First it was “Lonelygirl15,” then it was “Prom Queen” and now it’s “Roommates,” a video series from MySpace and Iron Sink Media/Los Angeles that launched Oct. 18 and is playing five new episodes a week. The series is sponsored by Ford to promote the 2008 Ford Focus.
“Prom Queen” debuted on MySpace but was not exclusive. “Roommates” is airing exclusively on MySpace, which co-produced it, which enhances the quality, according to Scott Zakarin, co-founder of Iron Sink Media. “This is a whole new level, with higher production value,” he said. “It’s shot in high definition with multiple cameras and it’s lit more like a movie. We’re taking more time with individual episodes and spending more time editing and in post.”
He also said, “We scripted it pretty thoroughly.” “Roommates” tells the story of a group of young adult women from Los Angeles who went to college together and now share an apartment. “It’s a high quality reality show telling the satirical story about smart women that plays against footage from their college years. You see how the characters changed over four years and watch them change during the show. They keep the party going, but realize adult life is different,” Zakarin said.
The show was cast with actors Zakarin worked with and others he found in auditions.
The increased production budget was also due to the growing popularity of the medium, which explains MySpace’s, which is owned by News Corp., interest in controlling the show. “If you can get cable numbers on a webisodic show, the audience will come to expect a certain production value,” Zakarin said. The first episode, “Life After College,” has received over 400,000 plays since October 18.
The Ford advertising hasn’t started yet and it’s unclear what kind of ads will play. A Ford spokesman said he doesn’t think traditional TV-style spots will run with the show. Instead, the show will be branded with a Ford nameplate that can be clicked to take viewers to a Ford website and product placement shots of the Ford Focus will appear in the series. “We’re venturing into uncharted waters in terms of these types of shows,” he said. “They’re low cost to produce and have a different kind of audience. We’ll see if it drives the traffic we think it will.”
Zakarin also said there will be integrated product placement advertising in the show, but he said it hadn’t occurred in the first seven episodes. “There are hints of things to come, which the story lines will help to introduce,” he said. “It will positively effect the story.”
“Prom Queen” used post-roll ads as well as product placement advertising. There is no indication that “Roommates” will use post-rolls yet. MySpace declined to comment for this story.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More