CHOOSE YOUR OWN DOCUMENTARY

 

 

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN   DOCUMENTARY   BY     FERNANDO  R  GUTIERREZ  DE  JESUS NATHAN  PENLINGTON   SAM  SMAÏL   NICK  WATSON  

 

  STORYSCAPES             PRESS  CONTACTS     KIA  MUHAMMAD                                                                FIONA  BARTOSCH   Tribeca  Film  Festival              Choose  Your  Own  Documentary   646.722.9031                                                                  +44  7814  009  190   [email protected]                                                      [email protected]   CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN  DOCUMENTARY  

PROJECT  OVERVIEW Choose   Your   Own   Documentary   (CYOD)   is   a   co-­‐creation   by   filmmakers,   Fernando   Gutierrez   De   Jesus,   Sam   Smaïl,   Nick   Watson   and   writer   and   performer,   Nathan   Penlington.    

The   creators   came   together   after   Nathan   discovered   the   long-­‐forgotten   and   heart-­‐   breaking  diary  of  a  young  boy  named  Terence  Prendergast  inside  a  Choose  Your  Own   Adventure  book  bought  on  eBay.  Together,  they  decided  to  go  in  search  of  Terence   and  unravel  the  mystery  of  the  diary’s  pages.  In  the  spirit  of  adventure,  they  thought   it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  do  so  in  the  style  of  the  books  –  with  multiple  stories  and   multiple  endings  –  but  unlike  the  books,  this  isn’t  fiction...    

Nor   is   it   an   ordinary   documentary.   For   just   as   with   the   books   that   started   the   adventure,   it’s   the   audience   that   chooses   the   path   this   story   takes.   Armed   with   remote   controls,   they   make   decisions   on   who   to   speak   to,   where   to   visit,   and   where   to  look  for  clues.    

The  result  is  a  unique  live  experience.  Combining  the  storytelling  forms  of  intimate   spoken  word  and  documentary  film,  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary  is  an  immersive,   compelling   and   surprising   story   in   which   audiences   must   make   important   and   emotional  decisions  that  directly  influence  the  narrative  journey  they  go  on.    

All  at  once  funny,  nostalgic,  heartbreaking  and  revelatory,  the  branching  narratives   explore   a   number   of   different   themes   and   issues   -­‐   from   lost   love   to   the   power   of   books.   Yet   it’s   always   a   deeply   human   story   of   childhood,   choice   and   destiny   and   with   the   audience   directing   proceedings,   one   that   leads   to   powerful   and   moving   responses.    

Filmed  over  two  years,  the  search  for  Terence  spans  four  continents  and  with  over   1,500   possible   versions   and   multiple   endings,   every   performance   brings   its   own   new   experience.  There  is  no  correct  path  to  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary;  all  choices   have   different   repercussions   and   can   lead   to   very   different   conclusions.   Where   audiences  visit  or  how  their  story  ends,  purely  depends  on  the  choices  they  make.    

Choose  Your  Own  Documentary  comes  to  the  Tribeca  Film  Festival  after  winning  the   prestigious  Scotsman  Fringe  First  Award  for  innovation  and  outstanding  new  writing   at  last  summer’s  Edinburgh  Festival  Fringe.  It  recently  completed  a  sell-­‐out  two-­‐week   residency  at  London’s  Soho  Theatre  to  audience  and  critical  acclaim.    

The  accompanying  account  of  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary,  ‘The  Boy  in  the  Book’,   will  be  published  in  the  UK  by  Headline  on  May  22nd  2014.    

CYOD  was  co-­‐commissioned  by  the  Southbank  Centre  and  supported  by  Arts  Council  England    

TRAILER    

 

https://vimeo.com/89916422   CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

 

