About ‘The Digital Director’

Today, digital technologies have transformed the filmmaking landscape, creating the possibility (and necessity) of engaging with audiences before a production is made; acquiring footage via digital media; manipulating those images in post production, and towards an online release.

Audiences are elevated front and centre, encouraged to interact with production from Day One to the final release, and beyond. Reinforcing these ideas, The Digital Director posed a question: how can directors make use of social media to create and maintain a dialogue with audiences, pitch a project, make a trailer that has the potential to go viral and devise a production plan?

Given the creative freedom to work in a large studio, The Digital Director was a class that encouraged experiencing the dynamics of a real production campaign. Reflecting on the potentialities and realities of the role of the director (and those around them) of film, television and online media, the studio blended individuals into four distinct teams: The Management Team, The Production TeamThe Writing Team and The Social Media Team.

Blending the elements of theoretical and practical components, The Digital Director championed our discoveries around multi-platform convergence, social media and user-generated content; utilising each class members skill and interest to influence the direction of the class. Examining the role and skill sets of the contemporary director, Sketchy Students reflects the outcome of strengthening our tacit knowledge through the exploration, potentials and implications of digital technologies and the online space for the role of the director. From learning what makes a good pitch, to devising a concept that was defined through a timeline, Sketchy Students was a mockumentary sketch series that flirted with the real experiences of multi-platform marketing. What exactly is Sketchy Students, you ask? Enter if you dare.