MUMBAI: CBS will launch a Pontiac sponsored “micro-series”-a serialized short film that will run in 40-second segments over the course of nine days. It will also be available online and on mobile phones.
The first episode, The Courier, kicks off on 24 January with one-minute installment in the first act break of CSI: Miami after 9 pm. The Courier will be 60 seconds, with subsequent episodes running for 40 seconds. The finale airs 1 February during Criminal Minds.
CBS Corp. is planning to use precious commercial space in its primetime slot in a bid to get viewers hooked on a TV show designed entirely for mobiles. The strategy comes as major networks want to convert their massive mainstream audiences into loyal mobile viewers. If the plan works, viewers will be drawn to the show’s website to download the rest of the season.
The micro-series follows a mystery man named “iiro” who races against time to uncover clues and perform a sequence of death-defying tasks in a desperate attempt to rescue his kidnapped wife. Further information about “iiro” and his adventures will be available on CBS.com via rich video and text components.
In addition, CBS.com will offer a second, interactive storyline with its own set of clues, which offers viewers the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a Pontiac Torrent. The Courier will feature a commercial for the Pontiac Torrent at the end of each micro episode. The Torrent will also be integrated into three of the seven Courier broadcasts.
The series was created by producer, animator and conceptual designer Pete Pepe and is produced by Plum Productions and Sam Swisher.
Fox was among the first networks to develop a micro series specifically for cellphones when it created a downloadable spinoff of its hit show, 24. But, that show was confined to the web and was mostly an experiment.
Tag: animator
-
CBS’ micro-series to premiere on 24 January
-
Mathur to students: Don’t know 2D, not an animator
“If one wants to be a singer, one has to learn the 7 notes of music, If one has to be an animator, it is necessary to know and understand all aspects of animation. 3D is good but 2D is the base which will make you an animator. Required skill sets will change as technology changes. But the fundamentals will not change. Do you know how to tell a story? or how to create endearing characters?” addressing an audience comprising mostly of students, academic consultant I S Mathur went all out to dispel notions and misconceptions on what it took to be an animator.
A triple graduate, formerly with the NID, Mathur is currently a consultant with Padmalaya ZICA. Emphasizing the benefits of ‘value based education’ as against ‘need based education’, he asked the audience to decide for themselves whether they wanted to be labourers or film makers.
Elaborating his point further, Mathur added, “Animation involves 2 things, skills and concepts. Would you like to become a skill oriented person or a skill and concept oriented person? Do you want to be a technician, an assistant or do you want to become a director, a complete animator? Both are required.
Labeling institutes that claim to teach animation in 3 months as factories that create a labium force, the consultant called upon such institutes to at least be honest and not call themselves educational outfits. “It takes 7 years to become an animator, how can any one claim to teach animation in 3 or 6 months” argued Amateur.”Need based education will stay only as long as the need is there, a 3 month course will simply satisfy your employment needs for the moment” he added.
Just a month ago at c/a World, Ram Mahout and others like Ramjet Tony had voiced similar sentiments.
Another point which Amateur touched upon was the low level of drawing skills in the country. Describing the standard of drawing skills in the country as pathetic, he lamented that drawing was neglected in primary as well as secondary education.
“It becomes difficult to grant admission to students when most of them dont have any drawing skills. The time that teachers could use in teaching animation film making is diluted in teaching drawing.” commented Mathur.
Mathur concluded his talk asking students to take additional classes in drawing if they were seriously interested in pursuing animation as a career.