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN  DOCUMENTARY  

INTERVIEW  WITH  PROJECT  CREATORS

  How  would  you  describe  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary?   This  is  the  biggest  challenge  of  all!  It’s  a  live,  interactive  film  using  the  format  of  the   Choose   Your   Own   Adventure   books.   We’ve   been   listed   or   reviewed   as   everything   from  comedy,  theatre,  film,  transmedia  and  even  a  play!  CYOD  could  be  described  in   a  number  of  ways  –  but  a  live  interactive  documentary  experience  is  a  starting  point.   We   take   aspects   from   all   of   those   genres   (well,   maybe   not   plays)   but   it’s   hard   to   define   it,   as   it   doesn’t   neatly   fit   into   any   category.   As   for   the   story,   it’s   a   classic   mystery  of  chance  and  coincidence,  full  of  surprises  and  unexpected  diversions.  It’s   been  a  real  human  adventure  -­‐  on  and  off  camera.     It’s  a  collaboration  between  filmmakers  and  a  performer.  How  does  that  work?   Nathan  found  the  diary  a  number  of  years  ago  and  knew  he  wanted  to  find  Terence   and   tell   his   story   in   the   manner   of   Choose   Your   Own   Adventure   –   but   had   no   idea   where  to  start.  Through  a  few  mutual  friends  we  all  found  one  another  and  the  story   quickly  sparked  a  sense  of  adventure  in  us  all.     It   was   always   conceived   as   being   this   genre-­‐bending   project.   As   creators,   we’re   all   similar   personalities   so   in   terms   of   having   a   common   vision   and   tone   it   was   quite   easy.  Nathan  is  a  great  storyteller  and  having  that  intimacy  with  the  audience  is  key   but  with  all  the  branching  narratives  it  always  felt  like  something  that  would  need  to   be  documented  on  film.  The  story  could  have  been  told  in  a  one-­‐man  show  or  been  a   traditional  linear  documentary  –  both  would  have  still  been  hugely  compelling.  Yet   mixing   these   two   storytelling   forms   has   made   the   experience   so   much   more   immersive  and  created  something  far  richer  than  the  sum  of  our  parts.     How  do  you  begin  to  film  a  documentary  with  all  these  different  routes?   It’s   difficult.   It   started   off   almost   as   an   experiment   but   it   just   became   bigger   and   bigger   and   took   on   a   life   of   its   own.   We   didn’t   know   what   we’d   find.   Where   was   the   little   boy   who   wrote   the   diary?   Was   he   even   still   alive?   Then   there’s   the   whole   element   of   ensuring   all   these   paths   are   logical   and   will   make   coherent   stories   whichever  choices  are  made.  Not  easy  when  we  were  met  with  so  many  twists  and   turns  along  the  way.  Sometimes  the  beauty  of  documentary  is  that  element  of  not   knowing  what  happens  next,  but  on  this  occasion  in  both  content  and  form  it  was  a   constant  step  into  the  dark.     What  are  some  of  the  biggest  challenges  you’ve  faced  making  CYOD?   There  are  many!  As  filmmakers  this  was  something  that  actually  attracted  us  to  the   project  –  was  it  even  possible?  Interactive  fiction  is  one  thing  but  telling  concurrent   narratives   that   all   had   to   be   real   posed   a   huge   headache.   How   can   one   story   have   multiple   endings   that   feel   substantial   and   satisfying?   It   took   a   lot   of   work,   walls   of   Post-­‐It   notes   and   many   discussions   before   we   worked   all   that   out.   Somehow   we   got   CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

