Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
POLL: How would you like your online story?
Would really appreciate your help on this. As I mentioned in this blog post, I am writing an online narrative for the Slung Low Theatre Company’s new vampiric theatre spectacular, ‘They Only Come at Night: Resurrection’ at the Lowry in Salford. (click the lovely spooky picture below to watch the kick-ass trailer and find out more)
My brief is to not only provide a good build up to the show in September but also provide a fun story for those who can’t make it or who aren’t even in the same country. Something for everyone!
And, as it is intended for everyone, I wanted you to have your say. My current idea is to run the narrative intensively (and interactively) over one week with two or more brief updates a day (as well as the fictional characters responding and interacting with the audience). This way the audience can drop by when they like and the narrative does not become drawn out. There are also puzzles to solve and the chance to win tickets to the show as well as copies of the fantastic spin-off graphic novel that proves integral to the plot of the play.
But, plagued by my usual neuroses, I’d like your opinion on my plan. So please vote below and leave any comments on my ideas for the format. And thank you in advance!
Loading ...Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
Online Audiences
This will probably be a recurring topic as it’s something I’m greatly interested in. While ‘The End is Nigel’ has had a great deal of online traffic, it’s fair to say that I could probably trace at least 70% of the audience finding the site back to either being friends, friends of friends, on facebook, message boards, twitter etc where I have mentioned the project or through other direct contact. (and a big hello to you all, you lovely people!)
This interview with ‘Lost’ exec producer/showrunner Damon Lindelof got me thinking about the nature of viral marketing as he looks at what happened with Watchmen and and prepares for the launch of the new Star Trek movie (to which was recently announced he will be co-scripting the sequel to).
Lindelof raises an interesting point – one that cuts the heart of most cult-mainstream hybrid offerings, especially his own. Traditionally the whole idea of advertising has been to make potential buyers aware of a product in a positive light. But as Lindelof points out, “”The people who are most into the movie or going to be playing these games, are already buying tickets.”
When it comes to viral marketing, are you only succeptible if you’re already interested in the product? Was the The success of the ‘The Dark Knight’ and its I believe in Harvey Dent campaign only so huge because the film itself was always set to break box office records?
In the case of Watchmen and its online marketing at The New Frontiersman, I actually found myself enjoying the texture of the online world more than I did the finished film (which I didn’t actually dislike btw - I just felt it lacked all of the brilliant little moments that made you care about the big bits). But the excellent campaign added all the texture and world but I wondered if it would make more sense if audiences had only already read the book or would have seen the film first, then looked at all the online material available.
So I’d love to know which marketing campaigns have completely snared you, especially ones where you knew little to nothing about the film/project beforehand. Please vote in the poll and leave any specific answers in the comments box below:
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