The following is subject to change. NEW MEDIA PRODUCING: “Building StoryWorlds: the art, craft and biz of storytelling in 21c” A course with Lance Weiler Official tumblr for the class – http://www.buildingstoryworlds.tumblr.com Assignments will be posted into a class tumblr. Students have the option to post using their name or anonymously. Posts will range from 250 to 500 words. RECOMMENDED EXPERIENCE TO DO AT SOME POINT DURING THE SEMESTER “Sleep No More” http://www.sleepnomore.com CLASS #1 - Welcome and Introductions Welcome to the course An overview of what we will do over the semester. Lecture A historical look at immersive storytelling and phenomenal work Guest conversation With Frank Rose (The Art of Immersion) and Brian Clark (experience designer and founder of GMD Studios) Assignment Device usage and media consumption review – instructions will be given in class CLASS #2 – Emerging trends and opportunities Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment Lecture by Weiler An overview of emerging trends, which are impacting film, TV, gaming & publishing Showcase A look at interesting immersive storytelling projects from around the world.

Assignment Pick two projects from the showcased work and write a short review of your experience. What worked, what did not and why? Consider how you would improve the experience. Each review should be between 250 and 500 words and please include a screen grab from your play. CLASS #3 – A look inside a top immersive storytelling shop

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

SPECIAL CLASS: Tour of Fake Love one of the top immersive design shops in NYC. http://www.fakelove.tv

We’ll sit down with the creative and production team at Fake Love to hear how they design, build and manage innovative storytelling projects.

Assignment TBD CLASS #4 - Scripting for Multiple Platforms & Immersive Experiences

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

Lecture by Weiler Scripting for a Pandemic - a look at the story design behind Pandemic 1.0

Conversation with Chuck Wendig (novelist, screenwriter, game writer), Andrea Phillips (transmedia writer, game designer and novelist) and Atley Loughridge (children’s author and transmedia writer)

Group work session

Story Sprint – group collaborative session

Assignment- Take an idea from the group session and expand upon it. Build a user narrative around it.

CLASS #5 – Project Meetings – develop and pitch a transmedia project

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

Overview of final pitches An RFP is provided to frame what is required for the final project pitches. The class splits up into groups.

Group work session Teams start to work on their transmedia pitches.

Assignment - Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.

CLASS #6 – Story and Code

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

Lecture by Weiler Finding a balance between storytelling and code

Conversation with Creative Technologists Mike Knowlton (Murmur Co, StoryCode), Mark Harris (Murmur Co, The Lost Children) and Heidi Hysell (DE DE) join for a conversation about using code creatively to build entertaining and emotionally charged experiences.

Group work session Experience testing – the class will experiment with an interaction that has been designed by our guests

Assignment - Write a post about a game from your childhood. What was it about the game that you enjoyed and why? 250 words or less and include an image of the game.

CLASS #7 - Experience Design & Creating Empathy with Technology

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

Lecture by Weiler Experience Design & Creating Empathy with Technology

Group design session @ campus MakerSpace – brainstorming session with technologists and makers

Assignment - Write a 250 to 500-word post that identifies an emerging trend and how to apply it to storytelling. Could be a new technology, service and / or cultural trend.

CLASS #8 – The Art of Play

Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment

Special Collaborative Session: An introduction to game design Nicholas Fortugno (Playmatics, Come Out & Play Festival) & Gregory Trefry (Gigantic Mechanic, Come Out & Play Festival)

Group work session Design, Paper Test and Prototype a game

Assignment - Play a game that was mentioned during class and write a short review about the experience. Produce a 250 words or more post with images.

CLASS #9 – Creative Producing – the changing roles of the producer Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment Round Table Discussion Pulling back the curtain on what it takes to produce an immersive experience Conversation with Caitlin Burns (Starlight Runner), Julia Pontecorvo (Radical Media) and Anna Serrano (CFC Media Lab) Group work session Teams work on their group pitches

Assignment - Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.

CLASS #10 – Disruptive Business Models in Entertainment Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment Lecture by Weiler An overview of emerging and traditional business models for entertainment properties. Conversation about disruptive business models with Brian Newman (Sub-Genre, Crowd Play). Group work session Teams work on their group pitches

Assignment - Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.

CLASS #11 – Data driven storytelling Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment Lecture by Weiler A look at how data can be used within storytelling. From creating narratives to measuring success data is playing an interesting role in 21st Century storytelling. Conversation with the Harmony Institute, NYTs R&D Lab and Google Creative Lab Group work session Teams work on their group pitches

Assignment - Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.

CLASS #12 – Breaking down the Pitch Open Share discussion around previous week’s assignment Special presentation on pitching Nick Braccia (creative director Campfire) will share his process for pitching. He’s successfully pitched studios, game publishers and major brands. Nick will spend time with each team to help them hone their pitches. Group work session Teams work on their group pitches

Assignment - Each team will determine assignments based on what they feel needs to be accomplished.

CLASS #13 – Final Pitches Final team preparation for pitching Teams pitch to a panel of high level industry experts. Final session a Q&A with our industry experts Stepping into a Disruptive World - what can one expect in a changing digital landscape? May 5th Make up Class if needed

Course Requirements

CLASS TUMBLR ALL STUDENTS are to participate in a tumblr blog. http://buildingstorytworlds.tumblr.com The tumblr will become a collection of interesting links, projects and technology that could be applied to storytelling. Each student is responsible to make posts as writing assignments. Posts should be 250 to 500 words and include photos, video or audio if needed.

TRANSMEDIA PITCHES The class will split into groups. Together the group will collaborate on a presentation deck that will be used within a presentation to a panel of experts and their fellow classmates. The pitches are to be no longer than 10 minutes in length. Each group has 10 minutes to present and this will be followed by a 10 minute open discussion that is intended to identify ways to strengthen the projects.

GRADES Grades will be Pass or Fail for Arts students and letter grades for those from other schools. Incompletes and CPs will not be given except under dire circumstances.

REQUIRED READING

"The Art of Immersion - how the digital generation is remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the way we tell stories"

Author FRANK ROSE

Publisher NORTON

"Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries"

Author PETER SIMS

Publisher SIMON & SCHUSTER

"The Ten Faces of Innovation"

Author THOMAS KELLY & JONATHAN LITTMAN

Publisher CROWN PUBLISHING GROUP

"Casual Game Design: Designing Play for the Gamer in ALL of Us"

Author GREGORY TREFRY

Publisher IGDA

"Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culutre"

Author HENRY JENKINS, SAM FORD, JOSHUA GREEN

Publisher POSTMILLENNIAL POP

"A Creator’s Guide to Transmedia Storytelling: How to Captivate and Engage Audiences across Multiple Platforms”

Author ANDREA PHILLIPS

Publisher McGraw-Hill