to   a   place   that   now   has   1,566   possible   paths,   an   abundance   of   characters   to   meet   and  multiple  endings,  each  with  their  own  unique  emotional  impact.     For  Nathan,  he  has  to  contain  all  this  information  in  his  head  for  every  show.  We’re   completely  in  the  dark  as  to  how  the  film  will  play  out  or  what  audiences  will  choose,   so  Nathan  must  be  armed  for  every  eventuality.  We’ve  done  over  50  shows  now  and   there  are  still  some  choices  we’ve  never  seen  ourselves!     How  influential  were  the  Choose  Your  Own  Adventure  books  on  Choose  Your  Own   Documentary?   Hugely!  None  of  this  would  have  existed  without  them.  As  a  literary  genre  they  were   ahead   of   their   time   and   gave   an   incredible   sense   of   empowerment   and   control   to   young   readers.   There’s   definitely   a   nostalgia   kick   to   CYOD.   These   books   sold   over   250million   copies   in   the   US,   so   for   a   certain   generation   they   are   incredibly   fondly   remembered.     Obviously  Nathan  is  a  huge  CYOA  geek,  which  is  what  led  him  to  the  diary  but  you   don’t  need  to  be  a  fan  or  even  know  the  books  to  enjoy  the  film.  Although  in  making   this  we  did  get  to  meet  the  books’  creator,  Edward  Packard,  so  for  fans  of  the  series,   his  involvement  is  a  big  highlight.     How  have  audiences  reacted  to  CYOD?  Do  they  get  disappointed  if  they  don’t  get   the  choices  they  want?   We’ve  actually  been  quite  taken  aback  by  how  audiences  have  responded  to  it.  It’s   obviously  a  captivating  story  to  find  an  old  diary  but  it’s  been  incredible  to  see  how   invested   people   get   in   Nathan’s   journey.   Some   pathways   can   be   funny,   some   are   revelatory  and  others  are  very  emotional  and  it’s  not  unusual  for  us  to  have  gasps  or   cheers  or  even  crying  at  a  screening.    Sometimes  all  at  the  same  one  –  it  can  be  a   real  emotional  roller  coaster  at  times.     As  for  the  choices,  that’s  part  of  the  fun  of  it.  Some  people  have  asked  if  we’d  put   CYOD   on   the   internet   but   having   that   shared   live   experience   is   crucial   to   the   connection   audiences   have   with   it.   Whether   it’s   whispering   to   the   person   next   to   you  about  what  to  choose  or  the  anxiety  of  an  obviously  crucial  decision,  we’d  like  to   think   the   collective   experience   outweighs   any   disappointment   of   not   getting   what   you  wanted.     Choose   Your   Own   Adventure   books   were   famous   for   their   grizzly   deaths   and   sudden  ends.  Can  audiences  make  bad  decisions  in  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary   too?   Yes,   definitely   –   and   they   often   do!   It’s   funny,   you   can   almost   psychologically   profile   audiences   with   this   project.   Do   they   follow   the   logical   or   adventurous   path?   Sometimes   adventure   is   not   where   you   expect   to   find   it,   so   yes   there   are   definite   moments   of   disappointment   –   even   the   runtime   depend   on   the   choices   audiences   make.   And   without   giving   too   much   away,   out   there   somewhere   in   the   story,   just   as   with  the  books,  is  the  potential  for  things  to  end  suddenly  and  badly  –  and  audiences   only  have  themselves  to  blame.  Hopefully  Tribeca  choose  wisely!   CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN  DOCUMENTARY  

TECHNICAL  NOTES   THE  SHOW   For   the   creators,   it   was   important   that   the   technology   required   to   tell   such   an   interactive   journey   did   not   complicate   or   compromise   the   storytelling.   The   desire   was   always   for   the   story   to   take   precedent   and   allow   the   format   to   fade   into   the   immersive  experience.     So   for   all   of   Choose   Your   Own   Documentary’s   innovation,   peering   behind   the   wizard’s   curtain   reveals   an   almost   steampunked   technology   that   perfectly   compliments  the  raw  and  voyeuristic  nature  of  the  film.     Always  conceived  to  be  a  collision  of  film  and  live  storytelling,  the  challenge  was  to   achieve   a   framework   in   which   multiple   story   paths   were   not   just   possible,   but   seamlessly  experienced  by  its  audience.     With  no  template  to  follow,  a  guerrilla  approach  was  necessary.  The  result  could  well   be   called   the   world’s   first   Keynote   documentary   –   the   creators   contorting   Apple’s   presentation   software   away   from   the   boardroom   and   into   the   cinema,   thus   taking   it   to  a  never  intended  apex!       THE  VOTING   One  of  the  key  elements  to  the  success  of  Choose  Your  Own  Documentary  has  been   its   interactive   element.   Coined   by   one   reviewer   as   “Interactivity   for   introverts”,   all   audience  members  are  issued  with  a  simple  wireless  keypad  that  allows  them  to  play   their  part  in  influencing  the  narrative.     Throughout   the   film   they   will   be   presented   with   a   number   of   choices   or   decisions   to   which  they  must  provide  an  answer.       The   keypads   use   frequency-­‐hopping   spread   spectrum   technology   and   the   results  are  instantly  collated  and  relayed   to   a   base   computer.   At   the   touch   of   a   button,   the   results   are   revealed   to   the   audience   and   in   accordance   with   the   majority   vote,   they   venture   down   the   subsequent  narrative  path.           CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN  DOCUMENTARY  

PRESS     Choose   Your   Own   Documentary   premiered   at   last   summer’s   Edinburgh   Festival   Fringe   where   it   received   a   number   of   4   and   5   star   reviews   from   the   festival   press,   and   went   on   to   win   the   prestigious   Scotsman   Fringe   First   Award   for   outstanding   new  writing  and  innovation.     Winner:  The  Scotsman  Fringe  First  Award  2013   "A  deeply  moving  testimony  to  the  small  choices  we  all  make  in  our  lives  and  the   profound  effects  they  can  have"     The  Scotsman    

