3. INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS TRANSMEDIA
S T O R Y T E L L I N G ?
Transmedia Storytelling is the technique of telling a story across different platforms.
Unlike the usual stories, where the same story is repeated in books, movies and
games, transmedia storytelling offers a whole new experience. For example, the first
part of the story is a book, the second part is available in a game and the third as a
movie. The Combination of different platforms turns the narrative into a wider, bolder
and more immersive experience, reaching and engaging a larger audience.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE UNDERSTAND THE
EXPERIENCE WE ARE TRYING
TO CREATE: NOT ONLY THE
EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT
BUT ALSO THE ENGAGEMENT
OF THE EXPERIENCE.2
4. TREATMENT
SYNOPSIS
70 years have passed since the great animal rebellion of 1943-1944. In this fictional world that came from the
result of the rebellion, animals and humans are now equal. They interact with each other on a daily basis and
in the year 2018, it is no longer considered strange because most people that are alive today have not known
any different. Animals now do everything that humans do, including work, drive and even involve themselves in
politics as did Napoleon.
As a member of Napoleons society you are given the brief history of how animals and humans came to live as
equals and everything that is different to how we used to live. You are given a news app that keeps you up to
date on all the latest events that are happening around you. The biggest news story to happen at the present time
is the upcoming election for prime minister. In the past animals and humans have run against each other, and
although this can cause for some speculation, nothing has changed in terms of animal-human equality. This year
the two most popular candidates for prime minister is a human and an animal. As a member of this society you
can read each candidates manifesto and cast your vote.
The animal candidate wins, and when doing so plans to make animals the superior species and put humans
down to less than equals.
Through the app you will help run the human rebellion to overrule the current primeminister and bring order back
to the world you live in. This will be done through a series of videos, online petitions and social media platforms to
gain followers and attention.
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5. INTRODUCTION
PLOT POINTSThe multiplatform project will play out as a sequence of events as the narrative elvolves over time. Users will want
to find/ solve/ obeserve:
Firstly, the users will have to download the app. The link to the app will be sent through email to all the students
and whoever wants to join will download the app and take it from there.
The first event that happens is that users must read the brief history of how animals and humans came to live as
equals. This could be told through an animated story video or they can just simply read it themselves to gain a
better understanding of the fictional world they are putting themselves in to.
A news broadcast video appears that updates the user on the upcoming election and the candidates that are run-
ning for prime minister. The user then clicks on a link that leads to the manifesto of each candidate followed by a
button for who they want to vote for. Whichever button the user clicks on takes them to a news page that shows
who won.
The animal candidate wins the election. And eventually reveals his plans to diminish all laws that make animals
and humans equal and put animals to the top of the social ladder. It is nowup to you to help stop this and get the
newest primeminister out of the government.
Users will be introduced to a number of activist characters who will give them certain tasks such as petitioning,
protesting and sharing the message about to get more people involved. Videos will be released everytime the
user completes a task updating them on how they are doing. if they are not succeeding in their tasks, then the
videos will show how humans are being downgraded and the newest laws the prime minister is introducing. How-
ever, the more they suceed the videos will show the progress to get the prime minister out.
Eventually, a conclusion will be made whether the user has suceeded or failed and the game will end.
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6. CHARACTERS
P E T ER G R EEN - H U M A N C A N D I DAT E
MALE - 50 - SHORT - GREY HAIR
This character will be shown briefly in the manifesto and video of the election results. He will also
be shown in the teaser trailer. Peter proposes to introduce more animal/human integrated schools
and disability rights for animals. However some of his other views are a bit more old fashioned
which is making people a bit hestitant to vote for him.
T O BY T R O T T E R - A N I M A L C A N D I D AT E
MALE - AGE UNKNOWN - PIG
This will be one of the main characters throughout the experience.He will first be introduced to
the user through his manifesto and most of the news broadcasts. He will be first known to the
user through the teaser trailer. Toby proposes to introduce a new pension scheme and funding for
retirement homes for both animals and humans. He seems to know what he is doing, and claims
to be a distant relative of Napoleon which may explain his later dictator side. Once Toby is made
prime minister he seems to have a brainwashing effect on the animals and plans to completely
change the world that his great great uncle helped to build.
