Way back in June, I issued a marriage proposal via blog upon hearing the insightful and cutting comments that Tristan Rogers had made regarding another one of Bob Guza's ill-advised interviews. For this reason, alert reader Liz W. has been keeping me up-to-date on all things Tristan for the past few months. Yesterday, she sent me the following link to a new project that he may be working on.
This is a fabulous idea, the title - - Reality Bytes - - totally awesome reference to a film that was an anthem to my generation (you know, eons ago, in a simpler time - before Ethan Hawke was a philandering jack-ass and Winona Ryder was a shop-lifter). Also, the idea itself is awesome - - the behind-the-scenes drama and cast intrigue are rife with possibility for great soapy story-telling.
Making Reality Bytes a web series is another inspired idea - - it eliminates the problem of those pesky censors editing out all the good stuff. For instance, the depiction of a certain soap's writers' conferences - - as a viewer, I would hate to miss the summary execution of any writer who dares to suggest that someone besides Sonny Corinthos be the hero of the show. Or what about the unfortunate soul who mentions the possibility of giving an actress over the age of 35 an actual storyline? - - imagine the carnage. Do you think they'll depict the Executive Producer calling the male actors on the carpet for growing stubble? Maybe we'll finally get a glimpse of whatever blackmail material Guza & Frons are holding over ABC Disney which allows their reign of terror to continue. Perhaps a glance at the fabled Quartermaine/Spencer dartboard that Guza uses to choose his next victim?
The opportunities for snark and sly in-crowd references and parodies are endless, this could be a three-dimensional version of Finola Hughes' novel Soap Suds, only juicier. Not to mention good-looking people doing sordid things on- and off-camera, I am so there.
According to Tristan "The characters show potential for good solid stories, and with fans screaming for well-written and played-out soaps, RB fits the bill."
Fans are screaming for well-written soaps???
Why does Tristan Rogers know this, and network executives do not?
Reality Bytes writer Kate Lang says that "RB is a direct result of my exposure to this hilarious, exasperating, and sometimes ludicrous world that surrounds daytime dramas".
Clearly, I am an under-achiever. This woman takes her frustrations and develops a web-series as a creative outlet for her irritation??? All I have to show for the exasperating and ludicrous world of General Hospital is a tiny little blog that half-a-dozen people read . . . . and a drinking problem.
Lang goes on to say "A solid story with multiple, interweaving plots, that are character driven was a primary consideration early on in RB's development. The story is the foundation . . ."
Character-driven? Interweaving plots?
Quick, someone give this lady a job at General Hospital !
Personally, I've always loved your blog. Thanks for the kind words! Too funny. And surreal a little. Made my day.
Posted by: Kate Lang | September 12, 2009 at 01:35 AM