Tuesday, October 2, 2001

TCU soap opera could see the light of TV
By Kristin Campbell
Staff Reporter

Students will have the opportunity to be cast members or producers of TCU’s third soap opera, with the finished product potentially being televised nationally, said Richard Allen, an associate professor of radio-tv-film.

Burly Bear Network, a production company operated by Saturday Night Live Executive Producer Lorne Michaels, is working with TCU to create 10 episodes of an as-of-yet unnamed soap opera which will be filmed at TCU in spring 2002, Allen said.

The soap has been tentatively scheduled to air after spring break 2002, he said.

Allen said Michael’s interest in working with TCU was sparked after he and Lyle Jackson, a TCU alumna and Burly Bear coordinator overseeing the soap opera, viewed a copy of TCU’s second student-produced soap opera, “Studio 13.” Students also produced TCU’s first soap opera, “Close to Home,” in spring 1995.

Allen said he received a verbal agreement from Michaels in September, but Burly Bear has not finalized anything and may ultimately decide not to produce the show.

“Like everything else in Hollywood, it’s not a guarantee because the plug could get pulled,” Allen said. “There are executives within Burly Bear that will have to approve it along the way.”

Students in the soap opera writing class created characters and are now writing the first episode. Allen said the sets are already under construction. Though cost estimates are unavailable, Allen said he hopes the project will be funded in part by Burly Bear.

Katie Henderson, a senior radio-TV-film major, said some students who worked on “Studio 13” will be involved in creating the current soap opera and their previous experience will prove helpful. Henderson said the class has set high standards, since the students know their work will go beyond the classroom.

“We’re taking the soap opera seriously,” Henderson said. “It could actually make it onto television. This homework is not something you do the night before it’s due.”

The soap opera writing class will produce a five-minute pilot by the end of this semester to “tease” the soap opera and generate interest, Simonides said.

If Burly Bear executives like what they see, there is a chance it could air on national cable station TBS, Allen said.

Kate Simonides, a senior radio-TV-film major and head writer in the soap opera writing class, said she will work closely with Jackson, who will approve outlines submitted by the class.

Shannon Atkinson, a senior English and theatre performance major and student in the soap opera writing class, said they will listen to Jackson’s suggestions but the students still have freedom in creating characters.

“The point is to give students the opportunity to work in a professional atmosphere,” Atkinson said.

Allen said students in the spring on-camera acting class will be the cast members. Producers will come from the television production III course. Allen said students who wish to enroll in production three without having completed the required prerequisites must obtain the instructor’s permission.

Kristin Campbell
k.a.campbell@student.tcu.edu