Sanctuary - New Online Only Sci-Fi Series

[AtomSmasher]

www.sanctuaryforall.com

I just watched the first two episodes and its pretty good, definately has potential.  It co-stars Amanda Tapping from Stargate SG1 and also has David Hewlett from the stargate shows in the first episode.

The high res versions cost a couple dollars each, but you can watch low res versions for free on their fan site:  www.sanctuaryfans.com

edit* whoops, should of been in everything else, mods please move 

[BobA]

Took a look at the first episode.   They are really short.   Based on a 1/2 timeslot probably. 17 min of play time.   Aside from being too short the show looks interesting.  Edgy and there seems to be alot going on that we do not know about yet.   Amanda Tapping with dark hair is different.   David Hewlett looks like he always does.  Will have to get the second episode and see what is going on.

 

[AtomSmasher]

Took a look at the first episode.   They are really short.   Based on a 1/2 timeslot probably. 17 min of play time.   Aside from being too short the show looks interesting.  Edgy and there seems to be alot going on that we do not know about yet.   Amanda Tapping with dark hair is different.   David Hewlett looks like he always does.  Will have to get the second episode and see what is going on.

 

Ya, they say the episodes will average out to be 15 minutes long, but they also say that the story arcs generally will last for 3 episodes.  Since an average hour long tv show is around 40 minutes long without commercials, that does make sense.

[patrickl]

Who's gonna pay $2.50 for a 15 minute webisode?

[AtomSmasher]

Who's gonna pay $2.50 for a 15 minute webisode?

Thats probably why they are releasing the first 4 for free (in low res versions at least), they want to get you hooked.  I agree it is a bit much per episode, but I'm rooting for this show and hope enough people will pay for it to keep the show going.  A scifi show that doesn't have to answer to tv executives or advertisers, but only to their fans is a pretty neat concept.

[shorthair]

We're still in the early days of web publishing, etc.

[BobA]

Downloade episode 2.  I knew we were missing something.  A Blonde dressed in leather.  Every sci fi series needs that.

[shorthair]

More horror-fantasy. But if you insist, I guess you can call it skiffy. Neither the trailer nore seven minutes of the first episode convey any story. Kudos for quality video, even on Youtube.

[AtomSmasher]

More horror-fantasy. But if you insist, I guess you can call it skiffy. Neither the trailer nore seven minutes of the first episode convey any story. Kudos for quality video, even on Youtube.

I agree it does seem to be a bit more horror/fantasy, but one of the tag lines to the show is "The First Broadcast Caliber Online Sci-Fi Series", so who am I to argue with the creators of the show.  And there definately is a storyline, but like any good show they want to introduce you to their world and characters before getting too deep into the story.  They don't even say what the "sanctuary for all" actually is or bring back her ex-fiance (who will likely be the main bad guy in the show) until the second episode. 

We're still in the early days of web publishing, etc.

Umm...yes...yes we are...perhaps you should ask Saint to change your title to Captain Obvious   

[patrickl]

I watched webisode 2. It's a nice show, but I still don't see many people forking out $7.50 for a storyline

Her English accent is done pretty well. Although it's obviously not real.

In fact everything not seeming real is bringing it down. I'm constantly aware that the actors are composited on a digitally created world. They often look two dimensional. Objects moving around don't move "lifelike" either (car driving up to the gate or mermaid type creature in watertank) It all just looks too fake to really get into the story.

[jbox]

Reminds me of a live action cut-scene in a computer game. I keep expecting the camera to spin around to the 1st person and have to start navigating blondie through the subway dodging monsters. 

Nice find, though I doubt I'd pay for individual episodes. I have however bought a couple of the "Red vs Blue" DVDs so I wouldn't say that they can't make any money from it in the long run. Presuming they can finish the series before everyone goes back to Atlantis.   

[shorthair]

Definitely agree on those techinical issues patrickl. But you see, the kiddies go gaga for that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. I call it the age of hyper-reality. Unreal images of real stuff. They don't want real - they get plenty of that in life and it's unsatisfying. Same for all the animation, comics books, etc, etc....

AS: there's a reason sci-fi has been dubbed 'skiffy': it not only lacks substance (as well as any kind of physical consistency - that is, whatever physics may govern its universe, they make sense); it lacks a quality of story-telling that if you were to read the script, immediately you'd be very interested in it...and this would continue throught the text. The problem with people writing scripts is a lot of them can't write stories.

[AtomSmasher]

AS: there's a reason sci-fi has been dubbed 'skiffy': it not only lacks substance (as well as any kind of physical consistency - that is, whatever physics may govern its universe, they make sense); it lacks a quality of story-telling that if you were to read the script, immediately you'd be very interested in it...and this would continue throught the text. The problem with people writing scripts is a lot of them can't write stories.

