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Updated in [March 06th, 2023]
Transmedia storytelling is the practice of designing sharing and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms - for entertainment advertising and marketing or social change
Have you ever read a book seen a movie watched a television show or played a game that centred around different aspects of a larger story or universe? You may be familiar with popular examples of such universes like Star Wars Marvel and The Walking Dead (to name a few)
How do the professionals develop such expansive narratives? How do they ensure that each element stays true to the original story? How do they innovatively use different technologies to share the stories grow audiences and create an active and involved community of fans?
More and more we are also engaging with elements or franchises of larger and more complex stories across a much more diverse range of platforms like interactive web experiences social media communities mobile devices theme parks and even augmented and virtual reality A major challenge that current and future storytellers face is being able to engage different audiences in a story that is seamlessly told across all of these different platforms
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
This course will help you to design a strategy for developing and telling your own transmedia story You will learn about what it takes to:
Shape your ideas into compelling and well structured narratives and complex story worlds
Identify understand and engage different audiences in your stories
Create cohesive user experiences across different platforms
Evaluate existing and emerging technologies to share your story with the world and help your audience participate in the larger storyworld you create
The course provides you with a unique authentic and industry relevant learning opportunity You will have access to current theory industry examples and advice and undertake learning activities that will equip you with the tools you need to start developing your own ideas
WHO WILL MY INSTRUCTORS BE?
You will learn effective transmedia design strategies from leading UNSW Australia Art & Design academics You will also examine case studies that demonstrate how amazing ideas technology and audience contributions can be brought together to create dynamic storyworlds Youll see examples of major successful transmedia storytelling projects involving movies digital entertainment gaming virtual reality and more In collaboration with our industry partner X Media Lab the course will give you inside access to the personal stories insight and advice of the following innovative transmedia storytelling professionals from Hollywood USA Canada and Australia
Susan Bonds 42 Entertainment Los Angeles USA
Flint Dille Screenwriter Game Designer and Novelist Los Angeles USA
Cindi Drennan Illuminart Australia
Tom Ellard UNSW Art & Design Sydney Australia
Catherine Fargher Dr Egg Digital Sydney Australia
Hal Hefner 3AM Creative USA
Brian Seth Hurst StoryTech Los Angeles USA
Henry Jenkins School for Communication and Journalism University of Southern California USA
Mikey Leung Digital Storytellers Sydney Australia
Alex Lieu 42 Entertainment Los Angeles USA
Geoffrey Long Annenberg Innovation Lab University of Southern California USA
John McGhee UNSW Art & Design Sydney Australia
Joseph Narai Transmedia Entertainment Sydney Australia
Jeff Nicholas The Uprising Creative Los Angeles USA
Sergio Paez Graphic Artist working in animation TV video games and film Co Founder StoryboardArt California USA
Steve Peters No Mimes Media Los Angeles USA
Stuart Samuels Stuart Samuels Productions Toronto Canada
Charles Santoso Concept Artist Sydney Australia
Seth Shapiro New Amsterdam Media Los Angeles USA
Scott Snibbe Eyegroove San Francisco USA
Tracey Taylor The Pulse Sydney Australia
Robert Tercek Public Speaker Digital Media Strategist and Executive Leader for Creative Ventures and Business Innovation University of Southern California USA
Kevin Williams Founder & Director of KWP Ltd and DNA Association UK
Brent Young Super 78 Los Angeles USA
Maya Zuckerman Transmedia SF San Francisco USA
COURSE CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Karin Watson Iman Irannejad and Dr Simon McIntyre
Course Syllabus
What is Transmedia Storytelling?
This module will introduce you to the instructors of this course, and give you an understanding of how the course works and what you will learn. We will also introduce you to what Transmedia Storytelling is and how it is important to the way we interact and communicate. We’ll explain the anatomy of story and the importance of developing a narrative, and show you some examples of contemporary transmedia storytelling. The information in this module will form the backbone of your own transmedia strategy that you will develop over the duration of the course.Creative Ideas Generation - Building a Storyworld
This module introduces you to creative thinking techniques that you can use to help you develop a cohesive and rich story narrative. You’ll explore important models of creative thinking, along with different tools and techniques that can help you expand your narrative into a storyworld that will become the basis of an effective transmedia strategy.Understanding a Transmedia Audience
Understanding the different audiences that engage with elements of a transmedia experience can help develop and improve the reach and impact of your storyworld. This module explores the concepts of ethnography and participatory design as a means of identifying, engaging, and learning from your audience, to help you to focus your strategy to better meet their needs. The Transmedia User Experience
The success of your project is ultimately determined by the quality of the audience's experience. Will your transmedia strategy capture people’s imagination and continue to engage them in multiple facets of the larger storyworld over time? In this module you will being to think about how the convergence of narrative, audience, and technology affects the design of a transmedia strategy. You will also explore theories and frameworks that will help you better understand how to design and evaluate engaging, persuasive and enjoyable transmedia user experiences.Using Creative Technologies
Working in a transmedia context means taking a flexible and inclusive approach to technologies - old and new. Within this module, you will be exposed to evaluation and design strategies for different technologies in a transmedia storytelling context. It showcases several examples of creative uses of technology in storytelling, and explores how emerging digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are creating new possibilities for narrative personalisation and audience immersion in a story.Stories from Industry - Professionals’ Career Journeys and Advice
