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Task 1- Group work- Q4

What storytelling technologies inspire and frustrate you? Are there particular platforms you have engaged with that have greatly enhanced your immersion in a story experience? Give an example or two if you can, and describe why the technology added to the story experience. If you have had an experience where certain technologies have detracted from the effective telling of a good story, please share examples of that as well and explain why this was the case.

With the diffusion of social media in all aspects of our lives, naturally, even storytelling has taken a new shape. Stories today are shared differently as compared to traditional stories, for example, online stories which are not only the most relevant platform to keep up with current happenings, but it is very easy to consume and share as well. (Hence, quite addicting too) Nonetheless, the content that is shared virtually is integral in shaping our cultures and stories. Hence, most of the stories consumed are on the phone. 

Terribly Tiny Tales or TTT started as a Facebook page that was inviting people to submit stories not more than a couple of sentences. Over the years, the community and the popularity of micro-fiction have increased manifold leading TTT’s large following on Instagram. A visual medium like Instagram acts as the perfect platform for this type of short storytelling as opposed to blogs. It is also the shortened attention spans of the audience today that drive this concept’s success. Further TTT has branched out into short films on YouTube, a mobile application, workshops, digital ad campaigns and even published volumes of selected works.

https://terriblytinytales.com/index#firstSection

 Rupi Kaur, a poet and artist has also set a successful example of turning bite-sized literature into a book. She started posting her prose and illustrations on Tumblr and after garnering a lot of praise, she self-published her first book which found a place in various bestseller lists. There has been no looking back since then. She performs her poetry as well and has sold out shows all over the world, came out with a second book which again made all the lists and her work has been translated into more than 35 languages.

https://www.instagram.com/rupikaur_/?hl=en, https://rupikaur.com/

Another thoroughly enjoyable story would be Crazy Rich Asians, the movie that was adapted from a book by Kevin Kwan. The movie did not only break box office records, revived the rom-com genre but most importantly changed the conversation around Asian representation in movies. I feel this is a good example of a Transmedia story and a literary adaptation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ-YX-5bAs0

‘Humans of Bombay’ is a blog run by Karishma Mehta in Mumbai, actually replicating the model of Humans of New York.  The blog started as a photography project where Mehta would go out in the streets and interview strangers; what came out of this experiment were various endearing accounts of people’s personal lives. This format is interesting because- one, someone is narrating their real-life stories and experiences and two, most of these stories are spontaneously told. It is a conversation, which is eventually presented as a story.

 https://www.instagram.com/officialhumansofbombay/

What’s interesting to note about most of the above-mentioned story examples is that they began on the Internet. Blogs, micro-fiction, instapoetry have all found ways to transcend their platforms and become bigger. The creators on social media had the advantage of direct engagement with their audience and instant feedback helping them expand and understand their audience. Moreover, these stories have reached far and wide because they complemented their platform very well: Visual, brief and edgy. For example:

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/301037556328016534/ 

Now, coming to things that detract from good storytelling are product placements. The importance of sponsors is understandable, especially for creators online, but some of the sponsored content and product placements are so in-your-face, they take away from the feel of the story. Often in trying to gain more followers or viewers, a creator/storyteller ends up compromising their own vision. Perhaps that is a balance that online creators today have to maintain within the current business models that social media has given birth to. 

Moreover, when it comes to distractions, the 3D or 4D movies create a disconnect from the plotline. The glasses and the effects are distracting from the actual story. It’s understandable that the aim is to turn the film into a spectacle but the traditional ways of viewing a movie are much more appreciated. One reason would be that many such films don't have much to offer in 3D and the 3D sequences seem forced. 

Stories that contain more visuals are preferred more. Less text is more, such as short videos on YouTube, movies, and Instagram stories. Recently there has been an increased interest in watching stories that are user-generated. They are authentic, simple and easier to relate to. I am obsessed with a number of digital storytellers or what people might call as ‘social media influencers’ like Khalif Al Ameri who creates compelling stories addressing social issues. Here is a link to his profile:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZE_XnY_UazcRILVru7znDw

In terms of technologies that can be frustrating yet interesting at the same time, it would be podcasts, sound clips and radio. Podcasts have there pros and cons, hence,  why it may work for some and not work for the rest. 

Firstly, it is often hard to concentrate and follow a story or a message. Why would someone choose audio online when they can see or watch it too? If we have access and can easily create or transfer images, videos or any type of visual, why would we choose audio only?

