Perth, Australia — An Australian comedy troupe is poking fun at TV news media in what promises to be a refreshing and creative web comedy series. “Blowflies” is the result of more than a year of hard work and perseverance on the part of Blue Otter Films, the production team behind the show.

The concept is simple: “Blowflies” follows the oddball exploits of a fictional news team at NTG Today who squabble, play pranks on each other, and generally do everything except report the news.

Firmly rooted in the tradition of “The Office,” “Scrubs” and “Arrested Development,” “Blowflies” focuses on Nicole, an earnest and hard-working young reporter who just started at NTG Today, a current affairs show similar to the sensationalist news programs that grow increasingly popular worldwide. Unfortunately, Nicole quickly finds out that she is the only one in the office who cares about being a journalist and doing a good job. Or any job, for that matter.

The pilot episode of “Blowflies” covers Nicole’s first day at NTG Today. As it happens, her new boss is less interested in Nicole’s journalistic skills and more interested in her nephew’s baked goods. Looking for a reason to fire Nicole, her boss creates a contest between Nicole and her nephew in which the winner stays on the staff and the loser is out of a job.

“Our goal is simply to make people laugh,” says Jon Walker, producer of “Blowflies”. “It’s been a long process for everyone involved, but now that the series has launched, all that work has paid off. We hope to make loyal viewers out of everyone who visits the website.”

Episode 1 of “Blowflies” was released on December 2nd and a total of six episodes will eventually comprise season 1. The series is freely available both on YouTube and the Blowflies website. Fans can also interact with the actors and crew on the Blowflies Facebook.

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Denny’s popular “Always Open” videos are back for 2012 with an impressive celebrity cast. Featuring comedic one-on-one interviews, “host” David Koechner (“Anchorman,” “Saturday Night Live” and “The Office”) is joined by Jessica Biel, Maya Rudolph, Andy Richter, Christina Applegate, Dax Shepard and Chris Pratt as they take their seat in the Denny’s booth, ready for some open conversation.

Following the success of the “Always Open” web series in 2011, each three-minute episode features Koechner getting his celeb guest to open up as part of the unscripted, anything goes conversations filmed at a working Denny’s restaurant.

The first episode, available Wednesday, April 11^th, on CollegeHumor.com, sees Koechner going one-on-one with Jessica Biel where they discuss a variety of comical scenarios including the best techniques for flirting with a yeti and the chances of romance between the pair while stranded up Mount Kilimanjaro. The hypothetical scenarios are all discussed as the pair enjoy a couple of signature Denny’s meals.

“The ‘Always Open’ series was a great success last year, drawing more than six million views from diners who loved watching some of their favorite celebrities take part in truly entertaining dialogue at America’s Diner,” said Frances Allen, chief marketing officer for Denny’s.  ”We hope that the web series’ second season will excite and engage our diners once more as they continue to enjoy the good food and open atmosphere at Denny’s.”

Following the hilarious first installment viewers can look forward to additional episodes as scheduled: Maya Rudolph, May 9; Andy Richter, June 6; Dax Shepard, July 11; Christina Applegate, Aug. 8 and Chris Pratt, Sept. 5.

The series was again produced in partnership with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett’s company, DumbDumb Productions, entertainment studio Electus, Denny’s advertising agency Gotham  and IPG Mediabrands branded entertainment unit, Ensemble.

New episodes will be available every month on CollegeHumor.com, Dennys.com, DumbDumb.com and social media channels including Facebook and YouTube.

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Digital Broadcasting Group, the leading creator, producer and distributor of premium video content across digital media announced that “The Confession,” the groundbreaking action/drama web series starring Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland and two-time Academy Award nominee John Hurt, is now available across all major digital platforms and DVD for the first time.

Written and directed by Hollywood veteran Brad Mirman, “The Confession” premiered online in March 2011 with 10 six- to eight-minute long episodes and quickly became one of the most popular web series during its six-month run.

Through a distribution partnership with New Video, “The Confession” will be available via subscription VOD services, on digital platforms (to rent and to own) and wherever DVDs are sold.

This long form version of the series features an additional 38 minutes of exclusive bonus material not previously available online, including three new webisodes focused on characters’ back stories and six new behind the scenes segments.

“Our multi-window approach is similar to the lifecycle of other premium entertainment content and allows us to extend ‘The Confession’ brand to a global level,” said  Damon Bethel, EVP of Strategy and Business Development at DBG.

“The Confession” is a gripping story of a cold-blooded hitman (Sutherland) whose lack of moral clarity leads him to seek advice and possible redemption from a common priest (John Hurt). Through a series of flashbacks, the hitman’s journey is revealed, with the chance at salvation hanging in the balance. While the hit man seems to be an evil, cold-blooded killing machine and the Priest the ultimate arbiter of good, it quickly becomes clear that both characters are much more complicated than either could have suspected.

“We’re thrilled to provide fans with an exciting new way to experience ‘The Confession,’” said Chris Young, CEO of DBG. ”The series is a watershed moment in the history of web video, and now viewers can enjoy the action and excitement across all screens.”

“The Confession” also features Max Casella (Boardwalk Empire), Daniel London (HBO’s Mildred Pierce), and Michael Badalucco (The Practice). Executive-producers on the series include Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Young and Joseph Gomes of DBG, Chip Russo and Maura Mandt of Maggievision Productions.

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