Hey Transmedia Creatives!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the potential of expanding a film concept into other formats like video games and comic books, not just as companion pieces, but as fully immersive extensions of the story.
So here’s a question for you all:
If your current film project was the center of a transmedia universe, what would the video game or comic version look like?
Would the video game explore untold backstories? Would the comic book dive into lore or alternate perspectives? How would each piece complement (but not duplicate) the story of your original film?
I’d love to hear:
What projects you’re working on that could lend themselves to this kind of expansion?
How you’d approach adapting your world across mediums?
What challenges or successes you’ve had exploring multiple formats?
Let’s inspire each other to think bigger and broader when it comes to storytelling.
And if you’re actively developing a transmedia concept and want help navigating the right connections or resources, definitely reach out to our Stage 32 Success Team at Success@Stage32.com—they’re amazing at helping you find support for multi-platform storytelling.
Excited to hear what you’re building!
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Great topic, Ashley Renee Smith! I was at an online pitch event yesterday, and I pitched my short script Department of Fairy Tales. Someone commented on one of my posts, and I told him there's enough story for feature films/a TV series, TV spin-offs, comics, and video games. If DFT was a video game, it'd be a open-world Grand Theft Auto type game (a lot of the fairy tale characters are criminals in the DFT universe).
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Ashley Renee Smith That's a brilliant idea! As you know, I'm turning my award winning scripts into novellas/novels, but now I'm looking into Transmedia (video games, comic books). Having the ability to create story, lends me to the opportunity to expand my script in ways that can make it so much more.
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Thanks, Maurice Vaughan! That’s such a fun concept and I love that you’re already thinking across mediums with Department of Fairy Tales. An open-world GTA-style game with fairy tale criminals sounds like a blast and such a natural fit for a transmedia expansion. You’ve already planted the seeds for a universe that could grow in all kinds of creative directions. I’d be so curious to hear more about which characters you’d spotlight in the spin-offs or how you’d structure the game mechanics around their abilities and backstories.
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Anthony McBride, Transmedia is such an exciting next step. Thinking about how your story could unfold across a video game, comic, or even a short-form series can open up so many new creative and professional opportunities. Do you have a particular project that you think would lend itself well to game development? Can’t wait to see what you dream up next!
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You’re welcome, Ashley Renee Smith. Thanks. The protagonist’s new – and first ever – partner could have a spin-off show about his time working for the Department of Legendary Monsters. Some of the agents at the Department of Fairy Tales and some of the fairy tale criminals could have their own spin-offs too. Or maybe their own comics. And there are original fairy tale criminals in this universe.
The agents and criminals would have weapon wheels like in the GTA games and special attacks. The fairy tale stories would be the missions and side missions in the game.
I'm pitching DFT as a short script, but I've been thinking of turning it into a feature script or TV series and pitching that.