Transmedia pitfalls revisited - ephemeral media

As I work through some of the questions I have about transmedia storytelling – I stumbled on a couple of articles that feature a great look at a couple of concepts regarding the format of story that is not traditional in nature.

Article 1 - mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2009/02/16/10am-carnaby-street-kate-modern-and-ephemeralisation-online-drama - 10am Carnaby Street: Kate Modern and the Ephemeralisation of Online Drama

Article 2 - atec4346.pbworks.com/KateModern – student wiki entry on KateModern

One of the questions I posed earlier was, how well does the transmedia (multi-platform) method of storytelling weather time?

A story told through a movie or weekly TV series can often be accessed by buying/renting the DVD/streaming it/etc.. All you need is the series and the discs. Stories/Shows told many years before are still available to me through a simple rental or purchase.

Web series, however, may not be as accessible. Simple series (meaning not transmedia in nature) are already disappearing (some still exist illegally but only as a bad quality video portion and not the supporting web page, many not at all). With transmedia, it is not just the need to preserve the main show or series, but all of the other sources. And that begs the question of how are some of these sources even archived properly? I have played a bit with the Internet WayBack machine and those4 web sites, especially ones with multimedia components, never preserve properly or completely.

Which bring up something to be considered when making or when reading/watching/participating in a transmedia story, is all of the original story still accessible… and is it accessible in a way the writer/creator imagined it would be?

Article two does a nice job of briefly comparing traditional narrative with the ways in which the show KateModern uses non-traditional narrative.

Article one defines a neat concept based on how ephemeral a story element is and article two compares traditional narrative to a "new" type. The author of the first article, Elizabeth Evans, uses the term Ephemeral Media – (from www.ephemeralmedia.co.uk – "What does ephemeral mean? In the context of the workshop it connotes short-form media (i.e. texts that are no more than a few minutes long) but also media which are fleeting in the way they circulate, or that are often overlooked within mainstream academic study."

check these for more info - filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/2009/10/lastingly-good-work-on-ephemeral-media.html and also here digitalconsultant.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/ephemeral-media-workshop-23-24-june/

There is an upside to this sort of media event as some of it can be captured, stored and visited later and a person can enhance their experience by becoming part of the story. Yet, there is a downside as mentioned in the final few sentences of the article - something that should be thought about.

"The drama of Kate Modern became as ephemeral as real life as its makers sought to encapsulate the real-time communicative capabilities of the internet within their video series. Despite being able to watch the series at any time, it is constantly made clear that if you weren’t watching at a particular moment, you have missed the ‘true’ experience of Kate Modern. "

This then follows – was that story narrative/transmedia experience adaptational and ephemeral in nature (meaning not necessary to the overall story) or was it extensional (meaning it was a part of the story and the full narrative of the story is lost to anyone missing that experience)?

I think it is fine for a story-teller to use both forms of transmedia storytelling. BUT the creator should consider if an element is crucial to the final story he/she wishes to tell. If it is, then a more permanent form or source needs to be established.

Maybe make as part of the story a future researcher, say like what docwho2100 is doing, creates a website that archives certain social media/networking/transmedia sources and also reviews the narrative and sets out some of the events that were missed and what they did for the story – ok just joking but hey, I work for peanuts and cocktails :P although are media people wise in letting fans set up fan wikis (like the one for the LG15 and KateModern world) and doing most of the work for them... for free???? Although who controls and archives fan wikis????

Or along with the DVD comes a disc with the complete website and social network archived and available for viewing - of course that opens up a WHOLE other can of worms - legally - can someone archive the social network and responses or again is that story played out on Twitter, facebook, bebo, etc... lost (meaning only the character's profiles and posts are allowed to be saved... and oooo who gets money rights and hey was not this what the writer' and actor's unions were striking over and Oi! I am getting a headache.......

does the creator have to migrate their entire episode everytime a network folds (HELLO all those series that had huge following on MySpace - are you converting to Facebook??? And what is next after that????)

The larger question though, is how much of the media coming out today through this medium will be available in 10 years, 20, 30????? And will it hurt the story if it is not available?

and PS - somehow I want to make a reference or link to Rocky Horror and it is the ultimate transmedia experience and is still around many years after the original broadcast and yet... not sure that works here :P

A great three part series and intro to transmedia

Stumbled across this site - www.joedigitalblog.com/ - I am liking the articles and a specific series. It is, IMO, a great overview and really raises a few ideas and starts to link certain ideas.

part 1 part 2 part 3

I was especially giddy over part three as they mention something I believe in and have talked about for years (although I never used the definition of transmedia until earlier this year).

