StoryWorld 2012 Story Hack Presentation

StoryHack: How StoryCode Is Revolutionizing The Cross-Platform Process

 Mike Knowlton  

murmurco.com / @murmurcostorycode.org / @storycodeorg

• Innovation hub for the intersection of story and technology

• Not-for-profit 501c3 structure• 1,000 story+tech immersive creators• Grew out of Transmedia NYC Meetup

STORYCODE GOALS

• Build a bridge between creators and technologists

• Foster a community that creates immersive media projects on their own

• Not just marketing extensions but original immersive/transmedia pieces

• Information sharing through case studies

STORYCODE PROGRAMS

• FORUMS @ FSLC (live event + stream)• IMMERSIONS - Education workshops• Story HACKS + Custom HACKS• IMMERSIVE DISPATCH + STORYCODE 10• Collaboration Database / Matchmaking• Conference Partnerships / Programming• Partnership with:

STORY + CODE = STORY HACK

STORY HACK

• 36-Hour event - April 28th/29th 2012• Held at Film Society Lincoln Center• Teams comprised of four roles: Designer/

Writer, Filmmaker, Developer, Producer/Project Manager

• Original concepts created for/at Story Hack• Demo days-style presentation event at the end• Some teams applied together, others we

matched

STORY HACK SIGNUP

• Received over 300 registrations from around the world

• Could only host 30 participants• Half applied as teams• Half applied as individuals• Important to be able to handle both

STORY + CODE = STORY HACK

• 1 cohesive narrative that spanned 3 or more media/tech platforms

• Execute one platform / paper model the other two• 36-Hours / Hack theme was “courage”• Integrate one of the technology sponsors in hack

STORY HACK WILDCARDS

• Incorporate a “Miles of Lace” dress from Brand Sponsor: Free People.

• Integrate the Emily Dickinson quote “Fortune befriends the bold.”

STORY HACK

STORY HACK

• Brian Clark - GMB Studios• Steve Coulson - Creative Director @ Campfire• Josh Shabtai - Vertigore Games• Mark Harris - The Lost Children / Pandemic /

Broadcastr

STORY HACK LOGISTICS

• Seven teams of four people• Participants ranged from indie creators to

digital agency/advertising folks• 36-Hours straight• Arranged for servers for development space• Developer outreach - mainly through

meetups and forums• WiFi and Wired connectivity throughout

event

STORY HACK DEMO

• Positioned as the “piece de resistance”• Each team had 15 minutes to present their

story hack• Live performance turned out to be very

important• Don’t “tell a story about a story” just tell the

story

STORY HACK JUDGES

• Warren Cohen - Executive Producer at VH1 • Blaine Graboyes - Executive Producer and

Game Designer (Member of PGA) • Jed Paulson - Director of Marketing at Free

People • Craig Singer - Director at Disney• Katherine Oliver - Commissioner of the New

York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

•

STORY HACK PRIZES

• Grand prize of $1000 (yes cash money) - awarded to team selected by judges to Team Cupcakes and Rainbows winner

• Twilio prize of Kindles for best use of Twilio was also awarded to Team Rodan

STORY HACK PRESS

STORY HACK QUOTES

• "I’ve written sample bibles and transmedia proposals before ... but I’ve never finished an actual project. So this Story Hack is my first chance to develop something cross-platform beyond the page and it’s already been really educational..." Randy Astle

• "...I knew StoryCode's hackathon was going to be not only special, but an important moment in the history of Transmedia as an art form." Carrie Cutforth-Young

STORY HACK DIY

• Not that difficult to produce one (space, connectivity, + people)

• Great for community building and excellent way to pull developers into your group

• Story Hacks will grow your membership and increase diversity

• Technology companies are looking for opportunities to get in front of storytellers

• Brands are looking to meet next-gen creators

STORY HACKS TAKING

• Transmedia SF - Transmedia Jam - July 20th/21st, 2012

• POV Hackathon - August 11th/12, 2012• The Film Experience Hackathon - October

13th/14th, 2012• Movie Hackathon (Film Independent and ZEFR)

- October 20th/ 21st, 2012 • Tribeca-Zeega Hackathon @ the MIT

OpenDocLab - November 3rd, 2012

STORY HACK ADVICE

• 24/7 - keeps people focused + more “hack-like”

• Hardwired ethernet connections a MUST• Potential sponsors include local companies,

tech companies (they have hack budgets), and adventurous brands

• Demos are key - prizes make the event feel like a true hackathon

• Mentors are vital • Let developers use their own environment

STORY HACK ADVICE P.S.

• Document everything as best you can• Hacks have short shelf-lives by nature• Have teams submit a demo video and/or

treatment for their hack• This will help preserve the hacks for posterity• Get investors in the audience

STORY HACK LINKS

• Full Summary in document format - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NNkL4IIdp6qEHVX6bm_64zYSSpk_07m22Z6CoOybVLo/edit

• Video of Demo Days event - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PleSSIXNf4k

ABOUT STORYCODE’S

Aina Abiodun - CEOAina is an award-winning independent film producer with credits across media platforms. A serial entrepreneur, she recently launched a cross-platform media venture, AINA MEDIA Inc.

Mike Knowlton - CTOMike is a Creative Technologist who founded social film studio Murmur. At Murmur, Mike creates original social films and consults with leading brands, studios and networks on using social films to extend existing properties.

CONTACT

mike@storycode.orgaina@storycode.org

www.storycode.org@storycodeorg