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Presenter(s)
Ana Berlowitz
Berkeley, California
Email: anaberlowitz@sbcglobal.net
INTRODUCTION
When I tell people I make movies, the first thing most people ask me is "How do you hold a camera?" So I tell them, "I don't hold a camera, I just tell a story." Then they say, "How can you tell a story, if you can't talk?"
The answer is Digital Storytelling. Most newer computers have movie programs so you can make movies in your own house. There is also the Center for Digital Storytelling in Berkeley, where I live, that does 3-day workshops.
I always wanted to tell stories about my life as a person with a disability and some of the interesting and sometimes bizarre things that have happened in my life. I was lucky to get a grant for two 3-day workshops at the CDS and went there in October and December, 2002, and October 2003. Everyone has a story - everything that happens to you is a story. That idea has changed the way I see things that happen in my life. At CDS workshops I made three 3-minute digital films, without being able to hold a camera or even to speak. I'd like to show you my films, and then I want to talk about the process for me and take you through the process of making a movie.
The first movie I made is called "Literacy." It is about how I learned to read when people told my parents I couldn't. [show movie #1] The next movie is called "The Little Miracle." My cousin was born weighing one pound, eleven ounces, and nobody thought he would live (except his two moms). [show movie #2] My third movie is called "Healing Allie." It is about a Thoroughbred mare who was abandoned and rescued. [show movie #3]
WORKSHOP
All 3 of these movies have something in common. What did you notice? - Yes, they were all about accomplishment, despite negative expectations. All accomplishments start with a goal. Now…I'd like you all to think of something that you have accomplished, that someone told you you couldn't do. Maybe it was you yourself who told you you couldn't do it! Now, on your pads of paper, please write down your goal, or have someone write it for you. (5 words or fewer) Xxx Would someone like to read their goal? Anyone else? [appropriate comments]
OK. You have just told me your goals. I hear your ideas. In a movie, you also see ideas. When I made my movies, I was lucky to have photos. But not everyone does. When I took the CDS workshop, someone said that even if the only picture you have is a blade of grass, you can still show and tell your story. The story's the thing! What does your goal look like? Think of images that would show your goal. xxx A lot of images are available on the Internet. My mom made a movie about a person and didn't have even one photograph of him.
So now, I'd like you to think about an image of your goal and draw picture of it, or ask someone to do it for you. Xxx Would someone like to show their picture and describe it? [appropriate comments] Anyone else? Now, every good story has to have what is called a dramatic question. Will this person accomplish his or her goal?
Now think of your goal and what stood in the way of you accomplishing it? In my "literacy" movie, what stood in my way was my teacher's negative attitude. So what stood in your way? What someone said? What you believed? A disability? A barrier?
Write one sentence about the barrier
Would someone like to read their goal?
Anyone else?
[appropriate comments]
Draw a picture of the barrier.
Would someone like to show their picture and describe it? [appropriate comments] Anyone else? Now we're ready to talk about the outcome: What happened? Now write one sentence that tells about the outcome. Would someone like to read their sentence? Anyone else? [appropriate comments] Now draw a picture of the outcome. Would someone like to show their picture and describe it? [appropriate comments] Now, if you were really making a movie, it would be time to write your voice-over (your story). For a three-minute movie, it should be about 2 pages long. You might be thinking about music too. Music can set the mood you want to create. But it shouldn't detract from your story. You can get royalty-free clips off the Internet.
So how did I do this? First I had an idea for my stories. I found photos and told my assistant which ones I wanted to use. If I didn't have the right photos, I found pictures on Google Images that I could use. Then I dictated my story (my voice-over) to my assistant and she typed it on my computer. I got permission to use my sister's CD's for the music and got some music from the Internet. Then I went to the CDS workshop. I recorded my voice-over and my assistant transferred it to the movie program, Adobe Premiere. Then my assistant scanned my photos and put them in a folder in Adobe Photoshop. I told her how I wanted the pictures to go with my story, and I did the same thing for the music. She had a lot of good suggestions too. CONCLUSION
I hope you got some ideas for making digital movies. Now if you have any questions, go ahead and ask. It might take a little while, but please be patient, OK? Thank you
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