I'll probably be talking about this article here and there as I go... but for now...

Here is a small quote from part 3. - "Transmedia storytelling will reshape the educational system. When (I’m telling you one of these days they will) project based teaching/learning becomes commonplace in the educational system, Transmedia storytelling will be used to help students master difficult subjects. Additionally, as language in the global classroom evolves, teaching/learning will rely on advanced rich media like interactive video and storytelling."


And here was my comment in response

OMG - I teach at the high school and college level - I am a science and tech teacher and I am constantly talking about how transmedia fits into a couple of educational concepts teachers and the like have been talking about for years - you mention PBL (and i use wikis, blog and more in my classes) well also - universal design for learning - the idea of reaching learners using multiple methods!!! I've taken this standpoint about the similarity and you are the first I've read, so far that made this connection - yay!

I think you missed some hurdles in your discussion - hurdles and questions I am just starting to talk about in my blogs and musings, but I bet you will catch those in another entry (I am still working my way through your site).

Thank again for the 3 part and I am definitely listing them as a good read for anyone just getting to the transmedia world (and I say it like that as mot of my students, co workers, friends have no idea what transmedia means, yet they go, ohhhhhh that Lost web site, or that web series or that facebook page or.... :P

Transmedia story telling - possible landminds and boogietraps?

Ok - As I create my More Info pages and use the transmedia necessity rating I am developing, I am starting to ask some questions that have me a little worried about certain aspects of transmedia story-telling.

I am finishing up my page on the Series/story - "Valemont" (check my page here for more info).

It is a great example of a transmedia (they call it multi-platform) story. Here is a little excerpt from an article - http://news.tubefilter.tv/2009/09/28/mtvs-valemont-a-transmedia-experience-murder-mystery-style/

"It (the ARG website) began as a simple ‘missing student’ story at Valemont with various characters starting a discussion on Twitter, along with a police investigator conducting interviews on the series characters,” Friedman added. “Then, when the student’s body was found, the case was called a homicide and the victim’s next of kin was sought. Intrepid fans dug up clues buried online and presented them to the investigator… which is where the series actually begins, with the student’s sister asked to identify the body. On top of this, through the VU site, Twitter and FB, we have encouraged fans to apply for enrollment at Valemont — acceptance letters went out last week. What the show will offer fans is a chance to have a ‘replicate experience’ to our main character, Sophie, as she enrolls at Valemont in search of the truth behind her brother’s presumed murder.”

Ok - so a very cool story (I love supernatural and girl heroines :P ) and wow look at all it uses - TV (MTV at that), web shows, a mock web site with ARG puzzles and clues, and social media and real time interaction galore - twitter, facebook, blogs, the mobile phone content and tie ins and............. and that last is where I begin to worry and also where the story may lose/gain people.

Some forms of transmedia require archiving or somehow allowing access to the entire story for those who enter the story at different times and different points of entry. I did not follow Valemont from the start - I just now am catching it.... am I missing some of the core story content? Or is it just experience lost? It is awesome with any story when core content and experience intermingle but scary when the prospect of losing content exists.

There are definite pieces of the "real-time" experience lost in the transmedia platform, an example is Professor Blunt's blogs found on the ValemontU web site. During the initial broadcast, they were rolled out each week and it was easy to read the blog, view the current, linked episode and make the story connections. however, not, as you go through the archive, you either read all the blogs at once, see all the episodes, or try to bounce back and forth, but how do you know which blog entry goes with which episode?

I think, if a writer creates a transmedia story, they may need to plan and consider a roadmap, a guidebook, and an archive. If you wanna use twitter cool - but is it going to ruin the story?

I am just now renting movies and TV shows on Netflix from the 1970s - I can watch those now and get the story. With a transmedia experience, will the same be true? I have done some research on Homicide: second shift - those web sites no longer exist and finding the webisodes and that whole story is not easy - so a large piece of story is gone....

