INDIE SOAP BEAT: May 20, 2010

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" feature we reveal the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera and web series production. Click the show logos to visit the official websites.

Casting for the upcoming first season THE BAY is now complete. In addition to the previously announced Mary Beth Evans, Tristan Rogers, Martha Madison, John Callahan, Taylor Stanley, Sandra Robinson and Lilly Melgar, others in the cast are Derrell Whitt, Monti Sharp, Tanisha Lynn, Camden Toy, Kristos Andrews, Jade Harlow and Dylan Bruce. Bruce was last seen as Chris Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS. The show shot an opening sequence on Thursday in Pacific Palisades.

The second season of EMPIRE is well underway and the improvements in the look and feel of the show have not gone unnoticed by fans. If you've missed any of our recent features with the cast of EMPIRE, you can find them all on the We Love Soaps EMPIRE page. Video interviews with Christian Barber, Tina Sloan, Orlagh Cassidy and Kate Forsatz are included as well as an entire episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV dedicated to the show.

THE CAVANAUGHS, from creator Adrian Morales, premiered on Thursday. The show is about a group of friends that reunite for the screening of an unsold sitcom pilot entitled 'The Cavanaughs', and the seed to return to the project is planted. THE CAVANAUGHS has filmed six episodes to date and will resume production in three weeks. New episodes will be released every Thursday.

The latest actor to join the cast of REALITY BYTES is Bryce Vine, son of Tracey Ross. Vine will be playing Xavier Armstrong while Tracey is playing Alex Armstrong on the upcoming series. On a recent episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, producer Tristan Rogers teased that a "huge announcement" about the show would be coming out in the near future. Stay tuned!

Following a surprising development at the Nicole Miller Fashion Week show, GOTHAM is now on hiatus. The show was voted "Indie Soap of the Week" by We Love Soaps readers last week. Creator/producer/star Martha Byrne said in a chat with fans that the show was taking a break "to pursue some very exciting developments." More episodes have been written but the show will "wait until it's financed to move forward either on the web or TV."

WEBSERIES THE WEBSERIES debuted last week. The show is about an aging cable TV star, Jules Martin (Detective Nina Pincheck of GOTHAM VICE), and how she deals with a canceled series, her unexpected status as a lesbian icon, a throng of devoted fans in an online chat room, and her well-intentioned, yet mildly delusional, best friend Pam. After only two episodes, the show, apparently a parody on the life of Crystal Chappell, came in third in the "Indie Soap of the Week" poll last week. GOTHAM VICE scenes have turned up on YouTube as well.

MONTECITO HEIGHTS wrapped production on the first season this week. The show has released four episodes so far. Created by Gene Gabriel, MONTECITO follows the exploits of two sets of detectives in East LA, and stars Chad Bantner, Julia Bantner, Mark Swaner, Eboni Adams and Gene Gabriel.

ANACOSTIA, winner for Best Ensemble at the 1st Annual Indie Soap Awards, began production on Season Two on Saturday. Writer Anthony Anderson has promised many surprises and the show, like EMPIRE, is likely to grow and improve by leaps and bounds this season, after showing so much promise in Season One. If you haven't watched the special ANACOSTIA episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, check it out here.

Anne Flournoy's THE LOUISE LOG has wrapped up the show's second season. In the finale, Louise has met and come under the influence of the rather hunky handyman who is advising her on how to 'connect' with herself. Her life will never be the same after this episode. You can watch "The Deal Breaker" here.

THE LOVERS AND FRIENDS SHOW released Part 4 of Episode 9 on Wednesday. L&F is an urban web-based lesbian soap that debuted in January 2008. The show stars Marlaina Law, Christy Rodriguez, BeBe Brunswick, Nicole Pina, Zaire, Kissa Jo and Hollissia Holloway. A Season Two DVD is currently available for purchase.

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