Networked Storytelling through film

Today we were given instructions for our upcoming Networked Storytelling task. The process towards planning, filming and completing a movie is intriguing. Personally, I have always been a terrible planner. I prefer to think on the go, letting my instincts dictate the path of the film. But that is not viable in the film industry and even local filming for that matter. Having a refresher on what steps could be undertaken prior to the production of a film is a good reminder.


Filming has been a hobby of mine in the past. It is not something I do very often, but when my friends and I have free time, we often try to create a short story on the spot. That is probably the reason I struggle in the planning process for film! In spite of this weakness, I have experience in planning, having undertaken the film narrative task in Year 12. As part of the criteria for the course, we had to show evidence of extensive planning and thinking, being ticked off the list after showing the teacher our storyboards, statement of intention, treatment, etc. We were unable to progress further in our projects without this work, making clear the importance of covering all bases before entering filming. Whilst I did find the process stifling at first, I soon began to see the benefits of such an approach - filming took literally no time at all!


This was due to a variety of factors;
-we knew which locations we were going to use in the shoot.
-my cameraman had the storyboard and had an immediate reference as to how he was going to record the scene - there wasn't time wasted asking me (acting in the film) for clarification.
-props were planned in advance, we set aside time to change quickly.
-we all understood the direction of the film!


The only negative with such extensive planning, is that I simply couldn't express the ideas I had in my head fully. The film I pictured in my mind was a great deal better than the one I shot! But that wasn't due to a lack of trying. I'm an ideas man that is a bit unrealistic in one's plans! That's why it's important to be realistic in the planning of your film and knowing your limitations to prevent being disappointed. That's not to say you can't aim for the stars! It just means you have to be aware of what might hold back your film.


Despite having filmed a fair bit in the past, I learnt a great deal more in the class about the effects certain shots have on the viewing experience. What previously were hunches about certain aspects became facts; close-up's certainly give an emotional aspect to a story. I had attempted to convey that in the past, but did not have the know-how to convey it properly in my film. Little hints like this, as small as they may seem, have a gigantic effect on the meaning and composition of a finished film. I look forward to completing the Networked Storytelling task, particularly trying to link a series together and giving it cohesion!

Repurposed media

Through my years of being a social media 'guinea pig', I have observed a particular pattern occurring with well known artists, who are aiming to give further exposure to their musical content through the varying social media platforms. Although I'm sure that I don't understand the entire scope of their networking, here's a demonstration of what bands do to release their music to the greatest audience.

It's March 2015 and a well known band is planning to release a 'comeback' single ahead of their keenly awaited new album. Even though content from the band is coveted, the wider public isn't overly expectant for new material, as they haven't released an album for many years. In those years, several members of the band have recorded and performed as solo artists, with their own social media platforms through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter... but we'll get back to that later.

The record company and management have a vested interest in the band's success... how will we reach the widest audience? The question is hollow however, they have a great amount of experience in this field of advertisement. They arm all their planning with this in mind. They know that the best time to release content through certain forms of social media is around 1pm. Their marketing team creates a template for each particular platform. How the message is formed. The links to other content. This is all completed before the content is released, to create a seamless, business-like transition.

It's the day prior to release and each social platform releases a teaser, bidding fans to go on their Facebook page at 1PM the next day to view a video announcement. The fans are in a frenzy, trying to guess what the announcement could be about. Optimists correctly guess that a new album is in the works, even after that many years; whilst pessimists are less certain, thinking that a new concert gig will be the news, safe in the knowledge that they have been proven right in the past. Regardless of the audience's opinions as to what the announcement will be about, the band's management are pleased, they have engaged their audience and built conjecture and awareness of the band's announcement through their fans.

The video announcement streams from Facebook at 1PM. The band are joined by a well-known radio host at a conference, with an audience full of music industry heavies and journalists. They tease and build suspense from their audience, stating that they are indeed going on a tour. However they soon state that the reason behind the tour is their first album in many years. At the conference, the band's new single is played, with the appropriate links to purchase and pre-order mentioned. Immediately after finishing the video, fans are greeted with an amalgamation of social media platforms with links to appropriate content.

A music video for the new single is released on YouTube, with a link to their iTunes account as the video finishes. The single is able to be purchased through iTunes with the pre-order of their new album. The band's Instagram followers are greeted with an 8 second teaser of their music video. There are links to the music clip and iTunes account through the band's Facebook, as well as their individual's solo social media platforms. The reach of their content is amazing. The band members have all conducted interviews with various radio stations after their conference, further consolidating their reach. By the end of the day, the band's comeback album is the talk of the town.

The hypothetical band I mentioned above were Blur, pioneers of the Brit-pop scene in the 1990's. Amazingly, due to the advancements in the sharing and reach of music through the expansion of the internet, the band have increased their audience despite their long absence. As a huge fan of the band, I was able to analyze all of this content live. It is extremely interesting how well-oiled their advertising machine was. Despite viewing this all purely as a fan, I learned from my observations and was given an insight into how companies operate when releasing their product.

