OTT & Transmedia

I like your score, Monobjo Valerio Silvestri. It definitely has a Shining and Hereditary feeling. I haven't worked on any transmedia projects yet, but I use symbolism in my scripts. I use objects, locations, colors, and more to symbolize things about the stories and characters.

Thank you so much, Maurice!

I really appreciate that. I’m always trying to let the score carry symbolic weight, almost like a hidden voice in the story.

It’s great that you consciously use symbolism in your scripts. Objects, locations, and colors are so powerful, they speak to the unconscious layer of the viewer.

If you ever want to chat about how music and symbols can echo each other across story layers, I’d love to connect.

You're welcome, Monobjo Valerio Silvestri. Ok, sounds great. And I've been thinking about using sound and music in my scripts more to enhance the stories, especially Horror and Thriller scripts.

Can't really train AI to be a former druggie and schizo person raised in the ghetto, so I think my voice is still standalone!

As for its impact on others, I agree with you. Our experience still helps us dramatically separate from AI, which is what I was hinting at with the less-serious opener.

AI is just so new there aren't regulations and rules we've seen that need to be clearly implemented. I'm an accountant and somebody asked me to take an accounting test on the spot at an interview, so I used AI for what I didn't know. It scored so high that the company said I was overqualified and didn't want to hire me anymore because they couldn't afford me, but the job was well above my pay grade. Completely insane.

So, I think situations like that which clearly aren't ok should lead to serious regulations. I mean think about it, social media started as a place for crazy kids to share their weekend experiences and say what they want...years later it's being monitored with fact checkers and if you say something political, they kick you off depending on which side you're on. World changing ideas always get regulated by "The Man" in some way.

So, I'm a little nervous like everyone else, ESPECIALLY at work, but I agree with you. People are unique, not computers. We will continue to be, and this will just end up being some easy assistance if you use it right and ethically one day.

But give it 3-5 years, especially when the stock explodes, and I bet we'll see something similar with regards to social media and the regulations that came. Maybe there will be people who monitor it and tell the bot not to answer this, don't give this kid that answer on his test, etc. That is logically what will come next.

I just feel bad for graphic designers because the thing is better, and it works in two seconds.

I love the comparison to Impressionism at the dawn of photography. That's such a powerful reminder that true creativity often thrives in response to disruption. Great insight and much-needed perspective on how we can evolve with AI instead of panicking every chance we get!

Glad to hear the SAG-AFTRA and major video game companies reached a tentative agreement, Ashley Renee Smith! And I'm glad the deal put the necessary A.I. guardrails in place that'll defend performers’ livelihoods! I'm looking forward to hearing what the guardrails are.

Maurice Vaughan yes, they all had an interesting character arc. I think the writing process must have been pretty intense and demanding. The Duffer Brothers have done excellently, to maintain the quality of the show.

You're right, Geoff Hall. I think the Duffer Brothers could do a prequel series if they want to. Or a sequel series with new characters and elements.

I love this series so much, and while I can't wait for the final season, I'm also already sad to let it go.

My favorite character is Dustin, and my favorite episodes are The Massacre at Hawkins Lab, The Battle of Starcourt, and The Piggyback.

Ashley Renee Smith good choices, Ashley. There are so many good episodes to choose from. They have maintained a very high quality with the scripts and I think this may be due to the influence of Shawn Levy. It’s good to have an Exec behind you, who wants you to reach for your best.

Maurice Vaughan that would be interesting, Maurice, but I wonder if the Duffer Brothers would want to move on to something new.

Glass Onion is my favorite Knives Out movie, Geoff Hall. I'm even more excited for Wake Up Dead Man after watching the trailer! Having seen the first two movies, I'm sure Wake Up Dead Man is going to be an incredible Mystery Thriller! What's your favorite Knives Out movie?

Maurice Vaughan Hi Maurice, I love Glass Onion too. I love the whole set up on the island, but this one looks like it may take its place. I also love Craig’s Benoit Blanc. I wonder if Wake Up Dead Man is going to have a short theatrical release?

I'm not sure, but a theatrical release would be great, Geoff Hall!

I watched the full gameplay for both Last of Us games, and I watched The Last of Us Season 1, Ashley Renee Smith. I'm looking forward to seeing Season 2!

I think The Last of Us qualifies as a true transmedia project. It's telling the same story in different mediums. I like when a company adds new things to the different mediums so it's not just copy and paste!

