1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Lost

Orientation Film - What is it?

By Bonnie Covel, About.com

Question: Orientation Film - What is it?
The term "Orientation Film" was first introduced in Episode 2x3, Orientation.
Answer: Desmond has Jack and Locke watch an Orientation Film that explains the history of The Dharma Initiative that was created in 1970. The film's narrator, Dr. Marvin Candle, explains the importance of putting in the numbers and pressing the button on the computer. The film jumps and skips and is spliced together in several places with large chunks of info missing (Ep: 2x3, Orientation).

Later, Eko shows Locke the pieces of the Orientation Film that he had found in another station. When spliced together with the original film, Dr. Marvin Candle says that the computer should not be used for anything other than entering the numbers (Ep: 2x9, What Kate Did).

After Eko and Locke find the Pearl Station, Eko finds an Orientation video, which they watch. Dr. Marvin Candle again narrates, but this time he introduces himself as Mark Wickman. He says that the purpose of the Pearl Station is to observe an experiment that is happening in the Swan Station. On the other screen, Locke sees Jack in the Swan Station (Ep: 2x21, ?).

In one of Ben's flashbacks, as his father registers with Dharma, there is a video playing. Marvin Candle speaks and a utopian village is in the background. Marvin says, "For your own safety, we ask that you stay within the confines of your living quarters. Our barracks are surrounded by a high frequency sonar fence to protect us from the island's abundant and diverse wildlife. You are now a member of the Dharma Initiative--" Ben's attention turns away from the film, but he later looks back. Marvin says, "There are properties on this island that exist nowhere else on earth. Our mission is to study these properties for the betterment of mankind and advancement in the world." (Ep: 3x21, Greatest Hits.)

Explore Lost

About.com Special Features

The Best Top 40 Pop Songs

Is your favorite song on our list? More >

New TV Dramas

Get a jump on all the new dramas coming soon to your living room. More >

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Lost
  4. Understanding 'Lost'
  5. Understanding 'Lost's Terms
  6. Orientation Film - Definition of Orientation Film as it Relates to Lost>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.