‘Thurston’ Screens/Wins at LA and DC Web Series Festivals

Late March and early April saw screenings of Thurston on both coasts.  On Sunday, March 31, 2013, Steven Quartell was honored with a Best Supporting Actor Award at LA WebFest for his role as Sheriff Nate Hart.  Thurston also had two screenings that weekend at the festival.  On Friday, April 5, 2013, Thurston screened in the beautiful Chaplin Theatre at Raleigh Studios as part of the 2nd Annual HollyWeb Festival.  Co-Executive Producers Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan participated in informative panel discussions and later attended the blue carpet ceremony.  On Saturday, April 6, 2013, Thurston screened at the 1st Annual Washington, DC Web Series Festival where it was honored with the ITV Forerunner Award.  Thurston’s next screening will be at 2 pm on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the 27th Annual D.C. International Film Festival.

The Sixth Wall Discusses American Cowgirls And ‘Thurston’

The Sixth Wall’s Rebecca Muh traces the portrayal of women in Westerns from Jane Russell in The Outlaw to Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit and writes, “The culmination of the cowgirl’s journey is found online in KoldCast TV’s haunting western series Thurston…. the town of Thurston is full of dangerous women guarding secrets they’ll murder to keep.”  Read the full article that features photographs of some of the greatest portrayals of women in westerns at KoldCast TV.

‘Thurston’ Wins Two Awards at 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards

On February 19, 2013, the 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards ceremony was held at New World Stages in New York.  Thurston was honored with two awards at the red carpet event.  Paul Awad took home the award for Best Cinematography and Kathryn O’Sullivan took home the Best Costume Design award.  Garrett Brennan was a nominee for Best Breakout Performance for his role as Owen Snead and Awad was also a nominee for Best Director – Drama.  Read the complete list of winners at We Love Soaps.

Colleen Zenk Shakes Things Up On ‘Thurston’

Colleen Zenk’s arrival on Thurston gained a lot of attention this week with CBS Soaps In Depth, Daytime Confidential, and We Love Soaps all covering her appearance in Thurston’s second episode of season two.  “As AS THE WORLD TURNS’ Barbara Ryan, Colleen Zenk certainly had her moments of villainy, but that’s nothing compared to the terrifyingly icy performance she gives as Agnes, the matriarch to the deadly Snead family in her debut episode of THURSTON,” writes CBS Soaps In Depth.  Read the full coverage at CBS Soaps In Depth, Daytime Confidential, and We Love Soaps.

Three-Time Emmy Nominee Colleen Zenk and Musician Travis Marsh Join ‘Thurston’ for Season 2

Thurston launches season 2 and the first of four new episodes today.  Beginning with the second episode, audiences will notice a new face amongst Thurston’s inhabitants.  Stage and screen actress Colleen Zenk, beloved for her role as Barbara Ryan for 32 years on As The World Turns and a three-time Emmy nominee, joins the cast as Agnes Snead, Thurston’s shrewd former madam and mother of the naughty Snead boys.  “We’re thrilled and honored to have Colleen as part of the Thurston family,” said creator and writer Kathryn O’Sullivan.  “Colleen has the wonderful ability to play dangerous and alluring at the same time.  It was such fun writing the role for her.  If you think the Snead boys are trouble, wait until you see their mama.”

While Colleen Zenk will be the new face on Thurston, Travis Marsh will be the new sound.  Travis Marsh is an accomplished singer-songwriter-guitarist who has composed for web series and is part of the band Nightsky Drive with his sister, Amanda.  His fresh instrumental and vocal renditions of the 1866 American classic “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” will be heard at the end of episodes.  “Travis is a great young talent and we’re delighted that he’s lending his sound to the show,” said director Paul Awad.

Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off.  Maggie has killed her husband, lost Sheriff Hart at the hands of the Marshal, is pregnant, and doesn’t know whether the child is her dead husband’s or her dead lover’s.  Rosie, the town’s soiled dove, has learned Maggie’s secret (Maggie killed her husband.) and failed at an attempt to flee Thurston.  Cyrus has discovered a decapitated body.  Marshal Robinson remains a distrusted member of the town but has been recruited by Maggie to help when the Sneads arrive.  The Snead boys have escaped from the law, arrived in Thurston with the mysterious Josephine “Jo” Maxwell to retrieve a “package” for their mama, and dug in their boots for a showdown.

The Sixth Wall Discusses ‘Thurston’ and Epic American Showdowns

“… epic rivalries were borne of a sense of competition that helped build American culture,” writes Adam Pliskin of The Sixth Wall.  “Inevitably, they would culminate in a defining moment of struggle: the third act climax, the face-off.  A showdown.”  Pliskin includes “Thurston” and some of its face-off moments in his article about classic showdowns in American history.  Read the full article at The Sixth Wall.

‘Thurston’ Nominated for 4 Indie Soap Awards

On December 17, 2012, nominations were announced for the 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards.  Thurston received four nominations including Best Breakout Performance for Garrett Brennan as Owen Snead; Best Director (Drama) and Best Cinematography for Paul Awad; and Best Costume Design for Kathryn O’Sullivan.  The Indie Soap Awards will be held in New York on February 19, 2013.  Read the press release with the complete list of nominations at We Love Soaps.

Wild West Web TV Drama ‘Thurston’ Casts Soap Veteran Colleen Zenk In Upcoming Second Season

Lance Von Trachtenberg of PlaceVine posted Thurston’s season two trailer and writes that creator Kathryn O’Sullivan “… announced via a trailer screening on ‘Indie Intertube’ the addition of new cast member, CBS soap slotter ’As The World Turns’ actress Colleen Zenk, to the upcoming season two performers roster.”  Read the full article at PlaceVine.

THURSTON Season 2 Trailer: Colleen Zenk’s Agnes Snead Is ‘Seriously Displeased’

“Season 2 of indie soap THURSTON is coming in 2013 but you can watch the trailer now, featuring new cast member Colleen Zenk,” writes Roger Newcomb of We Love Soaps.  “The three-time Emmy nominee from AS THE WORLD TURNS will be playing Agnes, the mother of the infamous Snead boys…”  Read the full article at We Love Soaps.

The Davey Awards Names ‘Thurston’ 2012 Silver Award Winner

On October 22, 2012, the International Academy of the Visual Arts announced the winners of The 2012 Davey Awards.  Thurston was honored to be named a Silver Award Winner for Online Film and Video – Original Web Series.  With nearly 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards exclusively honor the “Davids” of creativity - the finest small firms, agencies and companies worldwide.  Read the press release at Davey Awards.