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Story World Explorers

Story World Explorers

Written by: Frank & Jack Konrath
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About this listen

Join us as we have fun, in-depth conversations with creators about their passion projects. Together exploring their story world, characters, themes, and potential transmedia outlets.

© 2025 Clovis Point, LLC
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • SWE #21 Jancroon with Louie Olivas
    Nov 6 2025

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    Embark with us and transmedia producer Louie Olivas as we explore the future of mankind on the galactiport, Jancroon!

    Jancroon: https://jancroon.com/

    Jancroon takes place over a thousand years in the future deep in space on a galactiport named Jancroon. Humankind has long since left Earth and now exist in these self-contained galactiports. Jancroon is one of these havens but is also the first of its kind. Spanning 800 miles in diameter and featuring star-scrapers, Jancroon is home not to just mankind, but an entirely different species of intelligent life, the Croon. Humans and Croon co-habitat this galactiport but are sequestered to either side with a large dome in between them. There is tension mounting, mistrust between the species, and a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled.

    We spoke about galactiports, human v. croon, and all about the inter-workings of the story world. After setting the scene we explored new content Louie is already working on and suggested some interesting concepts to grow his audience as he waits for larger investments from VCs.

    The Croon are brooding and the prophecy is waiting to come to fruition! Come travel to Jancroon with us!

    Support the show

    Are you an intrepid explorer with your own story world? You should be a guest on Story World Explorers! Connect with us here: https://clovispointcm.com/be-a-guest

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • SWE #20 Show Sold Separately with Jonathan Gray
    Aug 21 2025

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    Embark with us and fandom studies expert Jonathan Gray as we explore the importance of paratexts in transmedia storytelling!

    Jonathan is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Show Sold Separately. His work examines how media entertainment and its audiences interact and examines how and where value and meaning are created. A principal part of this research is found exploring paratexts; the secondary and tertiary texts produced by both the fandom and entertainment entity to support, hype, and contextualize the larger pieces of content. Think the movie poster for a feature film, the fanfiction that focuses on a side character, and the action figure for a superhero.

    Paratexts are incredibly important to the transmedia ecosystem, as it allows your audience to form initial and new opinions of the content your produce. They refract messages to make new meanings and cause regenerative conversations between you and your audience. Paratexts are often seen as marketing or fan obsessions, but in reality they have immense power create a living story world.

    We spoke about what paratexts are and how to identify them and then examples of the power of paratext observing Superman and The Simpsons. We also explored how the independent artist can use paratexts in their own work to reframe messages and drive interest into their larger projects.

    If there is one episode you should listen to in this Story World Explorers season, make it this one!

    #transmedia #paratexts #fandomstudies


    Support the show

    Are you an intrepid explorer with your own story world? You should be a guest on Story World Explorers! Connect with us here: https://clovispointcm.com/be-a-guest

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • SWE #19 Unknown 9 with Chris Masson
    Jul 29 2025

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    Embark with us and transmedia producer Chris Masson as we explore transmedia lessons learned from the rise and fall of the Unknown 9 story world!

    Chris was the Transmedia Architect of Reflector Entertainment’s Unknown 9 story world up until the world’s cancelation with less-then-ideal reception of the video game, Unknown 9: Awakening. Unknown 9 was a pure transmedia franchise, with stories expanding from novels to podcasts. Chris’s responsibilities where that of a lore master, owning the transmedia bible and ensuring world continuity throughout the Unknown 9 story world.

    Chris experienced the dizzying highs and devastating lows of the Unknown 9 story world. He knows what works and certainly what does not when it comes to transmedia in a large studio setting. After reflection, Chris has compiled his thoughts and developed a studio focuses transmedia model to correct the mistakes and pitfalls that befell Unknown 9.

    We spoke about what happened with Unknown 9 and the lessons that can be derived from it. Chris shared pieces of his transmedia model for large studios looking to expand into transmedia storytelling. Pulling it all together, we then discussed how independent artists can utilize these lessons learned as well with their own story world creations.

    #transmedia #unknown9

    Introduction: (0:00)
    Unknown 9 Transmedia Lessons: (4:24)
    Studio Transmedia Model: (20:20)
    How YOU can use this: (37:10)
    Transmedia Timeline: (52:10)

    Support the show

    Are you an intrepid explorer with your own story world? You should be a guest on Story World Explorers! Connect with us here: https://clovispointcm.com/be-a-guest

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 13 mins
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