Showtime Networks’ THE L WORD(R) Re-Teams With FanLib for New Collaborative Storytelling Event, THE L WORD: Fans on Film
Responding to the overwhelming success of last year’s first ever network-sanctioned fanisode™ for THE L WORD, Showtime Networks Inc. and FanLib, a social media company focusing on people-powered entertainment, have once again partnered to give fans of the critically acclaimed series the opportunity to collaborate through a new storytelling event, THE L WORD: Fans on Film.
Registration is now open at TheLWord.FanLib.com for fans who will be challenged to share their own real-life personal experiences based on themes from the popular drama. Led by a member of the show’s writing team, millions of fans of THE L WORD will be invited online to write, read, rate and discuss these personal stories. Over the course of one month, fans will submit their original stories, focusing on the selected theme each round, which could range from love and career to family and friendship. The online community will choose the winning writers.
“THE L WORD has a vibrant and incredibly passionate fan community which totally embraced last year’s FanLib contest,” said Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Showtime Networks Digital Group. “We look forward to working with FanLib on this. They have successfully been able to connect community with storytelling, making it a wonderfully collaborative process for all involved.”
“Partnering once again with Showtime and THE L WORD, we are able to take social storytelling to the next level,” said Chris M. Wiliams, CEO of FanLib. “This is an opportunity to provide an original storytelling outlet for the creativity devoted to fan fiction.”
The winning writers of THE L WORD: Fans on Film fanisode event will have their story produced on video by Showtime exclusively for the series’ DVD and website at Sho.com/Lword. Other prizes provided by event sponsors include vacations to Pearl’s Rainbow in Key West and merchandise from Love & Pride jewelry store.
THE L WORD is the critically acclaimed series, which follows the lives and loves of a group of women and the lesbian community they call home. From its first airing back in 2004, THE L WORD is a provocative journey that reveals an integral part of America’s social fabric.
Inspired by everyday stories of life, THE L WORD stars Jennifer Beals, Janina Gavankar, Pam Grier, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Marlee Matlin, Katherine Moennig, Rose Rollins, Daniela Sea, Rachel Shelley, and special guest star Cybill Shepherd. THE L WORD airs every Sunday at 10pm ET/PT only on SHOWTIME.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
About FanLib, Inc.
FanLib® is driven by a simple idea – People Powered Entertainment.
Partnering with major media companies, FanLib utilizes its proprietary Massively Social Storytelling technology to unleash the creative power of entertainment fans online. In synch with the Participation Age, FanLib’s community-driven online experiences produce consumer-generated media that is ready for the marketplace. The result: More value for marketers, more manageability for producers and, most importantly, more fun for fans.
Conceived by veteran film writer/director Craig Singer and developed by online entertainment pioneer David B. Williams, the patent-pending Massively Social Storytelling platform empowers mass audiences to create quality stories and scripts collectively and democratically. FanLib is led by CEO, Chris M. Williams, a former Yahoo! executive and film and television producer. On the Web: www.FanLib.com.