In May 2007, 42 Entertainment began a viral marketing campaign utilizing the film’s “Why So Serious?” logline.

A transmedia experiment with over 10 million participants in over 75 countries that played across hundreds of web pages, interactive games, mobile phones, print, email, real world events, video and unique collectibles….

The text based elements of mobile phones have had a profound impact on the English language. The textual mobile communications protocol is called Short Message System (SMS). The act of SMSing is referred to as texting. Texting has developed an evolved version of the [...]]]> Impact of mobile phones on the English language

Date written: 28/04/08

The text based elements of mobile phones have had a profound impact on the English language. The textual mobile communications protocol is called Short Message System (SMS). The act of SMSing is referred to as texting. Texting has developed an evolved version of the written English language. Mobiles have also provided a way of accessing and publishing written works such as novels, blogs and newspapers.

The input method of a mobile is the keypad. It consists of 10 digits (0-9), with each of the 1-9 buttons having three or four letters associated with it. A letter is inputted by pressing the corresponding numeric key until reached. For example: z = 9 key pressed four times. A space is created with the 0 key.

The mobile phone industry developed texting technology in the 1990’s allowing sending of a 160 character SMS. The intention of a text is to deliver the indented message in the fewest characters possible. The average length of a text is 14 words or 65 characters.¹

750 million text messages were sent on a daily basis in 2001.² 2004 saw 500 billion messages sent world wide. The people sending texts create the jargon. The demographic of texters with 14 to 16 year olds being two thirds of mobile owners.³ 81 per cent of 15-24 year old mobile users send text messages.⁴ Females are over half the texters.⁵

Constructing a text has many challenges. Difficulties are derived from the restrictions of screen size (130×160 pixels, fonts 6-8 point), with 160 character constraint and the miniature keyboard for input. Moreover, mobile phone service providers may charge per character or per message.⁶ Subsequently, texters kept texts short to minimise costs. The language became more specific forming a unique dialect using the mobile medium. The text conventions of mobile language can be traced back to Leetspeak.

Computer use has already established a written English language variation. Leetspeak, or 13375p34k, traditionally belonged to the self proclaimed ‘elite’ technology literate. It comprises of English text condensed to one syllable phonetically and substitution of digits and symbols in place of letters. It was originally developed as the typed version of short hand.⁷ Netspeak is the generalised version, common to all digital communication.

Netspeak conveniently provided the basis for texting as it was already embedded in the younger generations every day interactions. Netspeak carryovers include: l8r (later), B4 (before) and BRB (be right back).

Creative acronyms and abbreviations⁸ became widely accepted in texting creating new ‘words’.⁹ Some of the new constructions consist of: F2T (free to talk) and RUOK (are you OK?). The prevalence of a common phrases use increases the likelihood that it has been translated for texting. Common phrases are often reduced to a character sequence produced from the first letter of each word.¹⁰ This is seen in SWDYT (So what do you think?) and BCBC (Beggars can’t be choosers).

Text messages are striped down to the fundamentals of a message by leaving elements out to minimise character use.¹¹ Capital letters may take on syllabic values, like in thN (then). Texters value consonants over vowels, sometimes removing them completely, such as TXT (text). Another technique used, is for words with repeating letters by culling the second repeated letter, seen in XLNT (excellent).¹²

Characters are further reduced by excluding majority of punctuation. Hyphens are culled creating joint words.¹³ Only 35 per cent of texters utilise apostrophes.¹⁴ Leaving the most prevalent punctuation as question marks and exclamation marks.¹⁵

The limit to how much of the textual English language can be condensed will be eventually reached.¹⁶ Statements will become too personalised to abbreviate, with a global understanding. However, by then technology will be created with different confines. Technology has already overcome the small mobile keyboard via the full sized ‘virtual laser keyboard’ integrated into mobiles.¹⁷

Predictive text can reduce the time for text typing time. “Text on 9 keys”, or predictive text or T9, is a mobile SMS feature that deducts the most likely word from the combination of pressed keys. When a phone user presses 785 the word ‘rule’ will be typed using predictive text filling in the key 3. Only 55 per cent of texters use predictive text.¹⁸ Sometimes predictive text can encounter textonyms. Textonyms are a sequence of number keys producing more than one word.¹⁹ 22737 creates: acres, bards, bases, cards and carer.

Emoticons are a substitute for physical and aural cues of face-to-face communication used in emails, texts and instant messaging.²⁰ As 75 per cent of nonverbal communication is performed with facial expressions²¹ nuances are missed in texts. Emoticons are used to imply these subtexts.²² Emotions such as sadness are transformed to . English text is read left to right, which is adapted to emoticons.

