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Not only did Kevin Haggerty have some fun interviewing me recently; he also opened my eyes to an upcoming film with a unique marketing plan. The 5 Year Engagement is using transmedia, a new form of storytelling that is changing the way we absorb stories and consume culture.

Okay, full disclosure: The movie stars a certain actress named Emily Blunt who I may or may not have mentioned a couple times*. But I’m not here to blather and blush and blubber and gush. There’s plenty of time to do that later**.

The fictional couple in The 5 Year Engagement (co-starring Jason Segel) even has a wedding blog that is building towards the big event. Some of this stuff is really clever.

I’ve been wondering how this approach impacts marketing and how writers can use this kind of creativity in the 21st century. It just happens that my friend Ellie–whose superskills include cooking and being awesome–has been delving into the world of transmedia like no one I know. I asked her for some thoughts on this emerging area.

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Ellie’s thoughts:
I had lots of misconceptions about transmedia when I first learned heard about it (it’s much more than putting a wig, makeup, and heels on your book). Transmedia is not to be confused with multimedia or cross media, it’s not simply combining media. It’s creating an experience. Henry Jenkins, MIT media studies professor says, “coordinated use of storytelling across platforms can make the characters more compelling,” and Stephen Dinehart says, “ ”true” transmedia is designed in preproduction with the intent of immersion.”

Transmedia evokes all your senses, immerses you in the story. Examples:

• Sight: What if in the middle of your Kindle book a news anchor flashes on the screen and you can watch a clip of exactly what they’re seeing in the book?
• Touch: What if you could hold the exact photo that the hero found in his girlfriend’s locker?
• Taste: What if you were given the chocolate bar that the protagonist was given in his darkest moment?
• Hearing: What if when you were flicking through the e-reader pages and as you read about the hero walking across the dark room you heard footsteps? Sound effects would be an incredible addition to a book–or just as cool, a soundtrack!
• Speech: Just like in Cathy’s Book what if you could call the main character of the story?

Think how much more enjoyable so many movies would be if you knew the character(s) before you even walked into the theater! The possibilities are endless. It’s an exciting time to be an artist.

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That’s only picking the tippity top of Ellie’s fascinating brain. Be sure to check out her new post for more of the cool ways storytelling is being transformed in 2012 and beyond.

If you’re really interested in some of the other ways the literary world is getting creative then check out my post last year called Sucking Readers In.

*The restraining order has been rescinded.

**I’ve set aside April, June, and most of 2013.

Well, it’s Underworld weekend, and I am going to see the film ASAP. My friend should be here any minute. I’ve been waiting for, oh, two and half years. I feel that now is a good time to give some other ladies a bit of attention before I see Kate as the lovely death dealer she is and promptly forget about everyone else for a long time.

While I never intended to hurt anybody with so much Beckinsale adoration it’s come to my attention* that I may have been hurtful to my other three favorite actresses who round out the eduClaytion top 5, a prestigious list often whispered about during Hollywood soirees and such.

I don’t have some ranking system from 1-5 or anything because I don’t think it’s appropriate to objectify chicks and stuff. But I will say that Kate and Emily are on top. Here are my three other favorite actresses.

Diane Kruger

Diane has always brought something a little different to my list, mostly being blonde.

We first met back in 2004, the year she soared into stardom with her roles in Troy and National Treasure, two of my favorite movies of the decade. Who else could play the role of Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships? It’s funny to think about now, but I even went and saw Wicker Park for her that same year. Oh how we still laugh about that.

The so-so Copying Beethoven had to hold us over until Kruger reprised her role as Abigail Chase in National Treasure 2. Kruger was already firmly entrenched on my list before she went full smite on me with Inglourious Basterds in 2009 and then added Unknown in 2011 for good measure.

Like I say, I don’t rank women, but she comes in third.

Angelina Jolie

I’m sure the recent ascension of Emily Blunt has been especially hard on Jolie or “Ang” as I like to call her. After all, we’ve been together now for over a decade, long enough at least that the paparazzi doesn’t make waves over us anymore these days. No woman has ever stayed on my list longer than AJ.

Many gems to pick from. The Bone Collector, Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and just when I thought the AJ train might be slowing down she goes and drops SALT on us. To that I say number four.

Yvonne Strahovski

We have a newcomer. It’s time for Yvonne Strahovski to take her place on my list. If you don’t know, she plays Sarah Walker in the fab TV show Chuck. The only thing missing from the Aussie’s repertoire so far has been movie roles. Then she got herself into a recent film called Killer Elite starring Jason Statham and the one and only Robert DeNiro.

Now I understand that my Australian mate Christian is going to say that he saw Yvonne first and has nationality dibs or something. Well, she’s only #5 on my list so I’m only claiming American dibs.

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Some of you might be thinking that my list is shallow and this is somehow all about looks. Not true. There’s a million beauties out there who I wouldn’t share my Skittles with. These ladies are certainly beautiful but they also can act and pick roles in multiple movies I like. And they often can kick some serious booty.

Diane Kruger was missing the gritty girl stuff until Basterds came out. Angelina’s always had it and still crushed it in Salt last year. I liked Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity and she’s the only reason to really watch Pearl Harbor, but when she went Underworld on me the universe shifted.

