If I were to create a podcast, I think I would take a page out of the podcast “Unresolved” book and talk about weird or mysterious true things. I would try to make it more interesting by adding music or sound effects. I liked the podcast, but I just found my mind wandering because it was just his monotone voice going on and on. It could have been condensed or spiced up by adding some sound effects to make it more intriguing.

I think my podcast would be closer to the radio drama, with multiple speakers/characters. I would like to tell about interesting or weird unsolved cases or even solved ones that were intriguing. Maybe even reenacting them to a point that it tells the gist of the story and then me going into more detail afterwards. I would want it to be more than you just sitting there listening to it, I would want you to be entertained and involved in it. I have never created a podcast before so these ideas may be out of reach or just too much to get into a podcast but its what I would like. 

Video Diaries (Marble Hornets)

I think one of the elements that was used in the video diaries I watched was cinematography and editing. I am picking two because I think they go hand in hand in this series. The series I chose was Marble Hornets, it had nothing to do with what it started out to be. I think it was about Slenderman which is why I watched like 15 of the 2-3 minute videos. I think the way that it was edited was one of the major reasons that I kept watching for a good hour and a half. Each clip made you think that in the next clip you would figure it all out which of course you didn’t. The way that it was filmed, or the cinematography was kind of chilling and gave me goosebumps a couple of times. When filming a horror clip or movie and you choose to try to make it look real it is a tough choice, but I think it pays on in this film. I think if I made a movie I would also focus on editing because I think that is the backbone of your movie. If it is not edited correctly it can ruin the entire film.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHzIO0agtCQEsTxUcahZgjQ

What makes a good digital story? I think there are a few elements that go into making a good story. It is kind of like making the perfect stew because it is the mix of ingredients that make it good. I think one of the most important parts is the conflict. I have written a couple of blogs about why I think conflict is important. Conflict is what is happening between the person in the story and the outside forces against them.  For me one reason conflict is important is it makes the story more interesting and gets the reader more invested in the story. In Slenderman you feel the conflict between the girl in the story and the Slenderman. You can feel the tension and fear in the story, and it keeps you reading to find out what happens. Here she is face to face with the Slenderman, “The girl was trapped between the instinct to flee and the gut feeling to not turn her back on the door” You can feel her fear in this sentence, and it helps you be able to put yourself in her shoes. In the cave adventure interactive story, you have conflict between you, the adventurer, and the cave itself but also with the gnomes and pirates who are out to get you. When you have a good conflict, you feel like you are a part of the story and that is why you continue reading.  I think conflict and plot go hand in hand and that is why my next point is the plot of a story. The plot is very important in making a good digital story. The plot is what the story is about, what is going on in the story, what is the point of it, where is the story going? In Slenderman we are running from a freakishly scary man, in cave adventure we are exploring caves and getting robbed by pirates, in [Text] A Summer Story we are talking to a ghost through text messages, and in all we are fully immersed in the story because the plot grabs your attention and demands that you finish reading. Some plots are interactive and that can be exciting.  I hadn't experienced many interactive digital stories until recently, but I think they are fun and entertaining. It's always stimulating to feel like you are a part of the story.  When you feel invested in the story you are more likely to finish it and maybe reread it later. When a story doesn’t have a good plot line or a conflict that grabs your attention you are less likely to be entertained or even continue reading.

https://www.creepypasta.com/slenderman/ 

http://www.amctv.com/shows/halt-and-catch-fire/colossal-cave-adventure/landing 

http://sakevisual.com/summerstory.html