IFH 733: The Art of World Building - Immersive Screenwriting with Margaret Kerrison
Jan 16, 2024
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Guest Margaret Kerrison discusses the art of world-building, immersive storytelling, and themed entertainment. She shares insights on creating cohesive experiences in themed entertainment, collaborating with Disney Imagineers, and navigating the galaxy of Star Wars world-building. The chapter also explores immersive storytelling in video games, the power of personal connections in storytelling, and the importance of embracing uniqueness in writing and directing for success.
Immersive storytelling challenges traditional methods by involving participants in interactive experiences, engaging their senses and perceptions.
Colleges offer themed entertainment programs, highlighting the importance of networking and gaining experience with smaller companies in the immersive storytelling industry.
World-building in storytelling involves drawing inspiration from personal experiences and emotions, emphasizing universal human truths for a more resonant narrative.
Deep dives
Creating Immersive Experiences Through Storytelling
Creating immersive experiences involves transporting the audience into a different world where they can engage with the story firsthand. This can occur in various forms such as museums like the National Museum of African American History or places like Meow Wolf, where visitors participate in interactive experiences, uncovering hidden elements. Immersive storytelling challenges traditional storytelling by allowing participants to play a role in the story, engaging with their senses and perceptions.
The Evolution of Immersive Storytelling Opportunities
The field of immersive storytelling presents both competition and collaboration among creators striving to push boundaries in creating immersive experiences. While opportunities may not be as mainstream as traditional screenwriting, colleges and universities are now offering programs in themed entertainment, cultivating an understanding of nuanced storytelling that involves a multi-sensory approach. Building relationships, networking, and gaining experience with smaller companies or as a consultant can open doors in the immersive storytelling industry.
Crafting Worlds in Storytelling: Key Considerations
When embarking on world-building in storytelling, writers are encouraged to ask why they are telling a particular story and why they are uniquely positioned to do so. Emphasizing universal human truths and empathetic connections can elevate the impact of the narrative. Drawing inspiration from creators like George Lucas and Walt Disney, focusing on engaging with personal experiences and emotions can lead to a more profound and resonant storytelling experience.
The Power of Personal Storytelling
Creating impactful stories involves delving into personal traumas and triumphs, crafting character arcs that resonate with universal experiences, and revealing vulnerabilities to connect with audiences on a deeper level. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity and uniqueness in storytelling, encouraging writers to draw from their own experiences and deeper emotions to create compelling narratives.
The Impact of Immersive Storytelling
Immersive storytelling plays a crucial role in captivating audiences and inspiring them to explore different worlds through various mediums like film, TV shows, and literature. The episode discusses how world-building combined with relatable character journeys and themes enhances storytelling experiences, invoking a sense of aspiration, curiosity, and empathy in the audience. Successful immersive storytelling not only entertains but also educates, transforms, and connects individuals through shared experiences.
Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Margaret Kerrison received my Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Her career spans television, film, digital media, games, brand storytelling, location-based entertainment, and immersive experiences.Margaret worked as a Story Lead, Story Consultant, and Writer for multiple projects around the world, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Star Wars: Launch Bay, Hyperspace Mountain, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Avengers Campus, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, National Geographic HQ, NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted, Heineken Experience, StoryGarden by AMOREPACIFIC, and the Information and Communications Pavilion (Expo 2010 Shanghai).
Margaret was the writer for five projects that received Themed Entertainment Association (THEA) Awards. She appeared in the Disney+ series Behind the Attraction, the Freeform television special Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge – Adventure Awaits, and the online educational program Imagineering in a Box. Margaret has been invited to speak at prestigious conferences and universities including SXSW, Star Wars Celebration, D23, IAAPA Expo, FMX Conference, University of Southern California, and Johns Hopkins University. Her projects have been featured around the world in The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, Wired magazine, and the official site for Star Wars. Margaret Kerrison was a Disney Imagineer from 2014-2021 and was recently featured in a blooloop article.Margaret is currently a Senior Experiential Creative Lead in Airbnb's Experiential Creative Product team.