OTT & Transmedia : Better Call Saul- Networks move into Transmedia Storytelling by Jonathan Kramer

Jonathan you talked about when we first connected and it's been rattling in my mind. This is a way were viewing is going. I'm guilty of playing on my smart phone while watching a movie or a TV show. From texting, to Facebook, this site and others. Why not have something tied into our even shorter attention span?

Care to elaborate? As you can see AMC has done a great job with an interactive app to be used during and or after the airing of Better Call Saul episode. Likewise we see how Dell and Sony studios are interacting with the audience with the What Lives Inside film.

What if you had a show where the audience got to pick through the app a different scene set up. Like do you want to see the protagonist go through the building with the thugs or docked ship with the ninjas. Both sequences would still put the protagonist on their path but the audience got to decide how. Something along those lines. But that's the tip of the iceberg of what you could do with the app.

In ways you're describing what's been done with Saul. What's more important is that you're seeing how important interactive is when compared to single platform. Bravo! I'm developing a Transmedia series Bible that has all sorts of possibilities when it comes to the sort of thing you're speaking of here. However with a true Transmedia franchise there's other platforms used with each having a strategic story element. Happy to see you're one of very few that can see where storytelling is headed!

Steve.. One of the people totally dialed into Transmedia is Krish Stott, founder of Bellyfeel (UK).. he makes some great remarks about the Saul app here on his blog which I urge you to read and check out the links. I have to figure out as a cable cutter how to access the show and will also install the app (providing its in the Play Store).. here's his blog: http://www.bellyfeel.co.uk/2015/02/transmedia-trouble-better-call-saul/

Wow. I'm just finishing up breaking bad and was holding off until then to watch this show. Jonathan this is very cool. Now you got my mind going even more. I'm sure other execs in TV and film are keeping an eye on how this works out for the show. I can see this being used more and more. Opening doors for many different possibilities. Please keep me in the loop with your developments. This is very cutting edge.

Cool Steve.. and it's spinning my wheels also.. The comic book element adds more depth. I used the Facebook app to create an ID with my photo and it worked seamlessly.. We have a character in the story in development who's been delaying getting an illustrated children's book published. I could see spinning some part of it into an animated comic book of her 'life drama' since by nature she's a bit of a drama queen. What are you working on now?

I just finished up a sci-fi thriller called Human Hack. It's about thought stealing and how society in the future uses brain chips like people now-a-days use smart phones. The finished script is under my log line section on this site. That's why eveything we've been talking about has really resonated with me. Because this idea would work well with my script. Mostly because the topic I chose. You should check it out. Ties in well with this idea.

OK will do.. My advice is you study how a Transmedia story is assembled since it's FAR different than a film. One of the many reasons my focus is on multi-platform is that a 90 min film is limiting creatively as opposed to a series though as we all know, in some cases a series will spin from a film or vice versa. Regardless learning the ropes of multi-platform is important for those of us that embrace the future of storytelling

A couple of important updates. First, "Saul" has had such a HUGE success, AMC is moving it to Monday night: http://goo.gl/KZZIj5 And now we're seeing Modern Family getting into the act as well: http://www.wired.com/2015/02/modern-family-iphone-tv-episode/ So folks there's NO mistake here.. Facts are facts and audiences are embracing Social TV which in turn will translate to other platforms.. "I may be crazy but I ain't stupid".. Stay tuned!

John, while I appreciate and agree to some extent with the STORY being told, the fact remains that it IS a big success and stepped into the realm of Social TV, the next horizon. I'm confident we'll see more shows adopting an interactive format especially since major brands have been using Transmedia for years VERY successfully. And we know without the sponsors networks can't pay for shows. Interactive Transmedia storytelling is happening and will continue to expand.

Not sure if you read this but the market share was far bigger than expected so it was moved to a more prime time slot. And while I agree about pace and story, the 'Sync" app that was developed to be used during or with a DVR is ground breaking and cool.. This alone makes the show unique and you can be sure others will be watching closely as Social TV is embraced. And it's to THIS element that the whole discussion is focused. :)

No danger, but as you can see from the original discussion, this isn't about the story or characters, but instead the foray into Social TV. You can learn more about the sync here: http://www.amctv.com/shows/better-call-saul/story-sync

You also might want to take a look at the cool Alias Generator app on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterCallSaulAMC/app_390304377813041 These are the kinds of creative, interactive elements that can be developed in the creation of a project in order to more deeply engage with the audience, hence SOCIAL TV :)