Backed by successes on the silver screen, several filmmakers are trying their hand at television production with new shows starting on FOX this season.
“Dark Angel,” produced by “Titanic” director James Cameron, and “Freakylinks,” supported by Gregg Hale, a producer of “The Blair Witch Project” and David S. Goyer, the writer and producer of “Blade,” make their debut on the tube this fall.
And with the big names comes big anticipation.
A lot of hype originally surrounded “Freakylinks,” a suspense drama, because of the names and r&eaqute;sum&eaqute;s of its co-creators.
However, Hale and Goyer have dropped their rankings to become mere executive consultants to the show. Taking even more of a backrest in the production is the entire crew, which includes “Blair Witch Project” directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez.
With both of the shows’ production teams accustomed to filming, the transition to television could be a problem. But then again, it could prove to be an asset.
“These styles of filming are more intertwined now than they were years ago,” said Erik Lunde, an American Thought and Language professor. “More shows like the cinematic ‘West Wing’ are becoming successful.
“It may have been difficult to go from film to TV some years ago, but now it shouldn’t really prove to be that hard.”
Besides its play on television, “Freakylinks” will find another niche on the Web. Starring Ethan Embry (“Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Empire Records”) as Derek Barrens, the curious Internet-mastering main character, the show will host a Web site, www.FreakyLinks.com, that will appear as if it were created by Barnes, not FOX or the show’s producers. Adding a sense of realism to the show, the site includes live Webcams in search of strange events. It will permit serious viewers to dive even deeper into the mysteries of the show.
The show, which premieres Oct. 6, follows Barnes’ attempts to run his underground Web site, which is more or less committed to explaining paranormal phenomena. Everything is normal until the day Barnes receives an e-mail complete with pictures showing his supposedly long-dead brother very much alive.
But even with now-famous producers backing the project, “Freakylinks” may not sail as well as anticipated. Many people who were not exactly impressed with “The Blair Witch Project” have turned a cheek to this show.
“I hated ‘The Blair Witch Project,’” political science sophomore John Branstetter said. “That movie turned me off to ‘FreakyLinks.’ It just doesn’t look especially exciting.”
With impressive and not-so-impressive past works crowding the reputation of the filmmakers behind these two shows, it’s not a surprise that some people may not tune in. But optimism in production can’t hurt.
After winning an Academy Award for his epic blockbuster “Titanic,” Cameron proclaimed, “I am king of the world!” That statement may be a promise in the works with his ambitious TV show.
Shying away from blockbuster filmmaking, Cameron has devoted himself to producing “Dark Angel,” FOX’s new surreal sci-fi series that premieres Oct. 3.
Set in post-apocalyptic America, the show follows Max, a normal teenage girl, through the calm, quiet Pacific Northwest. Well
