StoryCode holds hackathon events called Story Hacks that bring together storytellers and technologists to create original cross-platform narratives in 36 hours. The Story Hack document describes a Story Hack event held at the Film Society Lincoln Center, where teams created and presented demo projects incorporating assigned wildcards. It provides advice on organizing Story Hack events and examples of other groups adopting the Story Hack model.
1. StoryHack: How StoryCode Is
Revolutionizing The Cross-Platform Process
Mike Knowlton
murmurco.com / @murmurco
storycode.org / @storycodeorg
2. • Innovation hub for the intersection of story
and technology
• Not-for-profit 501c3 structure
• 1,000 story+tech immersive creators
• Grew out of Transmedia NYC Meetup
3.
4. STORYCODE GOALS
• Build a bridge between creators and
technologists
• Foster a community that creates immersive
media projects on their own
• Not just marketing extensions but original
immersive/transmedia pieces
• Information sharing through case studies
9. STORY HACK
• 36-Hour event - April 28th/29th 2012
• Held at Film Society Lincoln Center
• Teams comprised of four roles: Designer/
Writer, Filmmaker, Developer, Producer/Project
Manager
• Original concepts created for/at Story Hack
• Demo days-style presentation event at the end
• Some teams applied together, others we
matched
10.
11. STORY HACK SIGNUP
• Received over 300 registrations from around
the world
• Could only host 30 participants
• Half applied as teams
• Half applied as individuals
• Important to be able to handle both
12. STORY + CODE = STORY HACK
• 1 cohesive narrative that spanned 3 or more
media/tech platforms
• Execute one platform / paper model the other two
• 36-Hours / Hack theme was “courage”
• Integrate one of the technology sponsors in hack
13. STORY HACK WILDCARDS
• Incorporate a “Miles of
Lace” dress from Brand
Sponsor: Free People.
• Integrate the Emily
Dickinson quote
“Fortune befriends the
bold.”
20. STORY HACK
• Brian Clark - GMB Studios
• Steve Coulson - Creative Director @ Campfire
• Josh Shabtai - Vertigore Games
• Mark Harris - The Lost Children / Pandemic /
Broadcastr
21.
22. STORY HACK LOGISTICS
• Seven teams of four people
• Participants ranged from indie creators to
digital agency/advertising folks
• 36-Hours straight
• Arranged for servers for development space
• Developer outreach - mainly through
meetups and forums
• WiFi and Wired connectivity throughout
event
23. STORY HACK DEMO
• Positioned as the “piece de resistance”
• Each team had 15 minutes to present their
story hack
• Live performance turned out to be very
important
• Don’t “tell a story about a story” just tell the
story
24.
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29.
30. STORY HACK JUDGES
• Warren Cohen - Executive Producer at VH1
• Blaine Graboyes - Executive Producer and
Game Designer (Member of PGA)
• Jed Paulson - Director of Marketing at Free
People
• Craig Singer - Director at Disney
• Katherine Oliver - Commissioner of the New
York City Mayor's Office of Media and
Entertainment
•
31.
32. STORY HACK PRIZES
• Grand prize of $1000 (yes cash money) -
awarded to team selected by judges to Team
Cupcakes and Rainbows winner
• Twilio prize of Kindles for best use of Twilio
was also awarded to Team Rodan
35. STORY HACK QUOTES
• "I’ve written sample bibles and transmedia
proposals before ... but I’ve never finished an
actual project. So this Story Hack is my first
chance to develop something cross-platform
beyond the page and it’s already been really
educational..." Randy Astle
• "...I knew StoryCode's hackathon was going to
be not only special, but an important moment
in the history of Transmedia as an art form."
Carrie Cutforth-Young
36. STORY HACK DIY
• Not that difficult to produce one (space,
connectivity, + people)
• Great for community building and excellent
way to pull developers into your group
• Story Hacks will grow your membership and
increase diversity
• Technology companies are looking for
opportunities to get in front of storytellers
• Brands are looking to meet next-gen creators
37. STORY HACKS TAKING
• Transmedia SF - Transmedia Jam - July 20th/
21st, 2012
• POV Hackathon - August 11th/12, 2012
• The Film Experience Hackathon - October
13th/14th, 2012
• Movie Hackathon (Film Independent and ZEFR)
- October 20th/ 21st, 2012
• Tribeca-Zeega Hackathon @ the MIT
OpenDocLab - November 3rd, 2012
38. STORY HACK ADVICE
• 24/7 - keeps people focused + more “hack-
like”
• Hardwired ethernet connections a MUST
• Potential sponsors include local companies,
tech companies (they have hack budgets), and
adventurous brands
• Demos are key - prizes make the event feel
like a true hackathon
• Mentors are vital
• Let developers use their own environment
39. STORY HACK ADVICE P.S.
• Document everything as best you can
• Hacks have short shelf-lives by nature
• Have teams submit a demo video and/or
treatment for their hack
• This will help preserve the hacks for posterity
• Get investors in the audience
40. STORY HACK LINKS
• Full Summary in document format - https://
docs.google.com/document/d/
1NNkL4IIdp6qEHVX6bm_64zYSSpk_07m22Z6C
oOybVLo/edit
• Video of Demo Days event - http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PleSSIXNf4k
41. ABOUT STORYCODE’S
Aina Abiodun - CEO
Aina is an award-winning independent film producer
with credits across media platforms. A serial
entrepreneur, she recently launched a cross-platform
media venture, AINA MEDIA Inc.
Mike Knowlton - CTO
Mike is a Creative Technologist who founded social film
studio Murmur. At Murmur, Mike creates original social
films and consults with leading brands, studios and
networks on using social films to extend existing
properties.