Kelly Chapman Speaks Transmedia

Just finished watching Aussie Kelly Chapman talk about creating ancillary methods of engagement (web video, ARGs, social networks) for television shows (Lost most notably) and films.  She walks through a number of well-known examples such as Paranormal Activity and 2012 and discusses her own experiences with the Find 815 ARG and the upcoming feature Jucy.  Not only is she a pioneering transmedia producer --a title I hope to hold one day!--but she's also clearly a smart, take charge, kickass chick.

The best part of this presentation is the behind-the-scenes clip she shows of the Jucy crew playing a crass game the characters in the movie play.  It starts around 28:30.  What a great idea for creating additional material that's not your run of the mill "making of".  I'd love to hear what some other non-traditional ideas filmmakers are employing to keep up with their audiences.


Kelly Chapman keynote SPAA Fringe 2009 from KCDC on Vimeo.

Rebranding Short Form Content

I think most people who are interested and/or involved in short form video content creation can agree that there is a general lack of cohesion and identity for projects produced for mobile and web platforms. This can be partially attributed to the fact that the space is relatively new and lacking in rules, definition and models. However, I think another large part of it has to do with the stigma that exists against short form content. A large part of the entertainment community still view short films and online content as inferior to the feature, or as merely a means to an end, which is again, the feature. Few people have embraced the idea of the short as an end in itself, and as a result, I think there is a lot of room for someone to take control of the concept and really define what digital short form content is. There are a few scattered story architects out there producing stunning and engaging content for web and mobile platforms--Laurent Tartour for one--who really seem to get it. However, they're concerned with the individual work, and not the overall identity. Until someone steps up and successfully tackles this ambitious branding crisis, I think web content will continue to be viewed as the bastard child of the feature, and never live up to its inherent populist qualities or commercial potential.

I'm not saying that any of the suggestions listed below are the right answer, or even the best answer, but I wanted to get the conversation started. What do YOU think the answer is? Leave your comments, please!

What Should Web and Mobile Platform Video Content Be Branded As?

TV Everywhere...For A Price

Jeff Bewkes (left) announced this summer the start of a new pilot program called TV Everywhere that would give subscribers access to their favorite content across multiple platforms.  Sure, this sounds great to subscribers, but what does it mean for the currently democratized internet space?  What will happen to alternate content distributors if material is suddenly yanked from their sites?  They may lose the advertising dollars necessary to turn a profit as consumers are forced to watch their favorite shows through their service provider's pay site .  In return, it could become harder for independent content providers to find a foothold .  If alternate online distributors start to disappear, and the independent content providers' material isn't being carried by a major subscription service outlet, how will this content find an audience?  Will every independent creator have to become their own distributor as well?

Service providers are so scared about losing revenue from the traditional source (subscribers) that they fail to see the merits of diversifying (ad supported streaming).  The way we consume media today is fundamentally different from the way we consumed media just five years ago.  Society is used to viewing content for 'free' in an ad supported model.  I can see TV Everywhere potentially working as a premium service, allowing subscribers to access content from their archives, see episodes before they premiere, watch content without commercials, etc.   However I can't see people embracing it in the form Bewkes is currently proposing.