Every generation needs a new evolution and independent filmmaker, Jhon Doria is at the forefront of this generation’s evolution of technological advancements and Hollywood’s soon-to be latest trend. Combining the idea of the million channel people’s network, You Tube, and today’s cutting edge film making, Doria is definitely a trailblazer in what industry insiders are coining as “webisodes.” In fact, portals like Yahoo have begun creating original content, and traditional entertainment conglomerates like News Corp. and NBC are starting to jump into the online syndication business as well.
Think “X-Files” meets “24.” That’s just what Doria created in his new webisode series titled “The Dopler Effect.” The popular new web based series explores today’s technological accomplishments using the fictitious name of Dopler, however the main topics and institutions (The Singularity, Transhumanism, DARPA) in the series are factual. Doria a great example of the new direction that independent film making is taking and he’s expanding on this new form of entertainment with a subject matter that he feels very strongly about and he’s getting out to the masses.
In his first web series, Doria explores the different effects that technology has on society. The series centers on the life of FBI Agent Dodd whose assignment it is to search for a missing DARPA scientist who has gone underground to evolve humanity on his own terms. The storylines are relevant to today’s society with a futuristic twist. For example, the opportunists selling manipulated DNA on the black market, we know as the “drug dealer” today. The series explores other relevant issues that blend in with today’s society and technology as we know it.
Doria has created a very thought provoking series with “The Dopler Effect,” which he terms as the niche genre of “Science Non-Fiction.” His passion for filmmaking and thirst for excellence shines through in his first web-based series. Doria is definitely leading the way for standout entertainment in the new area of web content. We encourage all our Slice of SciFi fans to log on and check out DoplerEffectTV.com.
Enjoy Linda Craddock’s interview with this intriquing new creator of “The Dopler Effect,” writer, director and actor — Jhon Doria.
Linda Craddock (SoSF): Hello Jhon and welcome to Slice of Scifi. I really love this new project, on-line Webisodes? Very interesting. As a matter of fact I have been watching it, Tell us a little about it, The “Dopler Effect”, very, very interesting. Give us some background on how you started.
Jhon Doria (JD): At this point it’s probably close to two years when I was approached by a friend of mine who first introduced me to the Webisodes concept, and I had written this pilot, and for me there was a time issue because I really wanted to explore this concept immediately and get it out there and it seemed like the perfect fit for me for the next two months adapting the pilot and turning them into Webisodes. I love that, from a creative stand point, because there’s really no structure to what a Webisodes is at this point. I had very strong feelings about what I thought would represent it best and, ironically enough I actually went to structured old radio shows through the ’40s and ’50s as part of the influence on how to construct the Webisodes and just went forward and we started working on it and at this point it was over a year ago when it went into production and we put out 19 webisodes starting I’d say January and we put them out, I think it was 24 weeks total. We had a small hiatus. Other than that we put out one a week and we just finished up in August and we’re really happy with it. We are really proud of how it came out, the whole webisodic structure and the fact that anybody can get to them, it’s fascinating.
SoSF: Yes it is, I’m very impressed. So tell us about the process, assembling the cast and crew and the fine details of producing a media like this, a forum if you will.
JD: This is one of those projects that really attracted everybody, there’s a three minute promo up on the website they watched. It’s basically an expository, the three minutes talking about the subject matter of the show, the different characters in the show. Once I started showing that to people, they quickly fell in line. We have upwards of 50 people that worked on “Dopler”. They were all attracted to the subject matter and it went from there, you know. We had a relatively, as far as actual production, small crew. I wanted to keep it light on its feet as well, the opening medium being we were able to show this on the internet with technology where it is now, the same is true with the equipment that we used. We had this great camera, actually two of the same one. They’re light weight and they’re not very big and we were able to be very mobile with them which is something that I wanted to do. We were able to cover more ground that way. I have a theatre background and for me the best part of acting is to just be able to continue and not to be cutting and go off into making it more about the characters in the actual process. We were really able to do that quite well and I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m pretty positive everyone on my set had a great time. Again, one of the strongest things for me was the subject matter.. It was really important to me to take a stab at it and be one of the first people, if not the first, to actually explore this the way that we did.
SoSF: Yes, I’m told that you and your crew worked extremely well together on what, at the time production began two years ago, a brand new technology. Must have been an exciting experience.
JD: It was a pretty good experience.
SoSF: So when you presented this to the crew, people that you’ve worked with before, obviously, and a cast of actors to assist you with the project were they immediately sold on the idea and the concept or was it something you had to pound home. the evolution of this medium going forward?
