The Show
So where to start? For the purposes of our little demonstration, let's focus on season four. The actual show is the beginning of the experience. While we tend to focus on the aspects of transmedia that are about expansion, the story can't begin without the main content. It seems obvious but this is where it all starts.
NBC airs the show on their network weekly and puts in online, VOD and eventually DVD. Here you get to follow the action with all of your favorite characters in a regular television environment. It's normal, comfortable and regular. Here you get your main storyline(s).
Now let's assume that you're a big fan of the show, you can't get enough of these superheroes; bottom line, you want more. Here's where your transmedia experience continues.
The Webisodes
Easily the most prominent content online are the webisodes. Since these are essentially miniature episodes, they're the easiest for the casual viewers to slide into. Heroes has had several different methods of approaching their webisodes.
During the fourth season, in a partnership with Sprint, NBC devised a new form of webisodes. These 90 second long episodes, known as "Slow Burn" were broken into two parts, a 30 second piece that aired during the episode and a 60 second follow up that was viewable online (pictured above) or on Sprint phones.
These webisode pods tell the story of Lydia, a fortune telling carnie with the ability to see a person's innermost desires. This is our side story. If you only watch the aired episodes, Lydia appears to simply another member of carnival boss Samuel's entourage. However, if you follow through and watch "Slow Burn," you learn that she has an estranged daughter who is developing a dangerous ability of her own and that Lydia is hiding the whole situation from Samuel.What this accomplishes is to add a level of depth to a more minor character. We get to find our more about her relationships with characters like the knife wielding speedster Edgar. It's in these webisodes that we're first introduced to the romantic feelings that he has for her.
Knowing things like this early on doesn't just add a couple minutes of extra entertainment for a fan, it changes the way they watch the show. Knowing about Edgar's feelings, make on air scenes with him and Lydia take on a different meaning. Something a more casual fan might overlook could turn out to reveal something altogether different to the more dedicated fan.
For example, if Edgar sees Lydia getting close to Sylar, the casual viewer may think Edgar is merely spying on what Lydia is doing but the fan who has seen the webisodes knows that he is watching them out of jealousy.
In this way the webisodes have not only added to the episode but also changed the way you look at the main show/storyline. The webisodes/side story expands the mythos of Heroes and adds a level of depth you won't necessarily get with other shows. This keeps fans interested and coming back for more.
Credit Where It Is Due
This post would of course be incomplete without acknowledging the people who worked hard to make these stories come to life. Everyone from EPs Tim Kring and Dennis Hammer, webisode writers Ollie Grigsby, Foz McDermott, Zach Craley, Jim Martin and Harrison Wilcox, webisode directors Tanner Kling and Chris Hanada (and everyone with Retrofit Films), NBC.com team Carri Wagner, Joe Tolerico, Peter Hammersly, the intern Kelly Mack, and so many others. And of course everyone else on crew with Heroes (if I left anyone out… my bad, beat me up later).
If you'd like to watch the Heroes webisodes please check 'em out http://www.nbc.com/heroes
NEXT TIME: Heroes: Transmedia Storytelling Beyond the Camera
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