The Doctor Who Tardisodes are another example, of course they are not as integral to the story as the Valemont or Homicide: Second Shift transmedia, but, they are lost to many as they are not on the DVD and are hard to find online and then again, I, the user, have to know enough to know which Tardisode to watch before which episode and so on......

Add to this, general web series content and transmedia content.... WHO IS ARCHIVING THIS and how will it be made available to the user in the future? how do you preserve a Facebook page?

And ok, so, the creator steps back and says, it is a real-time thing and just for enhancing the experience... alright, then make sure when telling the story, not to link too much core content to the sources... but then this makes all transmedia stories adaptational more than extensional (see my transmedia page for more on thoe two words) ....

HMMMMMM

More thoughts on this later - and are others talking about the real time transmedia experiences vs archiving and how to experience transmedia down the road without getting lost??????

Phew and a goal for 11/30

This is the longest, short week ever

been so busy doing work that not been able to work on my web series site or writing much : / although just started up tales from Copper Rock and excited about that - plus working on some Nikki and Nora stuff and working on my Yuletide story gift for my Yuletide person

I ended up blushing big time last night in class - while teaching my Physical Science students, i ended up blundering into some double meanings. We are doing the atmosphere and I am talking about how precipitation happens and the mechanisms behind how air changes temperature and this leads to certain things and well i used getting wet, saturated, dry lips and a few other thigns in rapid succession and everyone started laughing who was at the review. Here we are talking about air lifting up over a mountain and well... I had to face the board a few minutes as they were right my face was ablaze, at least if it helps them get the math down.... Oi! I need someone to help keep me straight

Off to work on GIS projects and if anyone has web series leads or transmedia examples - send them my way - I wanna put a lot up this weekend - I wanna hit 225 by Sunday and have 6 good transmedia/LGBT (the two categories I am focused on, with a spice of sci fi thrown in) more info pages done - think I can do it?

Transmedia page kinda coming together

Ok - slowly working to put more resources and info together as well as refine my definition of my Transmedia Necessity rating and transmedia in general - also started colelcting resources - if you know of a good one - send it my way

home.comcast.net/~DOCWHO2000/moreinfopages/transmedia.html

Is this for real????

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/11/peruvian-gang-allegedly-killed-for-human-fat-for-cosmetics/1

Another draft/stab at - my transmedia rating

OK - this is the latest definition I am using - ideas and comments??

TRANSMEDIA NECESSITY RATING

I have devised this system to use, for now, until I find something that works along the same way. Basically I am looking at a web series that is part of a transmedia narrative/story and trying to determine how it ties into the overall universe. Now this rating looks ONLY from the perspective of the web series. I am NOT rating the entire transmedia experience and trying to judge that.... that is a whole other complex Gordian Knot.

This rating simply (haha, right, simple) looks at a web series and examines how its own story is affected by the other transmedia sources. Essentially, when someone views the web series, how much of the other transmedia sources do they need to have experienced to understand the web series.

A rating of 1 means the web series can be viewed completely independently of any other transmedia source and none of the story or universe is lost. This means whether you view the other sources or not, the story the web series tells is not enhanced or detracted from or by the other transmedia and conversely, the other sources can be viewed without ever seeing the web series. This is more of a world-building or overdesign type of transmedia. This also ties into the real-time interactive forms of transmedia that are done when a series is first released and are more promotional in nature. Thus the web series and other sources add enrichment in terms of understanding and experiencing entire story but the necessity to having ALL transmedia source information is low. As Henry Jenkins mentions (henryjenkins.org/2009/09/the_aesthetics_of_transmedia_i.html )- the transmedia is used more to adapt a current story then to have a deeper meaning of transmedia storytelling. So this is rating falls more as Transmedia Adaptation Story-telling.

A rating of 5 means the web series is very much a part of the larger narrative, almost more like it is a chapter from a book and if you do not read all of the chapters, you will not finish the book and thus the story. So the web series tells once piece of the narrative and thus goes beyond what is presented in the other sources, conversely, the other sources go beyond the web series and the omission of those sources means the web series can not be fully understood. This is much more of a serial or connected transmedia story. So the necessity of needing to see the web series and all transmedia elements to understand and have the complete story is high. So this rating falls more as Transmedia Extension Story-telling.

