Anonymous
Posted June 30, 2008
I read the first edition of Digital Storytelling cover-to-cover and continue to use it as a reference book. When I picked up the second edition of this valuable resource, I knew I was in both heaven and in trouble. Here would be brand new jewels of information I could use in all my storytelling (that's the heaven part) and I would be compelled by my own curiousity and desire to stay abreast of the developing multi-media industry to read this new edition cover-to-cover (the trouble part is that once I picked it up I'd be ignoring other projects in order to absorb all the great insight and information Carolyn offers). Sure enough. Digital Storytelling has far surpassed the typical pattern of a second edition, which offers 20% new material. Miller's second edition offers 80% new material! If you want to keep up, or even have a glimmer of what's up on the frontiers of storytelling, you've got to read Digital Storytelling. For those who pooh-pooh new media as shallow and unintelligent, read what Miller has to say about the history and provenance of the art form ¿ including James Joyce. For those who're only interested in the action and the creation of same, entire sections of the book are devoted to how-to's, with 'Idea-Generating Exercises' in each. For those whose interest lies in the business aspects of new technologies, Carolyn explores that as well. To practice what she preaches about interconnectivity and multiple media sources, the book also offers additional materials and links on a couple of different websites. All-in-all, Digital Storytelling is a comprehensive analysis of and approach to the creative and commercial aspects of new media that reflects the rich storytelling tendencies that make us human ¿ and that makes stories so compelling. Buy it, read it, and refer to it whenever you're working on anything digital.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 5, 2005
DIGITAL STORYTELLING Carolyn Handler Miller From sitting in front of the camp fire to sitting in front of a computer, story-telling has always been rewarding, yet often frustrating. The challenges of telling a story using different media, particularly a new one, can be intimidating, especially to someone who wasn¿t born with a mouse in their mouth. Not to worry, though, for in the first chapter of Carolyn Miller¿s book, she lays those concerns to rest by noting that interactive stories are similar to myths, rituals, and games. I immediately felt better and dove right into this comprehensive book. DIGITAL STORYTELLING is valuable on a number of levels. It¿s a scholarly revue and investigation of interactive media and thus an excellent resource for researchers. It explains the terminology and theories. It offers specific tools for digital storytelling development of plot, structure, and characters. It has guidelines for specific uses of digital storytelling such as information, education, and advertising. Children¿s projects have their own helpful chapter. As a story consultant moving more into games design work, and as a writer desiring to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies, I know I¿ll be reaching for DIGITAL STORYTELLING a lot. And I know I¿ll always find it a rich resource of information and inspiration.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
More About This Textbook
Overview
Equally useful for seasoned professionals and those new to the field, Carolyn Handler Miller covers effective techniques for creating compelling narratives for a wide variety of digital media. Written in a clear, non-technical style, it offers insights into the process of content creation by someone with long experience in the field.
Whether you're a writer, producer, director, project manager, or designer, 'Digital Storytelling' gives you all you need to develop a successful interactive project.
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
"Covering a massive area of media and topics, this is a fascinating read... anyone interested in the world of interactive entertainment is sure to be inspired by it."—Digital Creative ArtsProduct Details
Related Subjects
Meet the Author
Carolyn Handler Miller is one of the pioneering writers in the field of non-linear entertainment, and as an award-winning Hollywood screenwriter, brings a unique perspective to the craft of digital storytelling. She has worked as a writer or writer-content designer on over forty new media projects, including the landmark Carmen Sandiego series and the interactive version of the Pixar-Disney film, Toy Story, one of the most popular CD-ROMs ever released. Her work as a digital storyteller includes entertainment, educational, informational and training projects made for video games, the Web, interactive TV, smart toys, and transmedia projects. She is also an international speaker and teacher on the subject of digital storytelling, having given workshops and talks in Johannesburg, Rome and Paris, as well as teaching interactive narrative and video game development for the University of New Mexico.
Table of Contents
PART I NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES:
1. Storytelling, Old and New
2. Backwater to Mainstream: The Growth of Digital Entertainment
3. Moving Toward Convergence
PART II CREATING STORY-RICH PROJECTS:
4. Interactivity and its Effects
5. Old & New Tools
6. Characters, Dialogue and Emotions
7. Structure in Digital Storytelling
8. Tackling Projects for Children
9. Using a Transmedia Approach
10. Creating a Work of Digital Storytelling: The Development Process
PART III: HARNESSING DIGITAL STORYTELLING FOR PRAGMATIC GOALS
11. Using Digital Storytelling to Teach and Train
12. Using Digital Storytelling for Promotion, Advertising and Other Business Purposes
13. Using Digital Storytelling to Inform
PART IV: MEDIA AND MODELS, UNDER THE HOOD:
14. Video games
15. The Internet
16. Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs)
17. Alternate Reality Games (ARGs)
18. Interactive Television
19. Smart Toys and Life-Like Robots
20. Mobile Devices
21. Interactive Cinema
22. Immersive Environments
23. DVDs
24. Electronic Kiosks
PART V: CAREER CONSIDERATIONS:
25. Working as a Digital Storyteller
26. Creating Your Own Showcase
Conclusion
Glossary
Additional Readings
Index