Transmedia storytelling

Transmedia storytelling (also known as transmedia narrative or multiplatform storytelling, cross-media seriality) is the technique of telling a single story or story experience across multiple platforms and formats using current digital technologies, not to be confused with traditional cross-platform media franchises, sequels or adaptations.

Henry Jenkins, author of the seminal book Convergence Culture, warns that this is an emerging subject and different authors have different understandings of it. He warns that the term "transmedia" per se means "across media" and may be applied to superficially similar, but different phenomena. In particular, the concept of "transmedia storytelling" should not to be confused with traditional cross-platform, "transmedia" media franchises, or "media mixes".

From a production standpoint, transmedia storytelling involves creating content that engages an audience using various techniques to permeate their daily lives. In order to achieve this engagement, a transmedia production will develop stories across multiple forms of media in order to deliver unique pieces of content in each channel. Importantly, these pieces of content are not only linked together (overtly or subtly), but are in narrative synchronization with each other. In his latest book,Nuno Bernardo shows TV and film producers how to use transmedia to build an entertainment brand that can conquer global audiences, readers and users in a myriad of platforms.

Robert Pratten

Robert Pratten is a London-based, transmedia consultant advising clients on the development of participatory stories across multiple media platforms. He is the founder of Transmedia Storyteller Ltd and creator of Conducttr - an online service for interactive, multi-platform learning, entertainment and marketing.

He is author of the book "Getting Started in Transmedia Storytelling: A Practical Guide for Beginners"

Previous creative work

With his wife, Helen, he founded the company Zen Films in 2000 with the aim of making films which were "entertaining, thought-provoking and irreverent".

As a feature film director, Pratten has directed two features, London Voodoo (2004) and MindFlesh (2008).

London Voodoo received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, such as the Prix du Public (the Audience Award), at Cinenygma 2005 in Luxembourg, Best Feature at the Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester (UK) 2004, Best Feature at the Horror Fiesta 2004 in Warsaw, Poland, Best Acting at the Fearless Tales Genre Fest in San Francisco 2004, the Jury Award Best Feature at the Boston International Film Festival 2004 and Best Cinematography at the New York City Horror Fest 2004. He also won the Best Director Award at the Fearless Tales Genre Fest in San Francisco 2004.

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away".

The first film in the series, Star Wars (later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope), was released on May 25, 1977 by 20th Century Fox and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. It was followed by the similarly successful sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983); these three films constitute the original Star Wars trilogy. A prequel trilogy was later released between 1999 and 2005, which received a more mixed reaction from critics and fans, compared to the original trilogy. All seven films were nominated for or won Academy Awards, and were commercial successes, with a combined box office revenue of $4.38 billion, making Star Wars the fourth highest-grossing film series. The series has spawned an extensive media franchise—the Star Wars expanded universe—including books, television series, computer and video games, and comic books, resulting in significant development of the series's fictional universe. Star Wars also holds a Guinness World Records title for the "Most successful film merchandising franchise." In 2012, the total value of the Star Wars franchise was estimated at USD $30.7 billion, including box-office receipts as well as profits from their video games and DVD sales.