Most transmedia web series fall somewhere in between. The web series can be viewed as a separate story, yet elements from other sources pop up in the web series and visa versa. This means to understand the entire narrative, you need all the sources, and once you have all the sources, you can rewatch the web series and see new elements. HOWEVER, you can still have a complete story and understand much of the universe just from one source (the web series). There are some good examples in www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=5264.

Most transmedia web series fall somewhere in between. The web series can be viewed as a separate story, yet elements from other sources pop up in the web series and visa versa. This means to understand the entire narrative, you need all the sources, and once you have all the sources, you can rewatch the web series and see new elements. HOWEVER, you can still have a complete story and understand much of the universe just from one source (the web series). There are some good examples in www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=5264. And I leave you with an excerpt from his blog article.

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from - www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=5264

This strategy differentiates the new transmedia storytelling from your typical franchise. In most film franchises, the same characters play out their fixed roles in different movies, or comic books, or TV shows. You need not consume all to understand one. But Henry envisages the possibility of creating a whole that is greater than its parts, a vast narrative experience that doesn’t end when the book’s last page is turned or the theatre lights come up. His idea seems to be echoed in Will Wright’s suggestion:

It’s a fractal deployment of intellectual property. Instead of picking one format, you’re designing for one mega-platform. . . . We’ve been talking about this kind of synergy for years, but it’s finally happening.

Stimulating as this prospect is, it remains rare. The Matrix is perhaps the best example, but Henry suggests that it’s also an extreme instance: “For the casual consumer, The Matrix asked too much. For the hard-core fan, it provided too little” (p. 126). More common is a Genette-style transposition, in which the core text—usually the movie—is given offshoots and roundabouts that lead back to it. As I understand it, the Star Wars novels operate under the injunction that although they can take a story situation as the basis for a new plot, in the end that plot has to leave the films’ story arc unchanged. Similarly, websites with puzzles, games, clues, and other supplementary material tend to be subordinate to the film, planting hints and foreshadowings (The Blair Witch Project, Memento). Alternatively, the A. I. website provided a largely independent story world that impinged on the movie’s action only slightly.

The “immersive” ancillaries seem on the whole designed less to complete or complicate the film than to cement loyalty to the property, and even recruit fans to participate in marketing. It’s enhanced synergy, upgraded brand loyalty.

Wow a mention on another site ;)

My one post was listed at this site - http://www.idfa.nl/industry/training-education/idfacademy/resources/websites.aspx

There are some other neat links on that site - and thank you whomever it was that put my site on there - I am working on collecting ALL of my transmedia links and resources in one spot - I'll post that link tonight or tomorrow as soon as I update the transmedia page :P

Thanks again and let me know people if there is stuff to add and I should read!!!!

Some transmedia questions to think about

I continue to work through all the wonderful references, discussions and content regarding transmedia storytelling. One of the questions/concerns/hmmm what happens if... that I have (and I know others do too) is with the construction of a transmedia universe - what happens if people can not get to certain sources? especially with digital...

I am trying to collect references to all resources in one place, review, list, and rate web series (just going from a web series angle as this is a huge task in and of itself) - but I am looking at web series that are part of a transmedia story. And ok, some of the series I stumble across, many of the sources have been lost or are no longer available - so what happens to the story? One example is the Tardisodes that were created for the second season of the new Doctor Who - they still do exist (cough, cough) but not 100% legally and not easy to find. So has part of the story been lost (that specific example I have more to say at my site so I argue, no the story is not too shattered, but)...

Another example - using Twitter - well are you or someone going to archive the tweets? Or will any story developed there be lost to someone who finds the story six months or more later.... and what about web sites going down, or changing owners, or... what if I do not have enough money to purchase the animatrix but can watch the Matrix moviest on cable or such.... If i do not have a mobile phone with Internet and App capability - is that story lost to me (does this make a story then elitist or stratified in some aspect)??? Does this divide transmedia experiences into TWO categories - one that is a preserved story and one that is more an event or interactive story but is a ONE SHOT type of deal???

And for those creating transmedia experiences, I am curious how you tackle those issues? Are there plans in place for somehow preserving the entire story? Are you going more for the EVENT and real time interaction and thus that is lost later - or do you want the preserved story and the audience's ability to access ALL part of a story...

I know, I ask too many questions (I am often called Curious George for a reason). And please if these are being discussed and asked other places, let me know, I would love to go and read and find my answers ;)

MOre thoughts on transmedia - I am getting this - yee-haw!!

