NEWS

This weeks Prime Time For Change article focuses on Gemini 360 enhance experience game and potential lessons learned on the Gemini Division project.

This weeks PTFC article outlines the differences between Alternate Reality Gaming and the Gemini 360 Enhanced Experience; a matter of some consternation for fans. The article does and excellent job of outlining the differences between ARG and EE and provides an explanation for the “non-ARG” ARG that has been driving Gemini fans crazy.

To expand on the article: Gemini 360 is an enhanced experience game. EE media, unlike traditional ARG games, is known to be ancillary content and doesn’t fall under the same guiding rules that ARG does. The first and most important difference being that EE tells players that they are participating in an enhanced experience. There are varying levels to how EE’s remove the curtain between players and game creators and Gemini 360 falls squarely in to the “no curtain” zone.

All of Gemini Division’s EE content is linked directly from the main NBC Gemini Division production website; a first in EE gaming. The best known EE experience from NBC and managed by the same team that developed and deployed Gemini 360, Heroes Evolutions doesn’t have EE content on the main production page but rather a link in the nav bar. Including EE content on the main episode page, while unprecedented, does allow fans direct interaction between the episodes and ancillary content.

As discussed in the Lessons Learned portion of the PTFC article, Gemini 360 does have it’s growing pains; this should be expected as the Gemini project truly is a first of it’s kind. As for the remainder of the Lessons Learned, I’ll leave that for PTFC, though we are looking forward to next weeks article on Gemini Division Successes.

END-WEEK UPDATES

episodes

Thanks to everyone for their feedback on embedding the episodes in the forums; to recap: last week we changed the episode forums will lead off with the embedded episode, then the epi-info with cast links to IMDB. There is also added a sticky for the weekly recaps, so you have a single place to view them in order. We’re glad that you’re enjoying the ability to watch the episodes, link directly to IMDB, and be able to comment on them all in one place.

the gemini division enhanced experience game

Week four of Gemini Division saw an unprecedented amount of EE content released though this may be accounted for by the lack of game info released in week three. Participants of the EE are now able to login to the “Gemini Division” server and explore Anna Diaz’s apartment and Dr. Elizabeth Gavallin’s [Dr. Jill Sinclair’s] Office. This week also saw an increase in both text messages and emails to players.

We have added two new sticky’s to the Gemini 360 Enhanced Experience forum where you can find the items seen in Anna’s Apartment and Gavallin’s Office.

You can participate in our Gemini 360 Enhanced Experience forum as well as the UnFiction boards for “Gemini 260“.

fan questions

Apologies to both Afterworld and Gemini Division fan’s who submitted questions for the show’s producers last Friday the 19th: I didn’t email the questions to them so no answers will be posted this week. Please look for those answers to be posted on the site mid-to-end of next week and my most sincere apologies. I was swamped with work this week and haven’t been able to devote as much time to GDF as I had hoped. My failure to submit your questions shouldn’t be taken as a negative on Electric Farm Entertainment as they can’t answer what I don’t send them.

NEWS

First and foremost, a quiet reminder that Gemini Division Files, while graciously honored to be the official fan website of Gemini Division, is not administered, affiliated, or associated with Electric Farm Entertainment or NBC Universal Digital Studios. Through our interaction with Electric Farm on their previous series Afterworld the site administrators do have the unique ability to send emails to the Electric Farm production offices. 99% of the time those emails are answered in a timely manner; one of the reasons for our undying love of EFE.

With that being stated, your emails about the broken “Downloadable Video” link at geminidivision.com have been collated in to a single email to the folks at EFE, who in turn responded that they have forwarded the concern to NBC Universal. When there is an update on the issue we are positive that EFE will email us; until then please know that all of your concerns have been documented and you can stop emailing us about this issue…no, really, my inbox shut down this morning.

