PALISADES POOL PARTY recently launched and has currently aired three episodes. The tagline is: "A popular high school girl sleeps with her rather unpopular next door neighbor causing fallout among her elite social clique that threatens to ruin the biggest party of the year." Co-creators Tai Fauici (who also serves as the show's producer) and Jack Monroe (who directs) gave We Love Soaps the inside scoop on the new web soap.
We Love Soaps: What was the inspiration behind PALISADES POOL PARTY?
Tai Fauci: Jack and I were having a creative meeting and he says, "PALISADES POOL PARTY," then we spent hours figuring out a concept to go along with his inspired title. The title was all his idea; the show was a fully collaborative process, our first as a creative duo.
Jack Monroe: I had a couple of feature scripts I’d been trying to get off the ground, I wanted to direct them, but going after the money was a long, frustrating process. We did have a small amount of money and that’s when Tai introduced me to the idea of doing a web series. It was affordable and we could go into production with what we had; we could essentially green light ourselves! I started watching WE NEED GIRLFRIENDS and PROM QUEEN and some LONELYGIRL 15 and consumed YouTube videos like potato chips. I wanted to get a feel for what we could accomplish creatively in a web series. Around this same time, Tai had turned me onto THE O.C., ONE TREE HILL and VERONICA MARS. So we were thinking about what we could do and, more importantly, where we could do it (an affordable location is the key to any good story, right?). Tai’s parents had a house in the Palisades with a pool and so it was a no-brainer.
We Love Soaps: Did you always want to produce this as a soap?
Jack Monroe: I wanted to produce it as a hand sanitizer, but Tai talked me out of it! Going in, we knew we wanted it to be serialized. I tend to associate “soap” with pure melodrama and often one-dimensional characters. For PPP, I like to think our use of melodrama is done with a sense of humor and our characters are more engaging and relatable than what you find on most soaps.
Tai Fauci: Soap with a sense of humor. I grew up on BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, DAWSON'S CREEK and THE O.C., and have a true affection for the nighttime soap. We did go a little satirical with the show but I believe we are still true to the genre.
We Love Soaps: What makes PPP unique from some of the other web series out there?Jack Monroe: Production value for one. We had an amazing DP and she gave the show a look that rivals anything on TV. I think we also play to an under-served market. For as much time as teens spend online, I don’t see a lot of content targeting that demographic, especially not teenage girls.
Tai Fauci: The internet is a total boys club. It makes me feel a bit disenfranchised. Where is content for the ladies? Well, there is this great show called PALISADES POOL PARTY, it has young attractive talented actors and tons of delicious soapy drama to sink your teen into whether you are 15 or 40.
We Love Soaps: How many episodes will there be and how frequently will they air?
Jack Monroe: We’ve mapped out a full 25 episode season, but we’ve only shot 4 episodes to date. Episode 4 will be released soon! If we can find the money, we would like to shoot the remaining 21 episodes and release them every two to three weeks.
Tai Fauci: There are three out, fourth coming soon. We are hoping that this interview will help us attract a big sponsor to fund the rest of the series. That is really the only reason we are doing it. Just kidding, bitch, just kidding. Did I just quote the show? Oops.
We Love Soaps: Would you compare PALISADES POOL PARTY to any show on TV past or present?
Jack Monroe: We definitely draw inspiration from 90210, GOSSIP GIRL and THE O.C., but I’d say because of some of the outlandish storylines we have planned, we’re more like a condensed, powdered version of DEGRASSI – just add water!
Tai Fauci: William Shakespeare’s "Saved by the Secret Life of Dawson’s Beverly Tree Hill, 90210." It is a classic. Oh, and PASSIONS!
We Love Soaps: Is this a show that you would like to continue indefinitely? Or is there an ending coming up?
Jack Monroe: Season 1 is outlined in detail with some pretty exciting cliffhangers planned, so we would love to do a 2nd season; but we haven’t worked out any specific storylines beyond the first season just yet.
Tai Fauci: Jack, you liar! What about the funeral that opens Season 2? Spoiler alert, we are killing off one of the main characters…or are we? We really love all the kids on the show. It would be a shame to axe one but this show goes there and in only 24 hours!
We Love Soaps: How will you measure success? Website hits? Buzz?
Jack Monroe: Success equals people enjoying the show and Tai and I getting the next gig (whether that be more episodes of PPP or some of our other projects getting off the ground). I’d love to see the show get a million hits, but I don’t think that’s realistic. It’s not a clip of some guy obliterating his man sack while trying to grind an escalator handrail on a skateboard. It’s a show about teenagers dealing with life, love, sex, drugs, identity and psychotic stalking girlfriend with a penchant for explosives! It might take some time to find our audience, but I’m confident they’re out there.
Tai Fauci: Hate mail! When people take the time to tell you how much you suck via the United States Postal Service, that is the moment you know you’ve made it. Seriously though, getting a sponsor or network on board. And hits, we are obsessed with analytics.
PALISADES POOL PARTY LINKS:
- Official Website
- YouTube
It's a nice snarky little soap. All ages should give it a try. It's certainly as good or better than most of what's on cable.
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