[arg_discuss] ZOMBIES! (was Open Source ARGs)

[Andrea Phillips]

That's really fascinating, Brian, particularly in light of another
collaborative film-making project I heard of a few days ago:
http://www.coproducer.org/

They seem to be working on the same philosophy, of massive
participation in the creation process, but different roles --
management and guidance vs. actual production. I think your Zombies
one is more likely to be successful than Coproducer.org, though,
because of that central cohesive vision. Storytelling entirely by
committee might work sometimes, but the smart money doesn't bet that
way.

On Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 9:42 AM, Brian Clark <bclark at gmdstudios.com> wrote:

> You can imagine the strange email I get at GMD Studios, but a subject line

> of "Partnership Inquiry" rarely actually gets my attention. Unless is it

> trying to recruit you into making a motion picture with thousands of other

> filmmakers in an organized narrative divided by states and regions, and then

> suggests you go to http://www.nationundead.com for more info.

>

> I'm such a sucker.

>

> What I found, though, is probably of interest to at least a sub-set of this

> list (those that also play around in moving image storytelling) and, in many

> ways, their concept raises some interesting questions.

>

> If you're engaging the immersive community as creators instead of consumers,

> are we still in the realm of theory that emerges from the ARGing discipline?

> If a hypothetical filmmaker-creator-participant stages a zombie flash mob as

> part of production, are those participants part of that creator side?

>

> In essence, though, this is as good and simple of a model of how a large

> group of people might tell a story together, which seems connected to this

> "open source ARGs" concept.

>

>

> Brian

>

> [the press release they sent me]

>

> Minneapolis , MN - July, 27 2008 - The Producing House, Brightline

> Interactive, Token Media, Patrick Pierson, and Frame Six-Sixteen present

> Nation Undead. This new interactive website establishes the story of a

> plague that spreads throughout the country causing fear, panic, the undead,

> and eventually a total breakdown of society. The story will be told from the

> unique perspective of stringing together three to five minute submissions

> from filmmakers from all over the country. This content will be available at

> Nation Undead, in a nine episode arc.

>

> Director Patrick Peirson has divided the United States into nine distinct

> zones for the purposes of narrative cohesion. Each zone is comprised of six

> to eight States. The different zones have specific instructions regarding

> the stories that could be told in that zone. By using Nation Undead,

> filmmakers will have access to specific zone instructions and will be

> supplied downloads that can be used in their submission pieces (mp3s,

> posters, information on the zombies, video props) that will keep the story

> cohesive. Filmmakers will also be able to use our filmmaker's community to

> discuss and rate each others' work.

>

> The Website itself features the illustrations of Jon Dege, photographs by

> Tom Kanthak of Reaction Studios with design by Brightline Interactive, RC

> Johnson. The producing partners comprised of The Producing House, Brightline

> Interactive, Token Media, Patrick Pierson, and Frame Six-Sixteen bring a

> wealth of experience in their respective fields to this project. The team

> has come together to cover all areas of production and quality in

> filmmaking, media production, interactive web design, and management.

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> ARG_Discuss mailing list

> ARG_Discuss at igda.org

> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/arg_discuss

>




-- 
Andrea Phillips
http://www.deusexmachinatio.com
Words * Culture * Interaction