Award Winning 'Acting Dead' Hits Amazon Today!

Since first hitting the web, zombie comedy Acting Dead has won multiple Indie Series Awards, and nabbed a Primetime Emmy last fall for Patrika Darbo's hilarious performance. Starting today, the brilliantly funny Brian Beacock-penned series is available on Amazon Video, and free to view for all Amazon Prime customers.

Acting Dead tells the story of Tate Blodgett (Brian Beacock), a down on his luck, unemployed actor, who after being turned down for role after role, decides to take his career into his own hands, and becomes a Zombie, simply so he can finally get work in the many Zombie movies and television shows. Along the way, he meets Alex Carboneux (Jillian Clare), a former child star, who's temper has stalled her career, until she also decides to take matters in her own hands, which doesn't turn out so well either.

“We're so excited that audiences can now bite and binge the entire first season of Acting Dead," said Beacock. "It didn't take a lot of brains to realize that Amazon was a great home for our Emmy winning zombie comedy!” Producer Susan Bernhardt added “I'm positive the Amazon audience will get hooked on Acting Dead – we've always known we had something really special and are thrilled to bring our Emmy winning digital series to the Amazon lineup."

In addition to Beacock, Clare and Darbo, the zom-com boasts an impressive group of talent including Chris Galya, Paul Nygro and John Yelvington with Season One guest stars Debbie Gibson, Eric Martsolf, Carolyn Hennesy, Sean Kanan, John J. York, Cocoa Brown, Christine Lakin, Lori Alan, Erin Matthews, Gary and Larry Lane, Peter Allen Vogt, Sheila Sheila, Mitch Silpa and Jacee Jule.

Nominees Revealed for the 6th Annual Indie Series Awards

The nominees for the 6th Annual Indie Series Awards were revealed Wednesday on a special episode of Serial Scoop Now. The ISA6 ceremony will be held on April 1 at 8 p.m. PT at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, hosted by Emmy winner Eric Martsolf (Days of our Lives).

Below is a complete list of nominations.

Best Web Series - Drama
DeVanity
Hustling
L.A. Macabre
Pete Winning and the Pirates
Thurston
Whatever, Linda

Best Web Series – Comedy
Acting Dead
The Amazing Gayl Pile
Capitol Hill
High Road
Jewvangelist
Wallflowers

'Days of our Lives' Star Eric Martsolf to Host the 6th Annual Indie Series Awards

Eric Martsolf

Days of our Lives Emmy winner Eric Martsolf has been announced as the host of this year's Indie Series Awards, taking place on Wednesday, April 1 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. The awards show celebrates the best in independently produced, scripted entertainment created for the Web.

With over 3000 episodes of television under his belt, Mr. Martsolf has been providing "love in the afternoon" with NBC Daytime for the past 13 years. His portrayals of Ethan Winthrop on Passions and currently Brady Black on Days of our Lives have resulted in numerous industry accolades-the zenith being his Emmy win in 2014.

His television credits expand into primetime (Extant, Smallville, NCIS, Rizzoli & Isles), and his musical theater repertoire consists of over 40 productions, including his critically acclaimed role as the Pharaoh in the Osmond Broadway Tour of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He has also starred in the hit web series Acting Dead, The Bay, Venice and Miss Behave.

Mr. Martsolf resides happily with his wife Lisa and energetic twin boys in California.

Honored to be hosting the @ISAwards this year. #ISA6 http://t.co/bXnSt3LCod

— Eric Martsolf (@ericmartsolf) January 21, 2015

The Indie Series Network will once again be the charity sponsor for the Indie Series Awards. Nominations for the 6th Annual ISAs will be announced on Wednesday, February 4 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on a special episode of Serial Scoop Now.

For more information on the Indie Series Awards, visit IndieSeriesAwards.com.

Indie Series of the Week Poll Results (April 27-May 3, 2014)

Beacon Hill was voted favorite web series of the week.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired April 27-May 3, 2014.

Beacon Hill finished in first place for the sixth week in a row. A new episode of YouStar: Road to Fame was second, followed by Wallflowers, Montreal Boy: Some Strings Attached and Acting Dead.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple/Duo of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	Beacon Hill	1	9
2	YouStar: Road to Fame	-	6
3	Wallflowers	2	7
4	Montreal Boy: Some Strings Attached	10	0
5	Acting Dead	4	0
6	Submissions Only	-	0
7	The NPC	8	0
8	The Boys Who Brunch	-	0
9	Two Housemates	19	0
10	Chris & Josh	-	1
11	Living With Uncle Charlie	-	0
12	Crazy	-	0
13	Winners	12	0
14	Thru 25	-	0
15	Ave 43	18	13
16	Millions	-	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:


Watch the entire BEACON HILL episode at beaconhilltheseries.com (subscription required).

Indie Series of the Week Poll Results (April 20-26, 2014)

Beacon Hill was voted favorite web series of the week.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired April 20-26, 2014.

Beacon Hill finished in first place for the fifth week in a row. A new episode of Wallflowers was second, followed by the latest from Black Boots, the series premiere of Acting Dead, and an all-new The Dreamers.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple/Duo of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	Beacon Hill	1	8
2	Wallflowers	-	6
3	Black Boots	-	1
4	Acting Dead	-	0
5	The Dreamers	-	0
6	Proper Manors	-	4
7	Freefall	-	0
8	The NPC	-	0
9	American Koko	-	1
10	Montreal Boys: Some Strings Attached	5	0
11	Pride	-	0
12	Winners	8	0
13	Beverly Pills	-	0
14	The Casuals	9	0
15	Malice	-	0
16	The Show	-	0
17	Vicky & Lysander	11	0
18	Ave 43	13	13
19	Two Housemates	10	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:


Watch the entire BEACON HILL epsiode at beaconhilltheseries.com (subscription required).

