Many thanks

Hi all,

David has kindly sent me an invitation to join your blog. I look forward to following the class and contributing in some way if possible.

As I returned to Nashville from an amazing week in Asheville, it occurred to me that not only is Asheville an incredibly beautiful place, but all the people I met there were so open and accepting. My reflection brought me back to your warm reception, attentiveness and amazingly thoughtful responses to my show last Tuesday evening. Thank you so much for that. Your feedback is so important as I work to make the show relevant and valuable to my future audiences.

From your comments, I will work to make a better transition between my own photography story and Julia Margaret Cameron's and re-evaluate the inclusion of technical detail. I will consider revealing additional back story in order to make the purpose of the show more clear. Further character development and finding ways to shorten the length will also be addressed. As I work through the show, your additional comments will be applied to the refinement.

You are certainly fortunate to be studying with such accomplished people as David and Gwenda. If I lived in Asheville I'd be in your class as well! Though most of you are probably not studying to be professional storytellers, the principles will help you tell your own story - as you choose to 'focus your lens' or 'develop' your life!

Thanks again,

Valerie Menard

Extras

Here are some images and links related to a few of the items on our mid-term.
Throughout history storytellers have attempted to use visual images to illustrate their stories.

Bankelsanger literally means "bench singer." These German storytellers would use a small bench as a stage from which to direct listeners to their story boards.

Similarly the art of Kamishibai in Japan is based on telling stories to images.

Kamishibai in Japan, 1959
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MahEbmc4CE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUAJIlJ4DOw




The modern use of storyboards in film-making is a direct descendant of these traditions. Storyboarding was first used as a cost effective way to pre-edit animated films by Walt Disney.

Tuesday, April 13

Welcome back from Spring Break! Now we will begin the telling of personal stories. To inspire us we will have a guest storyteller, Valerie Menard, sharing a new program of stories she is currently developing. Be sure to attend class and listen up!