God help me if Emily Blunt ever goes in that direction. If she starts killing zombies or something I’m liable to go into circulatory shock.

Who is your favorite actress?

*I imagined it.

Image via Wikipedia

He was right.

Whether you are new to this Holmes guy or have a solid background in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle canon, you’ll enjoy this film. Well, unless you don’t like good movies. Guy Ritchie directs marvelously. I’m not sure what all cinematography encompasses, but this movie should win Best Cinematography for 2011. That’s a thing, right?

This stellar follow up got me thinking about sequels that were as good as or better than the original. What do you think of these picks?

Back to the Future II–Maybe not better than the original but definitely great. BTTF is my favorite trilogy of all time. Get it? Time?

The Dark Knight–Okay, I know they’ve made like a jillion Batman movies but we can call clean slate on the latest rendition. Of course Heath Ledger stole the show as The Joker, but what a great film.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan–The original Star Trek movie is a disaster, just atrocious (although Mamma Mia makes it look like Casablanca). The rest are pretty good with the exception of #5 which is hard to watch. Oh yeah, I hear there’s also this Star Wars trilogy that had a pretty good run.

T2–I didn’t see the original Terminator until I was a teenager, after I saw T2. In fact, this sequel was the first R rated movie that MamaClaytion let me go to. I went with my friend and his dad during a trip to Erie. I still think it’s way better than the original.

Superman II–I loved Superman when I was a kid. LOVED it. Still do in fact. This sequel had everything including the unthinkable: Clark willingly giving up his powers for love just as the evil General Zod (Terence Stamp) shows up.

I’m trying to think of any major oversights here, so I’ll ask you…

What are some of the best sequels of all time?

How about WORST sequels?

]]> http://educlaytion.com/2011/12/17/sherlock-holmes-sequels/feed/ 35 EduClaytion English: Second of the four illustrations incl... http://educlaytion.com/2011/12/16/my-big-fat-greek/ http://educlaytion.com/2011/12/16/my-big-fat-greek/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:54:19 +0000 educlaytion http://educlaytion.com/?p=5778 ]]> It’s payday. Not the kind where I happily collect checks and go to the bank. No, today is the day I pay for my transgressions as a wayward, gambling Steelers fan.

Forgive me Thoughtsy, for I have sinned.

Many of you already know about my now legendary wager with Miss Thoughtsy Appears over the recent Balitmore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers football game and how I was a big fat loser.

So I had to watch the worst chick flick that Thoughtsy and her evil minions readers could come up with.

They picked a doozy called Mamma Mia! Don’t let that exclamation point confuse you. It’s in the title. I wasn’t excited. At all.

But I’m a man of my word, so I took my medicine and watched one of the greatest atrocities ever put on film. And I’ve got a guest post over at Thoughts Appear to prove it. I hope it makes you laugh so the universe can be evened out after all the tears I shed while enduring Pierce Brosnan’s voice amidst an estrogen fest of the devil.

But since she’s such a great gal, my gracious host still surprised me with a custom treat in my punishment package. I happily devoured some Fruity Pebbles marshmallow treats embedded with Skittles.

Sweet consolation prize! Literally.

So head on over to The Sweet Sound of Victory and let me know what you think of my skewering review of Mamma Mia!

But of course we’re doing this eduClaytion style. That means I want your Muppet personality profile.

I got this idea months ago from a couple places. First, the picture you see off to the right here. I think it’s even funnier if you understand Dungeons & Dragons, but I’ve literally never heard one person ever talk about that let alone play the thing. I did get a D & D beach towel from my grandma one year when I was a kid, but none of us knew it was based on a game. But I digress.

The other inspiration for this post came from a comment by my dear fryber Renee. In response to some other eduClaytion Muppetry a while back, she had this to say:

I have a bad boy/geek thing when it comes to favorite muppets. Go figure. I adore Animal, the Muppet wild-chid. C’mon. Who doesn’t? … But I also had a thing for good ole Kermit, a deep thinker: a little quiet, reserved. The kind of Muppet you might want to go and sit next to and chat about meta stuff, like the cosmos.

So – bottom line – I dated a lot of Animals, but I married a Kermit!  

That made me think about who our favorite Muppets are and why. Then I started wondering what Muppet I’m most like.

But the thing is, I’m not just completely similar to only one Muppet. Plus I’ve changed over the years. In fact, during grad school I was a whole lotta Animal but still Kermit and some others too. (Renee would’ve liked me ) These days? Not so much Animal anymore. Moreover, I’ve never been certain Muppets like Bunson or Dr. Teeth at all.

So let me show you my personal Muppet composition and why I equate myself to these dudes, and then I hope you’ll take a crack at yours!

50% Kermit–Sensitive, thinker, leader

35% Fozzy–Goofy, silly, cheesy

15% Animal–Unpredictable, life of the party

Who is your favorite Muppet?

What is your Muppet personality makeup?

Lest you forget some of the names to choose from there’s Piggy, Chef, Rolf, Scooter, Beeker,

Sam the Eagle, Gonzo, Rizzo, Janice, and more!