Zombie Comedy 'Acting Dead' Premieres on JTS.TV

Following a star-studded premiere on Monday night, the much anticipated zombie comedy web series Acting Dead launched its pilot episode today on JTS.TV, the first of a ten week roll out schedule.

Acting Dead stars Brian Beacock (Mulholland Dr.) as Tate Blodgett, a down on his luck, unemployed actor, who after being turned down for role after role, decides to take his career into his own hands, and becomes a zombie, simply so he can finally get work in the many Zombie movies and television shows. Along the way, he meets Alex Carboneux portrayed by Jillian Clare (IFC's Alien Abduction, Days of our Lives), a former child star who's temper has stalled her career, until she also decides to take matters in her own hands, which doesn't turn out so well either.

ZomCom ACTING DEAD Launches Website, Releases Trailer

Upcoming star-studded ZomCom ACTING DEAD has launched a new website, ActingDead.com, and released a trailer for the series which premieres online April 22.

ACTING DEAD stars Brian Beacock (Mulholland Drive) as Tate Blodgett, a down on his luck unemployed actor, who after being turned down for role after role, decides to take his career into his own hands, and becomes a Zombie, simply so he can finally get work in the many Zombie movies and television shows. Along the way, he meets Alex Carboneux (Jillian Clare, Alien Abduction), a former child star who's temper has stalled her career until she also decides to take matters in her own hands, which doesn't turn out so well either.

"We're very excited about ACTING DEAD's World Premiere on March 28th at LAweb Fest," showrunner and star Brian Beacock said in a press release. "It's an amazingly fun and important event and we're so proud to be a part of it. Plus today is the launch of the ACTING DEAD Official Website and the premiere of our Official Series Trailer! There's so much going on, it's got our brains on overdrive. Of course, that comes with the territory when working on a zombie comedy series."

Watch the newly released trailer below:

Debbie Gibson Is The Latest Star To Join ACTING DEAD

With production in full swing on the upcoming zomedy ACTING DEAD, an independent television series from award-winning New Media producers Brian Beacock and Susan Bernhardt, the final guest star of the series was announced this week. Singer-songwriter, producer and actress Debbie Gibson has joined the cast as Roberta, an exhausted diner waitress who contemplates quitting her job on a daily basis with eye-rolls more frequent than her tips.

“Debbie is so funny and willing to go for it with Roberta - Debbie herself is so different from this character which to me, makes it absolutely perfect,” showrunner and star Brian Beacock said.

“We're super excited to welcome Debbie into our ACTING DEAD family – the role is hysterical," producer Susan Bernhardt added. "I'm sure Debbie will have as much fun portraying the character as we will watching her!”

Debbie Gibson exploded onto the pop music scene at 16 and instantly became the youngest in history to write and produce a number one hit, "Foolish Beat." After three consecutive albums, world tours and selling more than 16 million albums, she starred in 17 musicals in 17 years, from Broadway to the West End. Most recently, starring with Neil Patrick Harris in the Broadway revival of "Cabaret."

Sean Kanan Joins 'Acting Dead'

With just two days before the cameras start rolling, another soap veteran has signed on to the upcoming zombie-comedy ACTING DEAD, an independent television series from award-winning New Media producers Brian Beacock and Susan Bernhardt. Sean Kanan, who currently stars as A.J. Quartermaine on ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL, will be making his New Media debut in the zomcom which is set to premiere early 2014.

"Not only have I watched Sean for years on GENERAL HOSPITAL, but I was lucky enough to see him opposite Eric Martsolf at ACME Comedy performing in SCANDAL CREST last year," producer Susan Bernhardt shared. "He was hilarious in the show – I know he's going to bring so much fun and excitement to ACTING DEAD – we're beyond thrilled!”

Michael Nouri Joins ACTING DEAD

Actor Michael Nouri, best known from the 1983 blockbuster Flashdance, has joined upcoming, semi-dark, zombie comedy (zomcom) ACTING DEAD.  The show is an independent television series set in the world of Hollywood from award-winning New Media producers Brian Beacock and Susan Bernhardt.

Nouri will be playing Xavier Lebeaux, a scattered, occasionally dangerous, over the top "zombie" actor who's been "playing the living" successfully his entire career.

As the series begins production this weekend, Nouri will be working side by side with series star and creator Brian Beacock who says, “Michael is simply going to kill it. He's a brilliant actor and incredibly funny - I'm thrilled he's a part of the show!”

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Carolyn Hennesy Joins Indie Series ACTING DEAD

GENERAL HOSPITAL actress Carolyn Hennesy, who plays Diane Miller on the long-running daytime soap opera, is the latest star to be cast in the upcoming semi-dark, zombie-comedy, ACTING DEAD. Set in the world of Hollywood, ACTING DEAD is an independent television series from award-winning New Media producers Brian Beacock and Susan Bernhardt.

"I've know Carolyn for quite some time now, and have always been a big fan of her work," said Bernhardt. "She has the perfect combination of wit and fierce glamour for this integral role in the story."