Sparks Creative Visual Storytelling Training

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CREATIVE VISUAL
STORYTELLING TRAINING COURSE

This is a 3 day course, sometimes delivered in a condensed 2 day version.

3 Day
Course

Full length version of the course where we are able to watch and discuss a number of long form documentaries and really get an understanding of long form narrative structure.

2 Day
Course

A tighter version of the course losing one of the homework modules, ie one stage of the delegate development process. We also focus down on only a couple of documentaries to study.

Sparks fly

CREATIVE VISUAL
STORYTELLING TRAINING COURSE

Course Summary

This is a 3 days course exploring storytelling techniques, filming techniques and creative narrative structures that engage and compel audiences. We’ll look at editing and how montage and juxtaposition can be played with and adapted to enhance the storytelling. We’ll look at new technologies and new working practices that will give storytellers a short cut to better engagement.

WHO’S IT FOR

This is a course for journalists, content creators, shooters, producers, agencies and more. It’s for people who want to improve the quality of their content and add some creative flair to their editorial and visual story telling.

OUTCOMES

Delegates will be able to apply techniques and processes to their day to day video production and visual storytelling to create packages that better connect with audiences, have more impact and stand-out from all the other ‘white-noise’ of media out there.

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Syllabus

Day 1 Syllabus

Introductions And Course Outline
Delegate Film Reviews And Discussion
The definition of a story
What is a story
EXERCISE – Each delegate introduces the film idea that they came with you
LUNCH
Short form or long form visual storytelling. Whats the difference?
Focussing and defining your story. The pitch.
Who’s your audience?
EXERCISE define your audience that you work with each day
Treatment
Engaging your audience
Online audience behaviour. What makes them share.
Audience behaviour and how to create the reaction you want.
Theme. Message. Campaign. Strategy.
Production equipment basics and MOJO intro.
EXERCISE / HOMEWORK Rework and refocus your story idea, also identifying theme or message

Day 2 Syllabus

EXERCISE We hear the re-worked film ideas.
Framing and shooting sequences basics
EXERCISE In pairs go and shoot a basic sequence.
Difference between sequences and montage.
Story structure and narrative reveal.
Making storytelling become visual storytelling. Revealing narrative using pictures.
The importance of characters and empathy.
The importance of sound, actuality and reality.
LUNCH
The key qualities of Viral Video
Making your video stand out visually – Creative visual techniques: time lapses, motion transitions, compositing, visual flair, animation, visual magic
EXERCISE Go and shoot a story utilising, where relevant as many of the above to make a video that is as engaging and shareable as possible.

Day 3 Syllabus

The basics and grammar of the craft of editing
Workflow basics
Best post production storytelling techniques (ie let your material tell the story, not you)
The power of creative editing: montage, pace, suggestion, etc
Creative editing and compositing techniques
EXERCISE Edit your film
LUNCH
EXERCISE Screen films
Is the first approach always the best? Creative thinking in narrative structure, shooting and storytelling
Screen and discuss our new films.
Inspiration and application (other techniques that have been used that we can put in our toolbox)
Crowd sourced storytelling
Multicamera shooting
Fixed rigs
New ways of working, new tools and new technology for visual storytelling
Interactive and cross platform storytelling
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Clients