Ep 86. Russell Binder - The SECRETS behind Transmedia

Russell Binder, the IP accelerator behind Five Nights at Freddy's, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, reveals how gaming communities are reshaping Hollywood's and gamings approach to franchise building.

In this conversation, Russell Binder, founder of Stryker Entertainment, shares his journey from representing comic book creators to building billion-dollar transmedia franchises. With 30+ years of experience developing IPs like Five Nights at Freddy's, Twilight Saga, and Angry Birds, Russell provides unprecedented insights into how gaming communities are transforming Hollywood and gaming's approach to storytelling, merchandising and entertainment.

"When I started in the business, there were the five families, Warner's, Disney, Universal, Sony, and Paramount, and they were generally the gatekeepers of the big IPs," Russell explains. He reveals the strategies behind turning Five Nights at Freddy's from an indie game to a global phenomenon through community cultivation: "The virality of these jump scares and watching people play this game introduced this property to a massive social audience across YouTube, across Instagram... you didn't have to play the game to get excited about Five Nights at Freddy's."

Russell also shares candid stories about working with industry legends: "If you ask me what I love about my job, as much as I love movies, as much as I love video games, the people I've had the pleasure to work with, Steven Spielberg, Sean Levy, Guillermo del Toro, like some of the coolest storytellers and filmmakers..." His insights on what makes an IP truly transferable are invaluable: "If you look at what works in horror, it's iconic. It's Freddie, Jason, Michael Myers in the film business. In gaming, Five Nights at Freddy's and Poppy and Bendy... Iconic characters that translate multi-directionally."

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Russell Binder and Striker Entertainment

05:32 The Twilight Saga

18:17 Transitioning to Video Games: Angry Birds and Five Nights at Freddy's

25:43 Future of Transmedia and Cross-Platform Content

34:27 The Challenges of Transmedia Projects

34:54 Disney's Transmedia Mastery

35:17 Amazon's Potential in Transmedia

36:47 The Evolution of Gaming and Hollywood

37:29 Criteria for Successful Transmedia Ventures

40:15 High on Life: A Transmedia Success Story

41:36 The Future of Transmedia Adaptations

51:09: Working with Steven Spielberg

59:42 The Future of Transmedia and Entertainment

Guest Biography:

Russell Binder is the founder of Stryker Entertainment, an IP accelerator specialising in transmedia development, licensing, and production. With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Russell has managed blockbuster IPs including The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, TheWalkingDead, Pacific Rim, Five Nights at Freddy's, Preacher, KickAss2, TED and TED 2, Terminator Salvation, Terminator Genisys, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, The BFG, Powers, Ender's Game, and others. His unique approach combines consumer products expertise with film/TV development, helping creators maximise their IP's potential across multiple platforms.

Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/I3WAJiz82Hk?si=quh3xArWI_3B9h_P

Connect with Russell Binder:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-binder-19a3791/

Website: https://www.strikerentertainment.com/

Connect with Pete:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-george-bell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepeterbell/

Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/before-5-on-friday-7244349280012886020/

Website: https://www.purposemade.uk

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