For Online Storytelling, What Is “Participation,” Anyways?
I sat in on the “Adapting Existing Properties for Digital” panel at NATPE’s LA TV Fest this morning, and one of the key themes of discussion is what exactly is the evolving nature of participation in online storytelling.
The general consensus among panelists was that a participatory story was less about letting users play with the actual content in a choose-your-own-adventure style, and more about letting people participate through communication. As Sarah Szalavitz, founder and CEO of 7Robot, said, “It’s not about choose your own adventure, it’s about saying your adventure is stupid.”
Speakers on the panel were: Szalavitz, founder and CEO, 7Robot; Jamie Elden, VP, Digital & Branded Entertainment, Alloy Media + Marketing; Curt Marvis, president, Digital Media, Lionsgate; Jeff Katz, chairman and CEO, American Original; and Chris M. Williams, general manager, T180 Studios, The Walt Disney Co.
The more effective participatory path is to build an active community. “Engage audiences through comments,” said Elden, “Get them involved with watching the content and how it affects them in their own real lives.”
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Hear, hear! And I humbly submit to you another fine example of online participation:
http://furyofsolace.com/?p=216
Fury of Solace
Doing evil so you don’t have to
Somewhere in Los Angeles
In terms of consumer participation through communication, that’s interesting to notice that an online storytelling tends to work best only when the content is of high interest to users. 2 viral case studies spread globally in a matter of seconds on: http://www.digitallunch.blogspot.com