What if “The Twilight Zone” were actually this place we call “Hollywood?” This is the focus of a new web series called “The Thirty Mile Zone,” a satire on the entertainment industry which is geared towards Hollywood professionals. TTMZ is modeled and stylized just like “The Twilight Zone” and hopes to grow a viral audience through its unique vision. The show is produced by Charlie Wachtel and Zach Copeland, two Hollywood assistants in their 20s who are using their experiences as inspiration for the show.
Says Wachtel, “We know the web series medium is not the most popular. But to date there has never been a serialized, online show about the entertainment industry created by the insiders themselves. We want this to be branded as a show made by Hollywood assistants, for Hollywood assistants. And because we want to direct in the future, this is a way we can hone our skills and stay busy. Anyone can make a short film – why not make many short films, and make them for a specific audience?”
The series is expected to satirize many fixtures in Hollywood – the producers are taking liberties with the humor and are apparently not concerned with how offensive the show may be at times. The first episode is said to feature a mockery of Michael Bay.
Wachtel and Copeland plan to release episode 1 entitled “The Voice” online October 2nd, which is the anniversary of the first ever airing of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone” television series. The two see this as a fitting homage to a filmmaker who gave them inspiration for their own series. Wachtel sees serialized entertainment as an asset to companies like Funny or Die, College Humor, Break.com and even Deadline.com who rely so heavily on relevant content. His short term goal is to co-produce Season 2 of the series with said companies while pooling from their access to celebrity talent. Wachtel and Copeland are looking to involve as many entertainment professionals as possible in the process.
Follow the show on Twitter @The30MileZone or “Like” The Thirty Mile Zone on Facebook for news and updates.
