BBC - Telling Lives - What is Digital Storytelling? Digital Stories, Digital Storytelling

What is Digital Storytelling?

A digital story from Humber

A pair of die
'Ullopoly
by Michaela Lines

A Lancashire digital story

A Liverpool ferry

On Yer Bike
by Pete Campbell

A Liverpool digital story

Young people on the cranes in Liverpool

Cranes
by Barbara Lamb

Cumbria's digital stories

A view of a lake in Cumbria
Take part
Join us in Cumbria to tell us your story.

A digital story from Northern Ireland

Paul McPhail from Northern Ireland
Lights Camera Reaction by Paul McPhail

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Logo
Who Do You Think You Are?
Stories of ancestry

Talking Teenagers

Talking teenagers logo
Digital stories for 'Talking Teenagers'

World War II Memories

Soldier returning from the Second World War
Digital stories of World War II Memories

Telling Lives on TV

BBC One logo
Digital stories shown on BBC television

Taking Care

BBC Taking Care campaign
Taking Care

What is it?
A digital story is a short film made from a script that tells a personal story illustrated with pictures from your photo album. The films are produced in workshops in which all the skills are taught. Everybody has a story to tell and anyone can learn the techniques. Discover how to write a script and use new technology to turn it into a short piece of television.

How does it work?
Each workshop begins with storytelling. Exploring ways of telling stories is an exciting and engaging process. Up to ten people in each workshop participate in games to discover words and how to put them into a script. Inside your collection of photos and memorabilia are pictures that hold fascinating stories. Put the pictures and script together in a laptop computer with editing software and you have a film.

Where can I watch these films?
The BBC has created the world's biggest archive of digital stories. Many of the films made in BBC workshops are on this website, and BBC Capture Wales has many more. You will also see them on BBC Television. Your Stories on BBCi features two new digital stories each day. These short films have also been used alongside BBC2's Who Do You Think You Are? and in the Taking Care and VE Day anniversary programmes.

Can I take part?
Digital storytelling courses are now available in England through some BBC Open Centres. Send an email to: Digital Stories and your details will be forwarded to the centre nearest to where you live.

How can I find out more?
Visit any of the websites listed below to find out what is happening elsewhere in the UK and the rest of the world.

(External) Centre for Digital Storytelling
(External) Digital Storytelling Association
(External) DigitalStorytelling.co.uk
(External) Digistories
(External) Photobus
(External) Blackburn College

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

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