Melbourne-based director Nicholas Carlton’s OzGirl series is set to be distributed across The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times Online websites.
The deal with the Fairfax Digital Network follows the 23-part series’ initial distribution across platforms including Virgin Australia’s in-flight entertainment, KoldCast TV, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Zune and TiVo.
The feature-length web series has previously won ‘Best Web Series’ and ‘Best Acting’ at the 4th Independent Television Festival in Los Angeles, as well as ‘Best Foreign Series’, ‘Best Drama’, ‘Official Honoree’ and ‘Best Actor’ at the 2nd Streamy Awards, 14th Webby Awards and the New York Television Festival.
The series explores the often-awkward journey of Sadie Brown, played by Sophie Tilson (Neighbours), who recently has moved from her country town in Victoria to Melbourne.
Like most web series, viral marketing campaigns or subscriber YouTube videos, audience interaction allows viewers to delve deeper into the plot process or change the original scenario.
In German horror film Last Call viewers in the cinema were able to communicate with the lead protagonist via their phone.
Carlton’s OzGirl furthers the experience by enabling an online chat-room where the audience can communicate and interact directly with the characters in the show.
A second season of OzGirl is currently in the works.