Today, I continued wrapping up the final touches on my Remix an Interface project. Like I’ve mentioned before in other blog posts, I’ve found that the most difficult part of this project as been creating content (comments, captions, usernames, etc.). While its difficult to create a lot of original content for all 5 characters, and some of their monsters, I’ve found that one of the best things about this project as been the ability to take risks with my creativity in developing new, unexpected content.

Why I Did It

I’m hoping to have my project completely finalized within the next two class, and then begin work on my presentation.

Today during our in-class workday I continued writing captions and comments for the remainder of my Instagram posts. As I finalize each post, I am inserting them into the Buzzfeed article and writing copy for the article.

Why I Did It

Thanks to peer review last class, I took my peer’s advice and am trying to make the characters’ Instagram posts and story lines more unexpected and surprising. It’s taking a little more creativity to take the characters’ out of their norm, but I think it is going to pay off and I will have better content because of it.

• A major strength that my group pointed out was how I decided to put everything together in a Buzzfeed article to present the information.
• One suggestion my group had was to try and use pictures and situations that take the characters out of their expected, predictable lives, and show them doing something unexpected. My group particularly liked how I had Velma going on dates and chasing after boys in her Instagrams, and suggested I switch up some of the other characters posts to make them more surprising and unpredictable.
• One technical difficultly I am having is that my final “Sources” section of my Buzzfeed article will not seem to save or show up when I preview the article. In the “Sources” section, I am crediting where I gathered the profile pictures and full name information, where I gathered the Instagram template, and where I gathered additional background information–So, I really need to figure out how to fix this problem or determine another way I can go about including the sources in a different area of the article.
• The most important changes that I need to make are just finishing up the posts and finalizing the project. In writing and editing the remaining posts, I am really going to focus on making the characters do something that is out of their norm and unpredictable. Additionally, I want to see if I can incorporate some of the characters most used phrases in the show (like “Zoinks!,” “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!,” etc.) into the captions and comments.
• Given the amount of time we have left to work on this project, I am very confident that I will be able to finish everything on time and even have some leftover time to edit and perfect all of the posts and information.

Today I continued working on putting together Instagram posts for each of my characters. I’ve found that the most difficult part is not editing or inserting the photos into the template, but actually attempting to be creative in writing the captions and comments for each of the pictures.

Why I Did It

I’m focusing on being as creative as possible for this project, especially when it comes to the captions and comments for the Instagram posts. I want to be example to display the personalities for each of the characters, as well as show their relationships through the comments. While each character has their own story line for their photos, I also want all 5 of the characters’ story lines to be able to get tied together and blend well with each other.

Today during our online workday, I spent time creating more Instagram posts for each characters, and writing captions to go along with the pictures. I’m also including “likes” and “comments” into the posts, so the audience can see different characters interacting with each other.

Why I Did It

I want to make sure I have all my Instagram posts (with pictures, captions, likes) done before inserting them into my Buzzfeed article. My last step will be arranging my Buzzfeed article, and adding summary text for each of the 5 characters before their 5 Instragram posts.

Documentation Plan

Since my project is so image heavy, I plan to source and attribute each image in the Instagram posts right under the photos themselves, like “Image Credit:________”. For the rest of the images, templates, and any additional information I use, I will include a section at the bottom of my Buzzfeed article to list my “Sources”.

Today, I created an outline of a mock-up for my Buzzfeed article for my project. Since I am actually using Buzzfeed to create my article, it was easy to make the mock-up based on the actual site. I included a Heading, an Intro paragraph, and then outlined one section for one character, which includes their full name, nickname, a short intro, and then the 5 Instagram pictures. After creating my mock-up I began creating my Instagram posts by inserting the photos into the Instragram templates, adding usernames, comments, and likes.

Why I Did It

I think having an outline of how I want to arrange my Buzzfeed article will really help me with organization and making sure all my information flows properly. In addition, once I create one Instagram temple, I will be able to base all the other posts on that one, making sure all the elements (user names, likes, comments, image sizes, etc.) are all matching and look the same.

Storyboard

Today, I spend time gathering pictures for my Instagram posts for each character (Fred, Velma, Daphne, Scooby, and Shaggy). I want to try to have at least 5 Instagram posts for each character, focusing on their life since their retirement from Mystery, Inc. I have gathered all the photos, except I still need a few more for Scooby.

Why I Did It

Once I have all my photos gathered, I will be able to edit them and insert them into fake Instagram posts for each character. Then, I will also be able to write captions for each post, creating story lines for each character’s life. I want to try to have main themes for each of the characters, so I am attempting to choose photos that make sense together.

