outputs and format tools

The previous two entries set up my asking myself the next question:

Where do I want to go?

I want to go to doing the stories I want to do as stylized CGI. Motion Capture has advanced enough that is it becoming more common than boutique. This will also allow for the kinds of output that I am looking to do. Also Performance Capture is developing as an outgrowth tool. (See here at Popular Mechanics.)

What kind of output medium?

First there was the cell phone, and the desktop computer.

Soon came the laptop.

Then the PDA.

Then the smart phone.

Now the tablet computer is starting to move to prominence in the market. Looking at this from a designers viewpoint, the cell phone and PDA are both in the traditional design point of the 3x5 card, or other hand held pocket tool. The tablet and laptop are the size of a pad of paper and lap desk respectively, though they have about the same viewing area. Some tablets are the size of hard back book, without the heft or depth.

On a different direction, the internet and digital disk industry are rapidly moving to a position where the traditional distribution methods are bypassed.

So what kind of output do I want to do? I mentioned being true to the written story. One problem had right now is how well the written story translated to the time constraints of the theater of broadcast slot. Broadcast can work around this by the serial series, multiple episodes of the story, each showing given chapters of the story to tell. Theater can do similar, but story fatigue may set in and kill the project before it can run its course.

One notable series about a boy-wizard has been able to go this direction, yet it still has had to drop significant portions of the written stories from the movie versions.

The kinds of output I want to do may be built up in reference to existing audio and video formats.

First is the electronic book: text only. Fine nothing new there, that just takes getting the copyright.
Second would be narrated book. Text with a narrator as on a book-on-disk.
Third would be narrated book with a voice cast.
A forth possibility would include a soundtrack; this may be essentially the audio track of a movie.

In other video directions:
Mixed with the text would be stills, the illustrated novel. But the stills would be from one of two basic sources: the storyboards or other illustrated images; the rendered video, or at least the production models from a different camera on the set.

Next would be akin to a comic book, or graphic novel. The audio options would still be available.
Last would be full motion. With each video option, the other audio options would be available. Narrator, voice cast, and full sound track. Perhaps other options: one with the sound effects, but no music, and one just music only without any narration or cast.

These would be produced in as close collaboration with the author, or creative rights holder, as possible. As well these would be produced not for broadcast or movies, but for direct release. So there would be no concern for time length. 

Content also comes into play, but that is another issue entirely, and can be dealt with project by project.

One last issue is, of course,advertising within the project. If done as a book, there may be the equivalent of the back page that has the publisher's add on it. Or a previews page in the overall menu as done on dvd's now.