The Cross-Media Story Franchise Incubator
Audience Building for Risk MitigationA Graduate of Georgia Tech’s Flashpoint start-up accelerator, Gramarye employs
cross-disciplinary expert mentors and a proprietary technology/social media platform to discover, incubate, and vet the next great story franchises.
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CREATE HIGH-VALUE, MULTI-CHANNEL FRANCHISES
Select unreleased stories with the
fundamental structure requirements for
franchise success
Add value to the story at every stage of the incubation process to
develop franchise potential
Invest in and build the single most critical element needed for franchise success:
A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE
BIGTHE BUSINESS OF STORY IS
ANNUALLY MORE THAN $1,000,000,000,000
COUNTING MOVIES, BOOKS, TV, GAMES, THEME PARKS, ETC
RISKYTHE BUSINESS OF STORY IS
THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS SAFER, BUT…
STUDIOS MITIGATE RISK WITH SEQUELS AND REMAKES
“PLAYED OUT”Without exception, the executives
we talked to agreed with J.P. Morgan financial analyst Vasily Karasyov:
“The cycle of sequels and remakes has played out," and
"presents a growing risk to film industry profitability.”
ORIGINAL STORIES?SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
STUDIOS DEMAND A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE
KNOWN BRANDS ARE PERCEIVED AS LESS RISKY. THAT’S WHY WE SEE SO MANY: • SEQUELS AND REMAKES • MEDIA BASED ON A BOOK, GAME, OR COMIC
THE ANSWER: THE STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR
Studios have become “hunters and gatherers,” seeking established franchise IPs.
Gramarye shifts the paradigm to an “agricultural” model, farming stories with blockbuster DNA.
Predictive, reliable, and unbiased analytics in entertainment media don’t exist today
Sales figures for books and comics are undependable. These figures indicate store purchases, not consumer purchases
Core elements of a story that inspire audience passion and loyalty are often lost in translation when adapted across media channels
A vision for a cross-media franchise is often missing in the early stages of story development
WITH BUDGETS SOARING AND COMPETITION FOR SCREENS GETTING MORE FIERCE, RISK MITIGATION IS CRITICAL.
NEED BETTER DATA UNCLEAR AUDIENCE BASE ADAPTATION CHALLENGES NO PLAN FOR SUCCESS
OPPORTUNITYDiscover unestablished stories
with franchise potential
Nurture and develop the asset into a known brand
Build an engaged audience
Control cross-media development rights
The Incubation ProcessDeveloping Stories as Businesses
A CROSS-MEDIA STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR
Gramarye Media employs cross-disciplinary, industry-leading expert mentors and a proprietary technology platform to systematically incubate diversified slates of unpublished manuscripts … at a fraction of
the cost of just one tentpole film.
Select stories that have the fundamental structure requirements to achieve franchise success
Add value to the story at every stage of the incubation process to develop franchise potential
Invest in and build the single most critical element needed for franchise success: A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE
A MODEL FOR IDENTIFYING AND MAXIMIZING
Building blockbuster
franchises is analogous
to developing
world-class athletes.
We treat potential blockbuster story franchises the same way.
A MODEL FOR IDENTIFYING AND MAXIMIZING
“RAW MATERIALS” CONTROLLABLE FACTORS: TRAINING CONTROLLABLE FACTORS: SPECIAL ATTENTION
Athlete • Raw Talent • Character • IQ • Genetics • Resilience • Coachability
• Skills development • Practice • Strength training • Agility training • Endurance training • Year round focus on a single sport
• Coaching • Schools • Club sports • Specific skill development • Competition • Nutrition
Story Creator
• Talent • Creativity • IQ • Life Experiences • Coach-ability
Storytelling skills development • Characters • Structure • Tone
Audience identification, understanding & development • Researching skills • Proper use of Social media Blogging
Attention to detail. Continuous improvement and editing • Collaborative orientation • Acceptance of feedback Resilience • Encouragement • Humility
Coaching and mentoring by experienced professionals
Input from: • Rock star editors • Multi media Marketing experts • Successful authors • Marketing Professionals • Producer
Networking
Platform development expertise
Funding and investment in the asset
Potential pro athletes increase the odds of success by participating in “travel ball” leagues and attending elite training academies … before they even reach high school.
