We Need Girlfriends is a series that you won't see on TV yet - so far it's been broadcast exclusively on the Internet. It tells the story of three recent graduates struggling to understand the complex world of the New York City dating scene, after all three are simultaneously dumped by their long-time college girlfriends.
So far each episode for the series has been produced for under $200 [€130]. But with a successful two million views so far, the show won't stay just online for long. The creators are currently writing the pilot script for a TV version with Darren Star, producer of Sex and the City...
Trailer for the show.
Angel Acevedo is the creator of We Need Girlfriends. He lives in New York.
One of the
big differences in producing for the web or iPod format rather than TV is money. You don't need a million
dollars to make a web show. Also, there aren't a lot people to go through
to get things approved with web production. It's a low-risk investment -
this lets you improvise and experiment with stories, characters, and the technical
parts. You can be more risqué in terms of content. But there are
also some disadvantages; sometimes, you need more money to do what you want to
do. It can also be hard to attract an audience and keep that audience
coming back. The Internet is so big with so many options out there;
finding an online show that you like can be like finding the Lost Ark...
Sometimes we call our show "No Sex in the Suburbs" because it's like the male version of "Sex and the City," except that the guys don't get laid and they're out in Queens (a borough across the bridge from Manhattan).
We're currently developing other web series and TV ideas. Right now we're piloting a new web series, "I Live With My Parents" about a 27-year-old guy who still lives at home. He's a giant movie geek, comic book fan and video game nerd who's stuck in this state of arrested development. It's very funny."