Goal
To create engaging self-contained units that will encourage users to navigate across all platforms.
To create engaging self-contained units that will encourage users to navigate across all platforms.
Theme
The theme concerns the cumulative impact of actions upon a person’s character. Despite her crimes of child consumption, Tulula is meant to be somewhat sympathetic, driven to madness by a series of destructive men, James Scoville, Karl Chunderlenz and finally Eldred Green.
World
Country: Germany
Town: Waldingburg
Population: 1,250
Elevation: 504m
Area: 20.55 km²
National Emblem: Red Tree
Colours: Red, white, navy and black
Flag:
Town: Waldingburg
Population: 1,250
Elevation: 504m
Area: 20.55 km²
National Emblem: Red Tree
Colours: Red, white, navy and black
Flag:
Story
The story Hansel and Gretel from the original Brothers Grimm has left a gap with characters. The witch was nothing more then a villain, with no history in the short story. However, who is she? Where did she come from? How did she get the gingerbread house and why does she like to eat children? All these questions have been expanded and answered in our transmedia project.
The story that users will follow is based on Tulula Bakewell, an ex-celebrity chef who has been murdered by two children in the town of Waldinburg. The user will act like a detective/jury and go through the project putting together the pieces to form the truth surrounding the murder.
The story that users will follow is based on Tulula Bakewell, an ex-celebrity chef who has been murdered by two children in the town of Waldinburg. The user will act like a detective/jury and go through the project putting together the pieces to form the truth surrounding the murder.
Characters
Tulula Bakewell
Tulula is a celebrity chef, turned child eating witch. She comes from a family of witches and at a young age, mentally scarred her sister after a fight. As a punishment, Tulula’s mother, for the most part a kind woman, bound Tulula against using her psychic abilities.
Tulula grew up to be a famous cook but during an attempted rape by a studio executive, Tulula made a pact with a mysterious form, who released her from her mother’s spell in return for her loyalty. With her powers restored, Tulula used her ability to fell her attacker, but the psychic reflux sent her temporarily mad, causing her show to be cancelled.
After recovering her senses in the Waldingburg asylum, Tulula escaped to Waldingburg forest to begin the work of survival as prescribed by the mysterious form.
Tulula is a composite of Hannibal Lecter, Sweeney Todd and the Yellow King from ‘True Detective’. Although she does not resemble them literally, those are the stories which inspired her.
Dr Eldred Green
Dr Green is more or less just a foil for Tulula to tell her story. He is the head psychiatrist at the asylum and unfortunately for him, crosses Tulula for the last time when he refuses to let her leave.
Karl Chunderlenz
Karl is an over-the-top and stereotypical rendering of a crass, Australian right-wing talkback host. He goads and teases Tulula, then humiliates her on air by publicising a memo between two of Tulula’s producers after her breakdown.
Tulula is a celebrity chef, turned child eating witch. She comes from a family of witches and at a young age, mentally scarred her sister after a fight. As a punishment, Tulula’s mother, for the most part a kind woman, bound Tulula against using her psychic abilities.
Tulula grew up to be a famous cook but during an attempted rape by a studio executive, Tulula made a pact with a mysterious form, who released her from her mother’s spell in return for her loyalty. With her powers restored, Tulula used her ability to fell her attacker, but the psychic reflux sent her temporarily mad, causing her show to be cancelled.
After recovering her senses in the Waldingburg asylum, Tulula escaped to Waldingburg forest to begin the work of survival as prescribed by the mysterious form.
Tulula is a composite of Hannibal Lecter, Sweeney Todd and the Yellow King from ‘True Detective’. Although she does not resemble them literally, those are the stories which inspired her.
Dr Eldred Green
Dr Green is more or less just a foil for Tulula to tell her story. He is the head psychiatrist at the asylum and unfortunately for him, crosses Tulula for the last time when he refuses to let her leave.
