Rocky Road to Paradise is a personal testimony, in the form of a digital story, about my life as a Polish immigrant living in the UK. The primary focus of the story is my experiences and the meanings that they generate for my life, which are told in a linear and chronological fashion.
The main objectives of this project were to enlighten the audience about the benefits as well as downsides of my personal experience of immigration, especially how it has impacted me since my early years of life.
The digital story's production began with the creation of a storyboard, which highlighted the themes covered in each part of the video, as well as the materials to be included while editing and technical aspects, such as length of each frame and transitions between them. This planning process allowed me to consider the importance of narrative and subject matter, and how these could be explored in a deep, moving and engaging manner.
After the initial planning phase, production began first in the television studio, where I was filmed as a point-of-view talking head speaking to the camera. The studio was set up with a green screen background and appropriate lighting, with a DSLR camera and a microphone plugged in to record all speech.
During the editing phase, the footage was combined further with archival photographs of me from various stages in my life according to the narrative. There was also background music added, as well as text, subtitles, and transitions between frames. Finally, the green screen was modified with a new background that would reflect the serious tones of discussion in the story's duration.
In conclusion, this project gave me an eye-opening introduction to various processes and iterations in digital story production. Through the initial planning stage, then the production and post-production stages, I gained valuable knowledge in the construction of balanced pacing in narrative, punctuation of narrative through usage of archival material, and the usage of filming footage and Adobe Premiere Pro as editing software.
These skills provided me with groundwork and inspiration that will be useful for future projects ahead, and have taught me to appreciate digital storytelling as a tool for producing knowledge, education and social impact.
"All our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them." — Walt Disney