During the pandemic, our various modes of entertainment became the digital life-rafts that we’d cling to. In the midst of burgeoning waves of political division, self-isolation and widespread uncertainty, our favorite series, games and music would keep us afloat.
The pandemic has undoubtedly intensified our relationships with digital content. We are now streaming more than ever, and the TV, gaming and metaverse-related industries continue to blossom at an exponential rate. As part of this, NFTs have emerged as one of the core growth-drivers, with sales of NFTs ballooning by $44.2 billion in 2021.
Now, as Netflix’s subscription figures begin to slow, consumers are seeking new ways to engage with digital entertainment. Often, it seems the venn-diagram encompassing committed Call of Duty players, avid fans of Stranger Things and collectors of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT series have very few overlaps.
However, Ascension 7 Media is highlighting how this is far from the truth. While each of these specific groups of fans will not necessarily share the same interests, at the same time, on a fundamental level we all enjoy playing games, getting lost in a magical piece of storytelling and collecting items that have value to us.
For instance, long-time fans of the Halo game franchise were the target audience for this year’s spin-off TV series. In addition to this, there are a variety of Halo-inspired NFTs, which have seen success among aficionados. Similarly, there will be a number of non-gamers who enjoy the TV series, and may feel compelled to play as a result.
Ascension 7 Media, founded by Derek Christiaanse, is aiming to take this kind of cross-content fertilization to an entirely new level. Christiaanse is building a multi-layered platform that will serve as a content ‘hub’ that goes beyond a single series or game.
This new world will be underpinned by fan interaction. Even if they love it, very few viewers will rewatch the first season of a particular series. This makes repeat engagement a problem for streaming platforms, and the current solution is to churn out an increasing quantity of seasons, documentaries and films.
However, Ascension 7 Media is taking a different approach, where a fan of Game of Thrones can go beyond the TV show and interact with an entire world based on that series. This will include augmented reality, games, podcasts and reward-baseds NFTs, some of which will point users towards certain clues linked to the TV show. For instance, a clue for unlocking a particular piece of content or collectible may entail rewatching a certain episode, which will then help to elevate fan engagement.
“Storytelling will be the glue that holds together all aspects of our platform. While some older demographics may feel that gaming is beyond them, this will open the door to this exciting world via their favorite TV shows or films,” underlines Christiaanse.
Behind every inspiring story-maker is an inspiring story - and this is no different for Derek. Despite not holding a relevant degree and possessing zero work experience, he did not let this deter him from his dream of forging a path into the world of entertainment. Despite having not opted for the traditional route into the field his journey was fuelled by passion and graft.
Expanding on this, Derek recalls, “I struggled due to a number of factors when I was growing up, and I could’ve easily found myself veering down some very dark and self-destructive paths. Fortunately, I instead chose to lean on my ambition while given the opportunity to pursue what I loved, and to create a career-path out of nothing.”
Since getting his start in the industry through an internship, he worked from the ground up and gained experience working across an eclectic mix of media-forms including broadcast, social, digital and print. Derek has represented a number of highly esteemed brands across Asia, having worked for over five years at both Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific and FOX Networks Group Asia.
Ascension 7 Media is the culmination of Christiaanse’s own fifteen-year rise through the industry. In doing so, he hopes to stress that, as long as you are passionate about what you do, anything is possible - regardless of your age or experience. We are living in a time when over a third of postings for ‘entry-level’ positions demand years of prior relevant work experience. Exacerbating this is the fact that the arts and culture industry has severely struggled since the pandemic, with creatives finding it increasingly hard to find work.
Through Ascension 7 Media, Derek is breaking down a variety of barriers. He is aiming to prevent fellow creatives from facing the same career-obstacles that he did, while at the same time tearing up the content-rulebook and opening up unprecedented connections between the worlds of TV, film, gaming and NFTs. As the platform prepares for its launch, it is clear that this will be Derek Christiaanse’s world - we’ll just be living in it.
Media Contact
Name: Derek Christaanse
Email: [email protected]
