Why Hollywood Needs Experience Designers – Part II

June 3, 2013 Creativity, Tech/Entertainment Comments Off

(Originally posted at transmediacoalition.com)

In our last episode, I talked about how transmedia storytelling projects and technologies (such as second screen apps) seem to be getting traction in Hollywood, and the need for Experience Designers to effectively build the stuff that actually goes into the Transmedia (unless we’re going to be satisfied with just polls, quizzes and ads). Here, I’ll talk about what an Experience Designer actually does.

So, we’ve determined (or at least I’ve asserted) that we’ve got all this great digital transmedia techo-goodness at our fingertips, yet everyone’s struggling with what the content using this technology will actually be. The path of least resistance seems to be “extras” or “bonus content” right now, which often takes the form of microsites, games, polls, trivia, advertisements, behind-the-scenes stuff, links to actors’ IMDB pages, etc. If you’ve been following me on twitter, you’ve probably recently seen me link out to press releases about new apps and projects, and lamenting that they seem to be delivering everything but one crucial and obvious thing:

Story.

The thing you’re actually consuming, the entertainment, the movie, the TV show, the STORY. Why isn’t there more story on these second screens (and by second screens I mean not only apps, but all transmedia channels)?

It’s because you need an Experience Designer to craft it, that’s why. Read more

Why Hollywood Needs More Experience Designers

April 23, 2013 Tech/Entertainment Comments Off

(Originally posted at Transmedia Coalition)

screensIt’s 2013, and Second Screen is all around us, touted as the Next Big Thing. All of the major broadcast networks seem to have some sort of second screen sync app now, by which you can get “extra” content on your smartphone or tablet while you’re watching your favorite shows. CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, SyFy, AMC… Sounds pretty cool, right?

But try out one of these apps, and it becomes apparent that they’re a solution in search of a problem. It seems like the main uses seem to be leveraging social media (JOIN THE CONVERSATION!), polls, trivia, links to actors’ IMDB pages, and, puzzlingly, behind-the-scenes videos (am I supposed to pause the main screen while I watch these?)

IntoNow's Iron Chef Sync App

IntoNow’s Iron Chef Sync App

Who actually uses these apps once they’ve tried them out? Nobody is revealing actual numbers, although the metrics that do leak out aren’t all that great. A recent second screen initiative for The Next Iron Chef: Redemption was only used by a maximum of 3,000 people each week for eight weeks, according to Channing Dawson, a senior advisor of Scripps Networks Interactive.

Could this be because the content is…just not that fun? At present, there’s plenty of awesome syncing and transmedia technology out there, providing fresh, pristine canvases on which to paint, but everybody’s struggling with not only what to paint on them, but how to effectively go about developing the paint itself. According to Sherry Brennan, senior vice president of sales strategy and development for Fox Networks, “We’re all convinced that second screen is here to stay…The question is, what do you do on second screens? What do consumers want there? That’s what’s evolving.”

Read more

My Insta-ARG Experiment

July 9, 2012 ARG 5 comments

Calling all puppetmasters!

Because it’s summer and I really miss making ARGs, I thought I’d try something a little different. It’s the world’s FIRST completely open source, crowd sourced, instant ARG. All I’ve done is create a seed that I’ve planted. It’s your job to germinate it, and make it grow in a true viral sense.

Let’s together see how far we can get this to spread, shall we?

So you are a puppet master, or want to be a puppet master. Well now’s your chance. Take this idea and run with it, however you want. Make a tumblr, build a forum, build a website (I didn’t register a specific name on purpose) create a facebook page, Instagram it, Pinterest it, whatever you want. Make a logo, create a blog, a YouTube channel, a Twitter account. TELL YOUR STORY. But whatever you do, it must live in the fictional world of the ARG.

What kind of world is this? It’s a world just like our own, but with one very important difference. We’ve run out of helium.

Yep, it’s the World Without Helium ARG.

So, the ball is yours to run with. Let’s show the world what sort of awesome thing we, as a world-wide community of ARG and Transmedia enthusiasts/practitioners can accomplish.

I want to see how big something can grow from a single seed, so here’s the single, simple rabbithole: http://twitter.com/WWOHelium. Follow it, use the hashtag to spread the word about what you’re up to. Be creative, innovative, virally spreadable, use every trick you know…and most of all, HAVE FUN. I expect tons of awesome. :)

Here’s the only rule: The finale is August 31st, 2012.

Let’s see where we can take this thing.

And here…we…GO!

Note: This an homage/spoof of the excellent World Without Oil ARG, and is in no way meant to disparage it or appear to be affiliated with it. 

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