. Thornhill
Founder
Thornhill News
“Modern Life & Roses”
Thornhill News
Modern Life & Roses
Digital Storytelling
http://digitalstorytellingseminar.blogspot.com
Monday, January 17, 2011 – Week 4, Number 3
The First Road Show
Contact
You can keep up to date by joining our mailing list. Send a note to thornhillnews@hotmail.com.
Thornhill News
Modern Life & Roses
2011
Corporate Development
Administration
Database Management
Digital Storytelling
Financial Planning
Integrated Marketing Planning
Subscription Management
Sponsor Presentations / Sponsorship Portfolio Flyer
Design Review / Kai Zen
Facilities / Environment
Constant Review
Thornhill News Radio
I The Thornhill News Radio Show / Themes / Syndication
II New Communications Network Radio Shows / Associates Radio Shows
III HD Radio Channel
A New Communications Network
Newsroom *
The Digital Television Report & DTR Support
The Center for Communications in the Arts (CCA)
America Is A Great Arts Place (AGAP)
The Thornhill Television Network (TTV)
Internet Strategies
Creative Washington (CW)
Homewood Development
The Thornhill Design Laboratory
Thornhill Design Lab Workshop
Case Studies
Extensions
* Note: The Thornhill News Newsroom is the base for HEADLINES Newsletter,
The 32nd Thornhill News Annual “Portfolio” - “The Affluent Consumer”,
our Project Documentary, an Internet Presence and The Thornhill News Archives.
January 2011
thornhillnews@hotmail.com
Copyright © 1971 – 2011, Andrew W. Thornhill, All Rights Reserved
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