TRANSMEDIA. WHAT IS IT?
A definition of transmedia is not easy to come by try looking it up in the dictionary. Now hold on before you go the computer to look it up. I want you to got to actual printed copy of the dictionary not use the online dictionary that some of us have gotten used to lately. A pain in the you know what maybe, but just do it just for fun. I’ll give you moment and to save us sometime I will go to online version of the dictionary and see if I can find a definition as well. What did you find, nothing me neither. But lets not let that stop us from finding out what this tranmedia thing is all about. Hold on a minute while I plug transmedia into a search engine. Hmm looks we have something here good ol wikipedia it defines transmedia as the following.
“Transmedia storytelling, also known as multi-platform storytelling, cross-platform storytelling, or transmedia narrative, is the technique of telling stories across multiple platforms and formats using current digital technologies. It is not to be confused with traditional cross-platform media franchises,[1] sequels or adaptations.”
Since wikipedia is not always seen as a scholarly resource of information I going to do some more digging. Give me a moment. Ok I found something we can use. It's from the creator of the NBC tv show "Heros" Tim Kring “Transmedia is a fancy word for a simple concept: telling stories across multiple platforms.”
Sound its just more the same from Mr. Kring which is a lot to wrap your head around. Perhaps a definition is not going to do it when defining transmeida lets think of something else. Maybe we should use an example of transmedia that would serve us better. For example the ABC’s drama “Castile” where the character of Richard Castile a very successful mystery/crime writer is paired with a New York City police detective Kate Beckett to solve crimes. (Mostly murders). In the show Richard is penning a book tilted “Night Heat” with the lead character Nikki Heat loosely and not so loosely inspired by Beckett. The real “Night Heat” book released by publisher Hyperion at the same time as the shows is airing with Richard Castile as the author. A second book is entitled “Naked Heat” released during the shows second season. All welded together moving the storyworld from tv show to the book and back again. The books are tied into the plot of the plot of the show and part of the storyworld of the show. There you have it an example of transmedia. Which in provides us with a definition. What’s that you sayi? You have some questions. Well shot.
What if I have seen the tv show but not read the novel I’m I going to be miss part of the story?
What about other forms of media?
Are they using social media as well?
Who else is using trans media?
Wouldn’t transmedia be good for marketing?
How do I learn more?
Whoa, slow down looks like you more questions than I can answer in single blog posting. But I will say that the answers to your questions are the challenges that tranemedia makers take to heart during the creative process. I guess the only way to continue this is to employ transmedia to perhaps answer your questions.
Work cited :
Jenka Gurfinkel, " Your Life Is A Transmedia Experience — Now With Pictures!"http://social-creature.com/.blog.Febuary,10,2012
