The above video is an animatic based on storyboards illustrated for the production of Nikol. It is intended as an approximation of what the production might look like, not the final product.

http://www.nikol-movie.com/

http://www.facebook.com/nikolmovie

Overview

Our Story

From Nathan Bezner: Science fiction, as a genre in and of itself, has been described and defined as a great many things. Rod Serlings definition is the improbable made possible. Robert Heinlein called it Realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method. There are hundreds of sub-genres within the genre itself, all working to make the same basic point: our world is vast, misunderstood and magnificent, and we as human beings wish nothing more than to understand it. If, as they say, curiosity killed the cat, then Science Fiction fuels our own curiosity of the known/unknown.

So what does that mean for a little newspaper in an alternate universe United States? For Miles, Victor, Hollis and Sydney of the Herald-Tribune, it means change. Obsolescence. Very similar to the current day predicament print-based companies find themselves in with the internet revolution, the Herald-Trib finds itself no longer necessary, eradicated in the wave of technological change. In real world events we find ourselves turning to iPads, iPhones and the internet for our news-worthy information. People are more likely to load up The Huffington Post than read The New York Times.

However, this being a different sort of world, The Herald-Tribs information is stored on a bio-computer, Nikol. Being a living, practically breathing entity, she doesnt take kind to obsolescence. For her being obsolete is not change, it is death.

These are the themes I find so interesting in Nikol. Change, technological revolution, the death of print. We work so hard to make things better, faster, stronger, that we forget we are killing a part of our history, a part of who we are as communicators. Nikol herself is not just fighting for life, shes fighting for history. Shes fighting for the very basis of what separates us from the animal kingdom: communication on a higher level.

What I find most interesting in creating an alternate universe in order to convey this message of loss is the ability to create those improbable, scientific leaps that would or could not exist in a more realistic world. This brings us back to the idea of conveying this message via the genre of science fiction, and Steampunk in particular as a sub- genre. I dont simply want it to look cool, the style wasnt chosen for styles sake. In this world, everything is esoteric. Technology has evolved beyond our capacity to understand it. Imagine the iPad being released to a Victorian community. What sort of chaos would it cause, introducing something vastly beyond their understanding?

It is a chance to step back. Put the brakes on. Reassess where were going, who we are and, ultimately, what we want as a society; because if were truly eschewing the feel of a printed novel in our hands for the plastic smell of a Kindle, something must be wrong.

What we are looking for right now are starting funds, the money to get the ball rolling. Once that first road is crossed, we will be able to find additional revenue from several investors who have already promised to match funds should we get that initial interest up and running. We're planning on initiating pre-production once we hit our final goal of $250,000.

If we don't get that initial funding in order to get off the ground, don't worry, we'll find another way. Like Peter Venkman says, everyone has three mortgages these days.

Let everyone know about the project! Tell your mom, tell your dad, hell, tell your cat - anything and everything can help. This project is a community effort, and we can only do it if the word gets out.

I'm sure your cat will like it.