However, it is possible to hear a story whenever you want and whenever it is convenient - when doing the dishes, going for a walk or simply just laying on the couch. The power of people talking to each other or telling a story through audio has a very good effect on people. The only thing that needs to be certain with a podcast episode is the fact that it is an interesting person who speaks. A person that can make the story alive, compelling and persuasive. A story can be all that but still be a disaster if the storyteller has a boring voice or lacking the skill of being empathetic. The storyteller also needs to deliver the story with a change of tone and situational awareness. There are a lot of examples of calming podcasts that should work against anxiety, but with a narrator that makes the story uncomfortable to listen to, because of his or her monotonous voice. The calming podcasts seem like a good initiative and a beautiful purpose, but the wrong platform to present it in. However, if it is a good one, the story experience can be very inspiring. All things considered, the comeback of the podcast is interesting and may be a reflection of the modern way of living on the go.  

With increased technological development and innovations, consuming content on the go is far more convenient and in such a manner, podcasts could feed the imaginations, prompting us to create a world of our own in our minds. When it comes to technology, Japanese comics of “mangas” turned into animated series and games allow diverse and intriguing consumer experiences.

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Task 1- Group work- Q3

 Can you think of any experiences you have had as an audience member that have engaged you deeply in a story? What worked for you? What kept your interest and made you want to find out more? How might some of these ideas work in your own transmedia storyworld?

The interaction with different stories is different; some draw you in; some engage you and some make sure to keep you engaged. Experience as an audience member varies from time to time, whether it’s a movie or a podcast or a docuseries, which ultimately captures interest are the characters involved. For Sidrah, the characters come before the plot and once one or two characters have grabbed her interest, she becomes invested in their lives, curious and keen to find out what happens mainly to them even if they’re not officially considered the main characters. Due to this attachment, in a way plot becomes secondary at times. It doesn’t lose its importance, but it simply means that how the certain characters’ lives are affected by the current and upcoming plotlines is what keeps her interested and one is hoping for everything to work out fine for their preferred characters.

 As a group, we came up with multiple story experiences that we’d look up to for inspiration for our own Transmedia story.

 For Shahd, taking a simple and personal approach is the way to go to in story delivery, because sometimes, we over complicate things when they can be done in a much simpler way. Taking a recent example, following the Coronavirus Outbreak globally (which led to huge financial losses for organizations worldwide), many companies took decisions to furlough employees. Shahd works in a hotel company and her job was put at risk too since most of the hotels have closed down. However, the company’s President released a video two weeks ago to share a State of the Business Address including an update on HR contingency measures.

Despite sharing negative news with the audience, the video stood out for a number of reasons. First, the President took a very transparent and authentic approach. He seemed very sincere and genuine in his message delivery. He also used personal information such as his hair loss due to Chemotherapy to create a sense of authenticity and vulnerability that cannot be accomplished in any other better way. Although the video was addressed to company employees only, many of the major international news outlets covered the video and used it as a best practice for company transparency during crises. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/marriott-ceo-sorenson-details-crisis-161524903.html

For Urvashi, the first look of a story is crucial. Earlier, trailers weren’t that big in terms of their power to pull in audiences. Now, people may reject or accept a movie/ TV series based on one trailer. Hence, the first look should intrigue the audience, given the sea of content surrounding us nowadays. Also, in Indian cinema, music has historically been the greatest tool of engagement. Indian films consist of many songs and choreographed dance sequences and Indian viewers have accepted the musical form of storytelling since long. Thus, music is often at the front and center of film promotions because a good album draws people in with ease and further pushes the film. So, music of the film too catches her attention (specifically in terms of Hindi movies), since there are certain musical numbers that are presented as spectacles and are best enjoyed on the big screen. For example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdk3brbEkPw&feature=emb_title

 Also, pre-credit, mid-credit, post-credit scenes and Easter eggs in a story are really clever and exciting ways to keep the audience invested in a story post their engagement with the content. This is something that Taylor Swift is a master of; her fans are always coming up with theories and trying to guess the significance of clues in her music videos. Not only that, but a sneak peek also gives the audience something to look forward to as they wait for the next installment of a story. It is the gradual building up of an event that holds the audience interest. For example, when Marvel’s Endgame came out, the anticipation was so high that people were avoiding using any social media platforms because there were spoilers all around. For weeks on end, social media was bustling with news about the film, be it spoilers, memes or even emotional posts about it. This was the result of not just the film, but also the Marvel Franchise cementing its place in pop culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4k_jUIZNfw&feature=emb_title

 Talking about re-engaging with a story, studio tours do a great job, for example, Harry Potter World in England, which is an expansive space that houses authentic costumes, props and iconic sets used in Harry Potter. Re-creating such iconic cinematic worlds offers the fans an opportunity to physically be a part of it, renewing their love for a story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=c8bUr6L9AhQ&feature=emb_title

 Mille talks about an engaging podcast she heard, which is run by two women in their 30s. They talk about their lives as mothers and moreover, they are trying to embrace the female body. They are doing it by focusing on different stories in which the moral is the fact that there is not one right way to be a woman.

