OTT & Transmedia

This awesome Ashley Renee Smith (how did I miss this?)! I do wonder how Skydance will affect those plans though. I grew up with Star Trek so the transmedia approach was in the forefront of developing "The Jupiter Chronicles". Plus, (you already know) worldbuilding is a bit of an addiction!

Ashley Renee Smith Incredible for Star Trek! I’ve noticed how the exploration of space naturally sets up endless opportunities for worldbuilding and transmedia expansion. Star Trek was definitely ahead of its time.

It's a wild movie, Dwayne Williams 2! It's one of my favorite movies of the year.

You're welcome Banafsheh Esmailzadeh Futurama is such a gem. Its delivery system to different places is an incredible setup for worldbuilding. Also, one of my favorite TV shows.

It really is Dwayne Williams 2, in fact a big part of my inspiration for Pandora’s Vault working the way it does in RoP is inspired by the episode The Farnsworth Parabox. I haven’t watched the revival episodes but I would 100% rewatch the series. I love how the writers of it and The Simpsons and Disenchantment know their stuff and so the science aspects are actual science. As someone who’s not super good at science it helps knowing I can learn as I go and that also helps with world-building; finding what already naturally occurs in the universe which ironically helps ground the story and give it a nice little touch of realism so you don’t have to make it all up.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh I agree, I enjoy the learning aspect of science worldbuilding too. I always try to focus on weaving in real science or grounded details where I can. It adds that extra layer of realism, and honestly, it’s fun to imagine impressing the scientists out there who catch those little touches while watching.

I agree Dwayne Williams 2, I love my artistic license but it's nice when real scientists tell you you didn't epically misunderstand something lol

Thanks for sharing the video, Dwayne Williams 2. I've thought about turning my Fantasy Action Comedy short script into a transmedia project. This video and your posts will come in handy.

Michael Dzurak Star Wars is the perfect place to start. Practicing transmedia can be as simple as making big worlds that face off against frameworks like Star Wars, or just creating cool worlds first and then adding stories and ideas into them later. One reason I create images alongside writing (sometimes even before) is because I’m looking for a distinct look for the concept to write about—not just freelancing a new hero, villain, or world. It works better when you build a world that already feels story-worthy.

Debbie Croysdale You’re welcome! Pokémon GO is my favorite example; it brought millions into the world through a mobile game and really showed how powerful transmedia can be. Honestly, I think Pokémon may have even outdone Star Wars in transmedia expertise, and a more updated version of that idea can be as simple as having an app for a concept in today’s newer framework.

Maurice Vaughan Wow, that’s a great combo! A strong way forward is by combining two concept ideas you’ve already built and merging them into one, or even pulling the best aspects from another concept and weaving them into a single world. Those risks can really unlock franchise potential.

Great idea, Dwayne Williams 2! Thanks!

Must-read blog!

I remember the Archie Comics, Ashley Renee Smith. I'm excited for an Archie movie! If I was adapting a well-known IP, I'd keep the core story (unless the company wanted a new story) and add modern topics and technology.

Thanks for sharing the interview, Pat Alexander. The Until Dawn game and movie are incredible! I've been thinking about writing video game scripts. I didn't know they could be that long! The interview will come in handy when I start writing video game scripts.

The first question for all projects of any size is, what audience is interested in your franchise and why? You cannot actually create a "transmedia" franchise for something that doesn't exist in the market somewhere. Because, among other reasons, each of those markets are different with different demographics, viewing habits and tropes. They do not necessarily cross over different media, so you have to build in each unless your franchise is already huge in the market place so that someone from each markets will be interested. I know people like the idea, but you are taking a 3 or 5 or 100 million dollar movie into a 30 or 50 or billion dollar category from inception. In a world where you cannot get a capable distributor to even consider a low budget film without a "name" actor attached - this is not a reasonable thought process IMO. Saying something is a "transmedia" franchise is an observation after the fact. It didn't start out that way absent the franchise already present in some mass market form. That is why IMO the term is misused and misunderstood - usually people are referring to what was and is still called in your various production and distribution agreements "ancillary rights" or derivations, adaptations, etc., which is more accurate.

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg I get your point about audience targeting and the challenges with budget and distribution, but I think leaning too heavily on “audience-first” thinking can sometimes suppress originality. My approach is closer to how music is made, where you focus on building something unique first, then let the audience discover it. If we only follow what’s already proven in the market, we’re chasing trends rather than creating them.

For example, with my film Arubix, I kept adding layers of detail to the concept, new lore, worldbuilding, original weapons, and custom creatures until I ended up with over 20 new game mechanics and even utility mechanics that could apply to real-world military tech. The process organically transformed it from just a movie into something that could naturally be adapted into a game.

That’s why I lean more into screen-to-game adaptations or even vice versa. I build the cinematic foundation first, making sure the detail, lore, and mechanics are born from the story itself. Then, expanding into interactive formats feels like a natural extension instead of a retrofit. In my view, that’s how you make something truly transmedia-ready from inception, without relying on it to already exist in a mass market form.

Maurice Vaughan Absolutely feel that. The Jurassic genre still has tons of untapped potential, especially when it comes to exploring different time frames and perspectives.

Julien Ober I can see Memento as a high-stakes action or stealth-based game. Great pick, strong narrative mechanics in that one.

Mark my words, and I know they're rebooting the franchise... but I would LOVE and NEED to write that script for Resident Evil 4. That story scared me as a kid, and I loved every minute of playing it. And to adapt that game into a movie... I would love to write a script for Zach Cregger if he's to helm the 4th installment.

Love this question and your picks, Dwayne Williams 2! My suggestion would be a Kingsman video game. You could navigate an espionage plot to save the world, collect different weapons, suits, and gadgets to customize and evolve your character, and pick up spy skills as you infiltrate high-stakes environments.

I could also see something like Children of Men turned into an immersive, narrative-driven RPG with survival elements, there’s so much emotional weight and tension in that world, it would translate powerfully into gameplay.

Ashley Renee Smith Brilliant suggestions! I just rewatched Kingsman, and you’re right, it would make such a fun and stylish game. I’d love to design the mechanics for something like that, especially with all the weapons, suits, and spy gadgets to upgrade and customize.

Children of Men is also a fascinating pick, such a unique concept. Translating that world into an immersive, survival-driven RPG would expand the world in compelling ways.

You're welcome, Ashley Renee Smith. It's a must-read blog!

Maurice Vaughan Well sir , I’ve been creating the necessary pitch decks for it all, but I haven’t been able to find the right execs. to turn it into something tangible (yet)

Like, one exec literally told me this is too ambitious, you wont find anybody to “match your crazy” — because he thought no one would understand the layers.

And that kind of took the cake for me and is my running mantra as i have been pitching going forward "can You match my crazy ma'am /sir?"

I like that you turned it into your running mantra, Eddy Gun. A lot of big-name creatives and others have been told things like you won't find anybody to “match your crazy.” Keep networking and pitching until you find people who match your crazy.

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world (www.stage32.com/blog/the-importance-of-community-and-collaboration-in-th...).

Stage 32 had a live Community Open House last week. It'll also help you connect with creatives and industry pros. You can watch the recording here: www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-july-community-open-house

Maurice Vaughan Thank you sir! And even though it might not have the same gravitas like it used to, because of our man DIddy :P "Cant Stop wont stop!"

You're welcome, Eddy Gun. Keep us posted on your projects.