MID-WEEK UPDATES

episodes

To make things easier in our episode discussion I spent some time this evening embedding the video for each episode in the appropriate forum post. From this point forward the episode forums will lead off with the embedded episode, then the epi-info with cast links to IMDB. I have also added a sticky for the weekly recaps, so you have a single place to view them in order. Thanks to the Fox/NBC website Hulu for having embeddable GD video that allows size modification on embedding.

the gemini division alternate reality game

Per the note from Brent Friedman last week we know that NBC is going to be releasing the additional content this week. We were hoping that there would be two releases, but as it’s Tuesday it appears that the postponed release from last week and this weeks additional content will both be released the on ‘regularly scheduled’ Thursday. After the positive response for the ARG website Mutable Response we are looking forward to the next batch of extra content.

You can participate in our Alternate Reality Game forum as well as the UnFiction boards for “Gemini 360“.

fan questions

Finally, thanks to those of you who responded to this morning’s GDF Members email about “Fan Questions About Gemini Division”. For visitors who haven’t joined our community: If you have questions about the show that you’d like the creators to answer please email them to info@geminidivisionfiles.com. We are finalizing the list of questions and will be emailing them to the EFE folks this coming Friday, September 19th.

First, my apologies for not posting for almost two weeks; I’ve been busy with work and haven’t had the opportunity to sit down and compose a proper post. Those of you who follow Prime Time For Change will note that neither Tim nor I have posted there since last week as well. I’ll have an article up there this weekend as well.

So, to catch up, we meet Anna’s partner Pete Vacarella briefly, before he is blown up. One of my favorite actors, Danny Woodburn, makes a brief appearance and I hope we will be seeing more of his character in the future. We also see Anna’s father and learn a bit more about her back ground. Finally, we know that Anna is now a member of Gemini Division.

While I have attempted to blog from a detached perspective, the launch of the Alternate Reality Game has caused quite a controversy in the ARG playing world. Emotions range from bafflement to outright disgust on boards and forums web-wide. Week two saw and improvement in the game with the release of Mutable Response and the character dialogs on Twitter. This is discussed in detail in our ARG Forum for those who are interested. While the overall game appeared to experience a vast improvement during week two there has been no additional extra-content released in week three.

I’ve been fielding emails from fans since Thursday and I’ll rehash my now canned response here: No, NBC has not cancelled the ARG based on the controversy. As series creator and executive producer Brent Friedman stated in the special preview interview, "Gemini Division is new territory and there will be lessons learned". (I paraphrased that); I’d like to follow that up by paraphrasing from an email I received from Mr. Friedman this morning: NBC experienced some technical issues this week that prevented the release of the ARG component. The ARG will continue early next week." This should mean that we will see two ARG pops next week to keep the schedule with the release of the series!

Finally, a note to Joss Whedon Fans. I love you. I AM a Joss Whedon Fan. I have every season of Angel and Buffy as well as FireFly on DVD. I purchased Dr. Horrible from iTunes. I am looking forward to Doll House just like the rest of you.

Please stop comparing Gemini Division to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog in your emails to us, and on your blogs. Joss has a very, very, dedicated fan base and the three episodes of Dr. Horrible are not a web-series. It’s a completely apples and oranges comparison. Would you compare Steven King’s Rose Red TV miniseries to a season of Lost? Does Roots compare to M.A.S.H.? No. They are two completely different animals. I’m not saying that Dr. Horrible isn’t great entertainment…but it is a completely different business and distribution model from Gemini Division. Saying that GD is a failure because the site hasn’t crashed like the DH site did on it’s first day is silly. Stop being silly.

Finally, I am officially taking questions about Gemini Division. In the same vein as Afterworld I will submit those questions to the folks at Electric Farm. Heck, throw Afterworld questions in there too if you’d like. Please email your questions to info@geminidivisionfiles.com and, as we have done on the Afterworld Theories website, I will be posting the answers here. The deadline for question submission is next Friday, September 19.

Welcome to the international fans of Gemini Division.

Please, I humbly request, stop flooding my inbox. I, like you, am a fan of the show. Gemini Division Files is a fan site, albeit the official one, for Gemini Division. We have no more control over the show than you do.

