How would you spend your final hours on ear?... the Countdown has begun

Leading digital agency Soap Creative, Roadshow Films and Screen Australia have collaborated to launch the transmedia experience The Countdown an immersive 'interactive prequel' ahead of the release of Australian apocalyptic thriller These Final Hours, which asks How would you spend the last six months on Earth?

In keeping with the film, The Countdown is set in a vast hyper-realistic world where you can explore the story of a humanity-ending asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Along the way you learn that things are not quite as they seem and realise that every decision has a drastic outcome for you and your friends.

To fully immerse you in the experience, The Countdown pulls in your closest Facebook friends, integrating them through stylised IMs, videos, emails and tweets. These personal stories combined with cameos from media personalities (including Nelson Aspen, Dan Ilic and Alicia Malone) support a broader global narrative of government deception and the breakdown of society. Overall, more than 900 pieces of unique content have been created, including over 20 minutes of video.

Created in close collaboration with the writer/director of These Final Hours, Zak Hilditch, The Countdown confronts you with realistic and thought-provoking moments that pull you into a fictional world especially the first-person Choose Your Own Adventure' sequence at the climax of the experience, which was shot on location in Perth by Zak and producer Liz Kearney.

The Countdown finishes 12 hours from the end of the world, which is where the film These Final Hours begins.

Michael Hughes, Creative Director at Soap said, The opportunity to create interactive content beyond the traditional two-hour film format highlights the potential of cinema and digital working together.

Phil Oneile, Marketing Director at Roadshow Films said, We are excited to have worked with Screen Australia and Soap to develop such an immersive transmedia execution that really sets the scene for our release of These Final Hours on 31 July. It's great to be able to have a campaign that is as unique as the film itself.

Zak Hilditch, writer/director of These Final Hours, said, Im thrilled to be able to expand the universe of These Final Hours and encompass the world outside the story in such an innovative way. I feel like we have come up with something truly unique here.

Screen Australia COO, Fiona Cameron said, This initiative encourages filmmakers to engage with audiences in dynamic ways. The immersive story experience extends the story world, and has the potential to raise further awareness of the film, and enhance a deeper connection with audiences.

The Countdown is now online at http://thesefinalhours.com.au, with These Final Hours releasing in cinemas Australia-wide on 31 July 2014.

Press Assets:

The Countdown Press Images can be downloaded from here:

http://goo.gl/QOPzBU

The Countdown video teaser trailer can be viewed here:

http://youtu.be/SJbDvX9UhfA

These Final Hours film trailer can be viewed here:

http://youtu.be/QaoF6byFQFU

About Soap Creative:

Soap is one of Australia's leading digital agencies with a three word philosophy that define its approach to digital thinking - Play. Make. Do. The highly regarded independent agency was established 12 years ago and is currently partnered with brands including Unilever, 20th Century Fox, ING Direct, Disney and Vodafone amongst others. The agency has offices in Sydney, Los Angeles and Dallas with over 110 employees. In 2013 the agency spun out its critically acclaimed gaming unit into an standalone business called SMG Studio http://smgstudio.com, developing and publishing it's own iOS and Android gaming titles.

About Roadshow Films:

Originally started by Village Roadshow in the late 1960's, Roadshow Films had grown into Australasia's largest independent film distributor, distributing films nationally as well as DVDs to major retailers. Roadshow enjoys long standing distribution agreements and relationships with key film suppliers such as Warner Bros, Lionsgate, Film Nation and The Weinstein Company to name a few.

Media Enquiries:

Annaliese Zuzarte Screen Australia

T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0404 877 887

annaliese.zuzarte@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140630_TheCo...
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