How Media Can Tell A Story

Posted: February 20, 2013 in Uncategorized
0

Transmedia Storytelling

What is Transmedia Storytelling?

“Transmedia storytelling represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally, each medium makes its own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story” – Henry Jenkins

Transmedia Storytelling takes a story deeper than a single movie or book. It allows us as the audience, customers, users, and fans to not only be able to explore a story, but engage ourselves within it and develop a more personable experience.

How Does Transmedia Storytelling Affect Business?

In a world that is constantly affected by and uses social and digital media, companies must adapt their practices in order to utilize these valuable resources and connections. We as a society do not only use social media as a main source of communication and connection, but we also add to this digital world by our user generated content. Whether it is a blog, movie review, gossip, news, or social networking, our opinions are expressed and affect how a new startup company or product may be interpreted by the rest of the world. Without participating in the social media culture, a company’s audience  and consumer base can quickly diminish. Consumers, much like movie fans, want to be aware and involved in the process and details of a new product. Engagement is the key to success.

-Dr. Rutledge

-Dr. Rutledge

Harry Potter’s Universe

One of the highest grossing films of all time, Harry Potter has taken full advantage of transmedia storytelling. Whether the story is told through the original books by J. K. Rowling, the eight film series, video games, or The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, the audience has been able to engage the series in several different ways. Harry Potter has utilized every aspect of transmedia storytelling by allowing their audience to decide what part of the story they want to be told, as well as how. They have developed a Harry Potter universe so vast that every spell is accounted for, as well as the exact wand motions.

In addition, their audience has taken characters and create their own shows and scenarios, taking the Harry Potter universe even deeper and enlarging it.

The Inside Experience – The Ultimate Transmedia Story

Directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Emmy Rossum, Inside was a social thriller film that used multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, in order to develop the series and coordinate the events. Woke up trapped in a room, Christina Perasso (Emmy Rossum), must use her laptop to reach out to family, friends, and the general public using social media in order to ask for help about where she is and why she was kidnapped. She provides the audience with clues, facts, and pictures and they must help her in order for her to successfully escape. They went as far as to “interrogate” some of the fans in the film by questioning them about specific facts and details.

Intel and Toshiba teamed together to use this film as an advertising and marketing campaign for their computers. The computer that Christina had was an Intel powered Toshiba laptop, and it was at the center of attention. The film received over 50 million views and had over 4 million interactions on social media websites.

Future of Transmedia Storytelling

Transmedia Storytelling will become the basis of a successful film or story. It allows the audience to be engaged within the story and to create a more personable feeling. It allows companies to successfully communicate and connect with their consumers and audience by constantly permeating their everyday life. It develops a strong brand identity and brand equity, which will allow it to retain more of its audience members for future stories or products.

References

Leave a comment