I’m working on a half-hour ABC affiliate special for LOST. It’s a “survival” guide that will get viewers up-to-speed for the season three premiere in October. We interviewed LOST creators Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse – as well as a handful of writers from Entertainment Weekly magazine. There’s also a short bit with Jimmy Kimmel – who is a rabid LOST fan.
2. What have you found is the best tool or innovation that has come out in the last year?
The Extra Sticky Post-It. When it comes to laying out story beats and getting the flow of the show worked out, these babies are essential. We just slap them up on the wall and see what sticks – literally.
3. The project (film, television, commercial or music video) that most impressed you in the last year? Why?
A documentary called The Shutka Book of Records about a Roma community in Macedonia. It had such a unique style. Totally original – just like it’s subject matter.
4. The best or favorite project that you worked on in the past year? And why?
This Battlestar Galactica clip show was a truly a pleasure to work on – mostly because of our clients at the SciFi Channel. Their feedback was so smart and precise. The show’s creators, Ron Moore & David Eick, were very supportive of our efforts and it was such a treat to work with the great Mary McDonnell (star of BSG and our narrator). I am very proud of our collaboration.
5. Name the top 4 artists on your iPod?
Cat Power
The Black Angels
The Dirtbombs
The Fall
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SCI FI's comprehensive promotional outreach will extend far beyond just the broadcasts. Throughout September and leading up to the season 3 premiere, "The Story So Far" will also be made available for download via iTunes and XBox Live – the first longform program ever to be offered via XBox – and will be distributed at Best Buy as a bonus DVD with the "Battlestar Galactica" season 2.5 DVD set, as well as other genre titles, from Universal Home Video. The DVD will also be distributed to visitors to the Universal Studios theme parks, and snippets of the special will be available on YouTube, Google Video and other video portal sites.
For Met|Hodder, the project offered the chance to collaborate with SCI FI
Channel and to delve into the depths of one of the most critically acclaimed shows on television. The company brought a wealth of experience to the project, having produced multiple recap specials for "Grey's Anatomy" and
"Lost" for ABC and most recently for "The 4400" on USA Network.
"We came to Met|Hodder because of their reputation for delivering great recap programs," says Erik Storey, VP of Original Programming for SCI FI. "We knew that recapping "Battlestar Galactica" was an ambitious challenge and wanted a partner with a proven track record. It has been a wonderful experience working with the team at Met|Hodder."
The primary goal of "Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far" is to welcome new and occasional viewers into the fold before the new season begins October 6th, and to highlight the compelling narrative and characters in the AFI honored and Peabody Award-winning episodic.
"Everyone at SCI FI and NBC Universal Television Studio is extremely proud of this show and creating this recap special is evidence of that passion," notes Storey. "Our NY Marketing and Promotion Team has created a smart, strategic cross-platform roll-out campaign designed to expose this show to the widest possible audience of potential new viewers available. We're confident once they get a taste of the relatable characters, the involving relationships and dynamic storytelling Met|Hodder has highlighted in this special, they'll be hooked!"
"Every person behind Battlestar supports it with great enthusiasm and this is key to a successful recap special," comments Kent Hodder, Founder and Executive Creative Director of Met|Hodder. "People come to us because we can step away from the show to see the big picture and, in doing so, help define the structure and narrative that best encapsulates its history. We collaborate closely with the show's creatives to produce a well-thought out, stand-alone special that will deliver a completely engaged audience. These shows are hybrid projects that take into consideration the objectives of programming, promotion and the show runners, culminating in a entertaining piece of television and an effective marketing tool that stays true to the creators' vision."
To create the multifaceted program, the Met|Hodder team reviews all existing episodes multiple times, looking at the characters, story beats and key plot points, as well as the big overarching themes and story arcs that continue over multiple seasons. The show is then reverse engineered, with an eye toward what the viewer is going to encounter in the new season, particularly in the first episode. Rather than rely on a formulaic approach, Met|Hodder looks closely at the episodic's unique storytelling devices and structure in order to capture its heart and soul. One of the key elements to this presentation is the narrator, and Met|Hodder works closely with the show's producers to choose the best approach for each special.
"Recap Specials are modern promotion and marketing at its absolute best," concludes Kent Hodder. "When successful, they allow people to re-live pivotal moments and understand the characters and themes – all in under an hour. We are thrilled to have produced "BSG: The Story So Far" in concert with SCI FI."
SCI FI Channel's original series "Battlestar Galactica" is the gripping saga of human survival against unimaginable odds. When Cylon robots rose against their human creators, they launched a devastating nuclear attack that left less than 50,000 survivors. On the run and in search of a new home, the last remnants of humanity struggle against waning supplies, weapons and hope. Redefining the space opera with its gritty realism, "Galactica's" intensity, issues-driven topicality, and command performances have garnered it numerous awards, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. Currently in its third season, "Battlestar Galactica" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.
Produced by: Met|Hodder
Executive Producers Kent Hodder, Nancy Bordson & Steve Mulholland
Producer: Mary O'Brien
Executive in Charge of Production: Tim Herbstrith
Production Manager: Chad Alber
Editors: Malyssa Woodward & Pete Keffer
Online Editor: Chuck Heron
Postproduction Audio: Rich Cook
Graphics: Tim Dahlen
Technical Engineer: Mark Sheldon
Assistant Editor: Elliot Diviney
Production Assistant: Joy Phillips
Music: Richard Gibbs & Bear McCreary
Narrator: Mary McDonnell
Sections: Creativity
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