While US fans, or at least fans with US based IPs, are able to view the show I’ve received a plethora of emails, some quite angry, demanding to know why our neighbors to the north and in countries across the pond are unable to view the show. It’s nothing personal folks…I had to proxy in to Australia last year for Afterworld on Australian Sci-Fi to keep the pulse of the Aussie fan base and make sure they were represented on Afterworld Theories.

Let’s discuss geo-protection. Much like our first fan-site for Afterworld, mentioned just above, Gemini Division Files is not geo-locked; This is to ensure that every fan on the planet has access to our website without the hassle of a proxy server. We do this to bring all GD fans together and provide the most concise source for GD information available in a community atmosphere.

Unlike this fansite, which is neither owned nor operated by either Electric Farm Entertainment or NBC Universal, the main Gemini Division website belongs to the production and distribution studios.

“Why can’t I see this show, I live in [Vancouver] Canada for chrissake. I can watch NBC on my television!”

Gemini Division, much like Afterworld before it, is meant to have an international release. Series creator and Electric Farm executive producer Brent Friedman recently stated that NBC is responsible for distributing the series in the United States while Sony [Sony Television Pictures International] is managing the world wide and multi platform release. One consideration in that international release is language; the series will have to be dubbed in multiple languages beyond US english. Another is the media platform; what works on the web will not work on most smart phones so the series will have to be reformatted for cellular distribution. Managing the conversion, multi-platform release, and promotion of Gemini Division to individual markets internationally is difficult to coordinate.

It all boils down to monetization: how the producers and distributors recoup their costs on the series and effectively build their brand to ensure a return on investment.

If this were a traditional television show that was being aired on the web I doubt we’d see this type of pushback from international fans. I haven’t heard any flak because you can’t view a LOST episode on the ABC site the day after it airs on TV in the US. Heroes is wildly popular and also posts episodes online the day after air. In addition, Heroes has also been running online webisodes this summer…but I’ve seen no international fervor about those episodes being blocked. Because Gemini Division is created to be an online series viewers appear to believe a different set of rules apply; though a internet series the same distribution rules apply to being able to view Gemini Division as they do to the Heroes episodes. NBC is protecting it’s investment folks …nothing personal.

It’s not like we don’t feel your pain: I have to proxy in to the BBC and CBC too, and I only live a two hour drive from BC. So please…stop emailing us about the geolock, we can’t fix it for you.

On the plus side, you are always welcome here!

In life there are seldom experiences where a “fan” feels as if their feedback is taken seriously by the members of the entertainment property the fan supports.  While we all have participated in the board style “Q&A’s” that occur at different cons and entertainment venues it is a unique experience when a fan has the opportunity to speak directly to the entertainers on a one-on-one level.  Every fan, be it sports, sci-fi, or soap opera, has felt the thrill of being face to face with an star signing autographs.  Brief small talk is exchanged, the star thanks you for your support, and you move forward feeling a bit more special than you did when you woke up that morning.

Friday’s unique experience upholds Electric Farm Entertainment as a production company that moves beyond the traditional in all things.

Yesterday morning we received an email from Executive Producer Brent Friedman, that invited us to take part in a special preview of Gemini Division episodes one and two which were being provided for prominent bloggers and members of the entertainment media.  The preview session was to be followed by a Q&A with Mr. Friedman.

After logging in to the secured website we were presented with an a simple-yet-elegant web page containing two embedded video windows headed by the Gemini Division logo; the color and graphic formats were similar to the Gemini production website with instructions requesting that we watch both episodes then dial in to a teleconference with Mr. Friedman.

If you’re looking for spoilers you’re going to be disappointed.  If you’re looking for a review of the episodes and the call, keep reading…

Episode One, “Eyes Wide Open”, was a unique experience.  Familiar with Electric Farm’s previous project “Afterworld” and an avid viewer of many online series, watching EP01 was a different experience.  While I had set some expectations from the trailers and various text interviews, EP01 blew them away.  Told entirely from the point of view of Anna Diaz speaking to {someone} as a video message on her PDA, this series is unique, though the visuals are a bit reminiscent of the classic Blade Runner.

I’d never seen an on or offline series with this type of film style; nor one that spoke directly to the viewer in this manner.  As you begin the episode you think, “Who is she [Rosario Dawson] talking to?”  By then end you realize that you, the viewer, are also an integral part of this story. [More about this a bit later]

On a deep, almost visceral level, the end of episode one leaves you a bit puzzled and wanting to know more.  The ending leaves you almost in shock, wondering “what the heck did I just watch” before hitting the rewind button to play again.  A second viewing provides even more of the visuals that you missed on the first pass…and it’s only about six minutes long.

Episode two delivers just enough to whet your appetite even further.  While I didn’t know exactly what to expect, the film style (if possible) changed yet again in this episode.  Justin Hartley provides an excellent love interest and leading man role in Gemini Division.  Neither his nor Rosario’s acting appears forced and they have a chemistry that I didn’t expect to find in a six-minute online series episode.

One of the most amazing things about this project is that you are unable to tell that there is no practical set.  The backgrounds appear as real as the actors do, with just an occasional tiny tinge of the surreal which adds a great emotional tone.  Think Sin City or Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow.

After just two episodes I am addicted to this show; formatted perfectly for the working professional.  50 5-7 minute episodes make this series easy to watch online during my morning break or at lunch as I eat at my desk.  The production levels are what one would expect to find in a big budget summer block buster.

Now on to the fun part…the teleconference call with Executive Producer Brent Friedman.  While I’ve had the opportunity to occasionally correspond with Mr. Friedman in the course of administering the “Afterworld” fansite, Afterworld Theories, being involved in a group discussion with him and top bloggers and media reporters was a bit unnerving.

I joined the call already in progress and Brent was providing an answer about the feel of the site.  He spoke about how Rosario really took the role to a new level and that once you start watching her as Anna Diaz, speaking to the PDA [You] it is difficult to stop.  He advised that as the filming progressed, Rosario specifically built her role as if she was communicating to a specific person…something that you see over the course of the series and causes you to become involved on a more personal level.

One of the concerns that I had with Gemini Division related to the embedded advertising that we have all read about.  While I expected to see the advertised emblazoned in obvious places I was pleased to see that their integration in to the show was through subtle placement.  I asked how Electric Farm had managed to build the advertising directly in to the show in such a fashion and Friedman answered that as a show set five-minutes in the future the advertising would exist in such a manner; “Everything you see today is branded…to the point where you almost don’t notice.”

Illustrating his point, one of the other previewers didn’t remember seeing any branding in either episode, though when you go back and look it is glaringly obvious…That in itself speaks to how subtle and realistic the advertising in this series will be.

Brent was asked if the series had been completely filmed and he advised that it had, and was in post.  Unlike a traditional series that may have half a season in the can as the first episode airs, Electric Farm’s projects are completely filmed and in post long before episode one airs is released.

When asked about the inspiration for the series, Friedman mentioned that Blade Runner and its exploration of “what makes us human” was a key.  Gemini Division, with similar styled visuals, is more to the perspective of “What makes us inhuman?  What drives our inhumanity, bigotry, and fear of the different”?

I asked about the casting of the show: specifically, with A list leading actors and long time expert character actors like Austin Tichenor, Eugene Alper, John Kapelos, and Norbert Weisser.  Had there any pushback in casting an ‘internet series’?  Brent answered quickly that there hadn’t been.  Casting Rosario in the lead led instant credibility to the project.  Beyond that, once the talents had read the script they were all on board.

Another person asked who provided Brent’s favorite character performance and he answered that over the course of the series Clayne Crawford [previously of Jericho] really grew in to the part and provided an excellent performance; that he was a talent to watch in the future.

Considerable discussion about the ARG [alternate reality game] followed and while no hints were provided we all understood that Gemini Division will provide a truly immersive experience to those who want to participate.  Friedman also advised that, much like the main character Anna, participants of the ARG will have to ‘choose a side’ and that once chosen the alternate storyline of the ARG is closed to them.  When asked about the comparison between the ARG of Afterworld and Gemini Division, Brent replied that the G-D ARG is much more involved and integrated to the show.

