Still Don't Know What "Transmedia" Means? Read April Arrglington's Post

On July 3rd, 2011, April Arrglington (like me, a self-described "know-it-all wannabe," who has become fascinated with "the different ways audiences now relate to stories in this new era of social media and mobile technology") posted a truly insightful blogpost about "transmedia" storytelling. In particular, read April's sparkling review of the different definitions of "transmedia" (April's review may help to explain some of the confusion around the term "transmedia" - a term that I don't like because it seems to suggest the platforms are somehow more important than the act of telling stories in new ways made possible by the Internet). From there, April launches into a great review of what we know (and what we have yet to learn) about the revolutionary storytelling opportunities filmmakers have in this New World of digital filmmaking and distribution. Read in particular her predictions about a new project based on the Harry Potter franchise, Pottermore, and how that project might just change the way we think about transmedia storytelling.

Here are just a couple of the ideas - crucial for anyone whose story will be told "in pieces" - that April covers:

What we call "transmedia" continues to evolve, but the sense of community that can be built across multiple platforms, where interactive components engage and inspire, is not simply a question of the methods of storytelling. Just because a property expands across multiple platforms, it doesn't mean that the storyteller has really engaged in transmedia storytelling. As April writes: "Transmedia storytelling is not something you can slap onto any property. Ideally, transmedia should be considered as a way to develop a property from the ground up."