Building a universe begins with story – but defining genre, message, core themes will impact on audience behaviours.

tedxtransmedia:

If you’ve heard of transmedia then you’ve heard of Alison Norrington. Alison is one of the major creative forces in the movement and has been involved with TEDx Transmedia since it started in 2010.

This year she moves from behind the curtain to the stage, as a speaker in the Dreamer session of our programme.

Alison is constantly flying all over the world developing her projects, advising major creative companies on strategic planning and storytelling and running transmedia masterclasses. Read her full biog on the official TEDx Transmedia site tedxtransmedia.com

We managed to pin the author down for a few minutes to chat about her background, upcoming TED Talk and why she finds the WEkids: Dreamers, Geeks, Mindshifters theme inspiring.   

Hi Alison, please can you give a brief overview of your relationship with Transmedia and what led you to thinking about it?

I actually didn’t think ‘transmedia.’ I thought about interacting, reacting and engaging with my readers beyond the confines of book. I was writing contemporary novels for women and made a point of infusing them with modern cultural touchpoints that referenced European cities, musical genres and artistic practices. The more the stories featured classical, jazz or blues, referenced Degas’ ballerinas and reached out to Valencia, Paris and Lisbon, the more I wished I could expand the mythology and offer a more sensory, immersive experience that was discoverable and playable beyond the page.  

I could see the potential for opening up my storytelling box, but it was 2005 and my only options seemed to be an accompanying DVD/CD with each book. It was clunky and smacked of ‘bolt on’… When I started my MA in Creative Writing & New Media in 2006 I began writing my fourth novel, which became my dissertation project and was told experimentally through blog posts, forums, email, a YouTube channel, machinima and social media platforms. It was only in 2007 that I became aware that what I’d actually been working on had a name… ‘transmedia.’  Who knew!

The theme of this year’s TEDx Transmedia, WEkids, is about harnessing child-like wonder and courage to make media that has a social impact. What do you see as the potential of that approach? 

Fabulous storytelling that can interact and engage directly with niche audiences is, in itself, hugely powerful and has the potential to make significant impact. Brian Clark of GMD Studios has begun to write about phenomenal work and that’s what we should all be aiming to achieve.

Childhood wonder and courage is phenomenal in itself and it’s the insights, observations, freedom of expression and absence of fear that makes kids like that. We tend to lose some of that along the way. WEkids is exciting as a TEDx Transmedia theme this year as it challenges us to shake off the constraints that prevent us from thinking outside the box, encourages us to play within our stories and to share and test our ideas. It’s playful, free and non-judgmental. 

The subheading is Dreamers, Geeks, Mindshifters; which do you most identify with and why?

I’m a combo of all three, but your funky little quiz told me I’m a Mindshifter. I feel like a character from Dr Who!

What did you want to be as a kid? What were your dreams and aspirations?

Everything! Like most kids I wanted to experience anything new, but found that writing seemed to underpin and then override all of my ideas.

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worldfuturetrends:

Interested in our session on Transmedia storytelling? Check out these success stories from the 2012 Olympics.

Ford first revealed Random Acts of Fusion just two weeks ago with a video message from Seacrest giving consumers a clue to team up to find out how they could get the chance to experience the all-new Ford Fusion first. Through online videos, fans solved the first puzzle revealing the exciting additions of new celebrity personalities, the first unique consumer experiences and how they could get involved.

Started following when it launched. There’s an interesting mash-up of webisodes & stills that users can immediately share. Perfect for the platform. Dope job of world building. Wonder how far they can take the concept.

transmediatic:

The Dark Knight Rises Viral Campaign (Part II)

The viral campaign for Batman The Dark Knight Rises was updated a few days ago with a secret letter from Lucius Fox to Bruce Wayne. Fox talks about a “situation” going on in Wayne Enterprises. Days after, Wayne responds to Fox concerns, revealing that there is a great risk for the company. We’ll have to wait to see the movie to figure out what’ s going on.

“Life is all about acts – big and small – and through Random Acts of Fusion, this vehicle and program will take real people to unexpected places,” says Crystal Worthem, manager, Ford Brand Content & Alliances. “Consumers will have to work together to unlock the story, and as the program evolves, will have a chance to see for themselves how Fusion is able to transform the lives of the people who drive it.” For more go to www.facebook.com/fordfusion

Check it:

“Transmedia may have become an eyeroll-inducing buzzword in some circles but the ability to tell stories across platforms is a more relevant skill than ever. Writer and game designer Andrea Phillips takes us through some of the key lessons from her career in transmedia—lessons that are applicable to anyone with a story to tell.”

@Hasbro continues to expand its worldwide licensing programs, invest in resources and talent and generate incremental revenues from merchandise, digital gaming, box office and television programming.

The filmmakers behind Indie Game: The Movie explain how the story of three independent games and their creators is winning over audiences.

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/indie-game-the-movie-interview/#ixzz1xV3BCmK7 

Thanks to @Storycodeorg for posting last nights Immersion on Business Models in Transmedia. 

Click here for presentation #1 

Click here for presentation #2

Love James Van der Beek in this “Beek Jeans” #promo video for “Don’t Trust the B—— in Apt 23” 

Let’s get to the bottom line. Check the power of immersive #storytelling as told by Coca-Cola.

transmediatic:

The Power of Immersive Storytelling by Coca-Cola

“When Vulture’s Jon DeFreest designed a cover for Cut the Schmidt, a Richard Simmons–like guide to healthy living, he and we did not imagine that such a video might ever actually come to be.”

Max Greenfield, who plays Schmidt on “New Girl”, takes his Schmidt-isms to YouTube. Somehow, I’ve found morsels of delight in this show. Video discovered over at the Vulture Blog for NYMag.com.

transform-television:

I’ve been holding off on jumping into the plethora of online offerings for “The Office” for a while now, but I can avoid it no more. Even if the show is not really funny and makes you feel like a jerk by watching it, NBC has invested a lot of time and energy to build an entire online world for…