Will Bryan Singer's Upcoming Sci-fi Project 'H+' Offer a Look at the Future of Web Series? | Filmmakers, Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews | Indiewire

BY VALENTINA. JULY 31, 2012

Excerpt:

'If we’re all going to our computers these days to watch content we used to only be able to access on a television, why not put the efforts (and money) there in the first place, with content that's tailored for an online experience?

The upcoming Warner Bros. web series "H+" -- a not-so-distant futuristic tale premiering on YouTube on August 8th -- aims to do just that.

The reason, according to producer Bryan Singer, is simple: the huge audience. “Through YouTube we have a potential worldwide base far greater than any other content platform,” Singer explains. “I want anyone with an internet connection to be able to experience this world.”While web series are faced with the challenge of trying to both compete with the quality of programmed, full-length television and stand unique on their own, the heavily backed "H+" team are taking a different approach.

“We set out to do something that had a large scope and a level of production value that's unusual for a web-distributed project,” says series’ director Stewart Hendler, who also happens to be the director of another large-scale action web series releasing this fall -- "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn." “We look forward to a time when the web is full of gorgeous, intelligent, complex content, and lately it finally feels like the trajectory is moving that way.”...

read more here:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/h-bryan-singer-web-series-warner-...

'Book of Jer3miah': BYU Web series bridged media, social gaps | Deseret News

By Jessica Henrie, Deseret News. Published: Thursday, July 26 2012

"PROVO — The 2009 Web series "Book of Jer3miah" was a groundbreaking enterprise.

It appeared relatively early in the Web series landscape, made Brigham Young University a pioneer in using transmedia storytelling in a film project and demonstrated that viewers don't have to be Mormon to enjoy a Mormon thriller.

"What makes 'Jer3miah' worth watching even for those of us who have to stop frequently and Google stuff like 'Iron Rod' is not just that it’s a well-crafted mystery, but that it’s a religious thriller that doesn’t take itself seriously all the time," read a review in the New York Times.

By 2008, the concepts of Web series and transmedia storytelling, or the technique of telling a story across multiple platform..."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865559548/Book-of-Jer3miah-BYU-Web-series-...

Why Do Supervillains Fascinate Us? A Psychological Perspective | Underwire

By Travis Langley July 27, 2012 via wired.com

'Our Motivations for Seeking Out Supervillains

Throughout history, humans have been captivated by stories of heroes facing off against superhuman foes. But what specific rewards, needs, wishes and dark dreams do supervillains satisfy?

Freedom: Superpowered characters enjoy freedoms the rest of us don’t. Nobody can arrest Superman unless he lets them (at least not without kryptonite handcuffs). Even while sitting in prison, Will Smith’s superhuman protagonist in the movie Hancock is as free as he chooses to be. As much time as supervillains spend locked up, they seem to escape as often as they please, to run unconstrained by rules and regulations. Cosplayers who dress like Wonder Woman and Captain America can’t do any crazy thing that crosses their minds without seeming to mock and insult our heroes, whereas those dressed as villains get to go wild. Supervillainy feels liberating.

Power: Maybe you envy the power these evil characters wield. While that’s also a reason to adore superheroes, good guys don’t ache to dominate. Stories like Watchmen and Kingdom Come show how heroes become menaces when they try to take over. So when dreaming of superpowers, maybe you relate to characters who dream of power as well, from the Scarecrow (who controls individuals’ fears) to Doctor Doom (who’s perpetually out to dominate the world)....'

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/why-do-supervillains-fascinate-us/

Augmented Reality: Beyond Usability with Flow and Narrative Transportation

July 19, 2012 By Dr. Pamela Rutledge (Excerpt)

Augmented reality describes the process of using technology to overlay virtual information onto the real world to ‘augment,’ or add value, to our experience. Augmented reality applications are unique in that because they project virtual information into a user’s physical environment, they effectively blend real and virtual. They are also increasingly mobile and social. These features amplify the level of impact and persuasive power of the user experience — when done right....'

read the full post here:

http://athinklab.com/2012/07/19/augmented-reality-beyond-usability/