Netspeak is not the only computer trend carried over to mobiles. Long ago scriptoria’s were required to make written publications; with mobiles three-quarters of the population has their own scriptorium which also allows for delivery.²³ Blogging, online journaling, has branched off into moblogging. This is where majority of posts are published by mobile and possibly read on mobiles.²⁴

Newspapers have become ubiquitous and interactive with the use of mobiles. Newspapers have set up mobile enabled websites, such as mobile.nytimes.com.²⁵ And Sydney Morning Herald has set up an SMS number, 0424 SMS SMH, to send photos, videos and tip-offs.²⁶

Japan started the trend of mobile novels.²⁷ Writers using this method are often publishing their first book. Readers have rarely read a traditional novel. However, some of these mobile novels are being published in book form selling 2.6 million copies.²⁸ The English speaking world is following with Microlit and Harlequin selling mobile novels through their websites.²⁹ Random House owns mobile learning software as ‘Living Language’.³⁰

The Bible has been translated into the most languages out of any publication, with the text format being the latest. It took one person four weeks to translate. Sending it via SMS would take over 30,000 messages and cost approximately $8000. Ecclesiastes, chapter nine, verse 10 reads like: “Wrk hard at wateva u do. U will soon go 2 da wrld of da dead, where no 1 wrks or thinks or reasons or knws NEting.”³¹

As U cN C TXNing has changed the English language. The act of sending an SMS text with a compacted message is a frequent occurrence. Novels and newspapers are accessible from anywhere and anyone can write and publish them with the use of 10 numbered keys. Mobile phones have forever changed the way we communicate with text.

References:

• ‘Bible cre8td for a nu wrl: testaments by SMS’ (October 6, 2005), Accessed at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bible-cre8td-for-a-nu-wrl-testaments-by-sms/2005/10/06/1128562927820.html?oneclick=true , Accessed on 24/04/08
• ‘Cell Phones Put to Novel Use’ (03.18.05), Accessed at: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2005/03/66950 , Accessed on 24/04/08

• Braun, L., ‘Teens, technology, and literacy; or, Why bad grammar isn’t always bad (2007)

• Crystal, D., ‘Language and the Internet’ Second Ed. (2006)

• Zorn, E., (19/01/2007), http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/01/slang_earlywarn.html , Accessed on 24/04/08
• Glass, L., The Complete Idiot’s Guide: Verbal Self-Defence (1999)
• http://firstlook.nytimes.com/?category_name=mobile.nytimes.com , Accessed on 24/04/08
• http://www.eharlequin.com , Accessed on 24/04/08
• Sutherland, J., ‘Cn u txt?’, (11/11/2002), http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,837709,00.html , Accessed on 24/04/08
• http://www.lumio.com/ , Accessed on 24/04/08
• http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/son-shot-sleeping-father/2008/04/25/1208743229895.html , Accessed on 24/04/08

• Keats, J., ‘Control + Alt + Delete A Dictionary of Cyberslang’ (2007) Pg. 114

• Moschovitis, C. J. P., ‘The Internet: A Historical Encyclopaedia’ (Moschovitis Group, 2005)
• Onishi, N., Thumbs Race as Japan’s Best Sellers Go Cellular (20/01/2008), Accessed at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print , Accessed on 24/04/08
• Thurlow, C., ‘Generation Txt? The sociolinguistics of young people’s text-messaging’ (2003), Accessed at: http://extra.shu.ac.uk/daol/articles/v1/n1/a3/thurlow2002003-paper.html , Accessed on 24/04/08

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Pamela Meagher

Check out “Danica’s Vlog” on transmedia!

So, what about an example….
Sure! Superman? The Simpsons? The Matrix?
All!

“Two platforms and dialogue with the audience” -Jeff Gomez
So.. More detail please? Here is Henry Jenkins is the director, Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT.

Will [...]]]> What is Transmedia?

Check out “Danica’s Vlog” on transmedia!

So, what about an example….
Sure! Superman? The Simpsons? The Matrix?
All!

“Two platforms and dialogue with the audience” -Jeff Gomez
So.. More detail please? Here is Henry Jenkins is the director, Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT.

Will transmedia storytelling enrich popular culture or make it more formulaic? Youtube user ‘wuchapi’ discusses:

Let’s talk business. How does this transmedia thing translate to money?
Watch the clip with:
Moderator: Gavin McGarry, President, Jumpwire Media LLC
Speakers:
Mathieu Ferland, Transmedia Senior Producer, Ubisoft Entertainment
Brian Seth Hurst, CEO, The Opportunity Management Company, Inc.
Jean-François Rodriguez, VP Games and Transmedia, Orange
Jody Smith, Cross Platform Commissioner, Drama, Comedy & Entertainment, Channel 4

Kevin Human – “Telling Stories in a Transmedia World” Writer, Narrative Designer, and Community Manager at Digital Roar Studios. Kevin weaves together a story of the stories we tell ourselves and the media we use to tell those stories in his TEDxCreativeCoast 2010 presentation. By exploring the ways in which media expand, enhance and enrich our experience of any story, Kevin connects the information-saturated world with our core humanity and challenges us to understand ourselves through many lenses.

  Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Pamela Meagher

At the International Digital Emmy Awards at MIPTV, Tim Kring, the creator of NBCs Heroes, was awarded the Pioneer Prize for his contributions to the field of digital entertainment with Heroes Evolutions. Kring and his team have built an extensive online universe to support the show, from webisodes [...]]]> Tim Kring, writer and producer: Heroes

At the International Digital Emmy Awards at MIPTV, Tim Kring, the creator of NBCs Heroes, was awarded the Pioneer Prize for his contributions to the field of digital entertainment with Heroes Evolutions. Kring and his team have built an extensive online universe to support the show, from webisodes to digital comics. In this video interview, Kring discusses his online initiatives for Heroes as well as his upcoming transmedia projects.

Tim Kring, Executive Producer/Creator of Heroes and Mitch Kanner of Two Degrees Ventures discuss the phenomenon of transmedia in the hit television series Heroes at MIXX

Tim Kring, the creator of the popular TV series ‘Heroes’, and discovers how the Internet is reshaping the future of TV-based entertainment.

Wordle – Love the concept of this site. Wordle is “a toy for generating ‘word clouds’ from text that you provide.”

Used it to create an image from the first blog post.

You too can make a Wordle!

Just go here:     http://www.wordle.net/create

Last week I started work on the live TV show Studio A as a Graphics Operator. The show is a live variety comedy show. It includes exclusive interviews, celebrity guests, live sketches, stand-up acts, live music and much more. The show is in it’s fifth season!

Studio A is an award winning program [...]]]>  

Last week I started work on the live TV show Studio A as a Graphics Operator. The show is a live variety comedy show. It includes exclusive interviews, celebrity guests, live sketches, stand-up acts, live music and much more. The show is in it’s fifth season!

Studio A is an award winning program taking out The Antenna Awards for “Most Outstanding Program of The Year” and “Best Live Show” in 2009.   The 4th Season in 2010 Studio A’s ratings had an average audience of 43,500 per episode and a peak of 86,000.

My first episode was great! All my stuff went ahead without a hick-up. Hopefully all following episodes will go ahead just as smoothly.

You can tune in on Monday nights at 8:30pm on Channel 31 (digital 44) in Victoria only for Studio A.
Follow @studioamelb

You can watch a clip below:

“Since the 1st Academy Awards in 1929 nearly 250 Oscars have been given to screenwriters. Of those awards approx. 9% have been for films written or co-written by women.” Women [...]]]> Women Screenwriters

International Women’s Day is today! To commemorate I have compiled a list of some women I find interesting. Of course, they are screenwriters!

“Since the 1st Academy Awards in 1929 nearly 250 Oscars have been given to screenwriters. Of those awards approx. 9% have been for films written or co-written by women.” Women Screenwriters and Oscar Nominations - JD Eames, Mar 11, 2009

So here is a list of women screenwriters that inspire, aspire and challenge me. It is far from complete! I am always looking for more inspiration. The list needs far more Australian influences, so feel free to suggest some below.

Image via Wikipedia

Please note, not in any particular order!

• Marti Noxon: Angel, Buffy, Brothers & Sisters, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice – @gradytwin http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0637497/
• Marieke Hardy: Laid, Neighbours, Short Cuts, Something in the Air – @mariekehardy http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362705/
• Diablo Cody: United States of Tara, Juno – @diablocody http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1959505/
• Nikki Reed: Thirteen – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1223023/
• Mindy Kaling: The Office (US version) – @mindykaling
  

  Image via Wikipedia

  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1411676/

• Emily Cutler: Community – @CutlerEmily http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193915/
• Kelly Lefever:  The Circuit, Neighbours – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498925/
• Jane Turner: Kath and Kim – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877613/
• Susannah Grant: Erin Brockovich, In Her Shoes, Party of Five, Pocahontas – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0335666/
• Tina Fey: 30 Rock, Mean Girls -http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275486/
• Sarah Silverman: The Sarah Silverman Show- @SarahKSilverman http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0798971/
  

  Image via Wikipedia

• Caroline Dries: The Vampire Diaries, Smallville – @carolinedries http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1941358/
• Robyn Butler: The Librarians, Very Small Business – @butlerandhope http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125114/
• Felicia Day: The Guild – @feliciaday http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260407/
  

  Jane Espenson (right) and I

• Shonda Rhimes: Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice – @shondarhimes http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722274/
• Gina Riley: Kath and Kim -http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727041/
• Nancy Miller: Saving Grace, The Closer, Profiler – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0589043/
• Elaine May: Labyrinth, Dangerous Minds, Tootsie – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0561938/
• Jane Espenson: Buffy, Angel, Tru Calling,  Firefly, Dinosaurs, The O.C., Gilmore Girls, Dollhouse, Torchwood, Warehouse 13, Caprica – @JaneEspenson http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260870/

More women screenwriters’ information can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Women_screenwriters