Will Hollywould soap save Kent TV?
KENT TV – the county council's controversial £600,000-a-year web TV station – is fighting for its life.
After a two-year pilot that technically ended in August, bosses at Bob Geldof's Ten Alps Digital media company are waiting to see if it will be axed.
Council chiefs have already given it a six-month extension until March but its future is likely to be announced in December.
Kent chief executive Peter Gilroy and council leader Paul Carter have yet to decide if they will continue spending public money on the experiment in these days of economic cut-backs.
Even if they do, rival operators waiting in the wings have already begun tendering for the lucrative contract.
However, Kent TV led by Whitstable journalist John McGhie, is refusing to go without a battle.
Tonight, Wednesday, it launches its latest weapon in the online ratings wars, a £20,000 interactive 10-part five-minute teenage soap opera called Hollywould....
It stars Faversham actress Helen Renny as fresh-faced university student Holly, who is lured into strange goings on, and features a guest performance from Whitstable actor-turned teacher Jim Madden.
The series has been penned by EastEnders' scriptwriter Julie Wassmer from Whitstable who plays a cameo role as Holly's mum.
Viewers can vote on how the following week's episode turns out. Different versions have already been filmed.
Jim, 60, who lives at the bottom of Borstal Hill, and teaches at Clarendon Girls Grammar School, Ramsgate, plays the sinister university course tutor John Roper.
He said: "I have no idea how it will finish but everyone seems to think I am the baddie. We will just have to wait and see."
Managing editor Mr McGhie said: "It's a radical new departure for drama. We are extremely proud to be doing it right here in Kent. Julie has done a fantastic job creating a gripping script."
At a preview screening at The Maidstone Studios where Kent TV is based, he stressed: "We have turned Hollywould around in an incredible four months and it has not cost very much either. It has cost £20,000. I know people in London who would not get out of bed for that."
He added: "We have always seen our job as informing the people of Kent about what is going on in their own backyard. We are very proud that over the past two years we have put together more than 2,000 films, which is pretty impressive."
Much of Hollywould was shot in and around Canterbury.
Running alongside it on the website are specially-made companion films dealing with issues raised in the soap such as cyber-dating, the dangers of spiked drinks and sexually transmitted diseases.
Mr McGhie said: "We want to reach out to young people with this drama. Not only will it give them something Kent-based to enjoy but we have also put some very light-touch messaging in there on issues like sexual health and student safety that will genuinely help young people – especially those who have left home for the first time."
To view Hollywould... visit www.kenttv.com/hollywould
The crew
Written by EastEnders' and London's Burning scriptwriter Julie Wassmer of Whitstable.
Directed by Simon Welsford from Margate who has won awards from his film Jetsam at the London Independent Film Festival.
University of Kent students Lisa Ellis, George Weightman and Luke Bailey play the mysterious fun-loving Marta, the extrovert Alex and shy computer nerd Danny
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by Andrew, London (luckily)
Saturday, December 19 2009, 6:13PM
“I'm sorry but it times of ecomic hardship it really makes me angry that they waste good public on this rubbish. It makes me happy I've moved to London.
I'm all for getting important messages out there but this is so unrealistic of a representation of student life it 's a joke and not a very funny one.”
by Brian Elliott, Tunbridge Wells
Friday, December 18 2009, 12:37PM
“I have never heard of Kent TV?
Is it Bob geldofs brainchild?
I suspect it does not broadcast on mondays then. Well, Bob does not like Mondays does he?”
by Emily, Canterbury
Monday, November 02 2009, 4:40PM
“Who exactly is this tv series aimed at? It is way too young for 16+ viewers who would be considering university. It is features an all-white, middle class cast and is not representative of the diversity of university life or indeed, east Kent.
Young people are unlikely to access the council website to watch this kind of programme when they are catered for by terrestrial television. Even the idea of 'you decide what happens' is not well thought out- it's been done a million times.
The actors in the show are university students/graduates and are not in the category of "Neets", so it can't even be said to be helping under-privileged local young people. I'd be interested to know what the backgrounds of the young people who got work experience out of this project were from. Were they all white middle class people too?
This strikes me as a project based on self-indulgence on the part of those involved, masquerading as something useful for the county.”
by Cat, Faversham
Friday, October 23 2009, 10:01AM
“This sounds like fantastically good value to me and an interesting new way to reach young people with targeted health messages. We need to learn to allow councils to try new things and take calculated risks. It's the 21st century and it is important to explore new ways of working and communicating and that means taking information to where the audience is, not waiting for them to find it. KCC are pioneers in developing an internet TV station and should be applauded for it. Keep going Kent TV”
by gaby, kent
Saturday, October 17 2009, 10:07PM
“10 episodes for 20 grand? Sounds cheap to me, especially since I read that 25 young people got work experience on this throughout the summer. In this country, 30% of young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are now unemployed. Maybe this lucky lot got some useful experience to move on to something else. So good for them. It seems after one very short episode, kids are talking about this already - there's a buzz. And personally, I'd rather have kids watching this if it's got some useful messages than the usual rubbish on telly. And I'm a council tax payer too.”
by Vicky B, Whitstable
Saturday, October 17 2009, 12:41PM
“Come on boys, lighten up! This seems to be a great way to get a few important messages across to people who need them. Lots of youngsters come to our colleges and don't know where to turn for advice on where to get flats or how to make their money last - or even where to go if they are worried about their health. Personally I like the story of Holly but most of all I like the factual films that go alongsde it. What an imaginative way to do it. Well done Kent TV.
And while I do understand that £20,000 is a significant sum, its peanuts compared to KCC's overall budget and if just one youngster gets to the doctor early enough to treat some horrid disease, then it will be money well spent. Its certainly not preaching - its just facts.
Honestly, every time Kent does something new and exciting like this , the whole cupboard of moaners come out and squwak about 'wastes of money'..and potholes. Get a life boys - and it does seem as if its the boys who moan the loudest. I agree with Frances, my kids love it and so do their mates at school. So, keep going Kent TV and well done KCC for backing something exciting.”
by Nigel Tufnell, Tilchester, Co Antrim
Friday, October 16 2009, 2:58PM
“How did Geldof get this particular gig anyway? It's not as if he's ever produced a decent television programme.
Time to put an end to this wasteful white elephant!”
by Frances, whitstable
Thursday, October 15 2009, 10:53PM
“My kids both loved it.We ll be watching and making our choice
storyline..
Kent should be proud to lead the way with this new interactive entertainment.
small amount of money well spend .”
by simon johnson, canterbury
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 7:11PM
“It is hard to believe that any businessman would sanction such expenditure when there are far more serious needs to be addressed in the community. But there again, the people running our Councils do not seem to have an ounce of business acumen.
The word 'incompetent; comes to mind.”
by Derek Smalls, Squatney
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 3:24PM
“What planet are the bigwhigs at KCC livin Probably on? Probably the same one inhabited by Bob Geldof and his daughtrs Pixiebell Foo-Foo and Nightingale Fobchain (I am not 100 per cent sure about the names). Either way, it's certinly not planet council ta payer. Stop this now!”