The Well (2009 television programme)
Encyclopedia
The Well is a multi platform horror story first broadcast in October 2009 on BBC Two
in the BBC Switch
Saturday afternoon slot. It was written by Melvin Burgess
and is the first project he has written for television and online platforms.
The story comprises four ten minute episodes and three levels of an online game where the audience can explore an online simulation of the main location, a haunted house, playing games and unlocking a back story that relates back to the main story within the television episodes.
), Luis (Gregory Foreman), Coll (Karen Gillan
) and Ivan (Isaac Ssebandeke) who accidentally uncover a cursed Celtic well and release an evil spirit into the world. The teenagers must discover how to restore order before one of them is killed by the evil hag that they have disturbed.
The online story is set in the 1800s and crosses over into the present day story that unfolds concurrently on television. By exploring a 3D replica of the house and completing a series of games, the audience are rewarded with a new piece of the back story which is told to them by ghosts. Each section of story that is unlocked builds to reveal a tale of a young girl called Bethany who also disturbed the well and was eventually killed by the hag.
. The 3D house was created by Milky Tea and the online games by Splinter Design Communications.
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in the BBC Switch
BBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
Saturday afternoon slot. It was written by Melvin Burgess
Melvin Burgess
Melvin Burgess is a British author of children's fiction. His first book, The Cry of the Wolf, was published in 1990. He gained a certain amount of notoriety in 1996 with the publication of Junk, which was published in the shadow of the film of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, and dealt with the...
and is the first project he has written for television and online platforms.
The story comprises four ten minute episodes and three levels of an online game where the audience can explore an online simulation of the main location, a haunted house, playing games and unlocking a back story that relates back to the main story within the television episodes.
Plot
The Well is the story of four teenagers; Beth (Jo WoodcockJo Woodcock
Jo Woodcock is an English television, film and stage actress. Whilst active since 2000, Woodcock has recently come into prominence following her critically acclaimed performances as Alice in the television drama Torn in 2007, and as Liza-Lu Durbeyfield in the television series Tess of the...
), Luis (Gregory Foreman), Coll (Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan
Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
) and Ivan (Isaac Ssebandeke) who accidentally uncover a cursed Celtic well and release an evil spirit into the world. The teenagers must discover how to restore order before one of them is killed by the evil hag that they have disturbed.
Online
The Well uses an approach of telling a story across different platforms, namely television and online. Although the story can be understood as a four part television drama, in-between episodes the audience can go online and gain access to the back story.The online story is set in the 1800s and crosses over into the present day story that unfolds concurrently on television. By exploring a 3D replica of the house and completing a series of games, the audience are rewarded with a new piece of the back story which is told to them by ghosts. Each section of story that is unlocked builds to reveal a tale of a young girl called Bethany who also disturbed the well and was eventually killed by the hag.
Special features
If you phone the phone number from the show your phone receives text messages such as "she's coming". There are many other features like this throughout the show.Producers
The Well was created by Liverpool based digital media company Conker Media for BBC SwitchBBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
. The 3D house was created by Milky Tea and the online games by Splinter Design Communications.