I would expand a story across platforms while maintaining emotional continuity by making a movie, show, etc. about each major character/their situations or the major events of the story.

Generally, IMO, there is no difference. Transmedia as a term, in most cases, really doesn't describe a thing separate from adaptation. It is, after all, adaptation by definition. For me, the only meaningful use of transmedia as a label would refer to a situation where the SAME audience actually follows into the other media. With few exceptions, that doesn't happen any more than it did before the term was a thing. For example, I did a show Vampire PI and a graphic novel adaptation - while the two supported the brand, the natural audiences did not cross over. Because graphic novel audience and movie audience are different in many ways.

I think this is my first time hearing about The Sandman, Geoff Hall. I just added it to my watch list.

Maurice Vaughan ah, cool Maurice. It’s a Neil Gaiman story and it’s pretty darn wonderful!

I’ve been waiting for this too! So excited to see The Sandman return! Season one really captured the tone and visual language of the comics in such a unique way. For me, Death was an absolute standout: such warmth, presence, and subtle power in every scene. But honestly, the entire cast brought something special. Curious to see how they build on that momentum in season two!

Ashley Renee Smith me too, Ashley. I can’t wait to see how they round-off the series. Maybe that’s the reason for its success; that it has captured the original tone and visual language. Producers adapting comic stories, please take note!

Leonardo Ramirez great post, Leonardo.

I'm looking forward to seeing The Eternaut, Geoff Hall. I'm a fan of dystopian stories. I don't think I've seen any dystopian films of the 50s and 60s. I'd like to though. And I'll like to write a dystopian story.

Maurice Vaughan cool, Maurice. It’s a great series. I think I need to purchase the graphic novel too!

Here's a dystopian film from 1961, The Day the Earth Caught Fire’:

https://youtu.be/IUFtgep9sj4

Thanks, Geoff Hall. I'll check out The Day the Earth Caught Fire. I didn't know The Eternaut was based off a graphic novel before your post. I see that a lot with movies. They're based off graphic novels. I've thought about writing a graphic novel. I have some scripts and script ideas that could easily be turned into graphic novels.

I know about the Fallout games, but I still need to watch the show, Ashley Renee Smith.

Breaking Bad inspired me. I'm outlining a Breaking Bad type TV series here and there that could go in the same direction (TV series, sequel movie, TV spin-off, mobile game, etc.).

I haven't build a transmedia universe for any of my scripts, but I like to mention that my scripts have transmedia potential (shows, games, comics, and so on) and merchandise potential (gear, action figures, etc.) when I pitch them.

Ashley Renee Smith wow, Ashley, this is a great report. I love that it highlights dovetailing the IP into differing media, not to do the same thing as say in the video game, but to increase the story's worth to followers of the story into anime or live-action. This is potentially hitting the motherlode for storytellers.

Thanks for sharing the article, Geoff Hall. I see people in that age range (18 to 34) say on social media that free streaming apps like Tubi have better libraries. I prefer streaming services without ads, but I will watch ads.

Maurice Vaughan thanks Maurice. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of ads and it's interesting to read that there's a lot of people out there, who don't like the intrusion of ads when watching a programme or film.

Geoff Hall, that 66% stat really jumped out at me too. It confirms what many in the industry have been observing: younger audiences are far more price-sensitive, and their tolerance for ads is higher if it means free access. That could significantly influence how indie filmmakers think about distribution, especially when weighing AVOD versus SVOD platforms.

Also, with churn rates rising across major paid platforms, it really highlights the importance of building loyal audiences and perhaps even embracing hybrid models.

Ashley Renee Smith thanks, Ashley. Yes, I think if your audience is a young demographic, you should take that into consideration.

Over $700 million in a few weeks is phenomenal, Ashley Renee Smith! I think studios and creators should prioritize what's unique about IPs when adapting them across media, like building anything you can imagine in Minecraft.

Absolutely agree, Maurice Vaughan, it’s a great reminder that adaptation success often hinges on honoring the soul of the IP, not just the surface aesthetics. With Minecraft, the brilliance was in focusing on the spirit of creativity and open-ended play, rather than forcing a traditional plot structure that doesn’t match the game’s experience. It shows how powerful it can be when studios ask, “What makes this world special to its fans?” and build from there.