A Guide to Creating Interactive Documentaries
The following guide will provide links to all the necessary information you will need to make your interactive documentary, as well as provide links to articles and interactive documentary examples to use as inspiration when creating your film.
Where to Watch
The best way to find out what works and what doesn’t work in the field of interactive documentary is to try a few and see what is successful and what isn’t:
National Film Board of Canada / POV Interactive Shorts / Submarine Channel / Arte TV / Docubase
How to create interactive documentaries with Eko Studio
Eko studio is a powerful and free online tool that you can use to make premium interactive content.
Eko allows you to create storytelling with choice-driven entertainment. Viewers can shape the shows they’re watching.
Some examples of what you can achieve with Eko, are available at: www.eko.com
Sign Up to Eko at https://studio.eko.com
A useful guide is available at the following links:
- How to setup your first project
- How to add nodes and multiple choices
- How to modify menu and style
- How to publish and share your interactive video
Introducing Klynt
Klynt is an editing & publishing application dedicated to interactive storytellers. It was designed originally for Honkytonk Films in-house productions to create an affordable and easy-to-use solution to explore new narrative formats on the Internet.
Visit the Klynt Support Centre for documentation on using the software
Klynt - Video Tutorials
Workshops & Exercises
Over the following weeks, we’ll learn the ins-and-outs of Klynt by building a simple interactive documentary. From project set-up, to building menus, importing media and exporting for online, we’ll go through each step needed to ensure you complete your assignment and produce a successful interactive documentary.
Exercise Materials
Post Workshop Exercises
Tutorials
Klynt Basics – The Tutorial
Complete Date: Before Workshop #2
Build a Responsive Sequence – The Tutorial
Complete Date: Before Workshop #3
Embed Social Media – The Tutorial
Complete Date: Before Workshop #4
Last check: Before export – The Tutorial
Complete Date: Before Workshop #5
Webinars
All 3 webinars can be found on klynt.net
Beginners
Watch: Before Workshop #2
Advanced
Watch: Before Workshop #3
Responsive
Watch: Before Workshop #4
Additional Reading
The Guardian: How to … make an interactive documentary
Doc Next Network: Insights Into the Interactive Documentary Realm
PBS: 5 tips for transmedia storytelling
BBC: The creativity of web documentaries
i-Docs: i-Docs & Beyond: 5 things to consider
Medium: A Guide to Interactive Documentary: Structure, Tools & Narrative