• Health behavior • Psychology development • Confidence • Financial resources
• World Building • Genre
EXAMPLE: PRO BASEBALL
A MODEL FOR IDENTIFYING AND MAXIMIZING
Odds of Success < 1%
Play in high school
Avg high school team coach (that’s probably also a geology teacher)
Best may make minors or play in college.
Play in Major League Increased Odds of Success
Training academy identifiespotential elite athletes sooner
Dedicated strength coach, agility coach, skills coach, etc.
More attractive to scouts and major league
Play in Major League
“NEW WORLD”
Gramarye Media is unique in systematically employing incubation methods to identify elite intellectual properties and working with story creators early in the lifecycle to influence controllable factors. The process ultimately increases the odds of success and add significant value to the IP asset.
Today, talent is a commodity. Systematic efforts using controllable factors are employed to improve the chances of success.
“OLD WORLD”Historically, athletes developed through high school athletics programs,
the best advancing through college to professional careers
EXAMPLE: PRO BASEBALL
UniteSDISCOVER…cross-disciplinary communities of storytellers, producers, artists, technologists, and investors … because there will always be a need
for the core, generational stories that unite us.
WHAT DOES A STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR DO?
DISCOVERSDISCOVER…diversified slates of stories in their infancy because
every media franchise begins with the written word.
WHAT DOES A STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR DO?
INCUBATESDISCOVER…potential story franchises … just like a business or technology incubator launches companies. It’s the Silicon Valley approach applied to storytelling.
WHAT DOES A STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR DO?
VETSDISCOVER…every story through direct interactions with the audience.
Because passionate fan bases = brand awareness = success.
WHAT DOES A STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR DO?
MAXIMIZESDISCOVER…the ones that have traction by adding the one key
element studios demand: a built-in audience.
WHAT DOES A STORY FRANCHISE INCUBATOR DO?
DEPLOY STORIES AS ENHANCED “PILOTS”
Utilize a proprietary Digital Platform to publish each story in our slates as stand-alone “eBook 2.0” apps for tablets and smartphones
Rich multimedia interactivity enhances the story and engages audiences Sold through the Amazon, Google Play, and Amazon App stores
Brand Awareness spreads via a proprietary social media platform
GRAMARYE TECHNOLOGY: WELCOME TO EBOOK 2.0Combine text, video, music, games, interactive maps, character bios, special effects, social media, and more surprises to make a beautiful and engaging reading experience
Pull the user into a story with integrated Augmented Reality and explorable 3D story/community spaces
Expand storytelling and expression
Let us learn from the reader and adapt the experience in real time
Stretch the capabilities of a tablet or smart phone to create an entirely new kind of story experience
The best tests are primary and involve direct observation
Mine audience preference data across socioeconomic and geographic sectors
Interactions are custom tailored to gain specific insights
Direct observation of reactions to the actual story – not a comp
GATHER ANALYTICS THROUGH OBSERVATION
Reduce bias and unreliability of traditional analytics
CLICK TO VIEW DEMO
Market-proven Proprietary Social Media Platform
Gramarye apps inspire, empower, and incent users to share
We track viral spread of brand awareness
Social opportunities are built directly into the application experience
Thriving fan communities develop and prove audience size and passion
A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE
Audience Aggregation Establishes Franchise Value
CLICK TO VIEW DEMO
PICKING THE WINNERSSuccess is measured by audience response:
Unit Sales Social Shares Community Data MiningFrequency, Share Types,
Tags, Relationship DynamicsDepth, Frequency of
Participation and Aggregation
User Choices, Insights Gained, Clarity of Viability
Direct Sales, Referral Sales, App and Story Reviews
4: MAXIMIZE1: DISCOVER 2: INCUBATE
IP Potential • Review by “A List” industry experts • 44-point checklist
to evaluate franchise viability • Requires identifiable, measurable
audience that congregates
• $50k plus additional value offered to engage author and secure rights
• Author Advance ($25k) • IP Option fee ($25k) • Long term financial focus • Forward collaboration • Author actively engaged
• Unique approach in the industry • Attractive opportunity to authors
Author Potential • Raw talent • Coachable • Entrepreneurial • Collaborative
• Development notes from Senior Editor • Polish details with mentors/coaches • Develop cross-media treatment(s)
• Blogging and Social Media • Identify and interact with audience • Establish author/IP brand identity • Capitalize on Facebook, Twitter, etc. • Build fan base and Seed advocacy • Active dialog with customer • Media training • Event planning and training
• Collaboration Coaching • Work with mentor and/or screenwriter • Work with Artists/Designers on Character
Designs, World Designs, Map, Video Sequence Design, Game Design, etc.
