INDIE SOAP BEAT: August 18, 2009

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" segment, we take a look at the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera production.

WORKSHOP
Daytime Confidential's Jamey Giddens turned me on to WORKSHOP, a new comedic web series that was created by Nate Golon and Kimberly Legg which stars former PASSIONS actor Phillip Jeanmarie. The show is airing new episodes every Monday until the season finale on November 2. I asked Golon, who also plays Jeff Reynolds in the series, to introduce the show to the We Love Soaps readers.

We Love Soaps: If someone hasn't seen the show, how would you describe it to them in a nutshell?
Nate Golon: WORKSHOP takes a comedic look at the struggles of the LA actor. Basically, I wanted to show what it's really like in Hollywood for the majority of actors trying to make it, but take the situations that can be frustrating for actors and put them in a comedic light. Think of this show as ENTOURAGE for poor actors.

We Love Soaps: New web shows are coming and going quite frequently lately. What would you say distinguishes WORKSHOP from other shows and why should people check it out?
Nate Golon: I think it is fantastic that there are new web series starting to pop up more and more! Many people in the industry refer to anything web-related as New Media, and it really is going to be the dominant medium for entertainment sometime in the not-too-distant future. WORKSHOP sets itself apart by the quality of the acting, writing, and production values. There may be a lot of web content coming out, but that doesn't mean that it is all high quality.

We Love Soaps: How are you going to measure the success of the series? (YouTube hits, buzz, website hits, etc). Might there be more episodes after the initial run?
Nate Golon: I'm measuring the success of the series by the buzz it generates and the fan base it excites. I envisioned this show to appeal to everyone, young and old. There is a constant fascination about Hollywood, and this show puts the viewer in center of the action. It is not the tabloid life, it is the daily actor life, which in itself is fascinating and there is a limitless amount of stories that come out of trying to "make it" in Hollywood. With that being said, my goal is to be picked up by a major sponsor and/or network, and definitely do a second season. I think this show would actually be a great half-hour comedy, and if given the chance, we'll make it happen!

You can watch the first two episodes of WORKSHOP below.


VENICE - THE SERIES
The producers of VENICE are determined to make this new web series the most interactively awesome experience for fans ever. On the show's website, producers are currently asking fans to submit a VENICE logo, submit songs to be featured on the show and conducting a poll about what fans are most looking foward to. There is also a "Team Venice" option which wisely asks fans what type of support would they provide for the show (watching ads, paying to see see VENICE ad free + extras, buying products that sponsor the show). The show is also teasing a new character, Lara, leaving fans to wonder who will be playing the role.

EMPIRE
The sixth episode of Greg Turner and Brian Hewson's new indie web soap, EMPIRE is now online. This one is so hot it has a "mature audiences" warning label. You won't see an ending like this on daytime any time soon!


EYE OF THE STORM
J.R. Benight's radio soap, EYE OF THE STORM, will air its next new episode on August 22, "Taking the Reigns." In the meantime, you can listen to the most recent episode, "Kismet," below.

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Part 2: