The Dispatch From Thurston

‘Thurston’ Season 3 Premieres November 30, 2014

November 29, 2014 | News

Thurston returns for its third season Sunday, November 30, 2014 at 12 noon EST with four new episodes. Season two ended with the birth of Maggie’s baby at the Walkingstick home, Maggie’s confession to the Marshal, Agnes Snead’s middle-of-the-night kidnapping of Rosie and Owen with the help of her sons Harlan and Amon, Rosie’s forced marriage to Amon, and the rogue Edmund Snead’s encounter with Pinkerton Daniels on the rails. “After the darker events of last season, we are jokingly referring to season three as the season of love,” said co-executive producer, creator, and writer Kathryn O’Sullivan. “Viewers can expect big journeys for the inhabitants of Thurston – literal and figurative,” she added.  This season Paul Awad, Thurston’s co-executive producer, director, and cinematographer, joins O’Sullivan in writing episodes two through four.  “Kathryn and I had different characters’ voices in our heads so it was fun writing a scene with her and seeing how it turned out,” said Awad. In Sunday’s season premiere the Marshal pays Maggie and Inolah a visit, District Attorney Stewart (Remember him from the courthouse scene from season two?) makes Pinkerton Detective Frank Daniels a proposition, the Sneads have a tense family reunion, and Rosie plots her escape.

Serial Scoop Exclusive First Look at Colleen Zenk and Walt Willey

November 28, 2014 | News, Press

Thurston executive producers Kathryn O’Sullivan and Paul Awad gave Serial Scoop an exclusive sneak peek at Colleen Zenk and Walt Willey (Agnes and Edmund Snead) from the season three set in Jessup, Maryland. “The first two seasons of Thurston had it all: romance, suspense, courtroom drama, showdowns, changing alliances and one complicated relationship after another. None were more complex or as fascinating to watch as the dynamics among the Snead family,” writes Serial Scoop. Read the full article and see photographs of Zenk and Willey from the set at Serial Scoop.

Novelist D.B. Corey Visits the Set of ‘Thurston’

November 27, 2014 | News

Mystery writer D.B. Corey (Chain of Evidence) visited the Thurston set in late October during filming of the final scenes of Thurston season three. Check out his behind-the-scenes observations about the joys and challenges of shooting Thurston and his thoughts on the similarities between writing and directing here. To find out more about D.B. Corey and his work, please visit www.dbcorey.com.

‘Thurston’ to Screen at Three LA Web Events

March 12, 2014 | News

Thurston will participate in three web series events in Los Angeles in late March/early April 2014.  First up is LA WebFest where Thurston has previously screened and been honored with Best Drama, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor awards.  LA Web Fest runs from March 26 through March 30, 2014 and culminates in an award ceremony on closing night.  On April 2, 2014, the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards will be held in the beautiful El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.  Thurston has been nominated for six awards this year and won for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design at last year’s awards ceremony.  The week will end with a screening at the 3rd Annual HollyWeb Festival.  Once again, screenings will be held at the stunning Chaplin Theatre at Raleigh Studios.  For schedules and more information about these events, please visit the websites at  www.lawebfest.com ,  www.indieseriesawards.com , and  www.hollywebfestival.com .

‘Thurston’ – A Story of Female Empowerment

March 10, 2014 | Press

In his thorough review of Thurston, Jeff Siniawsky of WebVee Guide writes “At its heart, Thurston is a story of female empowerment.”  Siniawsky then goes on to discuss the various powerful women (and men) in Thurston and concludes, “A terrific story is unfolding, one that is well written and well acted.  The location was beautiful and the cinematography showed it off while still depicting some of the harsher aspects of life in Thurston in 1881.  We’re looking forward to Season 3 to see where Ms. O’Sullivan is going to take us.”  Read the full article at  http://webveeguide.com/reviews/2014/03/thurston .

Liam Green-Hughes of Teleremix Reviews Thurston

November 30, 2013 | Press

“This is one of my favourite web series of all time and does a fantastic job at breathing new life into the Western genre,” writes Liam Green-Hughes of Teleremix.  “… the series builds up for a plot twist that promises to make season three a must-watch.  What will they pull out of the bag?  At the end of the last season it was a head, so anything could happen.”  Read the review at http://teleremix.com/post/67834991233/thurston-the-western-web-series-has-just .

Native Actors Autumn Morningstar Custalow Alfaro and Enrico Nassi Amongst New Cast Members

October 20, 2013 | News

The second half of Thurston’s season will not only introduce viewers to All My Children’s veteran actor Walt Willey’s Edmund Snead, but will bring with it the Cherokee storyline and the characters of Dr. Benjamin and Inolah Walkingstick.  “I’m thrilled that we are finally bringing the Cherokee story to Thurston.  It has been in my mind since the beginning but we wanted to wait until it could be done right and with Native actors in the roles,” said Thurston’s creator and writer Kathryn O’Sullivan. Enter Enrico Nassi and Autumn Morningstar Custalow Alfaro.  Nassi is a Washington, D.C. based actor, director, and teacher and a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and a recognized member of the Cherokee Nation.  Alfaro is an artist and graphic designer who grew up on the Mattaponi Reservation and is very active in her tribe and educating others about her community.  “Kathryn and I had several conversations with both Enrico and Autumn about how the Cherokee would be portrayed.  We wanted it to be as authentic as possible, not a stereotype, and we wanted them to feel comfortable with the portrayal,” said director Paul Awad.  “Playing the character of Inolah was an easy role for me,” said Alfaro.  “It was like taking myself back in time.”

Rounding out the rest of the new additions are Richard Cutting, the creator, director, and writer of web series Milgram and the Fastwalkers who also plays Dr. Daniel Milgram in the show.  Cutting plays the Preacher, a character who has a key role in unfolding events.  Fellow Milgram castmate John C. Bailey joins Thurston as Pinkerton Detective Frank Daniels and Ariana Almajan will play the beguiling Marie Dumont.  “My first scenes with very talented local actors Ariana Almajan and John C. Bailey were a joy to do,” said Walt Willey.  “If this is any indication what it will be like to be a part of the Thurston Gang, this is gonna be some ride.”  New episodes begin airing Tuesday, October 22.

Stage and Screen Actor Walt Willey Joins the Cast of ‘Thurston’

October 6, 2013 | News

Thurston launches the second half of season 2 with four new episodes this month.  Joining the cast is stage and screen actor Walt Willey in the role of Edmund Snead, father of the naughty Snead boys and husband to Colleen Zenk’s madam Agnes. “Walt has been a wonderful addition to the Thurston family,” said Thurston creator and writer Kathryn O’Sullivan.  “Audiences are going to enjoy watching him as the charming rogue Edmund Snead and discover where some of his sons’ personality traits originate.”  Mr. Willey has been busy touring the country in his one man show Wild Bill! An Evening with James Butler Hickok and filming Tainted Dreams but he is perhaps best known for his role as Jackson Montgomery on All My Children.  “I’m thrilled to be a part of Thurston and to be playing Edmund Snead,” said Mr. Willey.  “Kathryn O’Sullivan has written an extremely complex character in Edmund, one I can’t wait to inhabit.”  “Walt was a joy to work with,” added director and cinematographer Paul Awad. “It was great watching him bring the character to life and we can’t wait for viewers to see him in action.”

‘Thurston’ Selected a Winner in the 34th Annual Telly Awards

May 31, 2013 | News

The Telly Awards has named Thurston as a Bronze Winner for online video-drama in the 34th Annual Telly Awards.  With nearly 11,000 entries from all fifty states and numerous countries, this is truly an honor.  The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and honors outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films.  Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.  Read more about the Telly Awards here.

‘Thurston’ Selected to the 3rd Annual Marseille Web Fest

May 27, 2013 | News

Thurston is honored to be one of thirty-two web series from around the world included as an Another Look Selection in the 3rd Annual Marseille Web Fest in Marseille, France.  The Marseille Web Fest is an international festival that offers web series screenings, conferences and workshops, and meetings with marketing professionals and producers.  The festival will be held in Marseille October 11-12, 2013.  Read more at Marseille Web Fest.