• Build Asset Experience utilizing interactive application
• Book App • Social Media Platform • Games • Video segments • Music, Sound Effects • Internal forums/community
• App Launch and Marketing Push • Marketing spend ($100k to $250k) • Apps sold in Google Play, Apple, and
Amazon markets for around $14.95 • Expected Revenue Net >$500k per title
• Community/viral brand awareness tracked
• Audience Preference data mined • Audience validated
• Franchise “Business Plan” • Product lifecycle • Comprehensive media opportunity • Preparation of Product for Development • Resource Plan • Talent Attachments • Audience development plan • Feedback processing and incorporation • Marketing to agents and managers • Ready to Greenlight on Day 1
• Cross-channel Revenue Generation • Films • Television • Animation • Games • Location-based
Each channel supports and promotes the others Each channel generates revenue. Investors own a piece of every exploitation through every channel in perpetuity.
EVALUATE IP / AUTHOR
OFFER / ACQUIRE RIGHTS
MATURE THE ASSET
PUBLICITY MENTORSHIP
PREPARE FOR ADAPTATION
3: DEPLOY
BUILD APPLICATION
LAUNCH / MINE DATA& GENERATE REVENUE
CROSS-MEDIA FRANCHISE PLAN
PARTNER TO DEVELOP
THE GRAMARYE INCUBATION PROCESS FLOWStarting early in the life cycle and working with a cross-disciplinary team to develop world class story franchises.
REVENUE GENERATIONApp Sales and Cross-Media Development
EARN REVENUE?
CAN AN INCUBATION METHODOLOGY
At least 40% Break Even
PROJECTED APP SALES PER SLATE
At least 20% Return a Profit
We researched traditional publishing, games, and film/television returns.
Of those, 10% are ones we can develop into media franchises
PROJECTED APP SALES:
Units Sold 200,000
Unit Price $14.95
Gross Revenue $2,990,000
Costs of Goods/Sale $2,290,000*
Gross Revenue $700,000
ONE TITLE (LOW END)
*Includes cost of production and marketing, and liability to author and sales channel (Amazon, Apple App Store, Google Play, etc.)
PROJECTED APP SALES:
Units Sold 500,000
Unit Price $14.95
Gross Revenue $7,475,000
Costs of Goods/Sale $4,363,750*
Gross Revenue $3,111,250
ONE TITLE (MEDIAN)
*Includes cost of production and marketing, and liability to author and sales channel (Amazon, Apple App Store, Google Play, etc.)
WE PARTNER TO DEVELOP HITS ASFRANCHISES
FILM
VIRTUAL REALITY
TOYS & MERCH
GAMES LOCATION BASED
TELEVISION
Cross-media franchises are worth $billions
Each channel supports and promotes the others
Each channel generates revenue
Investors participate in every exploitation across all channels in perpetuity
IP LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT
GRAMARYE BOOK
MEDIA CHANNEL 3
MEDIA CHANNEL 2
MEDIA CHANNEL 3
SUPPORTS & RENEWS PREVIOUS CHANNEL
SUPPORTS & RENEWS PREVIOUS CHANNEL
The Gramarye Media process establishes an intellectual property’s cross-media franchise potential and then extends and enhances its monetization lifecycle.
EXTENDING ASSET LIFECYCLE, INCREASING VALUE
Expanding Beyond Entertainment to Address Critical Community IssuesFUTURE VISION: EDUCATION
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Center for Education Statistics, learning to read by the end of third grade is crucial. That’s when children start reading to learn other subjects.
Those who are proficient in reading by the end of third grade are much more likely to graduate from high school, and to be economically successful as adults.
About two-thirds of students in fourth grade don’t meet
reading proficiency standards.
IMPACTING EDUCATION CHALLENGES
FUTURE VISION
Our research identified 15 reasons why kids stop reading before the fourth grade.
While more research is required, we believe that our “eBook 2.0” technology can address them all.
In addition, content created for education can be developed as cross-media franchises.
