Www.cell.society

www.cell.society is the first episode of Chapters.' second season, subtitled Atrocity Exhibitions. Written and directed by Mike Barkhoff, like the season as a whole, it stars himself and features an unnamed character waking up after a party to realize his phone wasn't charging.

Opening Poetry
"this world always reminds you about what you regret"

Plot
A man awakens hungover and realizes his phone wasn't connected to the charger. He plugs his phone in to no avail, as it isn't charging his phone. Upon discovery that his charger isn't working, he reaches out to friends to see if they have one, but no one does. He begins to die with his phone.

Production
Barkhoff initially wrote a film of the same name, also intended to be the Season 2 premiere. This concept script, however, was intended to be a thirty minute episode about the world as a whole.

Barkhoff later reworked the concept to be not included at all in Season 2 when rewriting it, opting for it to be included in it's nearest original format later on in the show.

Barkhoff found himself facing a deepened depression and filmed two short films - this and another about sleepless nights - for the first release in 2020. He opted on this, deciding, only then, that it would be the debut of Season 2 of Chapters., then committing to it's production and beginning the final writing stage. This is the only time Barkhoff created the first episode using a project prior intended as a short film in Chapters. thus far.

Themes
Barkhoff clarified the meaning of the episode as a cell phone addiction love story turned awry.

The addiction of the episode is technology, while the theme is learning to separate one's self from their technological counterpart.

Marketing
The episode was released by surprise with no further marketing, kicking off the second season. A poster for the season with its subtitle attached was released that night.

Reception
The episode was met with positive reviews, but criticism for it's acting and low quality. Many suggested it to be "offbeat" for the first episode in nearly two years.