Gemini Division Preview

I was privileged to be invited to a prescreening of Gemini Division both as a fan and to represent the blog Prime Time For Change. What an exciting and novel experience. Electric Farm truly does emulate the best of what we write about here. While there are other factors that contributed to starting up this blog, the number one influence is Electric Farm Entertainment (EFE). They are truly pioneering the way to rethink media in a digital media age.

First off, we (the invited participants) were treated with the opportunity to view the first two episodes of Gemini Division. I must say, I was very pleased with what I saw. The first two episodes were a stark contrast to the trailer. The trailer felt disconnected (to me at least). However, with the episodes there was an almost immediate emotional connection. Anna (Rosario Dawson) shares who she is and holds nothing back. Wrapped up in this are her emotions and the events that stir them up.

She pours out her heart on her PDA and it is just like she is talking to you personally. The episodes appear to be a video diary of sorts shared with a very close friend who she absolutely trusts. Over time we will find out more about the person that Anna is talking too. It would be interesting if Electric Farm Entertainment tied us into the story and revealed how we (the viewer) happened to stumble upon someone else’s very personal mail.

It was interesting to see EFE seamlessly incorporate brand ads into the content. Even if I had something to selectively filter out the brands, I wouldn't want to. It really added to the show and made it that much more real. Rather than interrupting the viewing experience, it actually added realism and immersion to the show. Very nice. A pleasant experience.

After the videos, we (other bloggers/media) had the opportunity to talk and interact directly with Brent Friedman. The following is a summary of that discussion.

When asked whether personalized narrative is a key device for web distributed content, Brent responded that this was a key question. He noted that personalized narrative is a great tool for maintaining a one to one connection.

TV often maintains a one to many ratio while viewers of web/mobile distributed content are more likely to consume their media in a one-to-one relationship. Brent indicated that personalized narrative really highlights the power of this type of medium.

He continued by saying that personalized narrative maintains a very subjective viewpoint or portal into the alternate world that the story takes place in. It is only one person’s view, a small window into that world allowing a big and epic story to be told through a little, tiny window.

Brent was asked how far into the future the story was set. He replied that it is set five minutes in the future. This helps keep the content from being dated. When the show is viewed three years from now, Gemini Division will still be set five minutes in the future.

Upon being asked to state a more definitive time, Brent said he felt that the technology portrayed in the show could be available within three years (Not sure that he was referring to the biotechnological aspect here).

Brent mentioned that some of the functionality of Anna’s (Rosario Dawson) PDA do not currently exist as a PDA function, but do exist in other real world technology. For instance Anna’s (Rosario Dawson) PDA can zoom in and track the user. While this technology doesn’t exist for current PDA’s (that I know of), it was found to exist for some web cams.

Some features of Anna’s PDA are truly futuristic. These features of the PDA are attributed to being the product of a high-level government agency with access to technology beyond the bleeding edge. As Anna becomes associated with Gemini Division her PDA may actually be upgraded by Gemini Division. This lends further credibility to the idea that the technology of the show could be set in the immediate to near future.

Next up was a discussion of interaction. This was a particularly interesting segment.

Brent noted that with EFE’s first show Afterworld they were able to create crude levels of interaction. Intially they wanted to do much more but those plans were hampered by cost as well as just trying to keep up with the hectic bleeding edge and ground breaking production schedule.

With Gemini Division EFE wanted to set the bar higher and provide an even more interesting web experience. This time they designed the interactive experience into the show from the very beginning, armed with the knowledge they gained from their previous web production.

It sounds like Gemini division’s interactive ARG-like experience is similar in a lot of ways to NBC Heroes Evolutions. However, what is particularly striking about Gemini Division and what really sounds like it will set it apart from the Heroes interactive experience is the inclusion of an alternate storyline. A storyline that converges with and parallels with the main story. An alternate story line that includes mainstream video content and that was planned out from the beginning.

For mobile devices, Gemini Division will include light versions of their episodes. Also, graphic novels (comics) will be released exclusively for the mobile platform. These graphic novels will provide additional background depth to the story helping to create an even richer experience. This again sounds reminiscent of Heroes.

Gemini Division will also feature a story based mobile game. Afterworld’s mobile game was exclusive to Verizon. Hopefully, Gemini Division’s mobile game will not be exclusive to one provider.

Viewers will have the opportunity to be recruited by Gemini Division. Choices players make in the interactive experience will parallel the choices of characters within the main story. In this way viewers will actually have the opportunity to influence the story (though not significantly as this would be too costly). Also, at some point participants will have to make an irrevocable choice, essentially shutting them out from other sources of information.

It is good to hear that all the video has been shot for Gemini Division and that it is in absolutely no danger of cancellation. I won’t have to worry about having the rug pulled out from under me. Brent mentioned that they were producing Gemini Division in much the same way video games are and that they are seeking to integrate TV and video games into a converged, truly interactive experience. This really is the best of what we talk about here on Prime Time For Change.

Rosario Dawson has committed to at least two productions (sounds like a better word than season) of Gemini Division. Depending on the success and response to the first story, a second story may be produced. Brent commented on this saying that the first story will focus on the mystery of what has happened.

It sounds like Gemini Division will be a quest for the truth. A quest that will change Anna and characters around her. A quest that examines the extent that people will go to uncover the truth, and how that journey can transform them. The first story will satisfy Anna’s intellectual and emotional journey for answers. She will find the truth and a lot of those elements will be tied up. However, upon that journey her actions become the catalyst for a cascade chain of events.

Brent said that the conclusion of the first story ends in a very enigmatic place. Rosario’s quest is resolved, but the larger problem in the world is still at large.

Gemini Division will be released globally in much the same way that Afterworld was and will roll out to different territories at different times. Each rollout will have its own replicate ARG like experience.

The release schedule for Gemini Division is:

First Week: Monday (Episode 1); Tuesday (Episode 2); Wednesday-Friday (Extra content, no episodes).

Second Week: Monday (Episode 3); Tuesday (Episode 4); Wednesday-Thursday (Extra content, Friday the start of the ARG).

Third week: Monday (Episode 5); Tuesday (Episode 6); Wednesday (Episode 7); Thursday (Episode 8); Friday (Advance of ARG);

Fourth week and on: Same as the third week. Each Friday sees an advance of the ARG.

I can’t wait. It is a prime time for change and EFE looks to be one of the leaders.

Related links:

Special Preview of Episodes One and Two
Gemini Division Preview
Dawson engages viewers in 'Gemini Division' on Web
Five Minutes Into the Future
When ARGs Take Over Movies And TV, Gemini Division Is Born
Gemini Division a Litmus Test for Old Media, New Media
Web series review/recap: Gemini Division (2008)