One of the extra benefits of getting a DVD of our film is the extra Transmedia we developed, which is supplemental to the film.  The main part of that is the ‘Dreams Awake’ Portal.  Once again, that part of the film’s experience will certainly not be for everyone, but we thought we would develop more material that was connected to different elements of the film.  And once again, not all the pieces will be for everyone, but there might be some piece in this puzzle for just about everyone who has a reaction to the film’s content.

I have already mentioned this transmedia portal before, but I just wanted to get into it a bit more.  Hopefully without spoiling it for those who haven’t yet ‘discovered’ it.

There are a few open-ended questions that the film presents but doesn’t really answer.  Some have to do with the story, some have to do with the issues raised.  I always wanted the film to only be a beginning point, allowing for the viewer (or user?) to be engaged by other avenues and possibilities of the story and/or the spiritual issues.

What makes it exciting is that this will be an ongoing process we intend to continue for as long as people keep coming back for more.  We are currently on a timeline to continue adding new content for the next two years.  After that, we’ll see where it goes.  Maybe a pathway to one of the sequels?

As it stand now, the Dreams Awake Portal (http://www.dreamsawakeportal.com) is made up of 13 websites.  Three of them are directly related to the film, ones you probably already know about; this site, the store site and the tour site.  The other ten sites are content sites we will continually be adding material to over the next two years.  Some of them already have a fair amount of material, while others have just started getting going.  And some of them need users to add content to them to make them more than we could ever make them.  That part is up to you!

And to reiterate, access to the portal is only granted to those who purchase the DVD, since each DVD has its own portal access key code.  You have to go the portal site, enter that code and you receive a key to the portal.  Of course, it makes sense that you should watch the film before you enter the portal, or the content there may not make much sense.  In fact, not only will the portal content not make sense, but you may spoil the film story for yourself by not watching the film first.  Don’t spoil it for yourself, OK?

Anyway, a number of people who have already bought the DVD have entered the portal and are having fun with it.  So, join us in the portal, see where it takes you and have fun with it!

JAD

(The portal also now has a Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/DreamsAwakePortal)