Monday, October 21, 1996
COMPUTER:
New show leads cybertour through tale of self-discoveryBy
Kathleen Rhames
Daily Bruin Contributor
The internet is fast becoming the entertainment medium of the
future. Thanks to man’s cybernetic genius and creative minds like
Caspian Sea Entertainment producer Farshad Nikgohar, those with
inquisitive minds can practically watch TV over the World Wide
Web.
And actually, they are. One of the latest features to make
headway on the internet is Nikgohar’s production Devin’s
Chronicles."
In a world where more and more people are turning to their
computers for entertainment, "Devin’s Chronicles" features an
ensemble cast of eight college freshmen entering the fictitious
Railam Stark University in L.A. The story is presented through the
eyes of Devin, a small-town girl from Bakersfield, Calif. who
arrives at RSU only to find the people, places and environment
completely opposite to what she’s used to. For Nikgohar, the idea
of creating a show that details a character’s ability to grow and
change with her environment was something he felt would appeal to
large audiences.
"I thought this was an interesting setting," Nikgohar says.
"Think of all the things that happen to someone in college. Imagine
yourself your freshman year and compare yourself to how you are
now, and the changes you’ve made through the years. That’s what
Devin’s going through. It’s about how she changes with her
environment, how she learns to fit in."
Because the show is college-geared and is on the internet,
Nikgohar is confident that the show will be a continuing success.
He hopes to create a regular following that could potentially lead
to other projects, like a television series. Rumors about Fox’s
"Beverly Hills, 90210" going off the air at the end of its seventh
season have stirred speculation about "Devin’s Chronicles" possibly
being the next show to go prime time. Although Nikgohar won’t say
what’s in store for his eight cast members, he has already turned
down a deal for syndication  perhaps hoping for something
better?
Whatever the case, there is no ambiguity surrounding the
diversity and compatibility of the cast. The ensemble members range
in age from 20 to 29 and seem to get along as well off the set as
on. In searching for eight actors, Nikgohar auditioned 550 people.
Ironically, however, it wasn’t an audition studio that finally led
him to one actor, Simon Alexander, who now plays Bradley.
"I was bartending at Maloney’s On Campus and this guy (Nikgohar)
came up to me and said ‘Don’t take offense but most bartenders in
L.A. are actors, are you an actor?’"Alexander recalls. "When I said
yes, he said ‘Great! I’d love it if you gave me a call because I’m
working on a project and I’d be very interested in speaking with
you.’"
That fateful day at Maloney’s (and a few auditions later) landed
Alexander a role he never thought he’d play: a Ferrari-driving rich
kid from Beverly Hills.
"I don’t come from money at all," Alexander explains. "But it’s
so exciting to play this character because I’d love to be this kid
 have the Ferrari, the hot women and be in the cool
fraternity. It’s definitely a challenge."
Because Devin’s Chronicles is not in motion picture, but rather
a number of still photographs depicting corresponding dialogue,
Alexander finds it exciting when people put labels on his character
and feel they know him without hearing him speak or even seeing him
move.
"As an actor it’s very exciting because we’re not on stage or in
front of a camera," he says. "I had a friend out in New York lately
call me up and say ‘Hey man, I saw you in your Ferrari on the
internet the other day!’ and that’s exciting for me in terms of
getting recognition like that so quickly."
Both Nikgohar and Alexander agree that the diversity and
compatibility of the cast is what makes production so enjoyable.
Alexander energetically points out that he and the seven other
actors have all become fast friends since shooting began and even
hang out together on their own time. It is this comraderie that
creates a very real portrayal of relationships in Devin’s
Chronicles.
Besides making the chemistry between characters look real on
film, the show also deals with serious issues as well. Nikgohar is
quick to say that his show is not a spinoff of other dramas like
"90210" or "My So-Called Life," which he feels are concerned only
with plotlines and ratings.
"’Devin’s Chronicles’ is not a soap opera where the story is the
prevalent thing and characters are incidental," Nikgohar says. "The
characters govern the story, not the other way around  you
know, ‘Oh these two haven’t slept together in a while, have them
sleep together in the next episode.’ Decisions are just not made
like that."
Because Devin’s Chronicles is the story of Devin looking back on
her college experience and relating it to the audience through
dialogue, it’s as if they are reading her diary, only it’s Devin
herself that’s reading it to them.
In Nikgohar’s opinion, this enables people to feel interactive
with the show, as if they’re having a sort of subconscious
conversation with Devin herself. Further, as Devin relates the tale
of her college years, Nikgohar hopes that people will be encouraged
to look back on their own years in school in a more objective,
refreshing view; something he feels is impossible for students
engrossed in the hectic day to day life of a university.
"With Devin, it’s not a diary per se," says Alexander, "but
rather she’s reflecting back on her times and telling the story of
her life at college, which is one of the greatest growing
experiences for people. Even though I may know the next episode, I
still want to keep going and see what’s going to happen next Â
it’s that real."
Nikgohar is not surprised how seriously people take Devin and
her supporting cast. The "reality"of the show is what he believes
makes it different than any other show on the internet or on
TV.
"One of the most interesting things about Devin’s Chronicles,
and we get mail about this all the time, is that the story is so
real that I get mail addressed to Devin," Nikgohar says. "I hear
from 35-year-old housewives telling me how interesting the show is
and how it makes them think of their own college experiences.
That’s how real the show is."
Interface designer and still photographer Ivan Cores agrees that
the show itself is very realistic, both in content and visual
context.
"It’s very exciting for me as an artist because I’m the one who
makes it visually real for audiences," he says. "What they see on
the screen and interpret as the scene is my work."
"This is college life through a different perspective," says
Nikgohar. "College life is so hectic because you’re always doing
something and you never just get a chance to sit back and look at
it in a broader view. This show totally allows you to do this. It
lets you look back, not from your own angle but from Devin’s
angle."
For Alexander, working with the cast has been the best part of
the show and he hopes to one day work with them in a larger
setting.
"Without a doubt I say hat’s off to Farshad for bringing
together a dynamic cast," Alexander says. "Our engines are all
revving to get going on this and if it ever gets up to the stage
where we can all do film, video or whatever, then the world is our
oyster."
INTERNET: Caspian Sea Entertainment presents Devin’s Chronicles,
a Farshad Nikgohar production, available on the World Wide Web at
www.devins.com.
Because the show is college-geared and is on the internet,
Nikgohar is confident that the show will be a continuing
success.