INTERVIEW: Steve Silverman Previews The Hot as Hell Web Series Festival

PRETTY and THE INN creator Steve Silverman teamed up with FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES creator Julie Smith earlier this year and founded the Hot as Hell Web Series Festival, which will debut in Palm Springs on Friday, August 16. They pulled in a few other top-notch showrunners (from DEVANITY and VENICE) and came up with what promises to be a unique and fun three-day event. We Love Soaps caught up with the Indie Soap Award-winning Silverman to find out more.

So how did the idea for this Fan Fest come about?

"Julie Smith and I have been very good friends for several years now," Silverman explained. "A couple of months ago right as the festivals were gearing up--LA Webfest, Hollyweb Fest---I turned to Julie and said, 'These festivals are great. Why aren't we doing our own thing? And why aren't we doing something that's fan based? Why don't we do something for the fans?'"

RESULTS: Indie Series of the Week Poll (January 13-19, 2013); DEVANITY No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for web series that aired January 13-19, 2013. The latest episode of DEVANITY was voted the favorite of our readers this week, followed by the season finale of FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, and new episodes of RED CIRCLES, MY STORY and THE PLAYHOUSE.

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

WATCH: FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES Season Finale

In the second season finale of FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, Barb (Tara Chocol-Joyce) has a big suprise for Ellie (Hillary B. Smith), and Shara (Diane Delano) and Stella (Kitty Swink) find themselves on the sane side of the road. Christian LeBlanc from THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS guest stars. Watch the episode below:

ISA4 Spotlight: FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES

Stars from TV, Broadway and The Web will come together on February 19 at ISA4: the 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards in order to celebrate and honor the very best of the rapidly-growing indie series genre. As we countdown to the big night, We Love Soaps will be spotlighting the nominated series and asking producers to tell us their favorite episode of the past year.

We kick off this special ISA4 series with comedy smash FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, which is nominated for seven awards:

BEST WEB SERIES (COMEDY)
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY) - Hillary B. Smith
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (COMEDY) - Diane Delano
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (COMEDY) - Robert Maffia
BEST WRITING (COMEDY) - Julie A. Smith & Donna Hurst
BEST ENSEMBLE (COMEDY)
BEST GUEST APPEARANCE (COMEDY) - Michele Lee

Showrunner Julie A. Smith chose the first episode of Season 2 as her favorite.

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (December 30, 2012-January 5, 2013); THE GROVE No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for web series that aired December 30, 2012-January 5, 2013. The series premiere of THE GROVE was voted as the favorite of our readers this week, followed by the latest episodes of LEAVING EDEN, FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES and LENOX AVENUE.

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

WATCH: Christian LeBlanc Is FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES

FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES is nominated for seven Indie Soap Awards this year. And the show just keeps getting better. In the just released new episode, Bruce (Christain LeBlanc) fails miserably as he tries to mend the bridge with Vince (Robert Maffia). Watch it below:

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (December 16-22, 2012); EASTSIDERS No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for web series that aired December 16-22, 2012. The latest episode of EASTSIDERS was voted as the favorite of our readers for the second week in a row.  The latest episodes of RED CIRCLES, FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, EASY ABBY, and MY STORY rounded out the Top 5. 

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

WATCH: Christian LeBlanc Debuts On FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES

Robert Maffia, Hillary B. Smith and Christian LeBlanc

FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES scored seven nominations for the 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards on Monday. On Wednesday, the hit web series released released its latest episode, "Oh Brother," which features THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Emmy winner Christian LeBlanc.

Watch below as Stella (Kitty Swink) and Shara (Diane Delano) share an akward moment, and Vince's brother (LeBlanc) stops by unexpectedly.

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (December 2-8, 2012); THE PLAYHOUSE No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for December 2-8, 2012. The latest episode of THE PLAYHOUSE was voted as the favorite of our readers followed by new episodes of THE CAVANAUGHS, RED CIRCLES, CHRIS & JOSH and FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES.

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

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (November 18-24, 2012); THE ROMANTICS No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for November 18-24, 2012. The second half of THE ROMANTICS pilot was voted as the favorite of our readers followed by new episodes of FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, THE CAVANAUGHS, CHAD'S ANGELS and CHRIS & JOSH.

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

WATCH: "They Killed Our Soap" On FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES

The highly entertaining second season of indie hit FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES continues this week with a fantastic new episode, "They Killed Our Soap." Barb (Tara Chocol Joyce) has a bad feeling about Ellie (Indie Soap Award winner Hillary B. Smith) and Shara (Indie Soap Award winner Diane Delano) receives a disturbing text about her "story." Daytime fans will not want to miss this one, especially if you loved ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN. Watch below:

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (November 4-10, 2012); FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for November 4-10, 2012. The latest episode of FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES was voted as the favorite of our readers followed by a new episode of THE CAVANAUGHS, the premiere of CHAD'S ANGELS and the latest from BROKEN AT LOVE and RED CIRCLES.