HYPERTEXT ESSAY

HYPERTEXT ESSAY (500 words)

Becoming a popular musician is a dream many youngsters around the world hold and I’m no exception. There is a reason it is a dream for so many people, it’s an extremely hard industry to break into. If you are one of the lucky few who does taste success, it doesn’t last forever. But that doesn’t stop millions wearing their creative ambitions on their sleeve.

Whilst Melbourne has a vibrant, inventive music scene; it doesn’t hold the global reach that other cities around the world may do. Despite this, you have to get a start somewhere and several locally run organizations are giving untried youngsters the chance to make a start in the industry.

A current example of this is the Melbourne Music Bank, created by the Bank of Melbourne. Judged by a panel including former Killing Heidi vocalist Ella Hooper and other music industry insiders, the Melbourne Music Bank offers a ‘kick-start’ to prospective musicians worth $30,000. The package includes 2 days recording at a famous studio, a free music video, album artwork, professional photo packages, media training, managing teams, live gigs and a song featured on a Bank of Melbourne Ad. Receiving this package would be akin to a corpse receiving a heartbeat, it can bring a band to life and gain the exposure needed to make music a potentially viable option going forward. It also negates a lot of the teething problems that break up new bands, who struggle with the transition from jamming and making songs into the organization of gigs, their music and other sales to keep such a venture viable.

Another organization that offer assistance to creative beings is Music in the Sticks(MITS). It is a group that provides skills in a variety of areas related to the music industry. The areas of skill it tenders related to my creative ambitions include live and studio recording, sound production and publicity and management. Apart from the purely skills based activities they offer, MITS also organizes an annual Battle of the Bands competition in Kyneton. A friend of mine participated in the event two years back; his band's participation and performance really stoked my interest, it seemed like such a buzz to the group. The winners of this Battle of the Bands event are offered a position in the final (held at the Moomba Festival) should they pass the regional finals; they also receive a cash prize. There is a strong social media aspect, where bands and songwriters are prompted to link their own Facebook group links to the official event page.

If I were to form a band, these two competitions are something I’d strongly consider entering. They are pathways into providing the positive publicity that can lift a band to greater heights. It is the bridge between creative and personal gratification (through the writing of songs and jamming together) to success shared with others who have followed you to gigs and supported your work. 

Thanks for reading!

Workshop 2 - Networked Communities (questions)

What are you interested in?
1- Music (Album reviews, live gigs, etc.)
2- Sport (Cricket, AFL, Soccer, Horse Racing, etc.)
3- Photography, Amateur film.

Where do I want to be in 4 years?
The profession I'm training for is becoming a secondary teacher in the streams of English and Media Studies. Whilst that is where I'd like to be in four years, there are other places/professions that would make me even happier if I happened to stumble across them. Purely from a leisure point of view, I'd be absolutely stoked if I was travelling the world, learning and observing different cultures. An innate dream would be to become a successful musician, but that is all it is, a 'dream'. There are a great deal of factors that one would have to consider - living below the poverty line for one, gigging to unreceptive crowds occasionally and toiling away at your art, with creative peaks and troughs. Whilst there are negatives associated with the profession, they aren't that bad, as you are doing what you are passionate about, it is something that you love doing.

What are the things I should be doing to get to that point?
I am currently in my third year of my Bachelor of Education. To become a teacher, I'll obviously have to complete my course. But finishing the course isn't going to transport me straight into the classroom. I will need to build networks, with teachers and schools across the state. Undertaking relief teaching at schools around the area, will get my name out there with perspective principals. Improving my craft to the point where I am seen as a trusted and talented CRT, will potentially make it an easier process entering the profession. This is all keeping in mind that I haven't received luck and entered teaching beforehand, due to positive experiences through placement.

To be able to travel in four years, I'd have to save enough money to sustain a long trip. This would require a lot of work beforehand. Another option would potentially be getting a license to serve alcohol, allowing me to enter nomadic work across the countries I'm travelling. To have a memorable trip, it would be smart to undertake a lot of study prior as to where are the places I'd ideally like to travel to, as well as satisfying financial concerns.

Last and not least, is potentially becoming a musician. This will need a GREAT DEAL more work then my other 'dreams'. This would involve playing with a consistent band line-up, with a creative spark to create enjoyable, original songs. We would have to be able to perform regularly and rehearse regularly, to build that creative spark, as well as our respective skills as musicians and as a group. Performing live constantly would help build a fanbase, where we can release records to and sell t-shirts. Gosh I'm rambling a bit, this doesn't even cover a tenth of what could be done!

Who are the people and organizations that should know who I am and what I do?
As stated above, I will require a great deal of networking to satisfy two of my options; particularly teaching. I will need to work at schools across the state to build my reputation as a reliable educator. For music, there is a plethora of people or organizations that should know who I am and what I do if I was to become successful in the industry. Without this 'foot in the door', there would be effectively no chance of becoming part of a reputable band. X-Factor doesn't count. That's gross.