Kevin 'Kilo' Thomas
Event Design & Production
Software Ecosystem
Video Production
The History Channel
Vikings @ ComicCon
Solution
Recreate the entire production environment—from ID badges to makeup to props and costume to sets—so the fans can star in their very own trailer for Season 3.
Insight
The attendees at ComicCon wholeheartedly embrace the culture of media immersion, thus the perfect experience needed to be perfectly immersive.
Challenge
Help History Channel’s hit program rise above the noise at Comic-Con by capturing the attention of fans and engaging throughout the event and beyond.
My Role
The Vikings ComicCon project not only made me a diehard fan of the show, but was probably the most ambitious event we ever undertook. I helped pioneer the idea of creating an entire on-the-set experience for fans complete with makeup & wardrobe, physical sets, multiple pieces of custom takeaway collateral, an “actor” microsite created for each participant, and a bespoke trailer video stitched together from all the photography taken of each visitor to the event. After mapping out the complex technical logistics, I helped in building the software for registration, user tracking, microsite creation, and video generation as well as accent elements like a live animated social wall. All in all it was a beast of a project, but by far one of the most creative and involved I’d worked on to date.
Reception
Thousands of fans acted out their own Vikings story at Comic-Con, receiving custom printed collateral and living out their celebrity dreams by starring in their own personal TV trailer. Due to the depth of the experience and the level of engagement, the resulting exposure via social shares and word-of-mouth helped History Channel stake its claim on one of the industry’s biggest stages.
Development
An interactive installation featuring digital registration and fulfillment, high production video and green screen technology, physical props and costumes, and even TV makeup artists let fans feel what it was like to be on the set of their favorite show. Every piece of this technological ballet was custom built by us allowing each facet of the experience to coalesce into a seamless adventure for the fans while keeping each interaction tracked and organized for their bespoke takeaways. The experience was so involved, some fans remained on set for hours, eclipsing the typical fan engagement that lasts only minutes.
Background
Most brands seek to move fans through an activation quickly for continuous traffic and maximum impressions, but by intentionally creating a deeper experience, Vikings could generate curiosity, excitement and lasting memories while delivering the ultimate fan appreciation. Our inspiration stemmed from the culture of media immersion embraced by ComicCon goers, a desire to envelop and embody their favorite shows—and what better way to do that than to put them right on the set of Vikings?