THE STORY SPOT

Now here’s something interesting in the world of interactive storytelling. Crushing It is a comedy series/soap unfolding right now, in real time, on Twitter. How’s that, you say? Series Creator Jill Golick has dreamed into reality a setting, characters, and a hijinks-fraught storyline then turned them loose on Twitter for one week only.

“Think of this as an improv performance on the virtual stage of the Internet,” they say. We’ll think of it as brilliant. Screenwriters play the wedding-stressed characters and the audience fills in the rest.
What are you waiting for? Jump in!

CRUSHING IT
February 1 to February 5th, 2010
Only on Twitter
http://twitter.com/crushingitstory/crushing-it-story/
#cistory

Screenwriter Jill Golick’s Blog: “Running with My Eyes Closed“

One of our most beloved Story Spot readers sent in a question about query letters that many of you–whatever form your work takes–may find helpful (let us know if you do!) Mote writes:

A friend of mine is thinking about approaching some specialty production companies with a script he’s working on — when it’s finished. I told him, if it were me, I’d include a logline and tell them a little bit about myself, my background, and my writing experience — as well as talk about the script itself. He’s doing some research on production companies, but it would basically be a “cold call” situation. He wants to send query letters to these companies to see if they have any interest in reading his script before sending them an actual copy of it. Do you have any examples of a query letter or do you know of any on the web?

Ah, the query. Ken’s advice to his friend is sound*. For those of you new to the query letter, here’s the deal. A query letter is one standard, industry-accepted method to introduce yourself and your project to a potential development or production partner. Queries are one part of your overall pitch package for your project.

Read on »

Lance Weiler, an American filmmaker, writer, and director, tells Ireland’s ScreenDaily.com about the ways story forms are adapting as audiences change. We don’t often cover “new media” here on THE STORY SPOT but, as always, old is new again…

The tools I use are no longer simply cameras ― they are mobile and feature real-time web apps. Storylines, characters or scenes now exist beyond one screen or format. My stories spill out into the real world and guide audiences from one experience to another.

While the human need to share experiences in an engaging way endures, the ways we do so continue to evolve with society. Reality television, alternate reality gaming, Twitter fiction and other new forms may all feel vastly different from telling tales around a campfire but remember that the heart of each form remains people sharing what it is to be human. The ways we do that well will never change.

Read “Why audiences are key to cross-media creation” at Screendaily.com
Visit Lance Weiler’s blog, “Culture Hacker“

From acclaimed artist Erik Loyer comes an innovation in storytelling. Billed as a “Tamogatchi for adults,” Opertoon is an interactive story between lovers played out on your iPhone.

Ruben & Lullaby are lovers having their first fight. Whether they break up or make up depends on you! Shake to make them angry. Stroke to make them sad. The future of their relationship is in your hands.

Writers, here is your glimpse into your future. 

UPDATE: September 26, 2009
More from our friend Erik on the world of Opertoon!

It’s been a great year for Ruben & Lullaby, here’s a quick recap in case you missed all the goings-on:

* Finalist, Achievement in Art Category, Second Annual Independent Games Festival Mobile
* Coverage from MSNBC.com, Apple, and thoughtful folks like Scott McCloud, Emily Short (who mentioned it on her “Interactive Storytelling Must-Play” list), Michael Abbott and Andrew Stern
* Exhibited at E3 as an IndieCade Official Selection
* Featured in O’Reilly Media’s new book Best iPhone Apps: A Guide for Discriminating Downloaders

Finally, I’m aiming to announce development of the second Opertoon by the end of the year–there’s a number of interesting possibilities cooking at the moment. For more frequent updates, point your RSS reader at http://opertoon.com or use Twitter (http://twitter.com/opertoon) or Facebook (http://bit.ly/1mrEvg).

Opertoon at the iTunes App Store
The official Opertoon site
Erik Loyer’s Generous Machine

David Perry talks about the evolution of video games — not only about the sensory experience of playing games such as Halo, Warcraft, Guitar Hero, the Grand Theft series, the range of NFL and NBA titles and more, but also about the current and future development of creating immersive, emotional engagement.

The big question is: can a game make a player cry?
Storytellers, an emerging frontier awaits.