 In one specific episode, one woman spoke of a personality test that she had become obsessed with. She explained that there were 8 different kinds of personalities, but when you got your results, the test would not tell you: "You are a number 5 - go ahead and read what that means". No, It will end up saying "There is 68% chance that you are a number 5. There is 53% chance that you are a number 3". Of course all of the 8 personalities were explained in detail, but you were not reduced to one personality type. She explained how the test helped her understand most of her behavior, mechanisms and reactions and made her rethink her ways of life. When she told her story, she was passionate about it and divulged how her personal life had changed with this personality test. Listening to this personal account Mille was tempted to take the test herself.

 However, the test results were a huge anticlimax. The test ended up being boring and business-related. Even though the results she got were quite spot on, they were very tedious to read and not as interesting. Thinking about this experience, Mille realized that it was the woman that made the story interesting. The woman she heard was extremely persuasive and could sell sand in the Red Dune Desert! Her compelling use of examples and amazing way of telling the story was very fascinating.  She kept the listeners engaged throughout, which is important in building a transmedia storyworld. She took something really relatable and sold it well. Hence also proving that audio is a really effective and creative medium to tell a good story.

 Eventually what works in favor of any story has to be the core: the plot, the characters and the world created. In the end, it boils down to personal preferences and what appeals to one’s sensibilities. But, generally speaking, what must work is a story’s ability to transport you to a different world. According to Sidrah, the kind of characters that garner her interest are the ones to whom she relates in some way. They might have several aspects in their lives, which would not share similarities with hers, but simply one of two personality traits or circumstances can spark that interest. Conversely, Urvashi believes that she doesn’t need to relate to a character or a story to enjoy it, what matters is how much the writer and filmmaker believed in it. There are negative characters that have garnered so much acclaim because they were written and performed with conviction and feeling.

 So, we can safely say that ultimately what connects people to stories is the human emotion. Hence, even our Transmedia story, we would try to get that right and then use the different engagement methods mentioned above. We would try to make the characters intriguing enough to capture interest while the plot fully supports them without any loopholes so as to ensure that the audience will be able to relate to them in different ways.

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Task 1- Question 2 ( Group work)

What are some advantages and disadvantages in having your audience actively participating in the development or telling of your story idea? What are some important things you would need to think about in terms of how your own story is structured, if you were to invite your audience to actively engage in developing or adding to narratives within your larger storyworld?

One of the advantages of including the audience in the story-making process is that different perspectives and insights can lead to the story dealing with several topics and issues, hence, enriching it with content and plotlines that had not come up originally. However, at the same time, the many perspectives can lead to the main framework of the story deteriorating and the original creator’s vision can get lost among the several other visions being brought in by the audience. It can also lead to an over-complex plot that is going all over the place instead of one or more coherent and intriguing storylines which are not tangling up and causing possible loopholes in the main framework of the story. Moreover, when an audience is invited to be involved in the creation of a story, the varying expectations can end up intimidating the original creator to bend the original story in a way in order to fulfill as many audience expectations as possible. This certainly changes the original story and the artist is rendered incapable of expressing themselves in a way they intended to.

Another advantage of getting the audience involved from the get-go is the fact that a huge chunk of marketing and promotions would inevitably be carried out by the audience, which, from a capitalist point of view, would serve as unpaid labor. With their passion and involvement in the story, the audience would end up creating awareness of the story no matter what media format it takes by speaking of it among their respective fandoms on social media platforms, through fanfiction and by gathering and conventions and events where merchandise can be sold. Overall, an involved audience makes for a great marketing strategy. On the other hand, the unsolicited content that is produced by the fandom can be regarded as unwanted by the original creators who may not want the fan-made work to be associated with the original stories they created.

Additionally, the involved audience can provide an incentive to the original creators to create more of the content resulting in building their movie or T.V series franchise which could possibly expand it to a worldwide audience. Several fandoms have managed to reach out to TV Networks and Production companies in order to either get additional movies of the same franchise or to help pick up previously canceled shows. Series such as Lucifer and Brooklyn nine-nine are some good examples of what an impact a fandom can have over Tv Networks, since they were canceled but later on picked up again and new seasons were produced and aired.

 If an audience was to be invited to participate in the creation of a story, structure-wise it would be ensured that the audience is made aware of the main framework of the story. The lore and ideas that work as the story’s so-called spine and some of the major points that were not negotiable. After which the free-flowing ideas would be encouraged since every individual would have their own flair and their own creative ideas regarding possible sub-plots and the characters involved in the story. Said creative ideas would need monitoring and supervision since an overflow of ideas could lead to several unrelated plotlines leaking into the main storyline. Characterization wise it would be made sure that none of the audience's ideas seem to make characters act in a way that would be rather out of character. The progress of the plot, the points of conflict and character dynamics as well as how the story ends would largely remain unnegotiable with the audience simply given some choices to pick from.

