Marina Antunes [Celluloid 09.23.10] news scifi webseries



Well, at least no one can say that Warner Brothers isn’t expanding their distribution methods. The company who previously entered the world of online distribution with added content for both The Watchmen (review) and Terminator Salvation (review), is looking to expand their web savvy by developing two new projects specifically for “a new generation of consumers who fluidly watch content on multiple screens” and they’re doing so by employing the help of two men: Bryan Singer and McG. Now, this project was initially announced in 2008 but there were few details on the shows and frankly, I’m not sure the market was ready for it but here we are two years later with an update and a sort of assurance that this is indeed happening.

McG’s project doesn’t sound particularly interesting (Aim High is the story of a kid juggling his studies and his government job as a highly trained teenage operative – yawn) but Synger’s project sounds promising.


To be directed by Stewart Hendler (of Sorority Row fame), H+ is an episodic, two and a half hour show which takes viewers on apocalyptic journey into a future “where technology has gone horrifically wrong.” That already sounds good but check out the rest of this plot:

In 2019, 33% of the world’s population uses a radical new piece of technology – an implanted computer system called H +. This allows a person’s mind and nervous system to be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.

But that same year, a mysterious and vicious computer virus is released, and within seconds millions of people died -- leading to radical changes to the political and social landscape of the planet.

Admitedly, it’s not something new but it’s right up my alley of technology-gone-wrong flicks and I’m more than willing to give it my attention. The project is currently in pre-production with filming to start before the year’s end. I expect we may be seeing this pop online sometime in early 2011 if the schedule is accurate.

In general, I find webseries hit and miss. Some have exceptionally high production values or are simply a hoot to watch (the two I watch regularly Riese (preview) and The Guild, are easy to recommend) but there are many more out there that aren’t worth the space they take up on YouTube. It is a fairly untapped market, and one I’d like to see expanded further, especially if the productions have a viable story (as H+ seems to have) and talented people behind the scenes. I’m curious to see how our readers feel about webseries and content created for online distribution specifically. Are you for it, against it or indifferent?

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Anglebender (2 years ago) Reply

McG willfully sent the Terminator franchise into muddy waters, so he must redeem himself before I'll trust him with my time again.

rek (2 years ago) Reply

A computer virus that kills people? That's the stuff of B movies.

Adding to the list of recs: The Legend of Neil (http://www.effinfunny.com/legend-of-neil/)

There's, of course, also Channel 101 and Channel 101: NY (http://www.channel101.com) with changing series every month, determined by audience votes at live screenings.