Miles Beckett, Eqal

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Attention "Lonelygirl15" Fans: Jonas and Sarah Return for New Web Series

HOLLYWOOD/NEW YORK -- The creators behind "Lonelygirl15" and the UK-based "KateModern" have produced a new web series based in the LG15 universe, "LG15: The Resistance," set to premiere September 20. It's been a long journey since the pretended non-fiction debut of "Lonelygirl15" in 2006; the creators have formed social entertainment company EQAL and raised $5 million in venture funding.

The finale of "Lonelygirl15" left questions unanswered and many fans grumbling, but the new series will reveal more information about the mysteries of the show's universe, EQAL CEO Miles Beckett says. I interviewed Miles in Hollywood yesterday via Skype.

Characters Jonas and Sarah, played by Jackson Davis and Alexandra Dreyfus, will return to join the resistance against evil secret society "The Order"--and perhaps an even higher threat.

A new storyline and two new lead characters will help make the plot accessible to new fans as well as old, and viewers unfamiliar with the mythology of LonelyGirl15 will still be able to follow the plot, according to Beckett. (Although if you want to catch up, NewTeeVee's Liz Shannon Miller has a brilliant 300-word synopsis of the series' 500-plus videos).

The US-based series will run for twelve weeks, with daily videos and text posted by characters throughout each week to build suspense for the new episodes airing Saturdays. This is a marked difference from the inconsistent publishing schedule and year-long run of "Lonelygirl15". The monetization model, however, will remain mostly the same: As with "Lonelygirl15", EQAL will integrate brand sponsorships into the content. The more than 150 million views of "LonelyGirl15" and "KateModern" give sponsors incentive to get involved in the new series.

The interactive show aims to break down the wall between viewers and creators, letting viewers solve puzzles for the characters and make suggestions to help advance the plot on the redesigned Web site. CBS partnered with EQAL in May to draw on their expertise with online audiences, and EQAL is currently working with the network at a script level to create online narratives that tie in with a new TV series to be announced.

I posted the trailer for "LG15: The Resistance" below.

Kelsey Blodget, Associate Producer

http://www.beet.tv/2008/08/lonelygirl15-cr.html