Twain understood what modern storytellers seem to have forgotten-a compelling sequel offers consumers a new perspective on the characters, rather than just more of the same.
Even when sequels work, it can still go wrong in film depending on the script, for example, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit or the Terminator series.
For most of human history, it would be taken for granted that a great story would take many different forms, enshrined in stain glass windows or tapestries, told through printed words or sung by bards and poets, or enacted by traveling performers.
So stories have always been told in many different forms and enhanced storytelling is not something that has been created by digital. But using digital tools creatively can enhance a good story.
In a world with many media options, consumers are choosing to invest deeply in a limited number of franchises rather than dip shallowly into a larger number.
Open to debate, you don't always want to know more when we can access so much. Decline in cinema may be more to do with quality of storytelling in general and franchise fatigue.
the most successful transmedia franchises have emerged when a single creator or creative unit maintains control over the franchise. Hollywood might well study the ways that Lucasfilm has managed and cultivated its Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises.
It would be interesting to look at what has happened and the change in perception of the franchises since Disney took over Lucasfilm.
LEGO has succeeded in building a flagging business from early noughties through partnerships the first being Star Wars LEGO, the sets, the video games, then movies and theme parks etc
“We make sure that everything that we do is very true to the values of our brand and bring that brand to life in a way that we protect as much as possible,” Julia Goldin, CMO Lego Group https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/27/lego-marketing-strategy-made-it-world-favorite-toy-brand.html
The kids who have grown up consuming and enjoying Pokemon across media are going to expect this same kind of experience from The West Wing as they get older.
Or the role of digital in fostering the obsessive fan in the era of binge viewing. It might be fun to visit the podcast http://thewestwingweekly.com/ occasionaily but who wants to tune in every week?
Everything about the structure of the modern entertainment industry was designed with this single idea in mind-the construction and enhancement of entertainment franchises.
Again, ehancing what, the brand? What about the quality of the prequel, sequel, spin-off. Is there possibly a different definition of multi-platform?
multiplatform, or enhanced storytelling represents the future of entertainment.
On one hand multimedia storytelling seems to be an exciting concept offering endless scope for creative ways to tell stories.
A good story engages people, regardless of platform, Is this media interest more in brand building, creating fans that consume more stuff?