-
Reservoir Hill's Beth Connolly - Source: ONE News
Get ready for Reservoir Hill - New Zealand's online drama for the Twilight generation, where viewers can interact with the main character and become involved in her story.
Uprooted from her home life in rural Ruakowhai, Beth Connolly is forced to move to a strange new suburb when her parents separate. Starting in a new town, in a new school, is a daunting process - especially when the place is filled with freaks who keep inexplicably staring at her.
Scared and lonely, she needs the support of her mates to help her figure out what's going on. Every Monday afternoon there will be a new episode uploaded to tvnz.co.nz, and every Thursday a new video blog, so she can explain what's going on in her head. All the while, viewers can contact Beth and tell her what they think.
Jason Paris, Head of Digital Media and Marketing, says that TVNZ jumped at the chance to be involved in this new drama experience.
"TVNZ is New Zealand's leading television and digital media company, and tvnz.co.nz is an important part of TVNZ's digital offering. Although Kiwis mainly use TVNZ Ondemand to catch-up on their favourite TVNZ shows, we are delighted to also offer additional unique content," says Paris.
The masterminds behind this innovative new programme are David Stubbs and Thomas Robins from KHF Media, who are thrilled to be bringing the unique drama format to New Zealand - the first of its kind in this country.
Director David Stubbs says: "It's something that's innovative, experimental and exciting. The fact that viewers can interact with the central character, and drive the story forward, means the show is organic, collaborative, and anything could happen."
Thomas Robins explains that the show is as dark as Twilight and as bitchy as Gossip Girl , exploring all the issues that teenagers face, from relationships to fitting in at school, but with a mysterious central storyline running throughout the series which will have people intrigued from the very first episode.
"Everyone in Reservoir Hill is freaked out by Beth, and she has no idea why," Robins elaborates. "That story links all the episodes, but her personal journey is directly affected by the viewers - by becoming an online friend, by watching her blogs, or even by texting her, they really do become a part of the story."
Send her a message on Bebo, and she talks back. Text her, and the message could pop up on her phone in the show - and the advice given then steers the story to its natural conclusion, good or bad.
The series is a real challenge for the filmmakers, who will analyse all the audience feedback before going straight into production on the new episode each week.
"We're sure that Kiwi kids are going to be fascinated by Beth, and our ambition is to create something that is truly unique and engaging, that's the hottest thing on the web," Stubbs says.
Check it our for yourself at tvnz.co.nz/reservoir-hill .
