The Stage

Illumina plans kids’ online sitcom for Nickelodeon

Published Wednesday 27 June 2007 at 15:55 by Matthew Hemley

Independent production company Illumina Digital is developing an online interactive sitcom for children’s network Nickelodeon.

The sitcom follows on from Illumina’s success with its online teen soap Wannabes, which was made for the BBC and ran for 14 episodes on the Corporation’s website.

The new project is yet another example of how the internet is playing an increasingly important role in terms of production companies’ output and work for performers.

Illumina’s new project does not have a name, but it is understood it will revolve around a group of children who unwittingly develop a business that soon becomes a worldwide success.

The sitcom, which is targeted at younger audiences, follows the pre-teens as they deal with their new circumstances.

Rather than being the work of one writer, Illumina is keen to follow the US model of creating sitcoms, where a team of writers are brought in to develop a storyline. One of the writers Illumina is understood to be working with is Michael Curtis, who has penned episodes of US hit shows such as Friends and The Wonder Years.

A source said a script was currently in development and a pilot would be made soon.

He said the sitcom would be available online initially but had the potential to lead on to a television series and revealed there would be interactive elements to the production.

Although most online-only offerings are usually kept to short time slots, it is understood Illumina wants to opt for longer episodes.

The source added: “Illumina is keen to buck that trend and wants to make each episode quite long, because the feedback they had from Wannabes was that three minutes was not long enough.”

Last week, Tiger Aspect chairman Peter Bennett Jones criticised online-only content, claiming big stars were unlikely to sign up for a web-only offering because of low audiences and up and coming performers needed television platforms behind them.