One of my favourite reference guides in my digital storytelling library is a book by Sherri Sheridan: Developing Digital Short Films.

The book is divided into 4 parts with part 1 devoted to Digital Storytelling. This section is packed with ideas, quotes, graphics, charts, notes, and suggestions.

Here are a couple of quotes from page 18:

• The first and primary goal of a filmmaker is to evoke a series of strong emotional responses from the audience throughout the entire story.
• You engage the audience when you tell the truth emotionally based on your own experiences and original insights about life in your film.

On page 27 there are some well written questions on "Being a Filmmaker".
"It's a great responsibility to be a filmmaker....

1. How do you want people to feel when they see your film?
2. What emotional responses are you trying to evoke?
3. What are the new themes for the 21st century that you are passionate about developing in your own stories?"

Page 36 speaks to how people often choose films based on what type of emotional ride or world they are craving to experience. The author calls this segment: "Story Flavors: 37 Varieties" - - Many topics are defined including historical, personal, societal, biographical.

So, I recommend this book to you. Perhaps your local library has a copy. Well worth reading.