The Sorcerer's Workshop

"Internet Multimedia! What's it good for? Absolutely nothing!"

If you think you know who coined this phrase, it's not Bruce Springsteen. I actually read this rant on some obscure multimedia forum. But after meditating for several hours, okay minutes, on this Webmaster's rage against Internet multimedia I can see his point. The rapid spread of broadband services like DSL and cable have begun to unleash a monsoon of multimedia content that threatens to overwhelm our senses. Let's be honest. When it comes to multimedia creativity/ability, there a hundred Ed Woods to every Martin Scorcese. Most of what we loosely call rich media deserves a showing on Mystery Science Theater 3000, not Masterpiece Theater. As I consider the future of Internet multimedia, I'm reminded of a famous quote.

"No, be afraid. Be very afraid."

Like Geena Davis in 'The Fly', I'm giving this warning because what you've been seeing over the past few years is a drop in the bucket to what's coming to a computer monitor near you. With the spread of inexpensive Flash style animation programs, every Tom, Dick and Harriet are hard at work creating multimedia applications that will in all likelihood end up looking like Jeff Goldblum in that classic movie.

"To Flash or not to Flash, that is the Question"

Webmasters are debating this dilemma with as much thought as Hamlet considered life and death. Unfortunately, many of them are deciding 'To Flash' before they've really considered the implications. They think they should Flash because they can. These designers should take a serious step back and consider whether that fancy Flash navigation bar or that four minute Shockwave presentation about their line of tea kettles is really necessary. Remember, you are not selling multimedia, you are selling a product or service. Time is indeed money especially if someone is waiting for a multimedia application to download. We live in an era where the average person's attention span is measured in nanoseconds and the T.V. remote has become a Borg-like appendage to our hands (Trekkies will understand the Borg reference). Unfortunately, many designers are determined to add that four layered navigation bar and that 'History of Tea Kettles' production to their Website. In the light of this reality, I've decided to add my two cents worth of advice on how to better create Internet multimedia. So here they are for whatever they are worth.

Sample storyboard frame

Rule 1 - Planning, Planning and More Planning

It seems simple, but I find this basic rule of design to be the one most ignored. Many designers will tell you they don't have to do much planning or preproduction. They have an image of what they want to create in their head. But consider this, how many architects build a skyscraper without blueprints? If you answered none, you get the point. The accepted method for building multimedia applications is the same one used by the movie industry for decades - storyboards. Storyboards are nothing more than the script in a visual form. Almost every shot in a film are contained in the storyboards. Camera angle, framing, the action that takes place and even dialogue are included for every shot. You don't need to be a great artist to storyboard. Rough sketches will do the job. A new form of storyboards being used these days are called 'Animatics.' Animatics are basically crude animated storyboards that were invented for the 'Return of the Jedi.' You can do the same in Flash, enabling you to block out key parts of your production. Another tool you may want to use is a 'Timeline' chart. Used by animation companies, these charts resemble the timeline editor found in programs like Flash, LiveMotion, Premiere and Director.

Trying to draw a straight line

Across the top are the frame numbers and down the left side are the elements for the production; graphics, video, text, audio and programming elements. Tape your storyboards on your wall for easy reference and keep another set in a 3-ring binder. Invest the time using tools like these, reworking your production repeatedly. No one gets it right the first time. As a rule, I think you should plan on putting in 2 hours of preproduction for every hour of actual production. If you gain nothing else from this article, remember this.

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