Hangin On: an SL machinema sitcom

I've been developing this latest idea into a full-on project for a little over a month now. "Hangin On," is a sitcom I'm writing with a local comedian/writer and friend of mine. It's a comedy about a group of friends who live in a tightly-knit urban market in the big city, called "Kensington Place." It's where a lot of the alternative culture takes place -- organic grocers and cafes, live jazz and blues bars, small apartments above stores and tucked into alleys... a very organic looking place in it's own right.

With this show, we wanted to capture the feel of community and meaningful interaction much like "Coronation St," while maintaining the comedic feel of a sitcom like the popular, "Friends." All the characters we've developed -- Jake, Molly, Ben, Dooley, the Duo, Kaitlyn, and others are all characters that are supposed to have real merits and flaws. We're writing an edgy sitcom that pushes the boundaries of mainstream ideas through stereotype play and exploration of realistic alternative people.

The unique edge that this show will have is that we're animating and filming it in Second Life -- a unique collaborative effort on it's own. We're also thinking of introducing ideas like using forums to incite plot influence from ideas the audience might come up with. We're also distributing the episodes using Bit Torrent!

I just wanted to let you all know that this project has started. I'm also having a tough time keeping it under a tight-lid! Currently we're looking for a volunteer production crew to help us manage and produce this show. If you've wanted experience in the media industry or are looking for something to add to your media portfolio, just look at this thread here.

Who knows, if the pilot season passes the test -- you might find yourself in a full or part-time paying position when the second season rolls around.

So here's to Second Life, and it's first sitcom, "Hangin On!"

(note: still unsure on the title. this one seems to fit okay and checks out in the legal department... but the title may still be up to change.)

Yay, thank god. Its about time someone came up with something original! Im all for this, as long as its good ! Im hoping for developed characters such as you bring up, if you can pull off all of your promises, this should be a great thing.

Thanks Ryen!

The best way for all these promises to come true is with the support of talented and dedicated people in SL helping out and making this first season happen. The framework is laid out (well the website is coming, but the crew forums are up already) and ready to go.

I hope it will be a great thing. It's certainly been fun so far.

Good luck with this original idea.

It sounds like 3D TV is about to be created.

Yay Icon... there is a lot of work ahead, but I hope a lot of play, too.

Now, wouldn't it be cool if people could watch "virtual reality TV" with "webcams" hooked up to inworld locations in SL? It might be a very choice way for people who are not yet all that familiar with Second Life but are curious, to get a voyeuristic look into this wonderful world.

A "reality tv" show in SL? MAYBE?

*shameless bump*

c'mon peeps! click the link in my sig -- we need more people for our production crew. No experience in media production is necessary! We just need people to build, skin, and maintain the character av's, we need good animators looking for a challenge, we need scripters, actors, and the like!

If you can volunteer the time and have the skills, apply today and help bring this show to life!

Cool idea, Icon, keep me updated on it, please!

Nice idea! Will there be full frontal nudity?

Will do!




You never know. Nudity strikes from no where!

this is a great idea, icon!

is it ok if i reccomend this thread and the other to a few people?
you were mentioning keeping things under the lid, just want to ask before i start calling ppl and gushing about how cool this is

Icon, I would love to be involved in this. I'm not as talented as most of the people in SL, but I can help out in the Personnel Manager area, as well as being an extra. I have PSP and can do simple clothing. I have also built furniture. I just don't have the 20 hours a week to put into it. Maybe I can be a Vice Personnel Manager.

Oh, it's out of the bag now Neph -- I've just been hard pressed to keep a tight lip. However, we have the characters, the setting, the post-production so I think it's finally time to burst the bubble and get this going...

so reccommend away!



You're always welcome to apply to whatever you like. Just send that email along and I'll try to get in touch with you to figure out where we can fit you in. Right now, we can use a lot of help!

Is this going to be done like the Portal show on G4TechTV? The show uses multiple MMOG's to create little plays.

I haven't seen an episode in a while, but my first exposure to second life was a short bit they did mimicing Seinfeld, complete with the apartment and Jerry/George AV's. Does anyone know who here is involved in creating these?

I am looking forward to seeing your show.

DARN! Urusula, I wanted to be the Manager of Vice!

Oh well, guess I'll just have to pass on this one.

BB

It sounded more important than Assistant to the Personnel Manager.

Anything new or otherwise happening with this?

You might want to consider doing some filming in Living Cities, a 1 sim sized urban city in the Phobos and BonnyDoon simulator regions. Come by and take a look at our recent development!

Oh and just to update everyone:

Things are still moving along. Scripts are being written now and I'm getting down to hammering out the details.

Production probably won't be starting till the new year, but keep those emails coming. The success of this project depends on the help and support it gets. Without wonderful residents of SL to help take this show off the ground, I would just be a ranting lunatic.

So raving lunacy aside, I'm currently trying to nail down the technical hurdles the show faces right now. This mainly being sfx issues. Video composites for bumpers, intro, and what have ya would be nice. I'm also trying to find a way to animate mouths through composites or -- if someone has a better alternative; please get in touch and let me know your ideas!

And that's it for now. The plan is coming together and it looks like this project will be moving ahead smoothly. I'll keep this forum posted on project milestones, so be on the lookout!

will do, Hank. I'll swing by to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Thats right, we have just finished a filming project in Living Cities and it really is a great place for a location.


Again, thanks to you and Stern for letting us use your city


SR
----
"oh my, his very first post - I feel a kodak moment comming up"

If you need any walk-ons or extras I'm there

Ahoy, Icon!

Still hacking away at this?

It's been a few months of silence on this thread (which I just found).

Aya! First I heard of this. Shows me for relaxing my iron grip of the forums for a couple months.

Do you still need help? My background is theatrical and technical (lighting or stage manager for 300+ shows) but I would be glad to do a stint as AD or even do some acting.

Awesome Idea Icon,

Bedazzle is also working on filming inside of SL. I got the idea from working on the short trailer with Lindens and thought we could do a better job at it since we would put allot of more time into it. I hope to see allot more people try and create shows, sitcoms, etc. I think this is one area that not to many people are doing yet. More attentions seems to be going into gaming now. Wish you the best of luck with your project and can't wait to see results

Keep us updated