The matrix and Transmedia Storytelling.
OK, this chapter i read on Jenkin's book on convergence uses "The Matrix" Series as an example of one product spread across many different media. Not only is "The Matrix" a film trilogy, It has Computer Games, Websites, Graphic Novels and short Animated films on DVD. The story does not just replicate itself thru these mediums, rather the entire story was told thru these mediums. I myself had experienced the "matrix experience" being a sci-fi nerd 7 years ago, I chased this series for a look at alternate reality. After the first movie blew my mind, I went on the internet to read up on it. and to my amazement, there were tons on information on the web that is linked to the film! and also by watching "The Animatrix" I Understood the back story of the matrix rather than what disinterested people call "mad trip".
One of the points Jenkins hi-lighted is that "In the deal form of transmedia storytelling, each medium does what it does best .....Each Franchise entry needs to be self-contained so you don't need to have seen the film to enjoy the game and vice versa."
That is not completely true in "The Matrix" as i had experienced.
other than with your own assumptions, you can't really understand the plot or link the 3 fims just by watching the films. neither can you fully understand the Animated shorts if you had not watched the film.
what i believe is that the best flow of understand the entire picture is in this order,
Sequel 1 "the matrix" - Online materials - The animatrix - enter the matrix game - Sequel 2 "matrix reloaded" - online graphic novels - Sequel 3 "matrix revolutions" - Online materials - "the matrix" online game.
That IS the entire story line. (spoken like a true matrix geek)
Economically, I think this is a huge move.
matrix has obviously attained cult status, it started the whole "alternate reality" craze and popularized awesome shooting and editing techniques like bullet time and 180 deg freeze pan thingy.
And having a cult status, people are obviously hungry for information on the story. and by leaving out bits and pieces in the film's plot, they got people buying stuff from them just to satisfy their hunger. The Production team got the world of nerds eating off their hands!
Imagine if the matrix were to be made not 10 years ago, but now. With media convergence and new media growing rapidly, this movie will be a blast!
Imagine receiving live updates from zion on your phone while you are watching the film. and you can get the experience of fully immersing into the storyline.
Just look at AVATAR the movie. They had the online community going NUTS just days after the release! Online forums were teeming with nerds wanting a world just like pandora. You get people doing Roleplaying and creating new stories of avatar related plots on fan sites! There are people who are living a second life on the internet thru their computers and now their phones. they can be 24/7 connected to their alternate lives thru all these mediums.
Media companies have the power to create lives for people. to put meaning into them.
All they have to do is to design a way to incorporate all forms of communication into a story, constant updates thru mobile devices, live streaming true multi mediums and a platform that is interactive and allows the audience to not just watch a story, but to be living the story.
Thats the power of convergence.
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