Ok - been having some discussions over at another forum - check here for the full discussion - but I wanna paste a couple of my replies because I like what is developing, sure others may have gotten this, but I am getting there myself and that means the lightbulbs are coming on and I am having fun and really enjoying the discussions to get there - even if I am a rookie, greenback wet behind the ears looking like a simpleton tee ball league trying to swing a bat with the major leagures - who cares, I am exploring so there

But ok - the discussion is at www.webseriesnetwork.com/forum/topics/transmedia-storytelling

and two sources to read that prompted my replies: http://henryjenkins.org/2009/09/the_aesthetics_of_transmedia_i.html (all three parts especially part 3) and http://transmedia-storytelling.tumblr.com/ - the nov 13 post

And here are some words of mine : )


Thank you for that link as well - between those two - I think the discussion on world-building (overdesign) and episodic/serial narrative discussed by Mr. Jenkins are two avenues where transmedia connects very well with the technology culture we live in today (which makes transmedia of today very different from the historic transmedia mentioned in the blog discussion).

Combine this with your discussion on how viewers (such as me) want to be more involved in the story/world/and media and that is what makes transmedia so great : ) That is why so many like social networks and the technology culture that has developed over the last few years.

I am a teacher and transmedia offers something else - it allows a story to be told in different methods that will reach out to a greater audience - in teaching, we call it universal design for learning - you offer different points in the classroom lesson for students to access, some prefer to read, some to watch, some to hear, some to do. If you teach one style, you only reach one type of learner in an optimum way. If you design a lesson with multiple ways to get to the content, your audience is larger - I would hazard a guess that translates right into the media world too.

So it seems there are multiple roads to why to use transmedia (an ironic twist as that is what transmedia is about) - but do you wish to offer the world-building/over design element? Do you wish to build a serial connection and follow those seeds in more detail? Do you wish to reach viewers/consumers/users through multiple avenues and multiple forms of design/learning?

Yes? No? :o)

Trying to elucidate myself ;P

Well that blog entry title sounds almost oddly naughty:P

But, anyhoos, joined a conversation here - http://www.webseriesnetwork.com/forum/topics/transmedia-storytelling to try and better work through ideas about transmedia story-telling

Yet again the united states is going to lose...

Check out this article on china/US and the race for Green technology

www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2009-11-17-chinasolar17_CV_N.htm

wanna see if any of these should be attended

mashable.com/2009/11/16/mashable-events-nov16/

Transmedia Exploration Continued - TRANSMEDIA NECESSITY RATING

Ok - as I redirect my focus on my Web series website - I am focusing on a few categories - and Transmedia/Derivative web series is one category. As I set up the structure for my More Info pages, I am working on an idea I want to include - the TRANSMEDIA NECESSITY RATING

Ok - so not sure the name is the best :P and I am trying to find out if anyone has already done this in a very structured manner so I can use. I am very willing to use other terminology and systems - but I think this concept is important - and again, not seeing it around.

Ok so what is it I am trying to do? Basically a transmedia/derivative web series is one that is part of a bigger storytelling universe. Meaning the full story is not told in the web series, but using multiple mediums (see my blog on trying to define this as well as some other resources here).

Well when you delve into this topic, you find everyone has a slightly different view of what transmedia really is... I am still working on that... but... back to the rating...

If you look, some transmedia sources have really spread the story across the different mediums and you really do need ALL sources to understand the full story. That is a tightly woven story and, IMO, effectively using the concept of Transmedia. This however has the result that you need to experience ALL pieces and media to understand the story.

Conversely, some sources are very loosely linked, and while they expand the universe and story, they are very independent, and some might argue, NOT a true transmedia experience (which is a separate post I am working on and will revisit - what does a good and a bad transmedia world look like : ) - But to relate to web series, could a web series could be viewed as a stand alone and not suffer or lose any of the overall story to be told if the viewer has not, or does not, experience any of the other transmedia?

So this is an attempt to rate how integral the web series is to the overall story universe.

As I have set it up, for now, the rating is done from the perspective of how stand alone are the web series episodes. A rating of 1 means there is not much of a link to the rest of the universe and the web series can be viewed without needing other sources (some might argue it is almot more a derivative or sequel, etc. and not a true transmedia experience) and that one does not need to view the web series to understand the other sources. 5 means the web series is tied very tightly to other transmedia sources and that part of the web series will not be fully understood without the other sources and that a viewer needs to interact with the other sources to fully understand the web series.