JD: No, I gave them the background on it and what we were going to be doing and that was intriguing, the whole webisodic [idea] was intriguing but then this [great] story….It was really kind of an easy sell. We really didn’t have to pound anything home, to anyone really. Once they saw that promo, they were definitely caught, the content and that was [just] three minutes. So it was “how are you planning on doing this” and once I explained that they were like “alright, great!” It worked out for a lot of theatrics we had involved because they were able, by and large to continue on with everything else they were doing. You don’t have to block a severe chunk of time where they would be unable to do anything else we spread [it] out so much. Each webisode is, on average about 7 minutes. Each webisode at tops, and I think the most extensive webisode that we ever did was about 2 ½ days of production. On average we were doing about 2 days. One of the webisodes, as an experiment, we wanted to do in one take, which we did so that was just 1 day of shooting. We rehearsed all day and we shot it. The webisodic structure gave me a lot of, you know a big canvas in which to explore a lot of things creatively which I was really excited about. I think the inherent structure of each one was only so long [which] gave us a freedom that we didn’t have to go into production for a month or 6 weeks and we were able to pace ourselves more and I think everything worked out with “Dopler” the way it was supposed to be. We paced perfectly, we were able to explore everything we wanted to do at any give time and so it was very interesting..
SoSF: So, moving forward do you have other project ideas you’d like to present?
JD: Oh, absolutely. We’re working on, I guess in pre- pre production, now working on the next project and that one is called “Final Justice” and I have every intention of going back and doing more on “Dopler”. Absolutely that was Season One right there.
SoSF: Yes, its very interesting and I know there have been different concepts of shooting film, straight to DVD but this is one I have not been that familiar with and it is basically my first introduction…..
JD: Oh, great
SoSF: To this forum and its very impressive.
JD: It’s nice that that was your first introduction.
SoSF: What other projects are you working on besides the webisodes forum, anything movies or TV.
JD: Absolutely, as I said when I wrote “Dopler” originally as a pilot, I think that can definitely find a home in a one-hour format. One of the best things about the webisodic medium is that I was able to do it and I was able to get it our there and start building a fan base without, at this point really pitching it but it’s definitely something that I want. I think once people understand the concept is about. There are so many shows right now that, maybe in their own way, are not dealing with it directly but there’s a huge audience for something like “Dopler”. You’ve got “Lost” out there, you’ve got “Heroes”, “X-Files” and this is definitely in that family. I don’t want to keep myself committed to one medium or another. This is a two year project and I think it’s definitely great exploring but film is definitely my first love and then television is right there so…. To me it’s all one big thing because once I’m there, I’m writing or in production shooting. To me it’s the same because we’re there doing it and that’™s what I love the most. It’s interesting having to go on Goggle and having to translate certain pages certain blogs about your show because they’re in Italian, and I think one was in Russian so to me that’s great to be able to see that. People found it because of a certain subject matter they were into whether it was Transhumanism with a singularity or any of those things. That another thing I like about “Dopler” is that it’s not just about people who are science fiction fans.
SoSF: There is a lot of current information, a lot of topics that we deal with on a daily basis.
JD: Absolutely
SoSF: That is what I found so fascinating. Tell us something about Jhon Doria outside of entertainment, hobbies (laughter)
JD: (laughter) I’m pretty much a dedicated artist in that sense in one form or another it’s got something to do with that. My girlfriend might say I am pretty much one-track minded (laughter).
SoSF: Is there any one particular actor or actress that you would love to work with?
JD: The actor would definitely be Jack Nicholson and Gary Oldman being a very close second but yes definitely Jack Nicholson. Actress, I’m a big fan of Susan Sarandon. There’s so many, though, but right off the top of my head, there are so many people that I would love to work with and certain ones that I keep in mind when I’m writing.
SoSF: Is there any one project outside of “Dopler” that you can say “this one is going to be my ultimate”?
JD: Oh, I don’t know I really don’t [know] if I can think like that, to be honest with you. I have a few projects that I think will be pretty amazing but I would like to think that 40 years from [to] know I am still working to try and achieve that one, the best one of my career. I’d like to have many under my belt so I’d have to say no there is not one that I think would define me as of yet.
SoSF: I appreciate the interview and want to thank you for your time
JD: I appreciate the interview
SoSF: I can’t say it enough, I am really fascinated by this and I intend to spread the word.
JD: Thank you so much
Keith Burns says
I think Dopler is one of the best new shows i have seen in a long time, and cant wait to see what Jhon is going to next. He is an amazing talent and will be the next Nicholson. Next time ask about his singing.
marqui besneatte says
LOVE The Dopler Effect. I’ve been following it, now I’m rewatching the whole season. Keep up the good work Mr. Doria. Are you as cute in person????
gail lechner says
The web series kicks AS$!!! I try to read/find anything on The Dopler Effect! What else is there?? I am waiting, not so patiently…
rhett o'donnell says
I’m a huge sci-fi nut. Found The Dopler Effect by chance. I think i”m LOVING this new Sci-NON-fi thing. What a trip!! I would love to see more, know more, read more on this series and this guy(Jhon Doria). Thank you for taking sci fi to a new level, a level that is as hip as it deserves to be.
Christie Goren says
As one of the few women I know that is obsessed with Sci-Fi, I found the Dopler Effect by chance. Man am I grateful!! I want more, more, more!! What a GREAT story, great writing, brilliant actors…What’s next??? Please don’t go away!!!
cynthia conel says
I watched The Dopler Effect as it was being released, one webisode per week. I just re-watched it in one sitting. I loved it even more this way. I want a series on TV of it!!! It is BRILLIANT!!!! Where is Season 2 Mr. Doria??????