Transmedia Storytelling

As described by Henry Jenkins, Bordwell critiques the use of transmedia story telling. While I do agree somewhat, it really depends on the kind of movie and whatever world that movie creates and whether or not this world should be explored. For example, while not extreme as the transmedia storytelling that Star Wars accomplishes, "The Blair Witch" project benefited from the use of transmedia storytelling. I remember when I was younger that I was freaked out by the Blair Witch, because I thought she was real. This seems normal, but the makers of the film expanded the story of the film by creating fake websites dedicated to describing the history of the Blair Witch. Not only was this a creative way of detailing a back story to the film, but it also developed interest for the film among the masses, allowing it to rake in tons of money compared to its original budget.

Unfortunately, there are certain movies that attempted to create a story told through different types of media, but failed. My favorite example would be the Matrix. The first film was awesome, I'm willing to admit that. However, as more films were made, the story was convoluted, filled with plot holes that would eventually be filled through direct to DVD cartoons, comic, and even video games. In the case of a Matrix video game, there was an online RPG game based off the Matrix released after the last film. This game was supposed to explain the story of the Matrix after Neo's story. Sadly, barely anyone bought this game, and interest for the story died down.

While certain films can benefit from transmedia story telling because of interest from fans or potential fans, certain films should just be left for the viewer to decide what happened in the story.