With that said - for transmedia/derivative web series, I am trying to rate the use of transmedia, list all sources for the universe and also list them in chronological order as released as well as if there is a preferred viewing order.

Because that then is the other thing people struggle with - if there are multiple mediums (transmedia) - is there a preferred viewing order? Should a person be able to pick up any media source and enter the story fully, or is it not until the very END of the journey that a person could understand everything....

See where I am going with this? The Rating opens up a few other can of worms regarding transmedia.

So please, comment and let me know what you think, if others have done this, and so on........

Oh and anyone interested in helping with this fun venture - please give me a holler docwho2100@gmail.com

Love the one "quote" in this article

www.webseriesnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/web-series-network-interview-2 Nice article - check out the web series and I too agree with this quote from Daryen Strauss -

"RM: For the Top Journalists, Network and Studio Execs reading this, what would you say to them?

DS: Web content creators are very creative, maybe because they've had to be to get the project produced, so I'm just waiting to see "web series" become a household word."

Clicker.com - a wonderful list and I am still making mine anyhoos

well - this site http://www.clicker.com is new and has a lot to go to index everything, but it pretty much lists all the goodness that is out there and in a flashy web format.

It does both web series and television content.

So does that mean I am stopping? Heck no, not completely, I'll just kinda collect other resources and such as I do find this a fun project and I am learning a lot and diving into things other than just making a list. So i'll not really list the series anymore as it seems moot since Clicker is, but at least I'll collect still references and articles and keep talking about the ideas and web series.

The world is all about information overload and merging of mediums.

Hmm the push to Web Tv grows stronger

www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2009-11-13-1Awebtv13_CV_N.htm

GOOGLE WAVE

I just got an invite to google wave - OMG this totally makes Friday the 13th much better and over riding the blech of my tree - OH wow - NOW TO EXPLORE - and figure out who to bring into the wave!!!!!!!

This is not a nice storm

well it seems this stupid storm has decided to blow my tree down in my front yard - it is still storming so I will wait for the light of day - but mannnnnnnn I am so spazzing - i can not believe this- TRIPLE MAJOR HOT SAUCE POOK :o(

What is Transmedia and What is a Transmedia (Deriviative) Web Series

What is Transmedia and What is a Transmedia (Deriviative) Web Series

(I updated this and other thoughts since original post - check here for newer things - home.comcast.net/~docwho2000/moreinfopages/transmedia.html - 11/19/09)

OK - I typed in transmedia definition and was blown away by what is out there. Transmedia as a concept has been around for a long, long time, yet it is only in the last few years that it is exploding and working its way through the assorted layers of society. It is an awesome thing and a bad thing, yes I am invoking both sides of the coin/fence and trying to have my cake and eat it too. I love any medium that enriches a story; that brings it to more people and brings out a larger set of toys to play with.

Some like to read, some like to listen, some like to see. But, that is the bad too... if I have to see, and read and listen to EVERYTHING to really get a feel for the story and universe it is playing with, well, am I going to miss something? Am I going to lose a part of the story and never be able to understand what is going on? I'm not a gamer (ok well I am kinda but, to play devil's advocate), so if I do not play the game, will I not understand the movie? As you build a universe with transmedia, there is not only the possibility of scooping up new eyes and ears, you run the risk of losing eyes and ears too.


Plus, let's be honest, time sprinkled with interest is the one commodity that truly governs everything (even overrides money believe it or not - although money comes a close second in the transmedia race). If I have to spend too much time on trying to find every piece of this story, will I lose interest and give up completely?

So much to think about and so many wonderful discussions. But, for now, I am keeping my focus on web series as that is what I am collecting : )

So a transmedia/derivative web series is in essence a piece of a bigger pie. Now what the piece looks like, that is where the discussion comes in and the fun really begins.

So - that said, IMO, at least looking at things now and how the whole culture and society is changing and flowing regarding communication (another pet project of mine is social media and technology and the impact on collaboration :P - but regarding communication - I think transmedia is a major concept that is here to stay and a lot of projects in the web series world you see will be linked to a bigger pie more and more. In the short term the economy and the "flash" of social networking will drive transmedia projects, meaning the big guns will hold the most sway over producing much of the transmedia web series. But this will trickle down to even the "everyman" level of web series as social collaborative tools and accessible technology facilitates the building of transmedia.

