Show Don’t Tell

When I came across this video about ABC’s ‘FlashForward’ ARG on Tubefilter it just rubbed me the wrong way and I had to comment and blog about it.

I’m sorry I don’t want to be negative about online videos or ARGs for that matter but this video really hurts our cause.

This video does nothing to engage viewers in the story.

It is explanatory dialogue with no content.

Why do I care about this guy?

Why do I care about the story?

Why do I want to see “documentaries” that are shot like web dramas?

Why do I want to spend my precious time with him?

He’s a good actor. It looks like it could be interesting… But you have to be kidding me.

If you are going to make a video to explain your ARG or any online video series, make a video that has spectacle, conflict, moves two or more emotions and engages your audience in your story. Otherwise you are wasting your time and everyone else’s.

While this video has nice lighting and production values it makes it feel like work to participate in this ARG.

DO NOT MAKE THINGS SEEM HARD!

Entertain your audience.

Emotionally engage your audience.

Make your audience care.

Give them a show. Not a tell.

  • Very great theme ! i really enjoy it, thanks a lot for sharing the different step of creation, very interesting to know !
  • Good points Tim and don’t take this as me trying to downplay them at all but this is the fifth video in the Obregon section of the game and served only as an introduction to the Join the Mosaic website...which I think will serve as the point at which the ARG really has a chance to take players somewhere really fun.

    I myself question the necessity of the Obregon character at all, when the other aspects of the game seem far more fascinating. I think the game designer was trying to focus on creating a universally likable character that would serve to guide the audience on their journey and has ended up only being moderately successful at it. It may end up as a detriment to the entire game.

    But there seems to still be a lot of game to go for those willing to stick with it.
  • it honestly feels to me like ABC marketing execs had the designers add 'calls to action' and other such ridiculous ad-oriented type crap to this. oy vey!
  • bravo! well said - and if you don't mind, allow
    me to repeat, "Give them a SHOW. not a tell."
  • Thanks for taking the words right out of my mouth. Been grumbling about this for a bit.
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