'Tango' shorts a hit on WB's Web site
Hidden Webcams catch unscripted moments
A series of 38 shorts produced exclusively for the Web have been viewed 1.5 million times in the seven days leading up to the pic's release today. The shorts star "Tango" topliners Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott, Matthew Perry and Oliver Platt.
"Tango" helmer Damon Santostefano created the two- to three-minute shorts by placing hidden Webcams inside the thesps' trailers and other surroundings, as well as shooting docu-style footage to capture private, unscripted moments with the cast.
While not specifically pushing the film, the pic's stars are seen in their private lives off the set. For example, Neve Campbell rebuffs Santostefano in an impromptu marketing meeting in her trailer. Matthew Perry is shown tripping over himself at the Warner Bros. studio gym.
The shorts rep the first original Web series created for online audiences to promote a pic. Warner Bros. Online has also had hits with Netcasts of Adam Sandler's "The Peeper" and 10 minutes from "The Iron Giant."
The footage began airing on Warner Bros. Online's official Web site (WarnerBros.com) on Oct. 14.
"Damon understands the power of the Web completely," said Don Buckley, Warner Bros. senior veep of theatrical marketing and new media. "We talked about the idea for about 30 seconds before he agreed to do this, and there was no stopping him."
Santostefano said the "international obsession" with Webcams influenced the effort. "Everybody's beginning to realize how effective the 'Net can be." He said he hopes to produce Internet programming for each of his films, even with cameras streaming live from the sets. He also hopes to produce original pics for the 'Net.
Santostefano is developing two films to direct for WB: "American Girl," a comedy about a New Jersey woman who crashes the party circuit of the British aristocracy, and "Confidence," a comedy thriller about two couples who team up to pull con games in Manhattan.
