Co-creator David S. Goyer, cast members Jack Davenport, Joseph Fiennes, and Dominic Monaghan, and source material author Robert J. Sawyer lay down the facts and intentions behind the buzzworthy ABC series, “FlashForward” that premieres tonight.

What is “Flash Forward” About?

Brannon Braga and Goyer co-created this new series based on Robert J. Sawyer’s book of the same name.  The series poses an interesting question: “Can you change fate?”  In “Flash Forward”, the whole world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds where they all experience a flash of their own futures. How would seeing your own future or lack thereof affect your decisions?  For me, the crucial dimension of that question is when is this future?  In “Flash Forward”, everyone sees a glimpse of their lives six months into the future- that’s close enough to make you question your every move.  (This differs from the book the series is based on as characters there see their 20 years into their future.)  The ensemble cast of this series address this pivotal period in their lives.

Wait, this is not a sci-fi show?

Something interesting that Goyer stated, makes me scratch my head a little.  Goyer says that “Flash Forward” is not a science fiction show.  He explains:

“I mean, there’s one [sci-fi gimmick], the flash-forwards.  The audiences won’t know for a couple of years what the ultimate cause of them were, so I don’t think it really matters.”

Jack Davenport, who plays the only character from the original book, physicist Lloyd Simcoe, elaborates on the infinite possibilities of the show:

“The phrase that David used was an intimate epic, and I thought that was very elegantly put. And it is that because one of the things that we find we can’t when we get new episodes is the parameters of the stories is sort of unlimited. You basically have 6 billion people with knowledge about their futures. You can do anything you like with that.”

Another reason why the series sets the characters’ FlashForward only six months into the future instead of twenty years is also economical.  Robert J. Sawyer, whose book the TV series is based on, has been retained as the show’s creative consultant.  Sawyer understands the change:

“One rationale is pure economics: you don’t have to make the future world. But it’s also about audience. For example, here’s the difference between Battlestar Galactica and Lost. Lost gets 10 million viewers and Battlestar Galactica rarely tops 1 million, even if Battlestar Galactica is arguably a better show. And that’s because as soon as audience sees robots and aliens, it dries up. They tune into other channels. Not showing the future on FastForward allows the audience to build.”

It sounds like the label sci-fi still has some boundaries to break.

Goyer refutes early judgments “Flash Forward” is “Lost 2”.

Early reviews of the pilot have labeled the series ABC’s replacement for “Lost”, but Goyer disagrees though he’s flattered and confesses that he loves “Lost”:

“I think, really, aside from the fact that it’s big and cinematic and there are a lot of characters, I think as soon as people see the episodes the comparisons will stop…  although I love Lost.”

Dominic Monaghan who was in “Lost” and plays Simon, a scientist in “Flash Forward”.  Monaghan can understand the comparison between the two shows:

“Look, it’s inevitable that when you do a show that’s on the same network with the same kinds of aspirations, it’s going to be compared to Lost. I think very quickly it will set out its own footprint, and people will understand the distinctions between the two worlds. So, for me, it’s not a huge thing or problematic.”

“We definitely did some things … that I don’t think people have ever done on television before.”

One of the ways that it differentiates itself from “Lost” and all other television shows is its cinematic quality.  Goyer continues:

“We really are telling, in some ways, like, a 24-hour movie, in a way.  My aim is to sort of do what I do best, which is really welcome these characters into your home, really dig deep into them in a way that you really can’t do with movies. I have a lot of respect for what [Lost and Fringe creator] J.J. [Abrams] does. I think he goes for it. I think his shows, they don’t feel like cheesy TV shows… If you look at this season as a whole, not all the pyrotechnics happen in the pilot. … We definitely did some things in the first eight episodes already that I don’t think people have ever done on television before. I love it when they say, ‘You want to do what? We don’t do that on television.’ And I say, ‘Well, we’re not shooting this like a TV show. We’re shooting this like a feature, so suck it up.’ Sink a bus. Right, they’re like, ‘You can’t do that with real people.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, we’re doing it, so let’s figure out a way to do it.’

Central to this series is the descent of one man’s life.

Joseph Fiennes’ character is Mark Benford, an FBI agent whose life changes dramatically after the Flash Forward event.  Fiennes explains:

“We’re going to see a man taken to the brink, taken to the extreme.  Everything’s beautiful, and it’s great, … and then suddenly the world comes crashing down. … We’re going to see him being ripped apart, tested. … And it’s really about the moral boundaries that you’re prepared to cross, or you’re having to confront, in order to change the future, change the outcome of what you see.”

Take a look at the pilot’s first 18 minutes and judge for yourself:

Get involved with “FlashForward”.  Go to The Mosaic Collective website to report what you saw in your FlashFoward.

“Flash Forward” series premiere airs tonight on ABC at 8/7 C.

[Source] Syfy