Lance Weiler is a critically acclaimed award winning writer/director who has been named by Wired Magazine as “One of twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.”
He has directed films such as Head Trauma which was self-released over 17 cities and went on to a national DVD release and VOD release through Warner Bros. His first feature, The Last Broadcast was the first all digital release of a feature to hit cinemas in the US.
Weiler has recently participated in HotDocs newly formed Convergence Lab. Created by DocAgora, the lab focuses on a number of projects, bringing together producers, film-makers and interactive designers in an effort to develop cross-media strategies for their projects.
Read more about Convergence Culture and micro-budget film-making by Tom Kirk.
Weiler has been asked numerous times ‘where do I start?’
Here are his pointers to consider before you start a cross-media push:
Know your audience
Start by looking at the way your audience consume their media.
Script it out
Written a script, storyboarded or created a shot list? Now take a look at where people will enter your “world” and how they move through it.
It’s a conversation
Build in elements that allow your audience to interact with your content. Give them a sense of ownership through remixes, forums, fan art etc.
Take a step back
Be prepared for the audience to take control of certain aspects and know how and when to let go.
Listen to your audience…
...even when they are not talking directly to you. Actions and discussions between audience members are a good indication of what’s working and what’s not.
Be flexible
Be prepared to move in radical directions. The best-laid plans are meant to change and sometimes a new direction can result in larger audiences.
Think laterally
Remember that there are no rules, every cross-media project is different.
Enjoy yourself!
Most importantly have fun, since cross-media is a new way of telling stories, it is a great way to experiment.
This section introduces you to Film London’s Microschool. Industry experts also offer their advice.
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