In 2008, The Black Dawn was conceived and developed as an original web series for WebSerials.com by William Hellmuth & Abraham Sherman. Produced by New Renaissance Pictures, the series originally focused on a group of survivors of an unknown virus that appears to kill everyone else in the world. While in production on the series, Executive ProducerJoshua Sikora developed the integrated multimedia experience that expanded the world of The Black Dawn with interactive content spanning a short film, an online comic, and in-character videoblogs. The Black Dawn experience launched in January 2009 on WebSerials.com and YouTube. The series averaged more than 50,000 viewers per month over its six-month run. Critics praised the interactive components of the series, noting the groundbreaking use of web mediums to present a non-linear story. The series was eventually syndicated on other web networks, including Vuze. In late 2009, The Black Dawn was transformed into a broadcast TV series. The various components of the multimedia experience were re-compiled into a dramatic half-hour series, which premiered in nationwide syndication in October 2009. New Renaissance Pictures re-edited and re-mastered the series as a feature film released in 2010.
Television series
The seven-episode television series follows the entire story of the Black Dawn, intercutting between the survivors of the virus and flashbacks to key moments leading up to the disaster. Each episode is 30 minutes including advertising. It was followed by the feature film edit, shown as two parts of one hour each.
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Web serial
Focused on the thirteen survivors of the Black Dawn after the virus strikes, the 24-episode web serial premiered in January 2009. The web serial was directed by William Hellmuth and written by Abraham Sherman & Brian Walton. The series was also compiled into six chapters, available exclusively on WebSerials.com.
''The Black Dawn: Catalyst''
Catalyst is a short film that serves as a dramatic prequel to The Black Dawn, chronicling the story of Dr. Steven Wilkins and his attempts to stop the virus from being unleashed. Catalyst was first released on WebSerials.com and is also integrated into the TV series. The short film was directed by Joshua Sikora and written by Joshua Sikora & Kevin Christensen.
''Before the Black Dawn''
Utilizing videoblogs released on YouTube, this interactive series gives viewers a unique peek into the backstories of the central characters in The Black Dawn. The videoblogs also include a notable series-within-the-series: The Adam & Ben Show! — an interview series that was perceived as a real college-based news show until the final episode, in which the Black Dawn actually occurs. Before the Black Dawn included more than 30 videoblogs in its run from January to May 2009. The series was directed by Kevin Christensen & Joshua Sikora.
Comic book
Released as an online comic, The Black Dawn: Darkness Falls follows another group of survivors and reveals their dark and hidden connection to the Black Dawn. The comic was written and illustrated by Zach Herring based on a story by Joshua Sikora.
Feature film
The feature film tells the central story of the franchise, focusing on Adam — one of the original survivors of the virus. The feature film is a re-mastered, re-edited version of the web series released in 2010. The film is directed by William Hellmuth and written by Abraham Sherman & Brian Walton.
Cast
The Black Dawn features an ensemble cast across the entire franchise.