S A M - P R O T E S T O R O N E
MALE - 23
Sam will be the first protestor introduced after the election. He will come in contact with the user
through Facebook Messenger. He asks the user to help support his petition and share it along
with friends. The user must get 10 signatures to succeed in his task.
A M Y - P R O T E S T O R T W O
FEMALE - 30
Amy will be the second protestor introduced after the election. She will come in contact with the
user through a video broadcast on the app. She warns the user what Toby is planning on doing
and to be prepared for the upcoming rebellion. She asks you to join her facebook event. The user
must click going and share the event.
D A V E - P R O T E S T O R T H R E E
MALE - 30
Dave sends around a newsletter that you would have signed up to through Sam’s petition. It in-
forms the user of how well or how badly to rebellion is going and what changes have been made.
Dave says he needs to hashtag #TROTTEROUT to be tweeted once by the user.
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9. WORLD
STORY PLATFORMS
APP
The app is the main storytelling platform for the user, it will hold all
the news articles and news report videos. It will be a simple layout
and easy for the user to navigate through.
FACEBOOK
Facebook will be used as a messaging platform between the user and
the protestors and also a platform for the user to share certain events and
other things that may be relevant to the story.
VIDEOS
Video platforms such a Youtube or Vimeo will be used to show
off the teaser trailer and other news report videos. I plan on
making these animated motion graphics.
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11. SCRIPTS
I will have to plan scripts for a number of points in the story including the introduction which will outline the history
of the fictional world the user is experiencing. The history will be brief but detailed enough that the user gets a
good understanding of what is going on.
There will be a number of news reports in my story as well so these will also require scripts. The news reports will
act as a narrative for what is happening in the story and to keep the user intrigued and in the loop.
Also the messages that the protestors send to the user will need a script. These messages will outline what the
prime minister is currently planning and how the protestor plans to stop it. It will be worded towards the user
directly unlike the news articles that will be targeting the whole fictional world.
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12. TARGET AUDIENCE
USER PROFILE
SARAH, 16
Sarah is currently studying for her GCSE’s at Coleraine Grammar School. One
of her favourite subjects is English Literature, they are studying a number of
books including Animal Farm which is her favourite because she also has a keen
interest in History and hopes to study English with History at University. She
enjos reading and makes sure she always reads the news using the BBC News
App. She keeps up to date on her studying so has a lot of free time to spend with
friends and on her other hobbies such as swimming.
ORAN, 16
Oran is also studying for his GCSE’s at Coleraine Grammar School. He is also
studying English Literature and reading Animal Farm. Oran has more of an
interest in politics than Sarah and hopes to study this at University. He keeps up
to date on all the latest government news and disagrees with most of Northern
Irish Politics and shares these views regularly on Facebook.
DEMOGRAPHICS
The target audience for this transmedia narrative is GCSE English Literature
students who are reading or are familiar with the George Orwell book ‘Animal
Farm’. It would also help if the students had an interest in English, History or
Politics. The platforms being used is a mobile phone app, email and facebook
so it would help if the students had a smart phone, facebook account and email
address.
The narrative will be kept local to narrow down the audeince so we will be
targeting schools around the coleraine/portstewart area.
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13. DEVELOPMENT
IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS
PROJECT WORK I WILL
NEED A DEVELOPMENT
TEAM THAT WORK WELL
TOGETHER WITH THEIR
DIFFERENT SKILLS AND
ABILITIES.
CODER
The coder will be in charge of developing the main app and any other secondary
websites we might need.
ILLUSTRATOR
The illustrator will draw up any images of the characters we will need for the news
reports, manifestos and any other images to be used in the app.
ANIMATOR
The animator will put together any illustrations into a video to be used as a news
report.
WRITER
The writer will write up all the news reports and manifestos and any other scripts
needed.
SPEAKER
The speaker will be used for all the news reports and act as the voice for the news
anchor.
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