Transmedia Storytelling

Duration: 4 Weeks Start: Monthly Level: Beginner Credits: 0 Linked: N/A

Transmedia storytelling is to fragment stories, offering multiple windows of opportunity to find out more and 'drill deeper' into the storyworld. Stories are spreading and migrating from the page and tv/cinema screens to a multitude of platforms, offering choices of how readers and audiences receive the story, participate or collaborate. Publishers are interested in harnessing 'e' to give a wider and deeper transmedia experience, writers are now 'story architects' and advertising agencies are utilising a transmedia concept to firmly place brands at the heart of story. This is an introduction to transmedia storytelling which is suitable for beginners or writers keen to find new ways to reach readers.

Course Prerequisites

A familiarity with social media and social networking online sites will be a huge plus - knowledge of Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Twitter, blogs, wikis, msn, YouTube, iPhone and mobile devices as well as being 'web savvy'. It would be useful to have a story or project idea that you are interested in fragmenting for transmedia.

Course Aims

• You will gain an overview of the current status of transmedia storytelling
• You will begin to realise and recognise the suitability of a project for transmedia and to recognise relevant platforms and genres
• You will gain initial skills to write for todays expanding transmedia marketplace
• You will gain confidence to fine tune your transmedia writing skills
• You will be empowered as a writer, gaining vital skills and tools

Course Topics

• Week 1 - Foundation - history & theories behind storytelling - participatory culture and current overview - toolkit for contemporary storytellers
• Week 2 - StoryWorlds - creating storyworlds around a theme - appropriation (genres, platforms,audience and relevance) - storybibles & planning
• Week 3 - Passive vs Active - levels of immersion - fan productions & interaction - mash ups & hash ups
• Week 4 - Monetizing - Genre approaches - Monetizing & appreciation of 'value'

Course Outcomes

On successful completion of the course you will:

• be familiar with current projects successfully adopting a transmedia approach
• be able to begin storybibling your own project
• be aware of audience demographics and relevant platforms-to-genre
• be familiar in ways to begin exploiting synergies between platforms and audiences.

Required Resources

• PC/Mac Internet access (broadband!)
• Mobile devices or iPhone would be a bonus but not essential

Testimonials

"I have loved this course, and have learned a huge amount both in knowhow and practice. I prefer to learn by doing and trying things out and this has been possible and valued." - Joanna Howard