Karl Chunderlenz
Karl is an over-the-top and stereotypical rendering of a crass, Australian right-wing talkback host. He goads and teases Tulula, then humiliates her on air by publicising a memo between two of Tulula’s producers after her breakdown.
World Map
Source Material
Brothers Grimm provides the perfect story to expand on.
http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/story064.pdf
Brothers Grimm provides the perfect story to expand on.
http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/story064.pdf
Creative Inspirations
Creative Inspirations for Tulula Bakewell:
Hannibal Lector
Hannibal Lector is a cannibal and a 'psychopath'. He is well-educated, highly intelligent, sophisticated, and cultured. He detests rudeness and kills people who have bad manners.
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is a barber who kills by pulling a lever which allows his barber chair (with his unsuspecting victim in it) to tip backwards into the basement through a revolving trapdoor. This breaks their neck and kills them (or if it doesn't, Sweeney Todd would "polish them off" with a straight razor to the throat). His partner-in-crime/lover, Mrs Lovett, bakes the victims' flesh into meat pies, often selling them to her unsuspecting customers in her pie shop.
Platforms
Entry Point Video
The Daily Bilge provides the platform for the entry point video. The video is hosted by the news papers own Waldingburg journalists. The video is short, however includes valuable and intriguing information which will send the user further into the The Daily Bilge's website. There they will find a small number of short, yet informative, articles that will explore Waldingburg's famine, children missing and finally a internet security article. In the bottom of the newspapers website there will be a clickable banner add for a Paranormal Detective, which will take the user to the Paranormal Detective's blog.
Why we chose this platform? This platform would be appealing to a wide range of audience members. A lot of newspapers are now utilising digital space and because of this we also wanted to present the information that way. Rather then just upload the video on YouTube, we created a newspaper which belongs to the town. This is expanding our world and making the video/platform look more realistic and engaging.
Why we chose this platform? This platform would be appealing to a wide range of audience members. A lot of newspapers are now utilising digital space and because of this we also wanted to present the information that way. Rather then just upload the video on YouTube, we created a newspaper which belongs to the town. This is expanding our world and making the video/platform look more realistic and engaging.
The Waldingburg Asylum is a password protected website which the user will complete their transmedia journey. This is where the answers will be locked away. Only if the user has gone through all the platforms, they can unlock the videos. The three videos are Tulula Bakewell's psychiatric interviews/analysis preformed by Dr. Eldred Green. The reason why they are filmed in three separate videos is because we wanted to demonstrate the process of Ms. Bakewell's insanity.
Why we chose this platform? The Waldingburg Asylum page was chosen to present the videos because we gained the ability to lock the videos with a password. This also provided us with a chance to build our world further. The Waldingburg Asylum provided us with a challenge as to why the videos were published? A simple article about a internet security solved that issue. By choosing a website we have ensured that our users can't skip ahead to the videos, as they don't have the passwords.
The newspaper format is effective for communicating elements that help build depth in the story world, even if they might not be directly related to the plot. The famine is a recurrent theme and provides a background to the eventual eating of children. The Hansel and Gretel universe is set during a famine and would be too difficult to express this in any other form except written.
The audio format on the soundcloud link provides context for Tulula’s celebrity status. A crass radio talk-show host is meant to display the characteristics of the world that forced Tulula into insanity. The recorded sound is also very expressive and comparatively easy to produce.
The video format gives a face to the main character Tulula and imparts the low-sheen, slightly depressing world that she is a part of.
Why we chose this platform? The Waldingburg Asylum page was chosen to present the videos because we gained the ability to lock the videos with a password. This also provided us with a chance to build our world further. The Waldingburg Asylum provided us with a challenge as to why the videos were published? A simple article about a internet security solved that issue. By choosing a website we have ensured that our users can't skip ahead to the videos, as they don't have the passwords.
The newspaper format is effective for communicating elements that help build depth in the story world, even if they might not be directly related to the plot. The famine is a recurrent theme and provides a background to the eventual eating of children. The Hansel and Gretel universe is set during a famine and would be too difficult to express this in any other form except written.