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

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (October 21-27, 2012); CHRIS & JOSH No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for October 21-27, 2012.  The latest episode of CHRIS & JOSH was voted as the favorite of our readers followed by new episodes of BROKEN AT LOVE, THE CAVANAUGHS and FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES.

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

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (October 7-13, 2012); HUNTING SEASON No. 1

The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for October 7-13, 2012. HUNTING SEASON finished at No. 1 for the second week in a row, followed by new episodes of THE BLOODY MARY SHOW, AVE 43, BROKEN AT LOVE, THE CAVANAUGHS, RED CIRCLES and FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES.

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

INDIE HOUSE: FUMBLING THRU, CHOOSING FATE, BIG CITY, IN BETWEEN MEN, BROKEN AT LOVE, TAMI, EMPIRE, FAILING UPWARDS, NICE GUY

STAR POWER:  Hillary, Bobbie and Michele are FUMBLING

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

This is the best part of my job.

Some series I cover because they're the Big Thing Right Now. Some, because they provide solid "teaching moments" for others in the industry. Some, I would even admit, I mention because I'm in love with the showrunner.

But the best is that rare occasion when I get to boost an Indie I would watch obsessively on my own, even if I were an accountant, or a cat groomer, and not a web series guru. (You didn't know I was a web series guru, did you?) When I'm 100% honest with myself, there aren't all that many - the ones I would look forward to even if (and it's almost impossible to imagine) I didn't really like web series.

WATCH: FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES Season 2 Premiere - Michele Lee & Bobbie Eakes Debut!

The much-anticipated Season Two premiere of FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, starring Indie Soap Award winners Hillary B. Smith and Diane Delano, is here! In the episode titled "MOM's here!" written by Julie A. Smith and Donna Hurst, Eleanor (Michele Lee) and Janice (Bobbie Eakes) come to town to comfort Jesse (Kelsey Robinson) and share some good but unexpected news with the family.

Watch it below:

INDIE HOUSE: DEVANITY, FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, ANACOSTIA, THE OUTS, TINY APARTMENT, IN BETWEEN MEN, HUSBANDS & More

ARIANNE ZUCKER: "Drama, drama, drama on the set."

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

DEVANITY, that luscious, lurid nexus of glamour, drama, and camp, has been shooting scenes with soap heavy-hitters Arianne Zucker, Kyle Lowder and Charlene Tilton for season 3 (enjoy our exclusive photos from the set). Showrunner Michael Caruso predicts we'll see a trailer "late September, early October" and promises big, beefy episodes with running times of around 22 minutes each - or longer.

I just happened to be chatting with Arianne on the phone Friday evening, and so I turned the conversation to DEVANITY.  How did it go?

INDIE HOUSE: OUT WITH DAD, PETE WINNING, HUSTLING, PIECES, MISS BEHAVE, THE EX-BOX, EMPIRE, RAGGED ISLE

LASER PIRATES:  Jason Leaver takes up swashbuckling.

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

What do loony, laser-powered pirates and soulful, coming-of-age lesbians have in common? Absolutely nothing - except for Jason Leaver, Toronto's Indie icon.

TOP FIVE: Today's Hottest Indie Projects & How to Help PRETTY, HUSTLING, DRIFTER, DAGMAR & FUMBLING

THEY'RE WAITING: The cast of PRETTY needs your help on $5 Friday!

"We would love to give you another season. But the truth is: another season costs money."

Thus proclaims Indie Soap guru (and Indie Soap Award winner) Steve Silverman, "The PRETTY Guy," who is officially campaigning to fund another season of Indie Soap Award darling PRETTY. First, let us say--Hooray for more PRETTY! For awhile there, we had feared the worst.

But also--Steve may be PRETTY, but he's also pretty smart.  What he says is all too true. Ultimately, it's up to all of us to ante-up if we want more of our favorite shows.

INDIE SOAP BEAT 1.2: EMPIRE's Lauren B. Martin, ISA Winner Hillary B. Smith, THE BAY's Camden Toy

On this week's INDIE SOAP BEAT, we check in with EMPIRE's Lauren B. Martin, Indie Soap Award winner Hillary B. Smith from VENICE and FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, and THE BAY's Camden Toy who sings! We also have the latest web series news and Indie Soap Best of the Week poll results all from underneath the new DALLAS billboard in Times Square.



For the full poll results, check back on Wednesday.

Stay tuned for our next episode on Tuesday, April 3.