“Ian Hollister’s Haunted Hospital,” the premiere episode of the new “Stranger Adventures” anthology series, arrived this week on the Web. This weeklong episode and the series is an interactive game; players are asked to participate in an adventure in which they follow clues toward cracking a 10-digit pass code to win reward money.
The series–which is advertiser sponsored–is a hybrid of high-end scripted drama, alternative reality gaming, mock reality TV and personal TV. It relies on first-person storytelling that uses character and location-driven narratives.
“Stranger Adventures” is the brainchild of Internet entrepreneur Chris Tyler; his partner in the venture, Red Car CEO Larry Bridges, serves as creative director and executive producer. Propaganda Films and Palomar alum Anne-Marie Mackay serves as co-executive producer with Bridges. The Santa Monica office of multi-city Red Car is handling production and post on the series.
In the game that launched this week, the first player to crack the code will win a grand prize of $25,000; the runner-ups divide the second prize of $10,000.
Supporting this episode is Prudential California Realty, which is incorporated into the storyline. This premiere episode revolves around an effort to lift a curse from a haunted hospital so that it can be sold. Within “Ian Hollister’s Haunted Hospital,” players not only see Prudential’s signage and products, they are directed to spend time on Prudential’s Web site to retrieve clues to the code.
Each of the season’s 10 episodes will arrive every other week and revolve around its own central character (the “Stranger”) and an adventure marked by clues and hints about the 10-digit code. Also, to help players along, the “Stranger” emails them graphic-enhanced text daily.
“It’s product involvement, not product placement,” Bridges said of this unique branded content model, noting that future episodes will each have one to two corporate sponsors. “The writing is with the clients’ brands and objectives in mind.”
Bridges also explained that the venture is tapping talented writers, including Writers Guild of America (WGA) members, to create the scripts. The first episode was written by Eric Heisserer, whose The Dionaea House is now in preproduction as a feature at Warner Bros. Bridges directed this episode, and he expects to direct additional ones. He also plans to tap commercial directors and directors of photography to work on the series.
“Stranger Adventures” is lensed with handheld DV camcorders and posted at Red Car.
Before launching, the team initiated five online trails and a pilot episode that ran in February. They were happy with the results. Bridges reported that trial players spent 41 minutes a day online, for six days, participating in the adventure, and 72 percent of the players finished the competition. “If a game is extraordinary fun to play, it will get around on the Internet quickly,” added Tyler.
Vendari Media is promoting the series, and invitations to play were sent to Prudential’s customer base. A trailer was also created for DVD via Hollywood Previews.
The series site is www.strangeradventures.com.
Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”
When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.
The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.
The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.
The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?
DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.
Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?
DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."
That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More