Just Tripping Along The Freakazoid

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 (mea...

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 comme...

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 b...

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 straig...

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

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

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 th...

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!!!!

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, ...

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/se...

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

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

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

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... ba...

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."

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.

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

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!!!!!!!

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 (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 ...

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 ------------------------ 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 ...

Neat video - a little outdated by then education is always behind hehehe http://www.schooltube.com/video/38503/Web20-in-the-Classroom

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

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!!!!!!

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....

check this out :P mashable.com/2009/11/05/social-networking-isolation/

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

Ok so - here they are - for better or worse :P home.comcast.net/~docwho2000/halloweenpics.html

but this is kinda spooky www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/03/digital.diary.brain.mind/index.html

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

Ok so i am finding sunshine cleaning to be funny : ) Amy Adams tying a flannel shirt around her face is hysterical

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

HAHA and on BBC no less - very funny www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5JwYOlgvY

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!

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

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