Teaching Old
Brands New Tricks
with Transmedia
Storytelling (2/2)
Henri Weijo
Aalto University, Marketing Dept. 
Luxus Digital Week, 8.2.2012
NOTE: I had to split this
 presentation into two (and
 take away some of the
 graphics) because of
 Slideshare’s upload limit…
 sorry. The original was, of
 course, one presentation.
A few
examples"
The classic examples
Transmedia storytelling
•  Transmedia changes the focus of
   (marketing) planning, the idea of “world
   building”  create a rich brand that can
   be extended almost indefinitely
•  “In transmedia each medium does what it
   does best” (Jenkins, 2006)  influences
   the selection of ”where the story goes
   next” (e.g.TV vs. games?)
•  Key ideas: mystery, drillability,
   spreadability, continuity, immersion,
   independence of works and subjectivity
” 	
  
   
A good character can
    sustain multiple narratives
    and thus lead to a
    successful movie franchise.
    A good ’world’ can sustain
    multiple characters (and
    their stories) and thus
    successfully launch a
    transmedia franchise.”
In practice (24)




Scolari (2009)
Two things above all
•  “Negative capability”: strategic gaps in
   storytelling that entice consumers to
   participate, speculate on “unanswered
   questions”, create content etc. (Long,
   2007)
•  “Migratory cues”: (often aesthetic) cues
   that link different texts together,
   consumers use them to “navigate” the
   world (Dineheart, 2008)
•  Balancing participation and storytelling!
”Lost” was masterful in
creating negative capability,
some questions were in fact
never answered
“Migratory cues” the Matrix hade
unique aesthetics and tonal style
• 
 Transmedia is not only about
   long term big franchises, it can
   be campaign-based, too
• 
 Most marketers are familiar
   with transmedia through
   alternate reality games (ARGs,
   kinda ”transmedia light”)
• 
 This is probably the most
   famous example…
#1 advantage of transmedia*
•  Transmedia allows “tiering”, different
   levels of consumer particiaption 
   ”real fans” get more engagement
   opportunities, but you don’t lose the
   casual fans
•  Transmedia is really demanding for
   consumers, almost too demanding
*Aside from the business synergy opportunities, that is
The typical disclaimer:

” 	
  
  
The overwhelming majority of
   these examples are from the
   entertainment industry. A
   ’regular’ brand could never
   have a transmedia strategy!”

  
Or could it?
As said, a lot of
 ”transmedia practices”
 have already crept into
 contemporary marketing
 communications

(as seen during Super Bowl 2012)
Probably the most impressive
 contemporary (integrated)
 marketing campaign (that isn’t
 from the entertainment
 industry) that featured
 transmedia elements was...
While brands have
 already learned a lot, I
 still argue that there
 needs to be a change in
 brand thinking for brands
 to fully to embrace
 transmedia!
The goal should be:


From: ”How
              
…to: ”How to
 to get
               get our
 transmedia
               brand to
 to work
               work with
 with our
               transmedia?
 brand?”…
Remember, archetypes
 as the catalyst for
 participation was the
 lesson most marketers
 have missed (in my
 opinion)
” 	
  
    
Will transmedia
     storytelling enrich
     popular culture or
     make it more
     formulaic?”
    
(I think: both, depending on
    how you look at it)
Transmedia 2012?
•  There’s a sense that the “hype” has
   died
•  ARGFest 2010: “ARGs are dead” 
   feeling that transmedia isn’t all that it
   could be
•  Was transmedia a fad or did it just get
   incorporated into the entertainement
   biz + branding?
In conclusion
•  Media business conglomeration and
   media culture evolution drive this
   change
•  Pop culture / marketing becoming
   increasingly self-referential and
   formulaic  this is also what drives
   participation
•  Brands have already learned a lot,
   but definitely could learn more!
Q&A?

(this presentation will be available on my Slideshare
account, just google ”Henri Weijo Slideshare” or
something)
In particular, check out these
transmedia PhDs:
•  Geoffrey Long (2007) on migratory
   cues and negative capability 
•  Christy Dena (2009) on Transmedia
   practice

•  (both are available online)
Some resources
•  http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/
   transmedia_storytelling_101.html
•  http://blogs.middlebury.edu/mediacp/
•  http://henryjenkins.org/2009/08/
   transmedia_storytelling_and_en.html
•  http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/
   1721.1/39152/166227980.pdf?sequence=1
•  http://cms.mit.edu/research/theses/
   IvanAskwith2007.pdf
•  http://henryjenkins.org/2006/12/
   how_transmedia_storytelling_be.html
•  http://www.cultureby.com/trilogy/2005/12/
   transmedia_bran.html
Teaching Old Brands New Tricks with Transmedia Storytelling (2/2)

