THE ARTOF IMMERSIONNew Media Producing Building Storyworlds: the art, craft & biz of storytelling in 21cClass 1 9.12.12

Columbia University - Fall 2012Taught by Lance Weiler Visit www.buildingstoryworlds.comReleased under a Non-Commercial ShareAlike Creative Commons License

We’re in the “silent era” of immersive storytelling. The grammar for how we tell stories in the 21st Century is just starting to be written.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

The current infrastructure is fragmented. The technology that connects us is based on user needs. But story will drive the next gen of mobile and social applications.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

STORY PLAY

SOCIAL

Immersive storytelling is a shift from unidirectional mass media to omnidirectional engagement.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Above diagram “Elements of Pandemic 1.0 Sundance 2011 release.” Take away: The experience could have worked with half the elements effectively. Designing With simplicity is challenging – it’s easy to design three buttons but much harderTo design one that intuitively comprises three.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Early transmedia works have been rooted in marketing and promotion.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Sundance has formed a new lab focused on immersive storytelling called the New Frontier Storytellers Lab.

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

the beast

I love bees

perplex city

world without oil

hope is missing

Early notable projects…

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Additional project info www.tegenlicht.vpro.nl/dossiers/energy-risk.html

COLLAPSUS – an energy conspiracyExperience Design: SUBMARINE CHANNEL – AMSTERDAMwww.submarinechannel.com

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

OVER 40 people working

6 Plus Month schedule

Narrative filmmaking

Animation

Interactive site

Casual games

Released with VPROEnergy Transition TV docin Netherlands

Nominated for an International Emmy

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

“When working for microsoft R&D I became more interested in interactivity between the player/viewer and the space between the screen instead of on the screen. A simple way to describe it is with traditional literature. I am interested in the relation between text and the person reading, the space in between.”

TOMMY PALLOTTA – DIRECTOR

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

JeJune - in 3 episodesExperience Design by NONCHALANCE – SAN FRANCISCO

www.nonchalance.orgwww.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

URBAN GAMING& STREET ART

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Nonchalant Radio Transcription the battle against JeJune

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Nonchalant Radio Transcription - Fold 1

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

“But you can see, with each subsequent episode we’ve produced, the story has become primary. Just the way that storytelling techniques in film had to evolve, such is it with this emerging medium. And yes, we beta-test each experience extensively with volunteers before we launch it publicly. We learn a lot about the way that people synthesize information through these tests.”

JEFF HULL - JeJune EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Sleep No More – NYC Experience by Punchdrunk – LONDON

www.sleepnomorenyc.com

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Over 100 rooms 5 stories 6 Months to build + 200 volunteersBoston run had over 30,000 people attend

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

“Punchdrunk’s core belief is that the audience is the center of the action. In most theaters, you switch off your body and it’s just your brain watching. With Punchdrunk we flip this notion. We bring the body back to life. The audience can’t be passive. They have to go out there and find the action for themselves.”

FELIX BARRETT - SLEEP NO MORE CO-DIRECTOR

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

The Wilderness Downtown

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

BEAR 71

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

NFB interactive

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

arte

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

STORY R&DResearch & Development

Fail fast and learn from it. There is value in treating story like software in the sense you can release versions and have participants test and feedback. Over the course of the semester we will design, build and run a beta test of an immersive storytelling experience.

SUGGESTED READING: “Little Bets” by Peter Sims“The Art of Immersion” by Frank Rose – (see next page)

www.buildingstoryworlds.com @lanceweiler

Make sure to checkout the @frankrose book “The Art of Immersion.”

THANK YOU Contact: @lanceweiler www.lanceweiler.com