Timeline of Work for Remix a Story Project

• 4/13- Gather all photos & images for all characters
• 4/14- Edit all photos, create fake Instagram posts for each photo, begin writing captions
• 4/15- Mock-up or Storyboard on 4/15.
• 4/16 to 4/17- Finish writing captions for all posts, begin creation of the fake Buzzfeed article
• 4/20- Presentation Sign-up & finish creation of fake Buzzfeed article
• 4/21- Insert all Instagram posts into Buzzfeed article
• 4/22- Peer Feedback
• 4/24- Make changes & edits based on Peer Feedback
• 4/27- Finalize all changes and review entire project before in-class presentations
• 4/29 to 5/6- In-Class Presentations
• 5/6- Project Due by 11:55 PM

• The story I have chosen to focus on for my Remix a Story project is Scooby-Doo and Mystery, Inc. The main idea for my project is to create Instagram accounts for each of the main characters (Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma), and highlight each of their lives after retiring from Mystery, Inc.
• While the Scooby-Doo series has been around since 1969, I’m focusing mainly on the characters and content involved in the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You TV series (1969-1971), as well as some of the feature length films released between 1998-2001, including Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost, Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders, and Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase. I want to focus on the characters in the 1969-1971 series, but I will use pictures, graphics, and animation from the movies because they are higher quality.
• For the genre I will be using, I will create a type of Photo Essay, which will create Instagram accounts for each of the main characters.
• Three Sources:
  • “Scoobypedia.” – Scooby Doo Characters, Episodes, Movies, and Tons More! Wikia, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2015. http://scoobydoo.wikia.com/wiki/Scoobypedia.
  • “Scooby Doo, Where Are You!” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2015. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063950/&gt;.
  • “Scooby Doo, Where Are You! Episode Guide -Hanna-Barbera @ BCDB.” Big Cartoon DataBase RSS. Big Cartoon DataBase, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2015. <http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Hanna-Barbera_Studios/S/Scooby_Doo_Where_Are_You_/&gt;.

Elements of a good remix include the following characteristics:

• Specific and focused–not too long or too broad
• Utilizes at least 3 out of the 5 modes of communications in your storytelling
• Use a story that you are very familiar with, so it is easier for you to convert and make your readers understand your remix
• You take risks!!! Think outside the box
• Good visuals! It’s eye-catching and visually stimulating
• Strong content–the writing is interesting and the author chooses the best information to include
• Based on real life content (Time Magazine, a newspaper, a Facebook page, a newscast, etc.)

What Makes A Good Digital Story

Out of all 12 project examples, my favorite by far was the The Hunger Games, Time Magazine Edition. I thought it was very creative how the author structured the project just like Time Magazine. Not only did they include quotes and facts from the story, but also images and head shots of the characters. This project was similar to another example I looked at, The Once Upon a Times, which was a project that designed a newspaper based on a fairy tale and Esmerelda. While the newspaper was more focused on the writing and the content, The Time Magazine design was definitely visionally stronger, which made the project look strong and more appealing for viewers. Additionally, the Time Magazine design used FlipHTML5, which created the virtual magazine look as you flipped through the pages, and the Once Upon a Times was just a simple PDF. Comparing the two, it made me realize that for a stronger project, I should try to use a format that is more interactive and eye-catching for readers, not just a simple PDF page. Combining the two designs, the in-depth content and writing from the newspaper and the layout and design from the Time Magazine project, one could create a very powerful project. Also, I liked how the Time Magazine just summarized the main points of The Hunger Games, and it did not try to tell the entire story. The author picked the best information, and focus on that.

Stories I am Considering

1. Toy Story: There’s a lot of different ways you could remix Toy Story. From talking about Buzz Lightyear making an unexpected Earth landing from outer space to join the other toys, to Woody going missing, or Andy growing up and all the toys focusing on life after Andy. This is definitely my top choice for a story to remix, mainly because there are so many different things I could do with it.
2. Peter Pan: This is my favorite story and Disney movie of all time. Similar to Toy Story, I think there are a lot of different directions you could go with a remix. The first idea that I thought of was to have Peter Pan as a public speaker, sharing his life views and philosophy on “Never Growing Up.”
3. The Tortoise and the Hare: I think the Tortoise and the Hare is a simple story that could be easily remixed. It would be interesting to remix the story into modern times, possibly using different types of sports cars vs. hybrid/electric cars. The focus could be shifted to looking at the environmental effects of the cars.
4. The Three Little Pigs: The three little pigs is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I have seen multiple remixes of this story. I just think it might be cool to challenge myself to remix the story in another completely new way that has not been done before.