Category: Workshops

Creating a multimedia project may be daunting; here’s a few possible exercises to have students break the tasks down, allowing the student to focus on one or two areas and build their skills.

Create an audio podcast

This helps a student focus on the story, and not the visuals. There are plenty of great podcasts out there as examples of storytelling, such as This American Life or Radiolab. Key concepts would be to work on the traditional 3 act story arc, have the student consider the audience, and have the student be able to “hook” the listener within the first minute (or first ten seconds!).

Tell a story without narration

With no spoken words, have the student tell a story with only images. You may want to look at examples from silent films, or have this Radiolab/NPR video as an example of a story without narration.

Record a script with still images

Record a script only with still images. This will help the student focus on the timing of the video (if video length is part of the assignment), and the delivery of the narration, while focusing less on the visual editing.

Demonstrate how music and sound enhances a podcast

View an edited video without any sound embellishments. Have the students find sources and add them to the video that would then enhance the mood of the video. Or, have students identify the sound elements used in a short video – often there are several being used at one time. Identify if they are diagetic or non-diagetic sound.