Dana Atchley - Master Digital Storyteller Written by: Bill Peay Photos by: Nick Galante KALAPAKI BEACH, KAUAI, HAWAII Friday, April 27, 1996 10 a.m. H.S.T. Digital cameras provided by Kodak Digital Science

Dana Atchley, a pioneer in the field of multimedia performance, was the last speaker on the first day of the Storytelling for the New Millenium conference. The San Francisco-based multimedia artist and digital storyteller, wowed a packed house of 400 with a performance of his acclaimed digital storytelling fireside chat, "Next Exit."

Sitting on a log next to a television monitor that displayed video footage of flickering flames, Atchley launched into a 45-minute performance that delved into the story of his life. "There's nothing like sitting down to the digital campfire," he said, as he described the piece as a "bunch of stories" linked together.

The video screen behind him on stage was linked directly to an Apple computer manned by Patrick Milligan, Atchley's technician. A graphic of a television displayed the same footage of flames, and an assortment of other graphic images cluttered the screen. As the storyteller continued, the images were evidenced to be icons for his vignettes. A click of the mouse on each icon brought up supplemental material.

As Atchley related memories of his past using the age-old art of the spoken word, his anecdotes were aided by the use of photographs, audio tracks, and quicktime movies projected onto the screens behind him. Atchley synced his live performance perfectly with the digital material. As images of the performer appeared on the screen, he mimiced himself in real time.

Atchley uses his medium as a method to relate his vast archive of memories from a vivid life. Following an Ivy league college career, the artist hit the asphalt highways of the United States for years, collecting experiences in a mental suitcase, and gathering archival material. He quipped that he has now moved on to the information superhighway, and thanked "multimedia" for allowing him to tie all of his interests together for presentation.

Atchley said that "real interactivity" takes place between the entertainer and his audience. During his performance, he allowed the audience to choose the direction of the presentation, using his arm as an applause meter.

Prior to the seminar, Atchley led a three-day, on-site workshop, sponsored by Apple Computer, Inc., focused on digital storytelling, assisting a small group of students in creating digital stories of their own.

He related a discussion that took place with one of his students about whether the new technologies will hurt the art of storytelling. The artist took the stance that the digital age has presented a great and wonderful tool. "There is a small society of those of us who have the tools, but soon everybody will be doing it. The language of media will be in all of our hands."

Atchley's performance was the last presentation on the opening day of the Kauai Institute and the American Film Institute's joint effort, Storytelling for the New Millennium, a three-day conference focusing on the age-old tradition in the digital era.