ABSTRACT
A neW occupAtion The pioneering individuals that we’ve met along the way in this book are all practitioners of a new type of creative endeavor, a craft that did not even exist a few decades ago. They are digital storytellers. The work they do spans an assortment of technologies, and the projects they create are a contrast in opposites-everything from talking baby dolls to gritty videogames. Some of these creations appear on the tiny screens of wireless devices, while others play out on huge movie screens. The venues where these works are enjoyed run a gamut of possibilities, too. They may be seen in one’s living room, in a theme park, in a schoolroom, in an office-even in the ocean, as with the robotic dolphin, DRU. Yet, despite the great differences among them, the works they create have significant points in common. All of them
• Utilize digital technologies • Tell a story • Are perceived as being entertaining • Engage the users in an interactive experience
Even though being a digital storyteller is a relatively new occupation, it is a type of work that is increasingly in demand. True, you won’t find jobs for “digital storytellers” listed in the want ads. That’s because the jobs in this arena go by a great variety of titles and call for various kinds of skill sets. As we’ve seen throughout this book, the people that we would consider to be digital storytellers carry many official titles, including designer, graphic artist, information architect, producer, project manager, writer, and director. The most visionary of the digital storytellers may work across a number of different platforms and media. This chapter will explore ways of finding work and developing a career in the field of digital storytelling.