Understood, you prefer your scifi in book form rather then video form.  I'm not saying this show will be the next great scifi show (it could end up being quite bad in the long run), I just think its pretty ignorant to say a show has no story because not a lot happens in the first 7 minutes.  In fact, I bet very few of the best movies and tv shows (only counting pilot episodes), in any genre, get very deep into the plot within the first 7 minutes.

As for the CG, I agree it's not that great.  Several scenes felt like I was watching comic book (as was mentioned, it often looked 2d), but I thought it still worked well enough.  I think the show probably will have a hard time making its money back, but it looks like they'll finish the first season regardless.  Apparently they've already finished the first 8 episodes and it cost $4.5 million (Canadian) to make them, which put the show into the Guiness book of world records for "Highest Budget for a Direct-to-Web Broadcast." 

[patrickl]

Wow, that's a lot of money.

[shorthair]

Oh, obviously they have good funding for the medium. But, no, AS you don't really have any idea what I'm talking about. It's not the medium that is the matter but those writing for it. The original Star Trek had at least at times some pretty decent writing. However, there was one episode that Harlan Ellison was contracted to write and which Roddenberry at least somewhat bastardised. Ellison is a class A writer - regardless of what format he's written for.

Of course, a visual representation of a story has to be approached somewhat differently than a printed one. They still should both be held to the same standards. Despite the magnitude of drivel being written and on the majority of shelves of B&N, etc, 'writing' is a tradition that still has a base of authors and fans that adhere to those standards. That video has hardly had these, and rarely does now is because the audience didn't read much, if they ever do now. Reading writing is thinking.

[AtomSmasher]

Actually I understood exactly what you were talking about and I thought you were wrong.  I wrote a long reply to your last comment, but I decided theres no point in going into details.  You don't like modern scifi, so your only reason for attempting to watch it was to start a debate about how bad it is.  Well, it almost worked, I guess its time for you to move on to all the other threads where you started pointless debates.

[CheffoJeffo]

Actually I understood exactly what you were talking about and I thought you were wrong.  I wrote a long reply to your last comment, but I decided theres no point in going into details.  You don't like modern scifi, so your only reason for attempting to watch it was to start a debate about how bad it is.  Well, it almost worked, I guess its time for you to move on to all the other threads where you started pointless debates.

[CheffoJeffo]

Umm...yes...yes we are...perhaps you should ask Saint to change your title to Captain Obvious   

You've solved it ... shorthair is actually Ric Romero !

[jbox]

You don't like modern scifi, so your only reason for attempting to watch it was to start a debate about how bad it is.

Wait, so it turns out that shorty is also an acolyte of HC? Now it all starts to make horrible sense... 

[shorthair]

Doosn't it, thoo.

AS, you keep calling it sci-fi like it means something. That's the whole problem. It doesn't. No, what bothers people is that I critique things. They just want their brains fed gruel after a 'hard day's work'. You just don't want to admit that you enjoy watching garbage. I know people who watch ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- like The Toxic Avenger an stuff. They know it's goober-gook, but they admit it.

Cheffo, you can stop massaging AS now. The callouses are already old.

And web publishing has been around for more than ten years. That's a long time. But obviously it needs longer than that to get going. It's not necessarily inherently obvious.

[AtomSmasher]

Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.

[blueznl]

I watched the show, and with stuff like Farscape and Burton's Batman as my staple diet I can do nothing but like it.

The 2D effects are indeed there, but I think it's part of the settings. Not everything should look like it came out of an old dr. Who episode 

[CheffoJeffo]

Hey, shorty, how is it that a guy who constantly brags about not watching television is now the ultimate critic as to what is wrong with science fiction on television ? The same way that a guy who would never get married or have kids ends up having done both. And the list goes on.

My point in applauding AS is that he saw exactly what you are trying to do.

You run around reading blogs on a particular topic so that you can blather on and argue about that topic here (a quick Google on some of your more interesting tracts was rather revealing). As you did before, you are trying to make yourself feel smart. This time, you are using other peoples thoughts instead of that ridiculous vocabulary.

The trick is starting to wear thin, though, and the old tranq has been showing through the shorthair veneer lately.

[shorthair]

No no. That last to cheffo was sour. I admit that. Everyone has odd points. I'll take that one back, as you have been fairly civil, lately.

On marriage: you're mis-construing. Legally and emotionally are two different things. And if you know of any children that came from my loins, please, tell me. Google results? I'm curious.

On topic: I didn't say I was an expert. I know what is good story-telling. I know what SF is. I know what sci-fi is. These are old definitions. The problem in popcul, particularly recently and in this kind of case is there isn't any definition. It's just a title.

[CheffoJeffo]

No no. That last to cheffo was sour. I admit that. Everyone has odd points. I'll take that one back, as you have been fairly civil, lately.

I've been busy ... 

