This document provides information about a class on transmedia storytelling and producing a web TV series. It discusses how entertainment is shifting to transmedia, using multiple mediums to tell a story, and how this allows larger fan bases and proof of concepts. The class teaches how to write a story bible, integrate interactivity, cultivate relationships, fund and produce a web series, negotiate equipment deals, and promote content online. The instructor will provide real examples and proven strategies to get started. A guest speaker will also answer questions. The teacher, Martin Shapiro, has experience in comics, screenwriting and developing transmedia projects.
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Class Description - Transmedia - Producing a Web TV Series
1. At a Glance
Expand your career from screenwriter to author-writer-director!
Learn how to produce a web TV series
Use transmedia strategies to leverage a studio movie deal for your project
A radical shift in the way we tell stories and the way we consume them is happening under our very
noses. As writers, we need to keep up with these rapid changes in technology in order to stay
employed, seize new opportunities to earn income and showcase our talents to the world.
The future of entertainment is transmedia, a process where you use more than one medium to tell
pieces of your overall story. Consumers are able to experience the story world and characters in
their favorite medium of choice, which typically includes graphic novels, audio books, web series,
mobile apps, video games, music, and social media platforms. This approach allows the producer to
build an exponentially larger fan base and can serve as a proof of concept prior to risking millions
of dollars to produce a traditional movie or network TV series.
The challenge for the writer is to make sure these transmedia experiences are not splintered and
disconnected. For example, is the graphic novel an integral part of the storyline in the movie or TV
series or is it just an afterthought add-on? And how does the audience move easily from the graphic
novel to the web TV series to the movie without being confused?
Your potential audience is all over the world and is now easily accessible via the Internet. People
are looking for depth and theyre looking to share that depth with each other. Shooting and sharing
a low budget web TV series is one of the best ways to introduce your story to the market, build
word-of-mouth buzz, and ultimately attract the attention of Hollywood producers. In this new
paradigm of storytelling, the author becomes the composer - the master of ceremonies who works
with others to bring an imaginative story world into first life and allows the community to actively
participate in that world via YouTube, Twitter, and other websites and mobile apps.
In this lively, comprehensive class, you will learn how to:
Write a Story Bible for your story world
Integrate interactive storytelling techniques into your scripts
Cultivate the network of relationships you need to accomplish your goals
Get corporate sponsors to pay for your web series production
Hire good SAG actors and a competent crew even if you have little or no money to pay
people up front
2. Negotiate the best deals on video, audio, and lighting equipment
Locate and secure great locations for free
Maximize production value
Stage the scene properly and get sufficient shot coverage to make editing easier
Create visual effects shots using inexpensive software
Upload and promote your videos on YouTube and become a YouTube partner
Generate over one million page views using viral seeding tactics
Avoid the common mistakes made by amateurs
Using real world case studies and proven strategies you can implement right away with your own
projects, the instructor will show you everything you need to know to get started on your transmedia
journey. In addition, a high level industry pro will be brought in as a guest speaker for the last 30
minutes of class to answer your questions.
Most of this insider information is NOT available in books or online.
Students should bring to class a brief synopsis of their movie or TV project.
Teacher Bio: Martin Shapiro
Martin Shapiro created the horror comic book series Chopper, and sold the movie rights to it. As
part of an ambitious transmedia launch, the prequel to Chopper was produced as a web TV series
starring Tyler Mane (Halloween, X-Men) and Andrew Bryniarski (Texas Chainsaw Massacre,
Batman Returns). Mr. Shapiros action-thriller screenplay Lair of the Fox was optioned by Ilya
Salkind (Producer of Superman). Mr. Shapiro has written and developed projects for MGM, HBO
and numerous production companies including an adaptation of Dragonlance, the New York Times
bestselling series of fantasy novels with sales of 22 million copies. He received a Masters Degree
in Screenwriting from UCLA.
Where: Writers University - www.writersstore.com
When: Saturday, October 27, 2012, 10:30 am 12:30 pm Pacific time
Price: $89