Online Digital Storytelling
Oct - Nov, 2023
The Program
GMIST is excited to be partnering with the globally recognized and awarded Story Center out of Berkeley, California to offer their popular Online Digital Storytelling program via ZOOM. Join us for our second version of StoryCenter’s well travelled workshop that has you conceive a story, write a narration, record and edit a 2-5 minute digital story over seven weeks. StoryCenter staff will introduce you to the cloud-based editing software, WeVideo, and assist you with locating or creating images/videos/graphics to illustrate your video. On week seven, participants will look at ways to use the stories in their marketing efforts, and address steps forward in learning more media production and editing efforts. In addition each participant will be provided coaching
support by Story Center staff each week to support things such as script writing, recording, interview support, audio editing support, video editing support as well as project review.
Overall this program is intended to support tourism operators as they build out potential core stories they may want to share with visitors to their business or destination. The program is a unique workshop model, which integrates creative writing, oral history, and participatory media production methods to assist people with little to no prior media-making experience in creating short digital videos, or “digital stories.”
The curriculum for this workshop includes:
- Presentation of Seven Steps of Digital Storytelling
As both a guide to scripting and design and a showcase for design examples, the workshop will begin with a lecture-demonstration on guidelines for creating a digital story. Outstanding examples that illustrate the Seven Steps, a core aspect of our curriculum, will be presented.
- Group/Individual Script Process
As in a creative writing class, StoryCenter’s facilitators will lead a review of story ideas or actual scripts, in a group Story Circle. Both the general approach of digital storytelling and specific editorial issues will be addressed, and issues of storyboarding and design touched upon. After the group storytelling process, participants will sit one-on-one with a facilitator and further hone their story scripts. Note: accommodations will be made in cases where participants lack the necessary literacy skills.
- Hands-On Software Tutorials
Participants will be taken step by step through the basics of the software used in the process. (Note: we work with a wide variety of digital editing devices that utilize different editing software; the editing device and software for the workshop will be determined in consultation with Project Partner.)
- Production Support and Management
Participants will spend most of the workshop producing their own projects, with their own ambition and at their own pace. Facilitators will assist participants during the various steps of multimedia production. Great attention will be given to time management, troubleshooting, and prioritizing steps in the process, to assure that participants complete their projects by the end of the workshop
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This workshop is designed for tourism operators who are interested in exploring a story from their own business/region, participating in a creative group process, and learning to produce a simple, short video. Please note this is not specifically about producing marketing videos, rather it is about creating stories that connect audience to you and your personal story.
SPECIAL NOTES
To participate, you will need a computer (Mac or PC) with an updated web browser and access to camera and microphone for ZOOM sessions. Before the workshop starts, we will send you instructions about how to prepare and how to access WeVideo, the cloud-based editing application we’ll be using. Please note that while some of the topics may be similar to the Destination: Story program, these are two very different programs with different outcomes.
WHAT ARE PARTICIPANTS SAYING ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP?
“I loved this course. I feel inspired, capable and full of ideas.” – Kim Putinta, Norse Cove Camping & Kayak Centre
“It was great and learned a lot that will help make up nice marketing videos with stories that provide a deeper connection to our customers! We didn’t know anything about this and how to do this prior! It was wonderful and got a lot of good help with all. The team at story center was great!!” – Angele Miller, Creekside RnR Glamping
“I’ll be making short reels/ videos around events I’m organizing, new projects I’m working on, new menu items, retail items; what I’ve learned here can be applied to so much of the storytelling and marketing of my businesses.” – Carol Rybinski, Tyne Valley Teas Cafe
Check out an example from one of our Fall 2022 workshop participants, Chantelle Elliott from Ledges Inn, Doaktown, New Brunswick below or visit our YouTube channel to look at past participants work @ ExperienceGMIST
DATES
The program is scheduled as follows: Thursday afternoons Oct 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16 and 30. It is scheduled to run from 2:00 – 4:00 PM ADT / 2:30 – 4:30 PM NDT on those dates online via ZOOM. In addition, students will have access to Story Centre staff for coaching/support each week.
COSTS
GMIST will apply a $650 bursary to the full tuition costs for each accepted Canadian Tourism Operator for this program.
APPLICATION
Applications close on Sept 12, 2023. We will review applications on an ongoing basis.
APPLY NOW
CONTACT
If you have questions please feel free to reach out to us via email at info@gmist.ca