The final question that sticks out in my notes relates to the “simulants” themselves.  Artificial life form isn’t definitive and Friedman explained that the SIMs are genetically engineered humans; specifically built.  I am intrigued to find out exactly what that means.

Based on the preview, which will be available to the general public next Monday as episode one airs, I know that I’ll be waiting to watch. The release schedule for Gemini Division is:

First Week:
MON (Episode 1);  TUE (Episode 2);
WED-FRI Extra content.

Second Week:
MON (Episode 3);  TUE (Episode 4);
WED-THU Extra content
Friday the start of the ARG.

Third week:
MON (Episode 5); TUE (Episode 6);
WED (Episode 7); THU (Episode 8);
Friday (Advance of ARG);

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

Thanks to Electric Farm Entertainment for inviting us to take part in the special preview; you’ve driven our enthusiasm for the show much like the general public’s interest will be driven when these two episodes air next week!

Read TimTodd’s article about the preview at Prime Time for Change

Trailer #2 has been posted on the Gemini Division NBC site! Our Media page has been updated to include the new trailer as well. Finally, SciFi.com will also be distributing Gemini Divsion and they have large-size versions of the behind the scenes videos at NBC and our media page. Large GD Vids at SciFi. I wasn’t able to locate either of the trailers at SciFi.com, as soon as I do I’ll post links to them in the links to the left.

Trailer Two adds a bit more visual information to the mix using Anna Diaz’s first person reports of the action. After reading Wired articles and watching the behind the scenes articles I understand how this series uses Anna’s PDA as the ‘camera’ and I find the visuals both compelling and intrieguing to watch.

What I am amazed by is that this series is completely digital with no practical locations or objects other than a few props. Everything you see around the characters is CG and that is pretty friggin awesome work. Hats off to Senior Art Director Duane Loose and the folks on in the Art and CG departments for their amazing work. The shots of Anna running down the alley look real.

No new interviews or articles on GD as of this writing, but we’ll post as soon as new information becomes available!

New behind the scenes videos are up at the Gemini Division NBC site!

After spending some after dinner viewing time with the vids I am very impressed with both Electric Farm Entertainment and NBC. These behind the scenes vids really illustrate the hard work both organizations have put in to this leading edge media distribution. I found the “Creators”, and “Making” videos especially poignant after reading the Wired article {see posts below}.

The newly posted videos are as follows:

• What is Gemini Division?
• The Creators of Gemini Division
• The Cast of Gemini Division
• The Shooting of Gemini Division
• The Editing of Gemini Division
• The Visual Effects of Gemini Division

Again, I recommend everyone visit the SIGNUP section on the Gemini Division website and sign up to receive the official communications about the show. I’ll repost them here (of course) but signing up is the only way you’ll get them as soon as they come out…so go, sign up, await emaily and text messagey goodness.

Remember that the show kicks off two weeks from today!

RS

Alright everyone, back from my appointment and ready to dive in to the new Gemini Division website put up by NBC late this morning!

First and foremost I recommend everyone visit the SIGNUP section and sign up to receive the official communicaitons about the show. I’ll repost them here (of course) but signing up is the only way you’ll get them as soon as they come out…so go, sign up, await emaily and text messagey goodness.

What…you didn’t understand that last part? That’s right folks…Electric Farms Entertainment, NBC, and Sony are walking further down the immersion road combining broadcast, online, and mobile content to provide a truely immersive exerpeince for the viewer. I can’t wait to see the alternate reality websites they have developed for Gemini Division, especially since the ones for Afterworld just rocked.

And on we go..the site is your standard ‘cutting edge’ flashing site, though it appears to be a bit more intuative than the Afterworld website was, with the exception of the interactive Journal.

I strongly recommend that you sign up for the myNBC forums and join the official fan community as well as signing up for the link posted above; If you don’t sign up you won’t receive any of the goodies I was talking about above.

