ReGenesis
ReGenesis is a Canadian television series produced by The Movie Network and Movie Central in conjunction with Shaftesbury Films. The series, which ran for four seasons, revolves around the scientists of NorBAC, a fictional organization with a lab based in Toronto. The organization investigates problems of a scientific nature, such as bio-terrorism, mysterious diseases or radical changes in environment throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NorBAC is headed by David Sandström, the chief scientist and molecular biologist. Through this character the show often addresses topical social, political and ethical issues related to the science at hand.
The series was originally seen on The Movie Network and Movie Central with rebroadcasts on Global and Showcase in Canada. Internationally it can be seen on FX in the United Kingdom, The Science Channel, Halogen TV and in syndication at CW Plus in the United States, and FX Latin America in Mexico; as well as numerous broadcasters in Europe and Asia. International distribution is handled by Oasis International. As of April 2012 the show can also be seen on Hulu.com. As of November 2018, ReGenesis is available on The Roku Channel.
Aled Edwards, scientific consultant for the series, is a noted Canadian molecular biologist, and the director of the Structural Genomics Consortium.
Interactive and other media
ReGenesis has been an international pioneer in integrating interactive media elements into the series. The first successfully deployed alternate reality game paired with a major television broadcast is called the ReGenesis Extended Reality and was created by Xenophile Media in association with Shaftesbury Films. It won the Canadian New Media Award for Best Cross-Platform project of 2004 and an FITC Design & Technology Award for Excellence in Convergence. In 2006 the alternate reality game won the Banff World Television Festival Award for Interactive Television, a Gemini Award for Best Cross-Platform, and in 2007, an International Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Program. An exploratory game, the ReGenesis Extended Reality draws viewers into a conspiracy and mystery that weaves in and out of the TV series, using the internet, email and other media to immerse the viewer, blurring the line between fiction and reality. ReGenesis Extended Reality harnesses the power of enthusiastic fans that seed the site with discussion content and collaborative investigations. Extensive knowledge of various chemistry and biotechnology issues is required to find out why the plot in many episodes can't be true.Other interactive elements include ReGenesis:ReMixed, a 14 episode series of podcasts hosted by series Music Supervisor Andrea Higgins and produced by Arpix Media, featuring the music of ReGenesis, as well as exclusive interviews with some of the people involved in putting the show together. However, neither of these were continued for the third or fourth season of the series.
Characters
Main characters
- David Sandström – Canadian. A molecular biologist, he is NorBAC's Chief Scientist.
- Carlos Serrano – Mexican. Geneticist and Medical Doctor at NorBAC. Revealed to be gay after seeking to prevent his first lover's progression from HIV-positive status to AIDS.
- Caroline Morrison – American. NorBAC's Executive Director. Speaks at least four languages: English, French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
- Jill Langston – American. 1st replacement to NorBAC's original Lead Virologist, Hira Khan.
- Bob Melnikov – Canadian. Biochemist at NorBAC, and a former student of David Sandström. He is deemed a genius, with an IQ score of 162 and has attained two PhD's. He has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.
- Rachel Woods – American. 2nd replacement as Lead Virologist at NorBAC and estranged wife of Carleton Riddlemeyer.
- Mayko Tran – Canadian. Bioinformatics Researcher and later NorBAC's 2nd replacement as Executive Director.
- Weston Field – American. Assistant to NorBAC's Executive Director Caroline Morrison, later 1st replacement as Executive Director.
- Carleton Riddlemeyer – American. Science Advisor to the White House and estranged husband of Rachel Woods.
- Enuka Okimba – American. 3rd replacement as Lead Virologist at NorBAC.
Recurring characters
- Hira Khan – Original Lead Virologist at NorBAC.
- Lilith Sandström – David's 15-year-old daughter.
- Mick Sloane – A boy Lilith's age who believes he was cloned. He was actually created as part of an in vitro procedure and was an identical twin to Cal, whose single embryo was implanted in Dr. Sloane's wife. The twin embryo - Mick's - was frozen and after it was discovered that Cal had bone cancer, Dr. Sloane began manipulating Mick's DNA to remove the defective gene that caused the cancer. In the process, he ended up making other, unintended changes, which is what led to Mick's illness. It is known that Mick is 2 years younger than Cal, and that Mick was born 2 years after his mother died but it's unclear if the 2 events are directly related.
- Owen – A homeless 17-year-old living in the subway of New York City, who shows David Sandström to his subway home after stealing David's bag. He lives with David for a while, but leaves after he gets arrested for criminal negligence, after a 14-year-old girl he was involved with dies of a drug overdose. David defends him in court during his bail hearing, but Owen is incarcerated for detention until his trial. Having a hard time in jail, he tries to hang himself and then he agrees to a treatment that should alter his brain chemistry in order to overcome his addiction and possibly get him free. However, he suffers from side effects of the experiment leaving him mentally damaged and physically handicapped.
- Dr. Gordon Petras – Therapist to whom the NorBAC team consults after traumatic events.
- Dr. Simon Jessup – British Neuroscientist visiting NorBAC. He assists Mayko with a case in Texas involving Mad Cow Disease and IQ spikes and later assists Caroline and Bob with Caroline's nephew Glenn.
Music
A comprehensive list of all the music played in the first two seasons can be found at the ReGenesis:ReMixed site.
Home releases
On November 11, 2008 Season 1 was released in North America on DVD by Entertainment One. The four-disc set includes all 13 first season episodes presented in a letterbox format. Special features include a making of, photo gallery, and "The Facts Behind the Fiction". Shaftesbury Films claimed that Seasons 2, 3 and 4 would follow throughout 2009 and 2010, but as of February 2013 no such releases have emerged.The first season has also been released in the UK through Universal Studios UK. The second season was later released to European countries by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, though it was presented in a Pan and Scan format. Seasons 3 and 4 have been released on DVD in Japan—Season 3 in letterbox format and Season 4 in 16:9 widescreen. The Japanese Season 3 boxset includes a 20-minute Making of video and the Season 4 boxset a 20-minute Peter Outerbridge interview titled "Pretending With Conviction".
On January 30, 2015 Season 1 was released in Europe on Blu-ray by Entertainment One. The three-disc set includes all 13 first season episodes. Season 2 will be released on Blu-ray March 23, 2015.