KIWI ONLINE COMEDY SELECTED FOR LOS ANGELES WEB FESTIVAL

WELLINGTON, December 26, 2010 - Online comedy series 101 Dates has been selected for the 2011 Los Angeles Web Festival. Created by filmmaker Chaz Harris (The Shoe Box), several episodes of the self-funded series will be screened in front of a live audience over the three day festival to be held 25-27 March 2011.

101 Dates stars award-winning comic Sarah Harpur (NZ Comedy Guild Awards, Best Newcomer - 2009), in the lead role of Alice Chapman; a twenty-something woman from Wellington, New Zealand who takes her quest to find “the one” global through online video dating. The series brings to life some disastrous dates and a best friend with an outrageous wardrobe inspired by music artist Lady Gaga.

Writer/director Chaz Harris deliberately tailor-made the project for the web because “the immediacy, energy and reach of the internet and social media gave 101 Dates the potential audience reach that other mediums could not”. The series also stars Emma Olsen as Alice’s fashion fast-forward best friend and Jacob Rosevear as her shy next-door neighbour.

Describing the event, Founder and Executive Director of LAWEBFEST Michael Ajakwe, Jr. says, “The web series is the most exciting form of visual entertainment since television. It is truly a people’s medium and some people are making some really cool shows on the web. LAWEBFEST wants to showcase some of these gems and hear from the resourceful people who are making them”.

101 Dates was supported by a number of New Zealand businesses including coffee chain Mojo, the Quest Atrium apartments and New Zealand’s premier news site Stuff.co.nz. New Zealand rock act Supermodel provided theme music from their debut album due for release in early 2011, produced by Greg Haver (Opshop / Manic Street Preachers).

Episodes of 101 Dates are 5-8 minutes long and can be seen in full on the website: www.101dates.co.nz