★★★★  

"A  funny,  touching,  stratospherically  human  production.  The  thing  that  makes  this   show  exceptional  is  the  kind  of  story  it  tells.  It’s  not  the  rollicking  intergalactic  and   hyper-­‐dimensional  quest  of  the  original  ‘Choose  Your  Own  Adventure’  books.      It’s  much  closer  to  home  than  that.  This  subject  matter  is  explored  gently  and   subtly,  and  it  makes  it  so,  so  much  more  than  its  ingenious  format.”     Broadway  Baby  

★★★★  

  Whilst   at   Edinburgh,   Choose   Your   Own   Documentary   was   also   covered   as   part   of   BBC’s  flagship  technology  programme,  Click,  and  featured  in  the  New  York  Times.     “Ultimately  a  love  letter  to  the  ‘Choose  Your  Own  Adventure’  books  and  a  directive   to  live  actively  and  make  choices”   Steven  McElroy,  The  New  York  Times     In   February   2014,   Choose   Your   Own   Documentary   received   its   first   full   London   run   with  a  two-­‐week  residency  at  the  Soho  Theatre  to  both  critical  and  audience  acclaim.   Rave  reviews  in  the  national  UK  press  and  sell-­‐out  shows  ensured  its  return  to  Soho   Theatre  later  this  year.    

 “There  are  1,566  versions  of  this  show…  and  if  the  other  1,565  are  half  as  good  as   the  one  I  saw,  I  suggest  strongly  that  you  track  one  down”   The  Times    

★★★★  

“As  a  concept  it  is  at  once  deeply  nostalgic  and  dazzlingly  modern.  The  show   demands  engagement  from  its  audience,  encouraging  them  to  be  bold  and  take   decisions.”   The  Independent  

  CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc  

CHOOSE  YOUR  OWN  DOCUMENTARY  

PROJECT  CO-­‐CREATORS     FERNANDO  R  GUTIERREZ  DE  JESUS   @Fernand   Fernando  is  an  experienced  director,  producer  and  editor  of  engaging  content  across   multiple   platforms.   Having   worked   across   everything   from   primetime   documentary   series   and   big   scale   entertainment   shows,   Fernando   has   been   able   to   create   engaging   stories   and   experiences   across   a   variety   of   genres.   With   a   strong   background   in   concept   development   for   television,   he   specialises   in   low   cost,   fast   turnaround  and  surprising  production.     NATHAN  PENLINGTON   @NPenlington   Nathan  Penlington  is  a  writer,  performer  and  obsessive.  He  has  performed  his  work   in   venues   as   diverse   as   Tate   Modern,   Oxford   Literary   Festival,   Reading   Comedy   Festival,   Chicago’s   Drinking   &   Writing   Festival,   and   SXSW   in   Austin,   Texas,   and   has   been   broadcast   on   BBC   Radio   1,   3,   4   and   6music.   His   last   show   –   Uri   &   Me   –   an   obsessive   deconstruction   of   the   spoon-­‐bending   Uri   Geller,   was   described   as,   “A   thoughtfully  constructed,  funny,  yet  litigation-­‐avoiding  look  at  the  life  and  work  of  a   global  celebrity  phenomenon.”     SAM  SMAÏL   @DotTwoDots   Sam  has  worked  within  factual  television  in  the  UK  for  the  past  five  years,  winning   commissions  across  all  major  domestic  networks  as  well  as  internationally.  Working   chiefly   as   a   Factual   Development   Producer,   Sam   specialises   in   start-­‐up   projects,   original  content  and  innovative  format  design.     Led   by   a   passion   for   documentary,   strong   narratives   and   immersive   media,   Sam   is   keen   to   explore   new   and   exciting   forms   of   visual   storytelling   that   take   audience   engagement   to   new   levels.   Choose   Your   Own   Documentary   is   Sam’s   first   major   documentary  project.     NICK  WATSON   @NickWatsonFilm   Nick   is   a   shooting   edit   producer   with   over   15   years   experience   making   films   for   television  and  online.  Career  highlights  have  included  working  as  a  Promo  Producer   for   ITV,   filming   an   observational   documentary   with   Plan   B   and   directing,   shooting   and  editing  the  critically  acclaimed  BBC4  documentary  The  Man  Who  Shot  Beautiful   Women,  which  tells  the  incredible  story  of  fashion  photographer  Erwin  Blumenfeld.    

CYOD.CO.UK   @CYODoc