Digital Storytelling II: Building Storyworlds the art, craft & biz of storytelling in 21c — Spring 2019
Digital Storytelling: Building Storyworlds
Prof. Lance Weiler
Columbia University School of the Arts
Thursdays 2 pm — 5 pm
Welcome
Welcome to Digital Storytelling “Building Storyworlds: the art, craft & biz of storytelling.” This syllabus is intended to be a living document that will evolve over the course of the semester. In order to accomplish this we are utilizing this medium and also the class tumblr.
Course focus
The democratization of the tools to create has enabled anyone to become their own media company. Disruption has ripped through the entertainment industry, challenging how things are made, distributed and consumed. But what does it take to build engaging stories in a fragmented digital landscape? What models will emerge and how can one take advantage of new opportunities?
Digital Storytelling II: Building Storyworlds examines the art, craft and business of storytelling in the 21st Century. The course takes a deep dive into theory, process and design as it combines practical experience with insight into emerging trends. A mixture of lectures, collaborative design exercises and guest speakers, Digital Storytelling: Building Storyworlds provides a detailed overview of what it takes to produce projects that combine story and tech.
Grades are based on prototyping assignments, class participation and a final team presentation based on a RFP (request for prototype) which will be provided in the four class of the semester..
The RFP and a note about the final presentation
Over the course of semester teams will work to craft a pitch presentation as well as develop a prototype that represents a moment from the experience. At the close of the class teams will pitch to a panel of industry experts. Teams will have 10 minutes to present. Full details about the RFP will be presented within class.
In this course, students will learn . . .
- About emerging trends and technologies and their impact on storytelling
- About design thinking, narrative design and simple game mechanics
- How shape design questions
- How to identify design principles
- Methods for feedback and critical review of interactive work
- Methods for scripting interactive narratives
- How to utilize conditional statements to craft meaningful interactions
- How to craft a user journey
- How to craft user personas
- How to prototype and test ideas
- Collaborative methods to build strong teams
- How to ideate, vet, package and pitch interactive/immersive concepts
- About emerging business models and new opportunities for reaching audiences
- Best practices for developing, producing and distributing interactive/immersive project
Syllabus
PLEASE NOTE: The following is subject to change.
RECOMMENDED EXPERIENCES
“Sleep No More” http://www.sleepnomore.com
“Then She Fell” http://thenshefell.com
RECOMMENDED READING
While there is no required reading for the course there is a recommended reading list that works as a nice companion to the class. You can see the list at the end of the syllabus below.
CLASS #1 — Building Storyworlds (1/24/19)
Welcome and Intros
An overview of the course, how it will work and what is expected
Opening exercise
The class takes part in an opening exercise
Lecture
Building Storyworlds: the art, craft & business of storytelling in an ever-shifting digital landscape
Fireside
Andrew Peters, Creative Director, at The Brand Experience joins us for a practice based conversation on building storyworlds.
Play test
Demo and testing session
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #2 — Emerging Trends & Opportunities (1/31/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Lecture
How emerging trends are impacting film, TV, gaming and publishing
Fireside Chat
Challenges and Opportunities Afforded by Emergent Technology: A conversation with Rachel Ginsberg, Creative Strategist/Experience Designer and Jake Sally, Head of Immersive Development at Ryot
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #3 — Story Thinking (2/7/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Lecture
Story Thinking: designing for emotion and feeling
Fireside Chat
Romy Nehme, Creative Strategist/Strategy Designer joins us for a discussion on new forms and functions of storytelling.
Collaborative Exercise
The class engages in a world cafe
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #4 — Experience Design (2/14/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Lecture
Finding the story you want to tell and crafting the world that will support it — an in-depth look at the making of Body/Mind/Change
Design Sprint
The class will be divided into teams. Each team will design and build an AI Chatbot
Overview of final pitches
An RFP (Request for Prototypes) is provided to frame what is required for the final project.
Collaborative Exercise
New teams are formed and ideation around RFP begins
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #5 — Frameworks for Crafting Immersive Experiences (2/21/19)
*Please note that this class will take place off campus. We’ll be holding class at Google’s offices in Chelsea.
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Lecture
Exploring Frameworks for Crafting Immersive Experiences
Fireside Chat
We’re joined by an award winning team who are developing and designing immersive experiences that mix story, play, design and code.
Framework session
Teams explore frameworks to develop their final projects
Play test
Demo and testing session
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #6 — Story & Code (2/28/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Fireside Chat
A conversation with Creative Technologist, Jeff Gregorio and Technical Producer, Peter English.