Less than a month away from the first episode folks, so spread the word!

Also, Wired online has some additional photos that weren’t in the magazine article, so I’ve linked them below: Click on a photo to jump to the enlarged Wired version. Daz Crawford’s photo looks especially cool.

The GD Site appears to be live!

Through a bit of happy luck I was checking the Gemini Divison links to the left and was wonderfully suprised to find that NBC has the GD site live.

Click the logo or the link in to the left and go, go, go! Watch the trailer…bask in the goodness that is Gemini Division. This is going to be a fantastic series! I’d fill you in more but I am on my way out the door so expect to see an update post later this afternoon.

RangerSergeant

“Gemini Division” is featured in the August 2008 issue of Wired magazine. Frank Rose’s article “The Hollywood Treatment” outlines the creation of the series as well as providing a look behind the scenes. There are a few brief statements from Rosario about the series, with the bulk of the piece focusing on Electric Farm Entertainment and its variance from traditional production making

We are also given a nice peek at the business workings of Electric Farm as seen through the eyes of Executive Producer Stan Rogow as he quests to secured marketing partners. Based on the article we can be sure that Acura, Cisco, Intel, and Microsoft Search are all on board so expect to see examples of their products in the series. Having had some personal experience with Cisco’s Telepresence I can see how that would fit directly in to the GD world.

Now for the fun stuff: Pictures!

While the article focused on the challenges of traditional property production shifting to the web there were some excellent pictures of GD, as well as some sneak peaks of up to Episode 4. I am not going to repost them all here [DCMA notwithstanding] so I’d recommend you run (don’t walk) to your local news stand and pick up a copy. All the photos below are scanned from the article.

Green Screen sets

As everyone has already seen in our forums the entire project is being shot green screen. Initially I had some trepidation about an all CG back over live action, but based on the additional photos in the article I was stunned. it is impossible to tell what is real and what isnt. Hat’s off to the Electric Farm art department headed by Duane Loose.

The art and digital work on these series is excellent and I am again humbled by Electric Farm exceeding my expectations. If anyone is going to ComicCon 2008, San Diego PLEASE get some cell phone or other video of the NBC Gemini Division Trailer so that I can repost it here.

Rosario Dawson as NYPD Detective Anna Diaz

We already know from multiple interviews and articles as well as the show synopsis that character Anna Diaz spends some time in Paris…and what a great shot to follow that up and bring it home. Looking at this you wouldn’t know it’s green screen. Honestly, she could be in paris, or in Vegas with the Venetian painted out.

Excellent and outstanding work EFE, and another illustration of what webisodes can accomplish with serious hollywood production…this isn’t lonleygirl15 folks.

Justin Hartley as Nick Korda

All right ladies (Especially Crazy Carrie and Azn Chick) here is your first official shot of Justin. Also, in the article it mentions Justin sprawled on a bed in his boxers so you’ll most probably want to tune in early. Also, pictured is Eugene Alper, veteran of the stage and a veteran character actor Alper has appeared in 24, West Wing, and Call of Duty: Finest Hour (voice). We know that Justin’s character Nick Korda is ‘killed’ early in the series…here we possibly see him being resurrected or revived.

Anna’s Smart Phone

Per Frank Rose’s article the series is a broadcast of the recordings on Anna’s smart phone. While no cellular provider has been mentioned officially here we see what must be a screen shot from the phone itself. Note that Microsoft Live Search is featured prominently in this shot which speaks directly to the article’s point of advertising integration in to the series. The graphics here are outstanding and very similar to what you would see in a real world satellite drill down from Live Search or Google Maps.

Based on what we see here Electric Farm’s co-creator Brent Friedman’s vision of fan immersion isn’t too far off the mark. It’s much easier for fans to become invested in a realistic and believable project that uses real world ties to tools fans use every day.

That’s all for this post, feel free to discuss the the forums, and I look forward to Monday, August 18 on NBC.com

RangerSergeant