[AtomSmasher]

So if I change the title to "New Online Only Skiffy Series" you'll go away?  Cause frankly I'll change it to "New Online Only Romatic Comedy Series" if you'll let it go.  No one cares about the differences between SF, sci-fi, and skiffy except you (and yes I do know the differences), but you love starting pointless arguements, so you just keep complaining about anything you can think of.  You've let your opinion known, you don't care for Sanctuary, now move along.

Ah crap, now I'm in a pointless argument about pointless arguments.  I guess its best to just let shorty ramble on and ignore him.  I just wish I could put up a no shorthair sign in my threads.

[blueznl]

Can we stop trolling and talk about cultish television series now?

[AtomSmasher]

Can we stop trolling and talk about cultish television series now?

  I just finished watching the first season of Carnivale, which is my first time since it first aired.  Great show, and things make so much more sense now that I know all the information they revealed in season 2.  It's really a shame it was cancelled after only 2 seasons. 

[blueznl]

Good series rarely face a good ending.

I've been a Farscape fan after seeing 'Eat Me'. It was so shocking good (YMMV) that I had no choice but to watch all episodes. It was a shame season 5 never showed up, sigh. The miniseries was okay, but they tried to put too much in it, I suspect they had much more planned.

There's an interesting aspect of Sanctuary... if concepts like this are viable (if not commercially then at least technically) then smaller and / or less commercially interesting shows may show up now and again, and old (canceled) shows might see a revival.

If production costs vs. viewer ratings are important, then with lower production costs lower viewer ratings may become acceptable.

Oh, and this may spark some controversy  but I didn't like 'blonde Sam' whilst 'raven Sam' is a far more interesting character, with that knowing, somewhat annoying smile. This suits her much better. (Never been a Stargate fan, untill Ben Browder and Claudia Black showed up... shades of 'Scape indeed.)

[shorthair]

Well, perhaps to enlighten, I'll give a general explanation:

In various experiences, I've developed and absorbed certain attitudes toward and about things. They're valid attitudes and logical conclusions. But not necessarily relevant to the audiences I may pick. However, my compulsion to express these attitudes at all is the issue. I wish to interact in a certain transcendental manner, but generally the reason my psyche enables things such as above is to help me excise the compulsion. (Beyond that, cheffo, perhaps you know more than I.) Sometimes it's a lengthy process and take more than one pass. You might note, however, I've not been in PnR in a few days at least.

[jbox]

Vell, perheps tu eeleeghtee, I'll geefe-a a generel ixpluneshun:

In fereeuoos ixpereeences, I'fe-a defeluped und ebsurbed certeeen ettitoodes tooerd und ebooot theengs. Zeey're-a feleed ettitoodes und lugeecel cunclooseeuns. Boot nut necessereely relefunt tu zee oodeeences I mey peeck. Hooefer, my cumpoolseeun tu ixpress zeese-a ettitoodes et ell is zee issooe-a. I veesh tu interect in a certeeen trunscendentel munner, boot generelly zee reesun my psyche-a eeebles theengs sooch es ebofe-a is tu help me-a ixceese-a zee cumpoolseeun. (Beyund thet, cheffffu, perheps yuoo knoo mure-a thun I.) Sumetimes it's a lengthy prucess und teke-a mure-a thun oone-a pess. Yuoo meeght nute-a, hooefer, I'fe-a nut beee in PnR in a foo deys et leest.

Fixt.

[CheffoJeffo]

Bork, Bork, Bork !

[shorthair]

What continues to excite adolescent minds. There, there my children.

[AtomSmasher]

Good series rarely face a good ending.

Sad but true.  They almost always either get cancelled to quickly or jump the shark and are on too long, very few end when they should.  I agree about Farscape, I was a big fan and watched it every week when it was on.  I was glad they were able to finish the main storyline in the miniseries.  I used to be a fan of stargate, but after season 3 or 4 it really went downhill.  They still had the occasional good episode, but for the most part it was a disappointment.  I also think they should of ended the show when Macgyver left, but it actually did start to get better this past season.

[jbox]

I personally think every season of StarGate has some great episode and some duds. I like it overall because unlike Trek it was always just trying to entertain you each week, and the "hyper-moral" episodes tended to be well written to show *why* we should make certain decisions rather than just doing it because Captain Janeway told us to. 

And Shanks may be an ass, but he really is an amazing actor. Some of the episodes in later half of season seven and eight I can still rewatch over and over again. "I thought you said there were no fish in this pond?" "Close enough." 

[AtomSmasher]

Episode 3: 

[BobA]

Ok I like the series but I think the episodes are too short.   You just get into them and they end with a revelation for next episode.  Almost like watching the short movie serials that ran many many years ago at the theater.   Hopefully we will get over the intro stage and into more story before it gets irritating.

[BobA]

Saw episode 4 and I still cannot get over the short episodes.  After the intro there is not that much time to enhance the story line.  We can only guess if it will survive.   At least these threads will be a bit shorter and too the point with the absence of a certain individual.