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“I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling a little poorly.”

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🌸 🌸 🌸

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Transmedia Storytelling

Q1. What do you think it takes to define a story as being Transmedia? 

Stories that evolve and are told and displayed over multiple forms of media which leads to a lot more being added to the story by the audience can be considered as Transmedia. It transitions from one media form, for example book, to another, such as Netflix. New content that was not necessarily there in the original version is produced, which may or may not have anything to do with the original plotline, such as new characters and new plotlines, new dynamics that were not created by the original writer.

What it takes to define a story as Transmedia is this evolution and growth of the story  brought from both, the side of a creator or through collaboration between writers and directors collaborating, as well as, the additional content brought forth by the consumers, in this case, the audience that so thoroughly enjoyed the experience of that content, that they feel this need of either remaining involved by never letting go of the story or by adding to any story lines that they felt to be lacking. This brings together a group of people that then eventually form a ‘Fandom’. This brings people together and engages their creative faculties. The stories and lives of the characters never end, each individual processes that story in their own way, their own individual perceptions color the same story in different shades, leading to different content being written and made by different individuals from among that audience.

There is a passion in their creative involvements which is brought about by the way they feel they can either relate to certain characters or plot lines or that fact that the individuals wanted to see more of a certain story to be explored.

Moreover, a story is Transmedia when it has changed forms from its original version. For example from Newspaper cartoon panels to proper comic books and from comic books to the TV screen as an animated TV series or full-fledged, big-budget movies.

In conclusion, any kind of artistic work that spans over different modes of presentation, such as from books to movies and has gotten the active involvement of the audience leading to additional, original work being produced by the Fandom, is a Transmedia work/story.

Q2. When does a story go from being ‘just a story’, to being a transmedia story?

A story remains simply a story when it does not transition over onto another form of media. For example a Book that never got picked to be made into television series or movies. Creators as well as Fandoms play a big part in establishing a story as a Transmedia story.

Fandom can be defined as a group or section of audience who dedicatedly follow along a story or show, are invested in the characters and plot as well as being able to relate to them. Fandoms form a powerful unit since they often are able to persuade big production companies to continue with certain projects. For example, Deadpool’s actor Ryan Reynolds revealed in an interview that a so-called accidental leak of a test footage [ <- please click] on the internet spurred on a barrage of fanmail aimed at 20th Century FOX which had them caving in and giving the go-ahead for the first Deadpool movie to be filmed in 2016. Deadpool’s character itself originated from the Marvel Comics, hence it’s transition from comics to the movie along with Deadpool themed ads is that content becoming transmedia.

Q3. Provide me with a brief introduction to yourself and research projects. Please include at least 5 URL web links. These may be links to favorite directors, writers,designers, etc.

Having been a student of English Literature, and finishing my Masters in it in 2014, I have always been into stories and imagining the many other alternate versions a novel or a play could have taken. When I came across a show called Shadowhutners on Netflix and came across some relate-able characters, only then did I get to know these characters actually originate from a series of fictional novels written by an American Author named  Cassandra Clare. She had developed this entire world of half-human to non-human beings living side by side but discreetly among the humans, or ‘mundanes’, of this world. I personally felt the Netflix show did some of my favorite characters justice, more than the original books did. Moreover, the Netflix show focuses on character development as well as its focus on aesthetics only add to creating more and more powerful scenes.

Aside from the genre of the Supernatural, I am also interested in the action-filled and superheros based films such as the movies by the Marvel Franchise. Even though most the characters in those movies have super powers, and some are just highly skilled human beings, the writers and directors still manage to make them relate-able to some extent. For example after DC’s release of The Joker, several Tweets of how people understood the Joker’s side were seen, as if they now understood what the brutalities of a society could do to a person, in turn creating a monster out of him.

Julie Annette Rovelstad Andem, a Norwegian screenwriter, director best known for her internet/television drama called SKAM, is also a show that caught my attention because of how realistically it portrayed the life of young teens and their daily life issues. From the camera work to sound tracks and amazing acting, the series has had several remakes in different languages with different actors. The show addresses topics such as bullying, gender identity and sexualities, mental and physical health issues as well as religion.

One of its original Norwegian season trailers can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxPErSmmfaw

Additionally, Anime and Manga ( japanese comics) have always had my interest, Naruto being the first anime I had ever watched and through Anime I got to know of the existence of Manga. One of the relatively new anime series called My Hero Academia features a world where by a certain age it is normal for young teens to show signs of having super powers. The way the show creator focus on character development is one of the show’s attractive features.