BEA Ignite2014 - Cohen

… in 6 Seconds…explained in 5 minutes

By Jamie CohenProfessor and Program Director, New Media at Molloy College

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Teaching visual narrative is process. Usually a long process.

Students understand it, but often take it for granted.

But at least it has core elements!

Visual narrative is everywhere they look: on film, television, and the web.

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

In a narrative, there’s usually a protagonist and an antagonist.

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

But while it always isn’t clear…

There is still a conflict and a conflict

resolution (no spoilers)

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

So what is a great, accessible tool to use in a classroom to motivate writing from script to screen?You’ll need something that allows quick access, creation of video, some editing features, distribution methods…

There we go!

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

What?

You don’t have that?

Well crud.

I have a better solution anyway!

It’s portable, allows video capture, some editing, and can distribute the product…

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Vine is limited to 6 second videos which promotes creativity in storytelling.

To record, you touch the mobile device’s screen, to stop recording, you let go.

It’s a linear editing system (which means if you mess up, you have to start over).

But these constraints are good!

It stresses the importance of writing for the screen.Most specifically…

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Note the upside down 6

A great lesson in narrative writing is practicing scriptwriting and camerablocking. Vine is a “stupid simple”* application that is very forgiving andpushes student creativity and teaches visual storytelling.

*Eddy, M. (2013, July 8). 6 tips for producing better Vine videos. Retrieved from http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/08/6-tips-for-producing-better-vine-videos/Handley, A. (2013, October 29). 6 reasons why Vine and Instagram videos are great for your business. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228263

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

After watching a fair amount of Vines (if you have ten minutes you can watch 100) you’ll be able to see there there are only afew variations of Vine video because of the limitations.

Most of them have a simple arc: Conflict and Conflict Resolution

For example:

You can’t take a were-cookie-monster anywhere. By HalBot

Can I get you anything else? Cookies?

- Cookies?

- NO!

COOKIES!!![Transforms]

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Or:

Sike, I’m Single! By DRoseSike! I’m f*ing single!

Or:

How to get someone to stop smoking. By Cody Johns

We’re trying to get Joe to stop smoking…

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

While Vine is too short to develop a character, the timing is just longenough to set up a conflict that must be resolved.

The title/caption of the Vine is part of the context, but the scene can play on its own.

Conflict: Cookies offered.Conflict Resolution: Were-cookie-monster appears.

Conflict: Happy couple?Conflict Resolution: Sike! One single woman.

Conflict: Needs to stop Joe from smoking.Conflict Resolution: Stops him.

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Conflict: How do you use Vine in your classroom?

Conflict Resolution: Here’s how:

• Create teams to come up with several variations of a conflict and resolution.• Offer some basic plots:

• “Class wants to leave early”• “Someone needs the homework assignment”• “Student tries to be sneaky behind teacher’s back”

• Have each team write a script (remember: 6 seconds!)• Each member should have a role

• Writer, camera blocking, stage managing, directing, etc…

PRACTICE AND REHEARSE !

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Here’s a Vine that my class tried:

Do we have homework? I dunno. Can you look it up? Why don’t you?

Do we have homework? By Jared Grossman

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Vine projects seems like an easy task, but it’s more difficult than you think.

The students take away a new appreciation for the art of writing for the screen and producing short video content.

Additional lessons for specific classes:

• Media Studies The basics of television/film production.• Film courses Practicing blocking and short scene rehearsals.• Media Literacy Conveying messages visually and quickly.• Journalism Short form video reporting.• Social Media Hashtags for sharing and categorizing content. • Television courses As a creative exercise or competition between teams where the

students have to utilize their learned knowledge to produce short

form video content.

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

Some additional benefits of Vine:

• Vines are embeddable and shareable.- You can make a webpage of the best ones.

• Utilize class hashtags to organize or promote your projects• We use #MolloyNewMedia for ours.

• Easy to use on location (even without cell signal [just post later]) • Assign behind the scenes projects for video/film students.• Have journalism students add short form features to reports.

Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy College

If you find yourself in need of teaching narrative or video storytelling and you need a place to start – begin with:

with

Jamie Cohen – Molloy College New Media@NewandDigital and @MolloyNewMedia