Friday, April 10, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, DAYTIME EMMYS & INDIE SOAP OPERAS

On March 31, 2015, That National Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced nominees for 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (get your exclusive cheat sheet to who will win in the soap-opera categories, here).

A day later, on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, the 6thAnnual Indie Series Awards handed out their trophies for the best in independently produced, scripted entertainment created for the web.

Held at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, the sold out show was hosted by Daytime Emmy winner Eric Marsolf (Brady; Days of Our Lives). Presenters included Lilly Melgar (ex-Lily; General Hospital), Martha Madison (ex-Belle; DOOL), and Patrika Darbo (ex-Nancy; DOOL).

And familiar soap faces were well represented in the winners’ circle, as well. Three-time Daytime Emmy winner Sarah Brown (ex-Carly & ex-Claudia; GH, ex-Julia; As the World Turns, ex-Aggie; Bold & Beautiful, ex-Madison; DOOL) was named Best Lead Actress – Drama for Beacon Hill. Andrea Evans (ex-Tina; One Life to Live, ex-Tawny; B&B, ex-Rebecca; Passions) won Best Guest Actress – Drama for DeVanity, and even Richard Hatch, primarily known for his work on the original Battlestar: Galactica, and an Indie winner for Best Guest Actor – Drama (Pairings) got his start on All My Children.

Gregori J. Martin, multi-Indie winning director, writer and producer of The Bay praised, "I think the ISA's are a wonderful up and coming awards ceremony and a great outlet for independently produced web shows to get some sort of recognition for all the hard work and efforts we put into producing our shows. They are certainly growing!"

Colleen Zenk, host of the 2013 awards and a 2015 nominee in Best Lead Actress – Drama for Thurston, added, “I came on board as the MC/Host for the Indie Series Awards in 2013 not knowing anything about this new world. I had a sharp learning curve and was completely smitten and wanted to be a part of it, in any way. Here is why: Not all of the shows are network quality, but the support and love of the people in the Indie community is unlike anything in network television. To see this kind of joy for the competition is rare. Everybody watches everyone else's shows and the love in the room is palpable. Unlike the political - and, sometimes bitchy - feelings that were always at the Emmys.”

But could it be on its way?

Find out what's next for independent soaps and actors at Entertainment Weekly: http://community.ew.com/2015/04/07/indie-soap-awards/

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