OTT & Transmedia : The Collective Journey by Frank Konrath

Excellent! It reminds me of when I started to work on Titan Effect as an animated series and comic book it was all about the Hero's journey. Working on the tabletop RPG version made me switch to the collective journey. I think more and more stories should embrace that new model.

Absolutely! Audiences are demanding more from entertainment. Good vs. evil just doesn't hold up anymore. We need dynamic stories with dynamic characters with dynamic motivations.

This is a fantastic find, thanks for sharing!

Such a great blog! Thanks for introducing me!

Absolutely!

I remember reading this interview with Simon Staffens https://simonstaffans.com/2017/01/23/grappling-with-the-collective-journey/

before the Jeff Gomez blog. Playing Devil's advocate here, after you have read this article about how ISIS and Trump used the collective model, and how its use in political agenda seems prevalent, how can we are storytellers ensure we are hearing the right story, and that are audience understand clearly what is story and what is hype?

Is there still a place for this method where we the producers are in control via expanding the IP, or can the theories in books like this 'Integrated Storytelling by Design: Concepts, Principles and Methods for New Narrative Dimensions by Klaus Sommer Paulsen' (AdventureLab where audience is key, be more beneficial?

And finally, as writers is the original story being lost due to the increased need to reach a wider audience?

I have spent the last two years researching and analysing audience and marketing, and getting to know what certain age groups what and what is currently being provided for them. It was surprising to find there is huge gap between the two,

We can't. That's both the beauty and danger of transmedia. As storytellers, we must adhere to doing good in the world, inspire people with our stories and allow our audiences to find community that puts good into the world. There will always be people who exploit the system, but as with anything, we must identify and denounce any such action. Like I said, transmedia as amazing power to sway people, so let's try to do it positively as much as we can.

It's a feedback loop, not the producers or an audience is in full control. We produce entertainment, say a book, that we hope our identified audience would like. We joined conversations they were having before writing it, identified that a book would be a great first step to getting into our story world. After releasing the book, we expected to write a movie continuing the story, but the audience is clamoring for the sequel to the book in form of another book. And so we oblige, all the while planning new ways for them and new audience members to experience the story world.

The original story that introduces us to the story world is often the most held dear. BUT who's to say the first story told in the world is the one that got your audience really hooked? Also, I don't think transmedia is about mass appeal. It let's the creative explore new stories and mediums, diversifies risk for the investor, and allows fans to enter into the world in a variety of ways. It's a community where everyone knows the rules and feels understood. As your story world traverses new mediums, your finding new people who want to join the community. The little pockets grow as popularity rises, but it's not a "wide-net" strategy. Every member needs to feel apart of something, their voices are heard and felt.

In my opinion, the gap between transmedia and marketing is one that is rooted in status-quo. Businesses don't want to take the risk even though traditional marketing methods are as old as Ben Franklin. Audience building is the future of marketing. Taco Bell, ironically, is at the forefront of fast food chains acknowledging it. They've stopped working with advertising and marketing agencies and dedicated a large part of their outreach budget on monitoring and joining conversations across social media. This audience focused method of marketing is the first step to them creating content their audience wants to see rather then traditional and annoying advertainments.

Would love to talk, Mandi Allen !

I agree, it may not be the first story that was told, but the usually the first one that you came across that got you hooked on the universe. For example, I love the original Star Wars, hands down no competition, yet my adult kids prefer the newer ones, my younger sons prefer The Mandalorian. Doctor Who is a great example of this, we tend to have a favourite depending on who was on our screens at the time.

I admit I get confused by marketing, they are (at least it seems this way in the UK) focusing on those who fall into the 18- 23 yrs old category, those who have less disposable income, who are now changing their priorities to be more eco/green less spending on consumables, (over simplifying here I know), and there is no focus on those who are 75+ have a longer healthier lifespan, more free time and more disposable income. The sterotype of these adults hasn't changed in decades. It's the same with the media industry. Sectors of the population are being blatantly ignored and if transmedia can reach a wider audience, why is this still the case?

Always happy to talk Frank Konrath .

Fantastic share! look forward to reading more about this.

Mandi Allen , totally understand what you're saying about marketing, there is a definite focus on getting "young dollars" for whatever reason. It reminds me of an episode of Frasier where Martin was complaining about the same thing. The underline theme of the joke was that advertisers and companies want young money because they spend their money on frivolous / entertainment things and older demographics don't, which just isn't true!

It's interesting you bring this up about transmedia and some projects doing the same thing. I'm figuring in those instances the world isn't designed for them, but you're right! We need worlds dedicated to both old and young demographics! I just read an article in the Chicago Tribune (by way of the LA Times) about a producer named Amy Baer who is catering to the 50+ crowd to solve the problem you are bringing up. She named her company Landline Pictures (such a perfect name). You should look her up!

This is fantastic news, I will try and find the article, we can’t always get online access here to US papers.

Mandi Allen , just tried to look for it online and couldn't access it, but I'm going to do a piece on it shortly and I'll post it here to hopefully spark a conversation!

I’ve since found a few industry articles and look at the company a bit closer. All fascinating!