Seven Core Concepts of Transmedia Storytelling

Seven Core Concepts of Transmedia Storytelling, originally uploaded by budcaddell.

Here is a great summary of the core transmedia planning principles that Bud Caddell of planner reads fame put together in a very digestable format.

Ive been a bit busy lately and although genius, I dont often have time to read through all of henry jenkin's work. So its great to get the simplified version.

But here is the different parts one and two. As well as the keynote that Henry gave on it all

Enjoy

Great transmedia presentation from Faris

Converged Communications New Ideas Of Influence Alternate Ending

View SlideShare presentation (tags: transmedia faris)

Media is a Journey ... not a destination

speeding bullet, originally uploaded by Diana Goss.

I read an interesting article in campaign from Indy Saha at agency republic in the UK. He stated that media was in fact a constant journey. What I took from this was that the old style of media was in fact all about understanding the destination or the channel. How many people watched this TV show... or read this magazine. Then it was about using that information to take your message to the destination.

This has changed as the content and message are travelling through out all media and people can often be the planes, trains or automobiles. The fun part now is understanding how the message travels not where it ends up. Sounds like a book from Paulo Coehlo and philosopher's view of life as a journey. But working to make our message move across media in a positive sense. Is an interesting objective. Its also just another way of talking about transmedia planning.

Can we use Pulp Fiction as a point for transmedia

Flashmobbing

This is gold. Instead of having underground raves why not have a silent one in the middle of a really crowded place. Like Paddington or Victoria Stations in London

Great way of utilising the internet to drive a herd of people and then utilise content from the event to keep it going.

Why cant kids go to raves at crappy warehouses like they used to.

Are you being served ??

As per usual, some great writing from Faris has sparked and helped to clarify some of my own thoughts on how companies selling products are starting to utilise different levels of service to expand the positive perceptions of the brand and standout in the market.

His article about win-win marketing is a bit of a favourite topic of his and its an area that I enjoy as well. When I discuss how our industry have to started making things like Nokia's Music Recommender with my friends outside the industry. They dont understand why ??? 'dont you just do ads'. I always return with. We have been stealing people's precious time for years with messages in their face. Its about time we gave something back.

So brands are starting to give service to the needs of their audiences with added elements that live in the world of their products.

Insurance companies are helping people live healthier lives - Pruhealth Vitality

Nike is always a winner in this area with my favourite one - Nikeplus

Zoggs which is a swimming brand from Australia have started to try and take on Speedo with a training program.

So brands are starting to show their insights into the audience and the world that their products live in and give a little service instead of continuing to steal their time like we have been for years.

Transmedia Planning in Lehman’s Terms

Well after spending a week in coffee shops reading Convergence Culture which Faris at TIGS stated was the basis for their idea of 'Transmedia Planning' I think I get it. I love the creation and discussion around new ideologies or new communications models. Its something I always throw around in my head and try to create. But when someone else creates them, my questioning nature needs to look a little deeper. So I have done a bit of a linear slide about the storyline of the Matrix from the book and how different elements added to what HenryJenkins entitled overall 'World' that the Matrix franchise was about. Not just a trilogy of movies. This does not include all the elements discussed. Its all I could fit on the slide. The green bars include online discussion groups, comic books and consumer created elements or story discussion on the overall.

I have always been annoyed at how we all dont use the frequency of their communications to the great affect. 'Lets get a frequency of 4 across all media is how it starts'. But lets say the same thing over and over again. This way each time an exposure hits someone. Its tells them something different. You should like us for this reason and this and this. It also allows people to come in at different points. I only saw the movies. But didnt feel lost. Im upset cause I felt there was so much to it all that I missed. It also dives interest and involvement through the games and the online discussion groups. By playing a element of the game you feel like you have built the next part of the story. Which was in the next movie.

So I thought I'd have a go with the current BT's Homehub campaign in the UK. The TV ads have created a story around a guy who has just moved in with his girlfriend who is divorced and has two kids. Some elements have already happened. But I have just added a few more elements

The great thing about this campaign is that you can pull the characters out of the main story and talk to different audiences through a story with the likeminded character. The guy can talk to other males build a community around him and his point of view. The women can talk to other women about the scenario and get them involved. You could even do a kids part and communicate the strengths of the product to kids directly and allow them to be involved. I have also left a part to allow the audience to choose the next part of the story.

Sorry Been Away

Well I have been out of action for the past week as the lovely Home Office sent me out of the country for a few days due to visa issues. So I went to Barcelona for the first time and fell in love with the city straight away for so many reasons. But it also allowed me to open up my mind a little and see things in a different light. So due to no laptop and crap internet cafes my notebook is jammed with posts. So look out for posts on habits, modern art and since I had plenty of time I got along way through reading the book Convergence Culture. Which has enabled a clearer picture of Faris's Transmedia Planning.
So I have put together a page on the Matrix example and then I have tried to do one for the current BT campaign.