Clockwork Watch: Creating Interactive Narrative Click any image to enlarge I’m often asked what the interactive theatrical experience Clockwork Watch is, and the answer changes with each stage of the production. The underlying objective, though, is to create a fictional Victorian universe and tell a story where the narrative is delivered through live events, graphic novels, role-play, online news sites, and a feature film, all co-authored by the audience, through their interactions with our make-believe world over the next five years. Our story runs across several artforms, and culminates in a movie that we hope the audience would want to see, because many of them would have contributed to the project. The original idea for project came from Seductive Alchemy – a New Year’s Eve steampunk party I co-produced in London (2007), where on more than one occasion I was the only black person at the event. Based on the feedback and reaction we got from these parties, I decided to expand the universe into something more substantial.
Dummies Guide to Writing a Transmedia Production Bible OK not really a Dummies guide as there are some complex elements in here, but one has to use whatever memes are in vogue A few weeks ago I was commissioned by Screen Australia to write a very basic structure & guide for producers relatively new to multi platform content to structure & document their propositions, after they have developed the ‘audience centric’ concepts. This has just been published on the Screen Australia site as a digital resource for those needing to document projects for transmedia productions. Background? There are many ways to construct this kind of resource for a production team but I broke it into five clear sections – Story/Treatment, Function, Design, Technical and Business, all, like transmedia itself, with connecting tissue and blended narrative arcs The writing guide is free to download from the Screen Australia site, link below the introduction. And Just for fun: Get your Transmedia brains working. Instructions for above:
Funding & Support Funding & Support The Alter-Ciné Foundation - Offers a yearly grant to young film and video makers from Africa, Asia and Latin America to direct a documentary film on the theme of rights and freedoms, including social and economic rights, women’s rights, the right to culture and artistic creation. The Foundation particularly supports documentary films that dare to go against the tide, that take the side of the defenceless and question common assumptions by giving a voice to the voiceless, enriching our understanding of the world and helping us reflect on the possibility of changing the world from a perspective of peace, justice, equality and respect for differences. Animal Content in Entertainment - The Humane Society presents an annual Animal Content in Entertainment (ACE) Documentary Film Grant for films with a focus on animal advocacy. A $20,000 grand prize is given to a filmmaker who most successfully merges animal issues with a compelling narrative.
25 Ways To Plot, Plan and Prep Your Story I’m a panster at heart, plotter by necessity — and I always advocate learning how to plot and plan because inevitably someone on the business side of things is going to poke you with a pointy stick and say, “I want this.” Thus you will demonstrate your talent. Even so, in choosing to plot on your own, you aren’t limited to a single path. And so it is that we take a look at the myriad plotting techniques (“plotniques?”) you might use as Storyteller Extraordinaire to get the motherfucking job done. The Basic Vanilla Tried-And-True Outline The basic and essential outline. The Reverse Outline Start at the end, instead. Tentpole Moments A story in your head may require certain keystone events to be part of the plot. Beginning, Middle, End A Series Of Sequences Chapter-By-Chapter For novel writers, you can chart your story by its chapters. Beat Sheet Mind-Maps Happy blocks and bubbles connected to winding bendy spokes connected to a central topical hub. Zero Draft AKA, “The Vomit Draft.” Index Cards
The D-Word: the worldwide community of documentary professionals The Storytelling Mandala: Purpose-Inspired Transmedia Storytelling | Gauravonomics Marketers have always used stories to share information, change opinions and influence decisions. Now, as people create, consume and share brand stories in new ways, marketers need to go beyond the 30-sec product ad or the 300-word press release, and tell purpose-inspired transmedia stories that inspire, organize and energize people. Six Trends in Storytelling Let’s start by recapturing the six important trends that are reshaping how people create, consume and share brand stories: These six trends play an important role in the narrative arc we will draw next: from Hero’s Journey to Heroes to Everyday Heroes. From Hero’s Journey to Heroes to Everyday Heroes Heroʼs Journey: Storytelling The Heroʼs Journey is a good example of a monomyth, or a universal story, that cuts across all types of stories, including myths, movies, novels, and ads. According to Joseph Campbell, all stories follow the same three-part narrative structure of the Hero’s Journey. Heroes: Transmedia Storytelling