Teaching Old Brands New Tricks with Transmedia Storytelling (2/2)

  • 1.
    Teaching Old Brands NewTricks with Transmedia Storytelling (2/2) Henri Weijo Aalto University, Marketing Dept. Luxus Digital Week, 8.2.2012
  • 2.
    NOTE: I hadto split this presentation into two (and take away some of the graphics) because of Slideshare’s upload limit… sorry. The original was, of course, one presentation.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Transmedia storytelling •  Transmediachanges the focus of (marketing) planning, the idea of “world building”  create a rich brand that can be extended almost indefinitely •  “In transmedia each medium does what it does best” (Jenkins, 2006)  influences the selection of ”where the story goes next” (e.g.TV vs. games?) •  Key ideas: mystery, drillability, spreadability, continuity, immersion, independence of works and subjectivity
  • 6.
    ”   A good character can sustain multiple narratives and thus lead to a successful movie franchise. A good ’world’ can sustain multiple characters (and their stories) and thus successfully launch a transmedia franchise.”
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Two things aboveall •  “Negative capability”: strategic gaps in storytelling that entice consumers to participate, speculate on “unanswered questions”, create content etc. (Long, 2007) •  “Migratory cues”: (often aesthetic) cues that link different texts together, consumers use them to “navigate” the world (Dineheart, 2008) •  Balancing participation and storytelling!
  • 9.
    ”Lost” was masterfulin creating negative capability, some questions were in fact never answered
  • 10.
    “Migratory cues” theMatrix hade unique aesthetics and tonal style
  • 11.
    •  Transmedia isnot only about long term big franchises, it can be campaign-based, too •  Most marketers are familiar with transmedia through alternate reality games (ARGs, kinda ”transmedia light”) •  This is probably the most famous example…
  • 14.
    #1 advantage oftransmedia* •  Transmedia allows “tiering”, different levels of consumer particiaption  ”real fans” get more engagement opportunities, but you don’t lose the casual fans •  Transmedia is really demanding for consumers, almost too demanding *Aside from the business synergy opportunities, that is
  • 15.
    The typical disclaimer: ”   The overwhelming majority of these examples are from the entertainment industry. A ’regular’ brand could never have a transmedia strategy!” Or could it?
  • 20.
    As said, alot of ”transmedia practices” have already crept into contemporary marketing communications (as seen during Super Bowl 2012)
  • 26.
    Probably the mostimpressive contemporary (integrated) marketing campaign (that isn’t from the entertainment industry) that featured transmedia elements was...
  • 28.
    While brands have already learned a lot, I still argue that there needs to be a change in brand thinking for brands to fully to embrace transmedia!
  • 29.
    The goal shouldbe: From: ”How …to: ”How to to get get our transmedia brand to to work work with with our transmedia? brand?”…
  • 30.
    Remember, archetypes asthe catalyst for participation was the lesson most marketers have missed (in my opinion)
  • 39.
    ”   Will transmedia storytelling enrich popular culture or make it more formulaic?” (I think: both, depending on how you look at it)
  • 40.
    Transmedia 2012? •  There’sa sense that the “hype” has died •  ARGFest 2010: “ARGs are dead”  feeling that transmedia isn’t all that it could be •  Was transmedia a fad or did it just get incorporated into the entertainement biz + branding?
  • 42.
    In conclusion •  Mediabusiness conglomeration and media culture evolution drive this change •  Pop culture / marketing becoming increasingly self-referential and formulaic  this is also what drives participation •  Brands have already learned a lot, but definitely could learn more!
  • 43.
    Q&A? (this presentation willbe available on my Slideshare account, just google ”Henri Weijo Slideshare” or something)
  • 44.
    In particular, checkout these transmedia PhDs: •  Geoffrey Long (2007) on migratory cues and negative capability •  Christy Dena (2009) on Transmedia practice •  (both are available online)
  • 45.
    Some resources •  http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/ transmedia_storytelling_101.html •  http://blogs.middlebury.edu/mediacp/ •  http://henryjenkins.org/2009/08/ transmedia_storytelling_and_en.html •  http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/ 1721.1/39152/166227980.pdf?sequence=1 •  http://cms.mit.edu/research/theses/ IvanAskwith2007.pdf •  http://henryjenkins.org/2006/12/ how_transmedia_storytelling_be.html •  http://www.cultureby.com/trilogy/2005/12/ transmedia_bran.html