The audio format on the soundcloud link provides context for Tulula’s celebrity status. A crass radio talk-show host is meant to display the characteristics of the world that forced Tulula into insanity. The recorded sound is also very expressive and comparatively easy to produce.
The video format gives a face to the main character Tulula and imparts the low-sheen, slightly depressing world that she is a part of.
Location
The Waldingburg Asylum
The Waldingburg Asylum location was found in a little corner of building 4 at RMIT city campus. The small area was quiet and possessed all the qualities we were looking for.
- White and clean like an asylum.
- Large enough to fit two chairs, table and equipment.
- Quiet enough to record clear audio.
- Secluded enough to ensure uninterrupted shots.
The Waldingburg Law Courts
The Waldingburg Law Courts is located at the Supreme Court of Victoria on William Street in Melbourne. We used this location as our backdrop for the intro video as it looks more professional.
Users
Audience User Map
Please view the map in full screen in order to gain the best navigation.
Migratory Cues
In this project, websites are used to guide audiences across multiple media platforms. The main entry point of this story would be the video which is on the front page of The Daily Bilge website. We’ve decided to shoot a news report of the prosecution that happened and we believe that this would be a strong and compelling part of the story for our audiences/user. The user then would be able to travel across several articles which are located under the archive section of The Daily Bilge website. The user can also directly move on to the Paranormal Detective website, which is an advertisement banner with a hyperlink located at the bottom of the newspaper website.
There is no fixed path that directed leads the user from one platform to another. This was done intentionally because we want the user to navigate and direct themselves and to figure out the outcome of the story. Searching and understanding the elements and clues we’ve attached all over our websites can definitely help build the user’s experience and understanding of this narrative.
In the Paranormal Detective website, the user would have a better understanding of the story by watching a couple of videos which make the narrative more coherent. The user then would migrate to the recording of the radio show and that would solidify the plot of the story. From the Paranormal Detective video’s the user then would move on to the Waldingburg Asylum website. This is where there are password-protected posts which contains videos of Tulula’s psychological assessment. The user would be able to get the password by watching the video in the Paranormal Detective’s website where he explains how he managed to crack the code of the posts. These three Asylum videos are the exit points of this narrative. It reveals the backstory of Tulula Bakewell and would provide a more vivid explanation of the entire story.
There is no fixed path that directed leads the user from one platform to another. This was done intentionally because we want the user to navigate and direct themselves and to figure out the outcome of the story. Searching and understanding the elements and clues we’ve attached all over our websites can definitely help build the user’s experience and understanding of this narrative.
In the Paranormal Detective website, the user would have a better understanding of the story by watching a couple of videos which make the narrative more coherent. The user then would migrate to the recording of the radio show and that would solidify the plot of the story. From the Paranormal Detective video’s the user then would move on to the Waldingburg Asylum website. This is where there are password-protected posts which contains videos of Tulula’s psychological assessment. The user would be able to get the password by watching the video in the Paranormal Detective’s website where he explains how he managed to crack the code of the posts. These three Asylum videos are the exit points of this narrative. It reveals the backstory of Tulula Bakewell and would provide a more vivid explanation of the entire story.
Benefits/Incentives
Incentives and benefits for our audience members involve around them and their ability to unlock the videos. The same method can be applied to a video game. When a person wins a challenge on a game they don't physically get anything other then self satisfaction and ultimately the completion of the game. When the user finishes our project they should feel proud that they figured out all the hints and clues.
Target Audience
Our target audience is wide, which should make this transmedia project more successful. Our target age range is 16 years and onwards. It's interesting because our source material's age range would be from 5 years and onwards.
Even though children in todays society are highly desensitised, it still contains some elements they may not understand. Our transmedia project may have some similar connections to the source material like murder, however it's the way we chose to present our story and include psychiatric and dark elements in which we raised the age range.
