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'CSI' Creator Releases Book-Video-Web-Site Mashup
When compared with music, television, and movies, books haven't really changed all that much over the years. But 'CSI' creator Anthony Zuiker is about to shake up the written word by rolling a novel, Web site, and video clips into an innovative experience for readers.
According to Reuters, Zuiker's first 'digi-novel,' dubbed 'Level 26,' will be released on Tuesday. It's a crime story, of course, but the format, not the plot, is where the innovation comes into play. After reading 20 pages of the actual text, you can enter a special code on the 'Level 26' Web site that accesses exclusive three-minute clips, which Zuiker wrote and directed, called 'cyber-bridges' that further develop the story. Zuiker says the 'digi-novel' is intended to give a breath of fresh air to traditional publishing, not replace it entirely.
He shouldn't worry, either. Because, if you ask us, there's no way this will catch on. No one wants to read 20 pages, put down the book, type in a URL, enter a code, watch a video clip, and start reading again. It's just not practical. On a positive note, at least this project can't be put into eternal syndication as Zuiker's TV show has been. The only place you'll see 'Level 26' years down the line is the bookstore bargain bin. [From: Reuters, via Silicon Alley Insider]
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Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsjaykikelt2Sep 7th 2009 8:31AM
The idea of a wrtten page then video for effect won't last long. Why doesn't he put the story on DVD with the jumps to the video included? He could market the CD's same as the book and it would be more acceptable to the reader.
Anthony ByrdSep 7th 2009 10:45AM
He shouldn't worry, either. Because, if you ask us, there's no way this will catch on. No one wants to read 20 pages, put down the book, type in a URL, enter a code, watch a video clip, and start reading again. It's just not practical. On a positive note, at least this project can't be put into eternal syndication as Zuiker's TV show has been. The only place you'll see 'Level 26' years down the line is the bookstore bargain bin.
Hey did not some one say the airplane the telephone etc etc would
never catch on. Holy AOL ! The PC's were also something people do not beleave
in so a CSI inter net site will work for us that did not listen to the ones that got a
job saying the internet would not work....
a-byrdSep 7th 2009 10:50AM
He shouldn't worry, either. Because, if you ask us, there's no way this will catch on. No one wants to read 20 pages, put down the book, type in a URL, enter a code, watch a video clip, and start reading again. It's just not practical. On a positive note, at least this project can't be put into eternal syndication as Zuiker's TV show has been. The only place you'll see 'Level 26' years down the line is the bookstore bargain bin.
Hey if you had said this 20 years ago maybe you would not be working
for AOL something people also did not beleave in..
J. D.Sep 7th 2009 12:07PM
Actually, I think it WILL work because there are people like me who read 2 chapters in a book, put it down, and don't pick it up again. I used to love to read but I read very little anymore and rarely finish a book. This will breath fresh air into a book and give me reason to pick it up again. I LOVE the idea! Anyone else out there have the same problems I do when it comes to reading? I'll be anxious to see what people think of it AFTER they try it.
Erika LopezNov 28th 2010 6:54PM
It's so funny how quickly snarky and know-it-all people can get when afraid of new ideas. What I think is most important here is the courage to try something ambitious first. Whoever has the guts to try many failures has the R&D time in to know how readers have changed, what kind of audience takes to this, what kind of content does best? When you know all that, you're first to know what kind of stories play best.
I just came back from a book tour and the industry is changing on a minute-by-minute basis, but so is the AUDIENCE. They're not even sure who they are anymore because they now know how to "out movie star the movie stars" on facebook and twitter.
They want things for free, but they don't value anything that is free.
And there is a lot of disbelief and cynicism out there, so the audience is hungry for new ideas on what to do, how to be, or what to expect. So you might be able to distract with breasts and blood for a while, but whoever gets in first, figures out where the eyes flicker and lose interest. They figure out what kind of writers to court, what kind of stories to write, and how to layer for many demographics.
You can cram in all sorts of crap with many links and tangential pages, but also incite things with "the quiet space" or the "blank page." Vying for attention, getting it, and keeping it, is an art.
So I give you the cool-guy up nod for giving it a shot. A lot of people are sitting on their hands, waiting for the ipad to have flash and a USB cable before they try books with images, or moving images.
My books are still totally analog. I'm one of the people sitting on my hands, waiting for the ipad to get tricked out before I even bring graphic novels to digital anything. It's about trying to control the experience when you make art.
So why "worry" about his success? Why not cheer him on? His success will enable other types of work to come into being, new talent that might not have thrived in traditional book publishing could come to the fore.
Don't be so into farting on people's heads. Let whoever's got some scratch go make all the mistakes first for us. Relax. His success doesn't take anything away from anyone.
Most electronic book stuff makes me cringe. This sounds like fun for a change.
Cheers, man.
--Erika Lopez, Monster Girl Media
and author of "Flaming Iguanas" and "The Girl Must Die: A Monster Girl Memoir"