KATEMODERN - bebo.com/lonelygirl15 Productions
Writer - Season 2 of hit online drama.
Storylining 26 weeks and scripting 74 episodes for daily show embedded in the social networking site bebo.com.
The series ended in July 2008 clocking up 66 million video views, the largest UK online production to date.
I blog about the experience on my online drama site here, and give talks on what it's like writing for online narrative to academic institutions, production companies and broadcasters.
RTE INTERVIEW ABOUT WRITING ON KATEMODERN
This was an interview I gave in Ireland on The Dave Fanning Show on RTE RADIO 1 - the inside skinny on writing on Season 2 of KateModern.
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0421/drivetimewithdave.html
Here are some press articles on the show...
Kate Modern herself was killed off at the start of the second series; a bit of a bold move you might think, but the format of the show means it is constantly breaking new ground.“You can interact with the story, talk to the characters, comment on the plot – we get feedback all the time,” explains Rushton.The Independent
“What I find so interesting is the fact that people are coming together and discussing the show, but they’re also coming together to discuss things that lie outside of the show that affect them. People actually come to you on Bebo and share their experiences and they feel like they’ve got a place to do that. It’s the way that communication is going.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/music-film/modern-miss-817538.html
We told you last month about the planned wrap-up of KateModern, the very successful Internet television show exclusive to the AOL-owned Bebo social network.Mashable.com
Well, today’s the day that all is put to pasture. KateModern is having its finale, and it’s going out with 12 episodes in 12 hours. The countdown to the series close began earlier this morning and will stretch to 7PM EST, with hourly videos releases complemented by live chats with and among the fanbase.
In fact, due to its viral achievements EQAL was able to secure both a $5 million Series A funding round and CBS partnership in the space of a single month.
http://mashable.com/2008/06/28/katemodern-2
BEBO's Kate Modern has become an internet sensation since being launched a year ago.The Sun
More than 66 million people have logged on to view the interactive online drama's 'webisodes' since July 2007.
TV Biz has an exclusive preview of this week's season 2 finale for your pleasure. It features Ralf Little and man-of-the-moment Noel Clarke - who wrote, directed and starred in the Kidulthood and Adulthood films.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1345446.ece
Who killed KateModern? It's the question that has been occupying several million minds since the beginning of the year, when the heroine of the eponymously named online drama met her end. Kate, for those who have been living in a bunker since July 2007, is, or rather, was, a troubled teenage university art student living in London. She had a dark past that she was unable to remember and was somehow connected to a secret organisation called The Order.The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/03/digitalmedia.web20
Social networking site Bebo is to shock fans of hit online drama Kate Modern by killing off its eponymous star in the first episode of its new series.The Guardian
The series' first sponsors - which get to see their products placed within the video - will be Cadbury's Creme Egg and Toyota's youth-targeted car Aygo. Sponsors of the first series included Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Warner Music, Paramount and Orange, which each paid up to £250,000 to appear within the show.
No figures have been revealed about what each company might pay to be involved with the second series.
However, each company stumps up cash based on the amount its brand is integrated into the storyline, which includes monitoring the number of times it appears in the video and is mentioned in the script.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/16/bebo.television
KateModern, the flagship online drama broadcast by social networking site Bebo, will wrap up for the last time at the end of June, it was announced today.The Guardian
The last part of series two will air on June 28, with Bebo promising a "high octane" ending with multiple episodes.
Featuring Royle Family star Ralph Little, the interactive drama has run for more than 300 four-minute episodes since it launched in July last year, racking up more than 57 million views.
Bebo wanted the show to "encourage unprecedented interactivity" with its audience and has also tried to distinguish itself from rival social networking sites by building up original content.
Users are given interactive tools to "talk" to KateModern characters and producers from the series, suggest storylines and solve puzzles in the plot.
The Bebo president, Joanna Shields, said KateModern has "created a new genre and demonstrated the power of media on a social network with gripping storylines and peerless production values".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/12/bebo.web20
Recommended Reading...
The Creators of lonelygirl15 explain the mythology, buisness and future of the show...
http://www.thedeal.com/blogs/video/tech-confidential/lonelygirl15-creators-beckett.php
FAVOURITE EPS
Raise The Roof - The week-long crossover with lonelygirl15 - both US and UK storylines converge for the arrival of Jonas...
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=301
Outta here - and this is the last lonelygirl15 day in the UK...
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=303
Special Relationship - Lauren tries explaining her story
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=296
WC One - The gang are worried about their boss
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=241
2008 Will Not Suck: Charlie interviews for a roommate
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=222
The Invitation - Rupert Van Helden posts a video invite to his Hymn Of One wedding
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=316
CLICK HERE for details of my ONLINE WRITING