The platform choice would also come into consideration of our target audience. A lot of young people may not have any interest in the news and therefor wouldn't explore the world.
Even though children in todays society are highly desensitised, it still contains some elements they may not understand. Our transmedia project may have some similar connections to the source material like murder, however it's the way we chose to present our story and include psychiatric and dark elements in which we raised the age range.
The platform choice would also come into consideration of our target audience. A lot of young people may not have any interest in the news and therefor wouldn't explore the world.
Profiles for Possible Audience Members
Name: Joe A. Verage
Age: 35
Occupation: Business Owner
About/Interests: Joe married and has three children. He owns the local pub in Waldingburg and a few little projects around town. On the weekends he enjoys fishing with his family at the creek and also taking his wife out for romantic picnics.
Age: 35
Occupation: Business Owner
About/Interests: Joe married and has three children. He owns the local pub in Waldingburg and a few little projects around town. On the weekends he enjoys fishing with his family at the creek and also taking his wife out for romantic picnics.
Name: Ashley Dashley
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
About/Interests: Ashley loves journalism and old detective films. When she was younger she wanted to work for the CIA in Area 51. Now that Ashley is older and in her second year of journalism, she wishes to be a journalist in the field of investigative journalism for The Daily Bilge.
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
About/Interests: Ashley loves journalism and old detective films. When she was younger she wanted to work for the CIA in Area 51. Now that Ashley is older and in her second year of journalism, she wishes to be a journalist in the field of investigative journalism for The Daily Bilge.
Name: Ted Rainbow
Age: 24
Occupation: Graduate currently seeking employment
About/Interests: Other then his romantic interest in Ashley, Ted is actively seeking work in the field of psychology. He majored in human behavioural studies and wishes to study disorders in research projects. He also highly enjoys reading and museums.
Age: 24
Occupation: Graduate currently seeking employment
About/Interests: Other then his romantic interest in Ashley, Ted is actively seeking work in the field of psychology. He majored in human behavioural studies and wishes to study disorders in research projects. He also highly enjoys reading and museums.
User Testing Results
These are the results from five students in RMIT who evaluated our project during the draft process.
Tester One
Positive
- Overall pretty engaged in the whole project, being placed in the story world was good.
- The comments on the Daily Bilge website were engaging and a good transition into other links.
- Comments were funny (user read through all the comments)
Negative
- No links back?
Improvements
- Not sure how this ends?
- Hard to stay engaged in the asylum videos. Maybe can be trimmed slightly to get to the point faster?
Tester Two
Positive
- Really interesting and a nice complement to the original story.
Negative
- Soundcloud comments were too long.
- Soundcloud didn’t work for this user.
- Why have three places to put password if all unlock/lead to the same place with all the videos?
Improvements
- Need to fill in The Daily Bilges pages like ‘sports,’ ‘business’ etc.
- Waldingburg Asylum ‘about’ page is still a template.
- Could link more to the mystery of the children, user was unsure when they were killed/what happened?
Tester Three
Positive
- The set up of the first page is really good and aesthetically pleasing.
- The user likes the initial video of the news report to establish the idea, really cool.
Negative
- The user didn’t understand the point of having links in sections of the paper with nothing in them.
- Missed the links in the comment section the first few times.
- Having the Asylum link as the first post meant she missed the detective page.
- Doesn’t have the clearest ending.
- Doesn’t understand the point of the email button on home page.
Improvements
- Need to fill in The Daily Bilges pages like ‘sports,’ ‘business’ etc.
- One of the video has someone saying ‘cut’ in it, and needs to be fixed.
- The user watched the videos from top to bottom (wrong order)
- Maybe put the description of the Waldingburg Asylum on top of the page?
- Detective banner on the bottom could be bigger.
Tester Four
Positive
- Great first impression, world is really clever. Opening video sets the scene.
- Paranormal Detective was interesting.
- Liked the password protection, made the user feel clever.
- Loved the radio interview, funny and engaging.
- Archives page was good.
Negative
- Evaluation videos a little long, and the user zoned out.
Improvements
- Videos out of order in dates (Paranormal Detective blog).
- Maybe trim evaluation videos and also order them from top to bottom.
- Was hoping that Hansel and Gretel would feature more prominently, their absence very obvious. Could they create an ending?
Tester Five
Positive
Professional looking, classic newspaper website.
Negative
- The video ‘Waldingburg News – Gingerbread House of Horrors’ is not quite on target. There are no cutaways, making it feel like a pretend news segment rather than a real one.
- The main article is not interesting enough, relevant enough or linked to some of the bigger issues that are happening.
- A random artefact on Soundcloud is not a space!
Improvements
- Fill out the ‘about’ section of the Daily Bilge.
- The Paranormal Detective blog needs to customized, needs an ‘about’ section and the detective either needs to be more ranty in his writing, or needs to be more descriptive.
- Waldingburg Asylum needs to look like an internal database.
- Maybe make a radio channel for the Soundcloud?
Tester One
Positive
- Overall pretty engaged in the whole project, being placed in the story world was good.
- The comments on the Daily Bilge website were engaging and a good transition into other links.
- Comments were funny (user read through all the comments)
Negative
- No links back?
Improvements
- Not sure how this ends?
- Hard to stay engaged in the asylum videos. Maybe can be trimmed slightly to get to the point faster?
Tester Two
Positive
- Really interesting and a nice complement to the original story.
Negative
- Soundcloud comments were too long.
- Soundcloud didn’t work for this user.
- Why have three places to put password if all unlock/lead to the same place with all the videos?
Improvements
- Need to fill in The Daily Bilges pages like ‘sports,’ ‘business’ etc.
- Waldingburg Asylum ‘about’ page is still a template.
- Could link more to the mystery of the children, user was unsure when they were killed/what happened?
Tester Three
Positive
- The set up of the first page is really good and aesthetically pleasing.
- The user likes the initial video of the news report to establish the idea, really cool.
Negative
- The user didn’t understand the point of having links in sections of the paper with nothing in them.
- Missed the links in the comment section the first few times.
- Having the Asylum link as the first post meant she missed the detective page.
- Doesn’t have the clearest ending.
- Doesn’t understand the point of the email button on home page.
Improvements
- Need to fill in The Daily Bilges pages like ‘sports,’ ‘business’ etc.
- One of the video has someone saying ‘cut’ in it, and needs to be fixed.
- The user watched the videos from top to bottom (wrong order)
- Maybe put the description of the Waldingburg Asylum on top of the page?
- Detective banner on the bottom could be bigger.
Tester Four
Positive
- Great first impression, world is really clever. Opening video sets the scene.
- Paranormal Detective was interesting.
- Liked the password protection, made the user feel clever.
- Loved the radio interview, funny and engaging.
- Archives page was good.
Negative
- Evaluation videos a little long, and the user zoned out.
Improvements
- Videos out of order in dates (Paranormal Detective blog).
- Maybe trim evaluation videos and also order them from top to bottom.
- Was hoping that Hansel and Gretel would feature more prominently, their absence very obvious. Could they create an ending?
Tester Five
Positive
Professional looking, classic newspaper website.
Negative
- The video ‘Waldingburg News – Gingerbread House of Horrors’ is not quite on target. There are no cutaways, making it feel like a pretend news segment rather than a real one.
- The main article is not interesting enough, relevant enough or linked to some of the bigger issues that are happening.
- A random artefact on Soundcloud is not a space!
Improvements
- Fill out the ‘about’ section of the Daily Bilge.
- The Paranormal Detective blog needs to customized, needs an ‘about’ section and the detective either needs to be more ranty in his writing, or needs to be more descriptive.
- Waldingburg Asylum needs to look like an internal database.
- Maybe make a radio channel for the Soundcloud?