GTS WK2 Analysis: Why Create Transmedia

East Coast and West Coast Transmedia have a few noticeable differences. Andrea Phillips is credited with making a distinction between East and West Coast Media. West Coast Media is also known as Hollywood Media. It focuses on one huge main topic and focuses on the big piece of media, such as a film franchise. It then uses this big topic or theme, which is self-contained and puts other supporting materials with it. An example of this would be the Lord Of the Rings franchise. This is especially true in the Hobbit movies, as Peter Jackson has used material from other sources to add more to the films. Not only did Jackson use the book’s appendix and other materials to flesh out the world more, he created more interest in the franchise, as well. Another thing of note is that this has let there be a great number of films in the series. An example of this would be East coast trans media is more social media based, and relies mostly on several pieces from different locations coming together to further the story. This type of media tends to focus on several small pieces that make up one large piece. An example of this would be a game called “I Love Bees”. It was an alternate reality game connected to the Halo franchise. This website was a combination of using the trailer for a new game and creating a new experience for fans while they wait for the actual product.

An example of a trans media campaign that was effective was for the film District 9. There was marketing done for this movie at conventions and other Sci-Fi markets over a year before the film came out. There were signs, posters, and videos all promoting the film. This was marketed at other places that are Sci-Fi oriented as well. The film also used websites to market the film before and when it was out. This campaign is a good example of knowing who the core audience is and targeting them effectively. An example of art for art’s sake trans media would be an event called “Transannual – Normal Actions For Normal Heights.” This event is designed to have artists perform a specific story and others can participate as well. The event was promoted as more of an experience than anything else. This event was done more to give people an experience they had not had before, as opposed to focusing on marketing and sales like a conventional type of art would do.

Transmedia Short Story Element Map

For this project I will be creating a video that explains the main story. This will be posted on YouTube and different parts of the story will be connected through links that will be posted in the video description. Some of the social media/resourses used will be YouTube, Garage Band, PowToon, Wix, and Blogger. There will be eight parts to the story. The main story and also a link for each princess part of the story. These parts will each be represented by social media.

Project Timeline:

Day 1: Go over content focus materials

Day 2: Finish content focus materials, create timeline, practice 1

Day 3: Plan out all social media accounts needed and write story

Day 4: Week 2 Analysis and practice

Day 5: Start creating content, social media accounts

Day 6: Create more social media accounts, start putting story into the elements

Day 7: Mid way check in

Day 8: Use week 3 content focus and review everything so far

Day 9: Week 3 Practice and Exploration

Day 10: Create more accounts

Day 11: Week 3 Practice and Analysis

Day 12 & 13: Create everything still needed

Day 14: Double check and proofread, turn in project

GTS Week 2 Practice A

I feel I was too ambitious last week and did not get a good result as I could not even finish my project. I feel if I get an early start and work a bit each day, I will be able to get through this project much better. I also better understand what to use as a starting point, and which types of social media will work well together.

I am planning to take on a story that has just enough content to be effective, but does not take on too much, as to be really hard to make cohesive. I am planning on updating the fairy tale the twelve dancing princesses. This version of the story will have seven princesses instead of twelve and each one will have a unique ability and temptation for the hero of the story. If he can get by each challenge he will receive a reward.

Week 1 Analysis: Nailing Down Transmedia

Trans-media and Cross-media storytelling are both important for marketing in Media Communications. I would say the best way to describe Trans-media storytelling is to tell one story on many different platforms. Some examples of this would be Facebook, Twitter, Websites, blogs, YouTube and other social media platforms. This could include any current technology available in any format.

Cross-media storytelling is more like expanding a current franchise, by giving content to the viewer on various platforms in a continuous format. Cross media storytelling is often used to give the viewer more insight in current, existing franchises. Some examples of franchises that use Cross-media effectively would include: The Walking Dead, Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Avengers. Both types of storytelling can be used in the marketing of new products.

A good example of a Cross-Media story would be Batman. The new show Gotham is a great example of Cross-Media storytelling. The show focuses on a specific time period in the Batman universe, by showing us what the city was like when Bruce Wayne was a child. The show focuses on the police force and also on how Mr. Wayne grew into the character that so many followers of the character have come to know. The reason I chose this example is because this is an effective way to provide backstory to the reader and is a slightly different take on a franchise that already exists.

A good Trans-Media example would be the film Prometheus. This is an example of a trailer being used to make other curious about a film. The trailer is known is a great example of Trans-Media storytelling. This is because instead of using a regular trailer the film used one that would expand the world instead of just show footage of what is in the world. The reason I chose this example is because it has become influential and many other brands and advertisers have used this format for many products in many different industries. Also, it is interesting to note that this film can also be viewed as an Aliens prequel and can also have some elements of Cross-Media storytelling.

An example of an ARG is “The Beast” It was created in 2001, and is considered an early and influential example of an ARG. It was a mystery game that was used to promote the film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and also a series of planned games, based on the film. The mystery was created over all types of social media of the time including E-mail and websites. The game only lasted a few months, but had millions of participants worldwide. It also inspired many people to attempt to create their own ARG’s and is also an early example of how the Internet could bring people from all walks of life together, to pursue a common goal.

Transmedia Fairy Tale Story Element Map

I have decided for my project to modernize the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The main story will be told by Goldilocks and there will be a website devoted to this. This is the starting point for the story and everything will be connected from here. The website will have a main home page with the general story and there will be links to other pages, with a page for each bear. From there the story will expand: Papa Bear’s story will be represented in presentation form and posted on YouTube. Mama Bear’s story will be created with a blog page in Blogger. Baby Bear’s story will use a PowToon creation.  Goldilocks and each bear will tell a new part of the story from where the last one left off, but they will use their own point of view. The story will have some minor changes to make it a bit more modern. The main plot of the story will be the same, however.

Each part of the story will connect with each other and lead the reader to the next part. This will continue on until the reader gets to the end of the story. The conclusion will take place on YouTube and finish off the story.

Timeline:

Monday:

Brainstorming/ideas

Tuesday:

Make a decision on story to use and appropriate social media to use

Wednesday:

Start writing main story and creating social media for the story.

Thursday:

Finish main story. Create Powtoon animation and videos

Friday:

Create main website, blog and other media needed.

Saturday

Finish off any media not yet created, put everything together into one story.

Sunday:

Go back over everything, make sure everything works and flows together. Make changes and/or corrections, if needed. Publish and submit everything.