Irish production company, beActive has announced the production of ‘350 South: An American Journey’, the first transmedia adventure documentary.
The series follows environmentalists Ian Lacey (Ireland) and Lee Savile (US) on their year-long journey cycling from Alaska to Argentina as they cross through 15 countries, three mountain ranges and some of the harshest terrains in the world over 350 days.
Developed and produced by beActive, the series has online, mobile and interactive aspects, including a year-long immersive web and social media experience, in what is designed to be a fully participatory documentary experience. Features director is Anna Rodgers, who along with a crew will document the trip on HD. Ian Lacey and Lee Saville will also provide self-shot video diaries. The series is produced by Nuno Bernardo and Triona Campbell.
The project features a website, Facebook page, Twitter channel, blog, iPhone and iPad app, YouTube channel where video blogs will be published daily and an interactive map with a GPS locator, which allows the audience in North and South America to find out when Ian and Lee are in their area. The Facebook and Twitter features are designed to give the audience the opportunity to interact directly with Ian and Lee and become part of the experience by joining them on their journey or offering advice and suggestions on areas on the route as they complete their epic adventure.
Producer Nuno Bernardo commented on the project saying “What makes this so different from other adventure documentaries is that we are using the various platforms to enable the audience to help shape the experience as well as allowing them more of a ‘lean back’ experience by following the adventure via video diary uploads and blogs.”
To follow Ian and Lee’s adventure, visit: www.350south.org, www.facebook.com/350South or follow them on twitter @350South. A mobile app and YouTube channel will be launched in the coming days. Details on further partners will also follow. The first part of the interactive series is being self-funded by beActive and Irish Film Board support. beActive are currently in talks with partners regarding further funding.
The series marks yet another leap into factual programming by beActive, which produces the award winning urban magazine series ‘Beat Generation’ and television series ‘Yes I Can’. Funded by the Broadcasting Authority Sound and Vision scheme and Setanta Sports Ireland, ‘Yes I Can’ is hosted by blind adventurer Mark Pollock and features disabled people doing extreme sports. It will premiere in 2011 on the Setanta Sports Channel.
beActive is a merger between Irish production company CR Entertainment Ltd and Portuguese producer beActive Producoes Interactivas, S.A and has offices in Dublin, London, Lisbon and Sau Paulo. Other projects from beActive include ‘Sofia’s Diary’, the first web series to cross to TV in the UK, ‘Flatmates’, ‘Asiling’s Diary’, ‘Beat Generation’ and Emmy nominated ‘Final Punishment’.
