On this week’s #WebSeriesWednesday we go big or go home as I watched ‘Guidestones’ – not just an ordinary web series, Guidestones is a full blown ARG – alternate reality game. The attention to detail and the amount of work that went into this series is unmatched by just about any other series out there.
I’ll start off by stating ‘Guidestones’ looks amazing, and I’m not just comparing it to other web series. ‘Guidestones’ looks better than the vast majority of feature films that come out each year. There might not be big name actors or tons of special effects, but this series has used a series of amazing locations stretching over two continents, and three countries. Series creator and director Jay Ferguson has shown an incredible eye for composition and visual artistry, making even shots of people driving cars look great.
I cannot stress enough how great the series looks and it is likely the result of an uncompromising vision. So many web series are ok with doing certain things ‘just well enough’ but it is impossible to stand out from the crowd if you do just enough. There is a clear attention to detail in even the most mundane shots and aspects of the show. The team went all the way on just about everything. Let me give you a few examples.
While watching the show I commented on the eeriness of the main characters ring tone, and I was quickly informed that it was available for download in the Guidestones store. Later on I commented on a fictional band that exists as a minor footnote in the story and I was soon given a link to their song on itunes. Everything in the show actually exists online. The video blogs and character communications are all on youtube, the web sites, news articles, and QR codes are all functional. None of these things need to exist, but the fact that they do points to an unspeakable level of detail and a team unwilling to compromise.
This is what it takes. ‘Guidestones’ is a primer for the level of creativity that should be expected of web producers. The quality of the production helped attract a group of sponsors willing to be associated with the series, and I’m sure the amount of high quality work and dedication that went into the show will be real boons to the careers of those involved. So go check out ‘Guidestones’ and get caught up before the team begins production on a second season!
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