Workshop
Creative Code: Finding a New Grammar for Storytelling
Checkout
Closing remarks and assignment for the following week is given
CLASS #7 — Story & Play (3/7/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Guest Lecture
Narrative Design at the intersection of story and play
Play test
An opportunity to experience some games that are mixing storytelling and play
Group Work
Teams develop a “play like” experience for their final projects
Checkout
Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished. Teams also will prepare to give a status report during the next week’s check in. Status reports must include team documentation.
CLASS #8 —Field trip to an Immersive Storytelling Company (3/14/19)
Field trip to Local Projects
CLASS #9 — Creative Producing (3/28/19)
Check in
Discussion around previous week’s assignment
Lecture
Embracing Ambiguity: How to Produce Immersive Experiences
Fireside Chat
A collection of case studies and war stories with Caitlin Burns, Navid Khonsari and Zeke Zelker.
Group Work
Teams work with our guests to vet and refine their concepts through a creative producing lens.
Checkout
Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished. Teams also will prepare to give a status report during the next week’s check in. Status reports must include team documentation. We’ll also discuss logistics for the next class which could take place off campus.
Class #10 — Teams Present Prototype (4/4/19)
Class trip to Refinery 29. We’ll be getting an inside look at how a new media company operates. Please note that teams will be expected to present their work. Please be prepare to present your pitch and prototype offsite.
CLASS #11 — Disruptive Biz Models (4/11/19)
Check in
After reflecting on their prototype presentations from the week before teams give status report on final projects
Lecture
An overview of emerging and traditional business models for entertainment properties.
Fireside Chat
This week’s Fireside Chat will include experts working on disruptive business models in various industries.
Group work session
Teams work on their final projects
Checkout
Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished. Teams also will prepare to give a status report during the next week’s check in. Status reports must include team documentation.
CLASS #12 — Finding and Telling Stories with Data (4/18/19)
Check in
Teams give status report on final projects
Lecture
Finding and telling stories with data — a special look at the making of a project that tells a emotional story from over a million of points of data.
Class Exercise
Filtering and feedback loops — understanding what participants are thinking, feeling and doing a special session with Data Researcher Sarah Henry.
Group work
Teams work on their final projects
Play test
Please make sure to bring a laptop and headphones. We’ll be play testing a number of projects that tell stories with data.
Checkout
Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished. Teams also will prepare to give a status report during the next week’s check in. Status reports must include team documentation.
CLASS #13 — Breaking down the Pitch (4/25/19)
Check in
Teams give status report on final projects
Lecture
Pitching and the art of listening
Special presentation on pitching
Nick Braccia (Creative Director at Campfire) will share his process for pitching. He has successfully pitched studios, game publishers and major brands. Nick will spend time with each team to help them hone their pitches.
Group work
Teams work on their group pitches and Nick visits each team acting as a sounding board.
Checkout
Overview of logistics for final presentations at Google. Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.
CLASS #14 — Final Pitches (5/2/18)
PLEASE NOTE THIS CLASS WILL TAKE PLACE AT GOOGLE
Final team preparation for pitching
Teams pitch to a panel of industry experts.
Final session: a Q&A with our industry experts
Stepping into a Disruptive World — what can one expect in a changing digital landscape?
Recommended Reading List
“Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free”
Author: CORY DOCTOROW Publisher: McSWEENY
“The Misfit Economy: Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters and Other Tales of Informal Ingenuity”
Authors: ALEXA CLAY & KYRA MAYA PHILLIPS Publisher: SIMON & SCHUSTER
“The Art of Immersion — how the digital generation is remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the way we tell stories”
Author FRANK ROSE Publisher: NORTON
“Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals”
Authors KATIE SALEN TEKINBAS & ERIC ZIMMERMAN Publisher: MIT PRESS
“Speculative Everything: Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming”
Authors ANTHONY DUNNE & FIONA RABY Publisher: MIT PRESS
“Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries”
Author PETER SIMS Publisher: SIMON & SCHUSTER
“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration.”
Author ED CATMULL & AMY WALLACE Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE
“Enchanted Objects: Design, Human Desire, and the Internet of Things”
Author: DAVID ROSE Publisher: SCRIBNER
These titles were pulled from a list of 41 books on story, design and play compiled by prominent and industry leaders working in film, tv, games, theater and publishing. To see the full reading list click here.
Additional resources:
List of immersive shops, creative technologists and folks who are making amazing things with story and code.
30 Immersive Storytelling platforms, apps, resources & tools
Emerging Trends in Storytelling
Part One
Part Two
Digital Dozen: Breakthroughs in Storytelling
A gallery of projects that are innovating with story and code
RFP overview for GOOGLE presentations
Here’s a link to the Immersive Adaptation RFP
