Goal:

To create an informative interactive documentary that will keep users engaged.

Objective:

The purpose of this capstone is to use digital media to engage users while consuming science-based content. For this project I will use my personal undergraduate research on a commonly used supplement as my primary content. I will create a short semi-linear interactive documentary composed of live footage and digital animations of the reactions that occur in the human body at the microscopic level. I will film B-roll and additional footage, such as interviews, for the things that occur on the macroscopic level. The documentary will be presented in an easy to understand manner and will aim to be engaging for all potential users. The interactive documentary will be published on a website dedicated to the documentary with additional interactive content that will act as a supplement. The website will be viewed on the desktop and responsive to mobile.

This project is also a gateway for fully utilizing the second screen while viewing content on television. The potential mobile version of this project has the potential to be self-syncing in the future to allow additional content to be easily accessible at cue points so that the viewer can get more out of a documentary that they are watching. With second screen viewing becoming increasingly popular, the mobile version could streamline the use of social media, advertisements, and additional content without much effort from the user. This could be highly effective for non-fiction networks during information-based programming.

Methodology:

My research is already complete and was reviewed by a committee of biology professors. This allows me to focus on the digital media aspect in visualizing the information that I found. To complete the interactive documentary of my project I will create animations that show the different reactions and the process the commonly used supplement, melatonin, undergoes while in the human body and the effects that it has. The complete process is very complex so to make it easier to understand, the primary storyline of the documentary will focus on melatonin only. To allow this video to be interactive, the user will have the option to further explore topics that are mentioned in the primary documentary at the corresponding cue points, cue points with definitions will also be included.

I will also shoot additional footage for the events that happen at the macroscopic level to keep viewers engaged by having an actual human connection to the content instead of an entirely digitally animated one.

This project will be created using many tools. The final interactive video will be created using HTML5 or Adobe Flash. All macroscopic footage will be shot using either a Canon 7D or a Sony XLR and edited in Adobe Premiere. All microscopic/molecular animations will be created in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Flash. The website will be created using Coda 2 or Adobe Dreamweaver.

The biggest challenge of this project is not the topic that I will be creating content for but it is the challenge of making a very specific scientific subject engaging for users of all types. I wish to work for a non-fiction television network and find that this form of interactive media will be very beneficial for them to use on their websites or on mobile devices. The video production aspect is something else that I wish to become better at to become more competitive for jobs doing in house production for a television network.

Correlation to course of study: 

This project derives from my course of study so far in that my classes have equipped me with the foundation to complete all production aspects of this project.

Interactive media production has set a strong foundation for me to develop things in Adobe Flash. I enjoy Flash development and find it to be one of my favorite classes. The topic that intrigued me the most was the interactive video projects. This prompted me to do more research on this topic and think out of the box for more uses for it. Many ad agencies are using interactive video to keep users engaged in the age in which advertisements are easily dismissed during a commercial break or overlooked while online. Interactive video gives companies the opportunity to allow users to get involved with the commercial instead of ignoring it.

Other classes have also contributed to the skills I will utilize during this project. Interactive media strategies has given me the skill sets to think strategically while designing the user interface of the video and the website to insure ease of use. Theory of Audience Analysis has given me the skill to think strategically about how audiences will use this product. Visual Aesthetics will allow me to think creatively when designing my interface and the overall design aesthetic. Interactive design has given me a solid foundation to create a website to house my interactive documentary.

Timeline:

In order to remain efficient in the time that I have to complete this project, I have compiled a comprehensive list for shooting and animation. I will begin animating in December for the animated features in the documentary. I will also begin shooting the footage I need in December as well. I will have all the live footage I need by the end of January so that I can spend the remainder of the months finishing the animations, editing, designing, and coding. I will also have time to get more footage if needed to fill time for the main storyline of my documentary.
Skills, knowledge, budget:

The skills that I have to complete this project are videography, photography (if needed), Adobe Flash, Adobe After Effects, and web building software. I need to improve my skills with web development and animation in addition to strengthening the skills I already have. I have all of the information I need for the content since I researched everything myself. My research is specifically based around the effectiveness of using melatonin in treating pediatric insomnia. I also completed research based on the effects of using melatonin as a medication in adults. A committee of biology professors from Methodist University has reviewed my research in April of 2011. I also had advisors that I would report to during the nine-months it took for me to complete my studies.

I will try to get most of my footage in an economical manner. I plan on getting nature footage while traveling over the holidays and during the winter fly-in. I also plan on getting footage of various amphibians and other animals that relate to my project. I will also potentially interview nurses or doctors at the Rex Sleep Disorders Clinic or Elon professors in the School of Science. These interviews will be as needed and is part of my back up plan for additional footage or as extra features. I will also need to find a person to do my voice-overs. Preferably I would have someone do it on a volunteer basis.