Of course the real question is: how well did the person(s) use the medium/method of transmedia to make a story, because when it all boils down to the nitty-gritty, it's about the story dude, it's about the story...........

docwho2100 last updated Nov. 12, 2009

PS - to answer the essential question behind this blurb - What is a transmedia web series? Which by the way, when typed into Google with quotes returned no results... I am going with this general definition from Henry Jenkins pulled from: http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html

"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 it own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story..... .... Ideally, each individual episode must be accessible on its own terms even as it makes a unique contribution to the narrative system as a whole. Game designer Neil Young coined the term, "additive comprehension," to refer to the ways that each new texts adds a new piece of information which forces us to revise our understanding of the fiction as a whole."

So a transmedia web series is a web series that offers new and unique information while contributing to the larger narrative which has been created/delivered using other methods of information delivery (aka a simple sequel to a movie is not transmedia as both original and sequel were delivered as movies. But a sequel to a movie delivered as a game or web series is transmedia).

PSS - I love the Henry Jenkins article I just pulled from for my definition - in #10 he mentions fanfiction as a form of transmedia, which I write, so YAY - hehe go Fanfic :P

I leave you with this thought-provoking quote from http://www.postadvertising.com/post/2009/03/27/Transmedia-Storytelling.aspx :oP

"Transmedia storytelling is one of those monikers that runs the risk of being added to a Bullshit Bingo card some time very soon. On the other hand it could just be the saviour of brand communications. "

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Here are a few things I found. Feel free to add, please, to the discussion.

blogs.middlebury.edu/mediacp/2009/06/17/22-storytelling-or-marketing/ - very short but a good start

http://henryjenkins.org/2009/09/the_aesthetics_of_transmedia_i.html (all three parts especially part 3) - Great article Henry Jenkins - make sure to track down all of hi stuff on transmedia - also check out

www.henryjenkins.org/2009/08/transmedia_storytelling_and_en.html - a nice list and class outline - I wanna take this class!!!!!

http://transmedia-storytelling.tumblr.com/

www.eguiders.com/video/heroes-creator-tim-kring-on-transmedia-storytelling - video interview with Tim Kring

www.viddler.com/explore/HollywoodEastTV/videos/50/ - another video on the basics

www.psfk.com/2009/03/understanding-transmedia-psfk-talks-to-starlight-runner.html - nice article highlighting examples

www.hollywoodeasttv.com/profiles/blogs/the-series-what-is-transmedia - a video from The Series: about transmedia

The entry on transmedia storytelling at Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmedia_storytelling - has a great discussion and brings up the concept of hypersocialbility (encouraging participation through social media and interaction) and multimodality (moving between multiple modes of interaction).

And like this image and the site - seizethemedia.com/what-is-transmedia/

Web Series Definition

Ok - as I work on my web series mega list - I am collecting ideas and learning more and so I have a page that has these - I'll post the blurbs I write here too...

So here was my first and I am still tweaking it - but the essential question to be answered is - what is the definition of a web series

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Here are a few definitions and ideas regarding, "What is a web series?"

Well Wikipedia lists the definition as:

" A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode (the term webisode has been largely deprecated)." [ from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_series ]

A really good resource is found at blog.ajchristian.org/2009/10/09/what-is-a-web-series/ by Aymar Jean Christian.

In fact I will use a lot of what he discusses as the basis for the web site. I am quoting this bit from his awesome post - take a look at his whole site.

"Nomenclature: People call web series (singular and plural) different things. Web series appears to be the dominant term at this point. I’ve read web serials used, particularly by the Times’ Virginia Heffernan, and while I quite like this term, and I think I’m losing on that. Webisodes is often used. I believe this term started early because the videos were not really conceived as part of overarching narratives (especially if you think of transmedia extensions). I’m not sure if this term will persist. I also like web shows, which seems perfectly logical. Variations on several words have been used: online, content, programs, original, scripted, video, web (online scripted content, original web programs, etc.)" [from blog.ajchristian.org/2009/10/09/what-is-a-web-series/]

Also from his article the following:

"Under scripted content, I would again divide it into original and transmedia/derivative. This isn’t so much a distinction in story/narrative, so much as business model, but it’s an important one. I do think there’s a difference between content that extends a mainstream brand, i.e. transmedia extensions... (the countless network-produced shows to build on TV properties like Heroes...)" [from blog.ajchristian.org/2009/10/09/what-is-a-web-series/]

Also check out - blog.ajchristian.org/2009/10/13/web-series-and-branded-entertainment/ - regarding branded entertainment.

