((This article runs in several Paragon City magazines, including Capes and the New Inquirer, in the month prior to the Easter weekend. It depicts a golden generic hero holding a golden globe above his head beneath the title "International Hero Idol. The full page advertorial carries the below text))
Search for the Hero inside yourself!
Eight months ago ViaTron, the producers of Hero Idol, made that very challenge throughout the world. Thousands of wannabe heroes responded. Some with some a minor magical ability or mutation, others whos knowledge of science of technology they thought could transform them into a hero. But most came with nothing more than confidence in their physical and mental abilities and an all consuming desire to make the world a safer place. To be a hero.
But a heros path is not an easy one. In 25 countries, tens of thousands of contenders pushed themselves to the limit. Tested their skills against each other and a series of gruelling tasks while each week facing the public vote to earn them a place in the final. And with that, the honour of walking into the Herodome a contender with the chance to walk out a hero.
Now the best of the best have come to Paragon City to compete for the title of International Hero Idol. Can they survive in the City of Heroes and prove themselves worthy of the name? Find out this season on PCTV as we bring you all the action from International Hero Idol. Each of our eight national Hero Idols is equipped with state of the art Steady-Cam Specs so you can experience their journey as if you were there yourself.
With real-life trials set by Paragon Citys finest heroes, the contenders will face challenges a thousand times more dangerous than the Herodome. This is no game; these are real situations against genuine criminal gangs at large in the city that need a solution only heroes can provide. Our contenders can only succeed by working together but they must also do enough to convince you the viewers that they have the Hero Factor.
Dervish Divine, Coldblaze, Dogo Argentino, August Star, Busta Blasta, Cinderstrike, Cher Nobyl, Bio-Pulse
who will be your International Hero Idol?
You decide Starting this Easter.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
((Sorry about the number of posts but I thought people who've read about the concept might want to read some of the background material before we move on))
Thursday, March 20
Buzz Around Paragon
All the latest online news from the City of Heroes
LITTLE BUENOS AIRES SPRINGS UP IN GALAXY CITY
By Cleopatra Lawler
GALAXY Citys arena district has been renamed Little Buenos Aires by the Argentine fans who have come to watch their hero compete in International Hero Idol.
Hero Idol has captivated millions of viewers throughout the world and has created more than 20 national heroes.
Now the cream of the national champions have been flown to the City of Heroes to compete for the international title and cape.
Two of the Dogose pose for our photographer
And if the fans who have set up in Galaxy are to be believed then the competitions bad boy Dogo Argentino has to be one of the favourites.
The fans, most of who are young women who refer to themselves collectively as the Dogose, are dressed in their nations blue and white. Many have their faces painted and wear the black number ten, which was assigned to Dogo, real name Gabriel Sabatini, in the Argentine Hero Idol competition.
Fan Lucy Messi wants to give Dogo a lift.
Fan Lucy Messi, 23, said: "We are sure Dogo will be the winner. Most of the girls here know that Dogo is big, strong and is always first to finish.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
A Tour Through ViaTron's 'International Hero Idols' Studio
by Rick Claessen
Eight months ago ViaTron, the producers of Hero Idol, made that very challenge throughout the world. Thousands of wannabe heroes responded
Where are the recordings taking place? If not during close combat with paragons villainous factions
The answer is Paragon citys main TV studio
Also owned by ViaTron Productions. This brochure gives a small insider view of ViaTron Productions and the studio where the International Hero Idols finalist will gather.
ViaTron Productions TV-studio is based in a large building overseeing Atlas Park. Based in the centre of Paragon City the studio is brand-new and still being upgraded. Several rooms are being redecorated while we speak and inaccessible to us.
We begin our tour in the public entrance. Like most of the expensive high buildings in Paragon it uses a teleport transfer system instead of elevators. When our eyes adjust to the transfer we see an inviting room. Large lithos of heroes are covering the wooden walls. Chairs for guest are available. Waiting is the studios Assistant Producer Nancy Bogert who will be our guide.
While we introduce ourselves she offers us a drink in the reception bar. Refreshed we start
excited about what we would be going to see.
The studio is small but functional. The banners in the silver and gold theme of Hero Idols are already in place. Between them litho's showing some of the heroes of Paragon City who will be issuing the task forces for the Idols. From left to right Positron, Sister Psyche and Manticore.
Looking around the studio we see the Executive Producer doing the same. His name is Theodore Korstanje. But we are advised to just call him Ted.
Ted shows us the ultra-modern recording equipment. Its like we never have seen before. He assures us that these systems can make 3-D images and be shown on normal tvs as easily as the 3-D projectors build into, for instance, the Police scanners.
But why dont you ask our head cam operator?, he advices us. In the tech room behind the public we find Edward Ed Tjiang.
Ed shows us some of the equipment. Even though we cant understand half of it, it looks mighty impressive. He also tells us of the special cameras build into the glasses and belts of the finalists so we, the audience at home, are able to follow every task at hand first view. Even the new finalist costumes will be having them one way or the other. Although some of the Heroes arent as happy with wearing glasses at that stage as others. But there are ways around that.
Behind the podium we find an entrance backstage. Here we find all special items ready to be placed on-stage if needed. Spare parts etc.
Ed assures us that it is all categorised and ready to be used if needed.
We continue to the lounge room where the crew and heroes can rest up in-between takes. Or while waiting on make-up, testing or further treatment to enhance their powers. Most of the finalists still daily receive specially designed treatments.
The room is very inviting and breathes a good atmosphere. Magazines are scattered around showing the Hero Idols. Some have pictures clipped out. Obviously our Idols collect what is told or written about them. I cant really blame them on that.
Up the small stairs we find the make-up department. And its there that we go look next.
