Here at NTVS, we watch a lot of web series. Most fall into the “pretty good” category, which usually means one of two things: great use of technology with an OK story, or great storytelling with an adequate use of new media. But you know who just might give you an experience that fires on all geek cylinders? Stephen King.
Born out of a partnership among King, Scribner, Simon & Schuster, CBS Mobile and Marvel Entertainment, N is a 25-episode graphic video series based on a short story from King’s upcoming Just After Sunset. Eli Stone co-creator Marc Guggenheim does the adaptation for each 2-minute episode, filmed as a pan-and-scan of a graphic novelization drawn by Alex Maleev and colored by Jose Villarrubia. The story begins after a psychiatrist’s suicide, when his sister discovers a mysterious box labeled “Burn this.” Inside, she finds the case file of her brother’s troubled patient, “N.” She soon realizes that the doctor somehow became infected by the same obsessions that plagued his patient, and that it all led to…
Well, we don’t know yet to what it all led. But rest assured it’s something mighty frickin’ creepy. And the journey there looks to be addictive. The story’s intriguing, and the graphic video format totally works — it’s easily as visually arresting as live action or traditional animation would be.
Plus, it’s just so easy to get. Sure, you can visit the web site for a new episode each weekday. But you can also download a widget and have episodes automatically delivered to the player on your blog, subscribe via Verizion, AT & T, or Sprint to get eps on your phone, buy five-episode blocks from iTunes for 99 cents, or watch via the CBS Audience Network, whose partners include folks like AOL, Microsoft and Veoh. The only way this series could be more accessible is if King himself dropped by your house every morning to wake you up with a new episode and a cup of coffee. (Which would be awesome.)
New Stephen King content? A very good thing. Clever use of distribution platforms to get it to you any way you want it? Even better.
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