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.