Veteran marketing entrepreneur Steve Conner has returned to his childhood love of science fiction. His latest venture is Phathom, a sci-fi brand extending to fiction, comic book, merchandise, web and mobile devices and experiential components.
“We are creating a new style of entertainment,” Conner says. “We’re an entertainment company driven by advertising, subscriptions, and eventually licensing.”
The Phathom web site currently features the first serialized stories for Phathom properties. Stories “Moon Burn,” “Old Folks,” “Ray Guns,” and “DIY Will” are in various stages of development for video and other media. “Moon Burn” will be incorporated into spring parties with the Miami Heat’s DJ Irie.
Conner is directing a web series of 20 three-to-five minute episodes of what he calls “pure sci-fi fantasy bliss.” He’s tightlipped about the story, except to say, “It’s one that makes you question your behavior on the planet.”
Conner is writing with Michael Fry, Karl Adams, Charlie Rice, and Phathom creative director Kevin Wansley.
The series is mostly cast and will shoot this spring.
A design team including FX director Chadi Abo and creature modeler Jonas Th?rnqvist is building digital sets and CG characters. They plan to officially roll out the series next fall, but a soft launch is already in the works and will begin in earnest in August.
The series is mostly cast and will shoot this spring.
