Two Amazing Digital Stories

Sofas

This was one of the first digital stories I watched once I became interested in digital storytelling. Still, everyone time I watched this story I find tears running down my cheeks. Everything about this story: his use of photo, the soft and soothing instrumental music (which I know the chorus says, “It doesn’t really matter”) which is more than fitting for this subject matter. The tonality of Wayne’s voice, producing a rich baritone, presenting an image of strength and security, in conjunction with his smooth and well timed delivery… Sofas pulls the viewer into the story and makes you feel his pain, agony, loneliness, sadness and makes you want to reach into the screen and give Wayne Richard a hug.

Through the Middle

Through the Middle from Clouded Vision on Vimeo.

Though this digital story (or digital short) is more along the lines of a documentary work, I actually love everything about it. It rather epitomizes a style of storytelling and video capture that I'm hoping to perfect. Yes, the story was about Mr.S, or so we think. But just like every story, the story of Mr.S interweaves multiple topics into a cohesive "gift" which provides the viewer with a total contextual understanding of not only Mr.S, but his story and why that story is important. The form of piece is amazing! The color. The interplaying of images and video. The playfulness of push/pull focus and unfocused capture. The VoiceOver establishes a tone of comfort and ease, almost pulling the viewer further into the story, and creating emotional tension. I suggest one of the strongest elements of this piece is the additional voice; the secondary participants add a multi-dimensional feel. Aesthetically, Mr.S has every element needed to assure it as an amazing digital story.