Saturday, 21 November 2009

Everything you wanted to know about Global Frequency

...plus Diplomacy news and some savoury snippets.

In preparation for this article, I had a read through the first couple of issues of Global Frequency, and I really enjoyed it. There's an immense amount of possibilities for a potential TV series. In the hands of the right people, it could become great TV, whether with Michelle's involvement or not.

Global Frequency originates as a 12-issue comic series from Wildstorm Productions, consisting of a series of single-issue, standalone stories. Written by Ellis, with covers by Brian Wood, each stand-alone story in the series featured artwork by a different artist. Whilst separate, each of the stories centered around The Global Frequency, an independent, covert intelligence organization headed by a former intelligence agent who uses the alias of Miranda Zero. There are reportedly 1,001 people on the Global Frequency, forming an active smart mob communicating by specially modified video mobile phones through a central dispatch system coordinated by a young woman code-named Aleph.

The purpose of the organization is to protect and rescue the world from the consequences of the various secret projects that the governments of the world have established, which are unknown to the public at large. The people on the Global Frequency are chosen and called on for their specialized skills in a variety of areas, from military personnel, intelligence agents, police detectives to scientific researchers, academics, athletes, former criminals and assassins. These threats that the organization deals with are equally varied and usually world-threatening, ranging from rogue military operations and paranormal phenomena to terrorist attacks and religious cults.

If this news is true, this would be the second attempt by The CW (formally The WB) network to adapt the Wildstorm comic into a TV series, with the first attempt being in 2005, when they produced a pilot episode that was based heavily on the first issue of the comic. However, they never aired this pilot, and did not commission the series.



The original series proposal was prepared by Mark Burnett with Michelle Forbes as Miranda Zero, Josh Hopkins as Sean Flynn, Jenni Baird as Dr. Katrina Finch and Aimee Garcia as Aleph. The characters of Sean Flynn, an ex-policeman who accidentally stumbled on a Global Frequency mission and Katrina Finch, a brilliant scientist with expertise in multiple fields, were created especially for the series.

Unlike the comic book, which had an ever-changing cast of field agents, Flynn and Finch were to be regulars along with Zero and Aleph, with other Frequency members coming in as and when necessary in supporting roles. This would allow for the character continuity expected of a television series and yet allow other characters to be killed off as in the comic book.



John Rogers was the principal creative force behind the television incarnation, writing the pilot episode, with Ellis credited as producer and creator. Other writers waiting to come on board included David Slack, Ben Edlund and Diego Gutierrez. The pilot was directed by Nelson McCormick.

The unaired pilot was leaked onto the Internet in June 2005 and continues to be downloaded and shared, primarily via BitTorrent and other P2P networks. Although it was popular and critically acclaimed, according to Ellis himself the leaking of the pilot annoyed Warner Brothers to the extent that they killed the project.
Source:hypergeek.ca




...of course since it's coming to the CW than expect young GQ model looking performers and cheesy love triangles.
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I love those books. No way they can do them the same way on TV, given the gore and political overtones, but there's enough meat to the stories to make for a good show.
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It was an excellent comic. But without going to a cable station so they can swear, cut off limbs and the like... I'm not seeing it. :/ that's sad because it of so many comics from that era/genre/authorbunch would have been excellent with the right people behind it.
Source: boards.cityofheroes.com

I actually managed to somehow see said mystery pilot and freaking loved it. I thought Michelle Forbes was absolutely perfect as Miranda Zero and was hoping to see more. But it was never to be.

I’m cautiously optimistic. I despise the CW most greatly. It is all that is wrong with broadcast television. Suck suck sucking suck! I’m also worried that we won’t get to see Michelle Forbes reprise her role as Miranda Zero. I really think it’s time for her to get some steady work and Global Frequency would have been perfect. But we’ll see. I’m hoping Ellis gets some influence over the production. If it’s done right, Global Frequency will definitely fill the void left by Sara Conner Chronicles.
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I like the idea that while the Frequency is Global, we as a show focus on the exploits of the members in a large metropolitan area and the cases that they in particular are called on. Various members get called elsewhere for missions on occasion, but for the show to succeed we'd need a recurring cast in the field.

Plus that sets up the eventual "Global Frequency: London" "Global Frequency: Miami" "Global Frequency: LA" spin-offs.
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The problem is that, aside from holdovers Supernatural and Smallville, CW seems to be built around the teenage girl demographic.

Yeah, this was what I meant upthread when I said I wasn't sure if the CW was the best place for Global Frequency which is, let's be honest, not really your typical teen girl property. Really, the "special effects budget" issue isn't...only some of GF stories would really require a heavy effects expenditure to make happen. But then you have the fun of pitching stories which involve, say, rogue military cyborgs planning to murder-fuck everyone in the greater Los Angeles area, crazy Japanese scientists sculpting a cathedral out of human beings, and "two biofeedback-enhanced people beat the shit out of each other for thirty minutes until one makes the other eat his own arm" to the network that brought you Gossip Girl.
Source: angryzenmaster.com



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I remember reading something by Rogers where he commented that one reason his version didn't get picked up was because it was "too much of a downer ending". Not that you can't have downer endings for TV, especially nowadays, but when your *pilot* goes that route, it might not be as easy a sell.
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I'll second the Michelle Forbes Needs To Be Miranda Zero sentiment.

Whenever I see her in other stuff (BSG, In Treatment) I always exclaim 'Yes! It's Miranda Zero!' She owns that role.
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As for the downer ending...I can imagine why people wouldn't like it, but on the other hand, world rescue situations don't always end with people in jail and the rescuers on a mountain with enough vermouth to tank ten elephants. People die. Some are innocent, some are merely victims and just ended up being a part of something bad and not really knowing. But in the end the world/city/town is saved. At least until the next time it's in danger. And in all honesty I think that makes the story stronger.
Source: freakangels.com

Global Frequency? Yes please!

Not so much on the Michelle Forbes tho. She kicked ass on the leaked pilot, but True Blood has ruined her for me for a little while...
Source: io9.com



Diplomacy website has seen a revamp. A director's statement and the full list of cast & crew have been added. Moreover, a DVD will be available sometime next year.

The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran face great hurdles in re-establishing democratic relations after thirty years of antagonism and mistrust. Recent elections in both countries have only confounded expectations. Language is how we bridge differences and build trust, but there is no telling whether a common language can be found. Interpreters play and essential role in bridging that divide.

I intended "Diplomacy" as a piece of diplomacy in itself, to strike up a certain conversation. The way these interpret diplomacy may be outrageous, it may be unwise, and it may have ulterior motives. But at least they're talking. - Jon Goldman.


And finally:

mkuplens: Thinking about recently-seen TV, Durham County is probably one of the best North American series I've seen in a while.
Absolutely brilliant.
200dollarshirt: Pizza, beer, opening two parter to BSG 2.5. Purrrr. Michelle Forbes is sexy as hell. Now sleep.
JBTakaTheStory: Just finished watching Durham County. Sucha bomb series dont yall think? Havnt seen it? Watch ion television
jillkill: Blown away by Can. TV series Durham County-suicide, multiple murders, abduction, rape, voyeurism, infidelity,
creepy children- 1st episode!