IMPACTING EDUCATION CHALLENGES
FUTURE VISION
Next StepsInitial Investment and Development Phases
GRAMARYE MEDIA LAUNCH TIMELINE
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4
GRAMARYE INVESTMENT, PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOY APPS 1 & 2
ONGOING MARKETING, ANALYTICS
CROSS-MEDIA EXPLOITATION
PHASE 1 — DIRECT GRAMARYE COMPANY/TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT
GRAMARYE MEDIA LAUNCH TIMELINE
GRAMARYE INVESTMENT, PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOY APPS 1 & 2
BEGIN RAISE FOR SLATE 1, DISCOVER & AQUIRE 10 TITLES
INCUBATE SLATE 1, STAGGERED DEVELOPMENT OF EACH STORY CREATIVE & APPS, DEPLOY
ONGOING MARKETING, ANALYTICS
CROSS-MEDIA EXPLOITATION
BEGIN RAISE FOR SLATE 2, DISCOVER & AQUIRE 10 TITLES
INCUBATE SLATE 2, STAGGERED DEVELOPMENT OF EACH STORY CREATIVE & APPS, DEPLOY
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY INVESTIGATED
ONGOING MARKETING, ANALYTICS
CROSS-MEDIA EXPLOITATION
ONGOING MARKETING, ANALYTICS
CROSS-MEDIA EXPLOITATION
PHASE 2 — SUBSEQUENT CONTENT SLATE INVESTMENTS
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4
Gramarye Media TeamLeadership and Incubation Mentors
GRAMARYE MEDIA LEADERSHIP TEAM: INNOVATION
John Adcox, Chief Executive Officer
• 20+ years in Digital and Integrated Media Creative Direction, Strategy, and UX with VP and C-level titles
• Novels coming from “Big 5” Publisher
• Award-winning optioned television and screenwriter
Irtaza Barlas, Chief Technology Officer
• Former Lead investigator of DARPA Self Awareness Program (The world’s preeminent center for Artificial Intelligence)
• Inventor and Engineer with numerous patents on his work
• Georgia Tech PhD
Don Dudenhoeffer, Chief Creative Officer
• Award-winning Creative Director and Technologist
• Winner of the first-ever Primetime Emmy Award for Interactive Television(HBO’s Band of Brothers)
• Serial Entrepreneur
Previous: Studio lead, COO, and CFO
Managed project financing for motion pictures ranging in budget from $2 million to $100 million, totaling one half a billion dollars, including some of the largest independently financed pictures including Terminator 2 and Cliffhanger
Alice Neuhauser, President John Wroblewski, CFO
Film Fund Manager
VP, Development at FuelD Films, a Forbes Fastest Growing Company
VP Production
Co-founder, first Chinese/US Joint Film Fund
Jeffrey Johnson, COO
Experienced investment banker & business analyst
Managed >100 public & private funding projects requiring FINRA and/or SEC compliance
Worked with many start-ups in nascent industries, developing business plans, training, and mentoring
Entrepreneur-In-Residence Georgia Tech
Industry Fellow of Georgia Research Alliance
Over the past five years, led five major technology and operational initiatives, and has served as President & CEO of four ventures creating several billion dollars of value
Suresh Sharma, Board
GRAMARYE MEDIA LEADERSHIP TEAM: BUSINESS
SENIOR EDITING/ACQUISITIONS TEAMChristopher Golden, Consulting Editor
• NYT Best-selling Author • Editor • Executive Producer and Screenwriter • Comic Book and Game Writer
Juliet Ulman, Editor in Chief
• Editor in Chief, Pugilist Press • Senior Editor, Random House • Shortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best
Professional Editor three times
OTHER INCUBATION MENTORSPeter Miller
Literary and Screen Agent, Executive Producer
Chris Soth
Screenwriter (Firestorm) Author, Filmmaker, Screenwriting Consultant, WGAw MFA from USC
Lou Aronica
Founded Spectra at Bantam Books Publisher at Berkley & Avon Founded The Story Plant Award-winning Author/Editor
James A. Moore
NYT Best-selling Author, Game Writer, and Comic Book Writer
Candice Alger
Founder/CEO, Giant Studios Executive Producer of Motion Capture Effects on Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, and more
Paul Jenkins
Novelist, award-winning comic writer, editor, screenwriter, television writer, game writer, and educator
means magic or secret knowledge. Gramarye (Gram-uh-ree)
It is the root word for glamour, grammar, and the French word grimoire, which means a book of magic spells.
404.759.6069John Adcox
For more information, contact:
Don Dudenhoeffer