And as a thought - IMDb only just this year (March 2009) added Web Series as a category - news.tubefilter.tv/2009/03/19/imdb-to-add-web-series-category-so-whats-a-web-series/

Then there is the concept of Internet Television and the fact early webisodes were very different from what people think of today. More on both of those concepts in other rambles.

by docwho2100 - last updated Nov 3, 2009

Research for a work project

Neat video - a little outdated by then education is always behind hehehe

http://www.schooltube.com/video/38503/Web20-in-the-Classroom

Need to play this loud

So if you're having an icky day, week, whatever... join me in singing 9or in my case just shouting) this out real loud... :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmlZLvgMG6E

Web Series "Book" Club

OK - so would anyone be interested in starting a Web Series "Book" Club with me? Basically, just like a book club, we pick a web series and view it, then virtually meet (either in a chat or setup a board/group or both) and discuss the series??? I think it would be cool and fun and I love to discuss entertainment stuff... so anyone interested? Comment here or email me at my docwho2100 gmail account!

Come on, let's have some fun and good discussion!!!!!!

Must be the holiday season

Yet another breaking news story today about a person gunning down people - yes, this holidat season brings the duel edge of joy and family and hope as well as sorrow, depression, stress, economic woes, isolation and despair... and why not take a few people with you... tis the season to share? right?

:-( I think the world needs a hug - why not go into your place of employment with open arms and hug everyone instead of blowing them away? You might be surprised at the results....

An Internet Myth busted

check this out :P

mashable.com/2009/11/05/social-networking-isolation/

I have reached 100 - wow

made it to 100 on the mega list - home.comcast.net/~docwho2000/index.html

finally costume pics

Ok so - here they are - for better or worse

:P

home.comcast.net/~docwho2000/halloweenpics.html

Tech and it's relation to the brain

but this is kinda spooky

www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/03/digital.diary.brain.mind/index.html

The cloud----- hehe

Cool article - what is cloud computing and how will it affect you - www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/04/cloud.computing.hunt/index.html

sunshine cleaning - a nice movie

Ok so i am finding sunshine cleaning to be funny : )

Amy Adams tying a flannel shirt around her face is hysterical

A forgotten version of being a detective

OK - researching my web series project and using the Internet Wayback machine - I found the Homicide Life on the Street from like 1997 and they have this very nice overview from the perspective of a detective of what it is like to follow a case (it is excerpts from a book that was written linked to the Homicide TV show) - kinda interesting - is this one version of what it is like to be Nikki and Nora ; )

I have so got to use the word aquarium in a story somewhere (and no I never watched Homicide so....)

You may have to register to find it but - web.archive.org/web/20000423111305/www.nbc.com/homicide/case.html

Christopher Walken Reads Poker Face

HAHA and on BBC no less - very funny

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5JwYOlgvY

Genre - how do you classify TV/Movies/etc...

Ok - I am working on trying to come up with a good definition of genres and how to apply them - this is not as easy as you think - unless a call everything just a comedy or drama (and then what about those dramedies and then great already issues :P

So - what sources and definitions do you have for genres? And would anyone be willing to look at a few web series and tell me how they would classify them?

Thanks peeps!

how many licks does it take to get to the center of a web series - the world may never know

Ok - found this article www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=emmys09&articleid=VR1118004432&cs=1 and looking just at this quote - "For example, more than 100,000 submissions came in for the first Streamy Awards, creating a huge task for organizers to sort and select nominees and winners, notes Brady Brim-DeForest, co-founder of the awards and the Web TV news site Tubefilter."

100,000??? OMG I've got a long way to go in putting together this list ;P

Afterworld and other web series stuff

Just found web series Afterlife - ok I will get lost in this one for hours and hours - www.afterworld.tv/ and up to 55 web series - a long road to go :)

but so much to discover - whew