In this week’s lecture the main focus was on multiplatform media. We discussed how it is simply not enough to pitch to a studio an idea for a movie. In the 21st century companies need to see that the idea you are pitching can generate money on multiple platforms. The example of this given was big brother which includes a 24 hour live stream, prime time television slot, sms voting and more. Video games are currently the largest entertainment industry in terms of profit. Video game companies are able to establish whole interactive worlds in which an audience can be invested in. These levels of interactivity goes beyond the video game with many developers implementing online scoring boards, merchandise, TV spin offs and even physical toys that connect to the game.
In the final thoughts of the lecture it was said that our lives are not narratives. This discussion raised a number of issues I had with what the lecturer was saying. Adrian Miles stated something along the lines of “show me a definition of the word narrative that can be associated with your life” and went on to explain how a narrative has a beginning middle and end and your life doesn’t it is just a series of events. However the definition of narrative i was taught is “narrative is a series of events in cause and effect appearing in a space and time.” My life is a series of events based of cause and effect. I am in this course because I studied hard and achieved a high enough mark. I was late for University because my train was cancelled. These are all events that happened because of cause and effect. How whole life is based off cause and effect. As for the second argument my life does have a beginning middle and end. Sure I don’t know what the end will be but then again some large scale productions are started without knowing the exact ending. It changes along the way. ‘I am Legend’ ‘World War Z’ ‘Blade Runner’ these are all prime examples of how the ending was not entirely thought out. To prove my point more you only have to look at biographical films that are LITERALY the story of people’s lives, beginning to end.
source: blackreelawards