First-Ever Mixed Reality Comic Book Brings New Multi-Platform Detective
Thriller "Are You Awake" to Life

Innovative smartphone app to be unveiled at New York Comic Con, launching a transmedia entertainment property with webseries, graphic novel, fashion line, digital music and more

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /CNW/ - The Dream Detective Media Properties Inc. today announced that Are You Awake, a compelling glamour-noir detective story with a vast transmedia twist, will be unveiled at New York Comic Con.

Very few entertainment properties have cast as wide a net as Are You Awake. Audiences will experience the story through live action webisodes, a first-ever "mixed reality" comic that comes to life with a smartphone application, a graphic novel, motion comic, original music and a new fashion line.

All elements of the transmedia property are based on Are You Awake, a throwback to classic detective thrillers, updated with a sexy, stylish edge. Elements of surrealism and the supernatural are interwoven throughout the story, which features artwork by DC and Marvel Comics legend Richard Pace.

Audiences around the world will get their first taste of this glamour-noir property via an upcoming webseries that features a "who's who" of genre entertainment: Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary, Stargate: Atlantis), Alana Husband (Intelligence, The L Word), Jessica Harmon (Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy) and Michael Eklund (Caprica, Shattered). The series trailer will be released online during New York Comic Con, at www.areyouawake.tv.

Are You Awake is decidedly "un-Hollywood" in its origins. The property was created by Keith Turner, a successful global investment banker and four-time nominee for Ernst and Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award. Turner, also a published author, songwriter and radio host, is Executive Producer of Are You Awake and heads Dream Detective Media Properties.

"From a young age I've been fascinated by dreams and a voracious reader of detective novels, so I'm thrilled to see this series come to life," Turner said. "I wanted a fresh approach to unveiling this property and quite literally, we are reverse engineering the usual entertainment business model. That meant lining up distribution before shooting the live action, and producing many of the transmedia elements in advance."

He added, "We're engaging fans not only with great entertainment, but also by giving them an active role in future story and media development. Zeros 2 Heroes has helped us take the audience experience to a whole new level through the creative use of social media, mobile apps and unique concepts like a mixed reality comic."

The Are You Awake experience kicks off on October 8th at New York Comic Con, where an alternate reality game (ARG) will be launched with live actors portraying characters from the story. All 50,000 convention goers will be given a 32 page mixed reality comic which - when used in tandem with their smartphones - will allow them to help solve an online mystery. Are You Awake will be at the convention from Oct. 8-10.

"Are You Awake showcases an entirely new way to create entertainment properties that are destined for film or television," said Matt Toner, President of Zeros 2 Heroes Media. "Digital audience experiences allow producers like Keith to connect with fans by giving them multiple points of interaction with the story, the characters and the creators."

The Mixed Reality Comic

Through the magic of augmented reality technology, the comic book will initiate a multi-layered, interactive fan experience. Scanning the book with any smartphone will generate virtual images on fans' mobile displays, as well as play music and dialogue.

These clues will unlock riddles that provide even deeper layers of the story. They can also be used to acquire rewards on the Are You Awake social network, including unique avatars, the sound track and wallpapers for mobile devices and desktop computers.

Beyond New York Comic Con, fans can continue following the story and its characters through an extended alternate reality game on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube and other social media channels. This is intended not only to draw fans into the story, but also to allow producers to better understand which characters and story lines resonate with the audience.

Links to Are You Awake

More information on Are You Awake, including a trailer of the live action series and a nine-song soundtrack based on the series will be available at www.areyouawake.tv at the start of New York Comic Con on October 8th. For an electronic press kit, please visit www.areyouawake.tv/epk.zip.

About Dream Detective Media Properties

Dream Detective Media Properties Inc. develops and implements transmedia entertainment opportunities based on the glamour-noir detective story Are You Awake (www.areyouawake.tv). Based in Vancouver, the company seeks to deliver an exciting experience to fans worldwide through the web, social media, mobile smartphones, graphic novels, music, fashion and ultimately, television.

About Zeros 2 Heroes

Founded in 2006, Vancouver-based Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc. (www.z2hmedia.com) is a social media company that seeks to engage the hearts, minds and keyboards of online fans. Z2H creates compelling and profitable genre entertainment properties that can be distributed as feature length films, television, videogames, original digital content or print. The company works with leading broadcasters, film producers, animation studios and game development companies to provide solutions that span platforms and audiences.

For further information: Canadian Media Inquiries (on behalf of The Dream Detective Media Properties), Don Hogarth, 416.565.8920; [email protected]; US Media Inquiries (on behalf of The Dream Detective Media Properties), Rita Cahill, 310.556.2712, [email protected]; Ellen Pasternack, 510.558.8085, [email protected]; Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc., Carolyn Allain, Business Affairs, 604.837.7006, [email protected]