Inside an elaborate multi-platform world
In a feature that first 
appeared in Encore, Brooke Hemphill explores the extraordinary multi-platform world of the upcoming Ten whodunnit series Secrets and Lies.
In the boardroom of Hoodlum’s Brisbane office, a group of production staff are gathered to hear creative director Lucas Taylor deliver an explanatory presentation about the upcoming multi-platform whodunit series Secrets and Lies. Taylor has his delivery down pat and while it is evident Hoodlum founders Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield have heard the spiel before, as has Hoodlum board member Deanne Weir, webisode and multi-platform producer Emma Morris and Derryn Watts the multi-platform director have come especially to hear how their work fits into the elaborate world that spans across traditional television, social media, online video and a TV companion app.
“I don’t know how much you know about multiplatform,” Taylor says, “so I’ll explain it.”
The world in which the characters of the Ten series live is built using what Taylor calls a “content matrix” which turns out to be a fancy term for an Excel spreadsheet which he dutifully brings up on the plasma screen on the boardroom wall.
I personally think people just want to watch traditional narrative shows but it seems like an interesting ideas that they’ve really thought through. It would be great to know the numbers after it airs as I suspect 95-99% of people will just watch the show and not bother with the extra content. I think this sort of stuff can be done really well and in interesting ways but like 3d tv the long term question is whether or not audiences care.
At least it appears they are doing it properly. Also nice to see some drama made in Brisbane.