The head of the make-up department is waiting for us there. Her name is Angelique Angel Houston. She shows us some of the basics and gives us a close look at the camera equipment in the glasses. Its very small but also in 3-D
using the two glasses to produce the effect.
To the left we see the conference room and the producer's office, but our attentions already goes to the more exciting parts of the building...
The medical facilities are placed next to the Make-Up. An essential part of Hero Idols as most of the finalist are under constant medical treatment. We are told that the tech department is still placed elsewhere but will move over as soon as their areas are fully build and decorated.
Nancy shows us some of the equipment itself. There is monitoring equipment for radiation. Biometric equipment. Nano-tech in small containers ready to be injected
obviously designed for August Star herself. And cryo-technology that can only be used for Coldblaze.
The second part of the room holds a special floor.
This can be used to either upgrade the radiation levels and control of Cher Nobyl, infuse more power in the bio powers of Bio-Pulse, reinforce the stone skin of Busta Blaster or even enhance the nano-tech of August Star., Nancy tells us.
And indeed the system looked mighty advanced.
Next to it is a room full of armor parts. It is the place where Cinderstrike's devices are created, Dogo's sword is constantly upgraded and much... much more.
For now this is the end of our tour through the studio. We thank the crew of ViaTron Productions for their hospitality and assure them we will be glued to our television screen next 21st of march when the show goes life.
Rick Claessen for Capes Magazine, 18th march edition, wishing you a pleasant show.
---
ViaTron Productions (TM)
Theodore Korstanje, Executive producer Viatron Productions
He is responsible for the total running of the show. The boss in fact. Although he hates the word / title himself.
Nancy Bogert, Assistant producer to Theodore Ted Korstanje
Whatever he cant handle because of time and schedule
she does. She also is the marketing advisor and head of public relations.
Edward Tjiang, Head of the studio tech department.
He is responsible for the recordings of all of our heroes actions and studio equipment. He doesnt supervice Cinderstrikes or Dogo Argentinos tech though.
Angelique Houston, Make-up and appearance is her game.
She leads the complete make-up and clothing department. Including the special resistant and control suits of the eight finalists.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
The complete Brochure in pdf format... (4.12MB)
www.drstrange.nl/coh/HeroIdols.pdf
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
((I am now revitalizing this idea... As the creative winner of the Omega Sector 2008 contest this is just too good to let die out!))
The Hero Idols had a lot of different semi-finalist. Those are all liable to be voted in by the public and as such potential new finalist as old finalist can be voted out.
This is a call for all semi-finalist to gather in Paragon City too. Those who show up at the recording studio will get a second chance to become the next International Hero Idol.
((OOC: Revitalizing means... The SG is recruiting. Rules... An Patriotic National Hero that has at least one costume in the proud colors of his nation's flag. It is basically RP, but I will allow serious non-RP players too as long as they can respect the IC comments of the RP-ers.))
((Contact @elizabeth bathory for details or invites))
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
((This is a television advert that ran on several television channels prior to the Easter weekend.))
A spinning gold and silver globe hurtles towards the screen. As it gets closer oceans and continents are defined.
Argentina! Canada! China! Denmark! India! Jamaica! South Africa! Ukraine!
Eight golden figures rise from their respective countries and cast shadows across the globe.
Eight great nations have sent their greatest heroes, as voted for by the viewers of Hero Idol.
The camera zooms in on the United States and then Paragon City.
Now they have been sent to Paragon City to prove themselves in the City of Heroes.
A montage of news footage of heroes battling villain groups such as the Hellions, Skulls, Freakshow and Circle of Thorns is projected on to Paragon City.
Undergoing the toughest challenges set by genuine heroes like Positron, Synapse and Sister Psyche, these contenders are out to win your vote and the title of International Hero Idol!
The camera pans across eight heroes standing resolutely on a city street. They are wearing spandex costumes, identical in design with the only difference that each contenders costume is in the colours of their respective flags.
August Star! Bio-Pulse! Busta Blasta! Cher Nobyl! Cinderstrike! Coldblaze! Dervish Divine! Dogo Argentino!
The sky behind the heroes bursts into flames.
These once ordinary men and women proved themselves against thousands of their countrymen who shared their dream of becoming a real hero.
The action cuts to a succession of American Gladiator style contests as contestants in brightly coloured spandex battle in a series of physical tests.
They put themselves through the most arduous mental and physical tests and each week faced the public vote. Hoping to convince viewers to give them a shot at realising their dream. To prove themselves worthy to don cape and do battle against the forces of evil.
The footage cuts to contestants running on treadmills, lifting weights etc while being monitored by scientists in white coats.
When they made it to the final eight they volunteered to undergo the most gruelling training as well as the most advanced scientific, magical and technological enhancements their nations had to offer.
The footage now shows contestants stepping into a huge steel sphere. One fires a bolt of flames another shields himself with a wall of ice.
Finally, they were ready to put themselves to the ultimate test in...The Herodome! They knew just one thing there could be only one. Those that stepped out victorious were hailed as their nations Hero Idol.
A montage of the eight contestants seen earlier stepping out of the Herodome bruised and battered but obviously elated.
But now that counts for nothing as they prepare for the toughest challenge yet before an international television audience of millions. The action starts this Easter weekend.
The footage cuts back to the eight heroes in the street. The sky bursts into flames again this time the flames form the words International Hero Idol and a premium rate phone number..
Who will be your International Hero Idol?
"Votes cost two dollars. Always ask the bill payer before calling. The cost of calls from cellphones may vary.
"Heroes named in this advertisment will assign missions based on their current operational needs and do not endorse International Hero Idol, ViaTron or its subsidiaries."
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko