A New Kind of Light
Digest checks in with GL alum Fiona Hutchison (ex-Jenna) and former scribe Jill Lorie Hurst, who join other one-time Springfielders for an exciting new venture.
This week marks the launch of www.newkindoflight.com, the Web site of 9 After 7 Productions, the spankin’ new production company formed by nine GUIDING LIGHT alumni, including Beth Chamberlin (ex-Beth), Tina Sloan (ex-Lillian), Hutchison, Ron Raines (ex-Alan), Grant Aleksander (ex-Phillip), former Head Writer Hurst and three former producers: Alexandra Johnson-Gamsey, Maria Macina and Chris Cullen. The company’s first project, La Lumiere, is a straight to DVD film (starring the actors above and other daytimers), which can be preordered — including the Limited Edition Director’s Cut — on the Web site now.
Soap Opera Digest: The production company was basically formed while you guys were hanging out in Tina’s dining room. What was the brainstorming process like?
Fiona Hutchison: Tina and I were talking and I kept saying, “What a bunch of talented people,” and she kept saying, “I know! I know! Can’t we do something with this? I’m sure we can find something to do with this [laughs]!” So we all met and I had a radical idea. I said, “Let’s bring a cameraman and record our meeting and everything that’s happening, from the very beginning.” What do you do when you have a group of people all from one show that’s been canceled? We take you through the pitch and went the gamut and do what people do in the industry do. [We show] how we came to the decision of doing the DVD, how we picked the treatment and who and why we picked to write it because we want to do it all in-house.
Jill Lorie Hurst: Tina, God love her, wanted to buy [GUIDING LIGHT]! But once we figured out that it kind of wasn’t for sale, we moved on. We want to reach out to our audience, but hopefully expand to a new one. We want to include people from other soaps down the line, we’ll look at other writers and people who have projects they might want done.
Digest: Is that documentation, the taped start to finish process, going to be part of the DVD?
Hutchison: I think we’re going to have it saved and only available on the director’s cut of the DVD. It’s fascinating. It’s an inside seat. This is all about the new frontier! It’s a how-to experimental project.
Digest: What’s La Lumiere about? Is it written and have you started filming?
Hutchison: Yes, it is written. The train has left the station, so to speak.
Hurst: I’m actually not the Head Writer on this first project. We had one meeting and I’m coming out of Maria Macina’s kitchen with a tray of cheese and crackers and Grant Aleksander says, “Where’s that great Jill Lorie script we’re waiting for?” And I dropped the whole tray on the floor! I had nothin’! The project was Beth Chamberlin’s idea. We had several great submissions. It’s a fun, whimsical movie; I’ll leave it at that.
Digest: In addition to the DVD, what are you most excited about with this project?
Hurst: It’s still very early stages, but it’s an interesting thing because writers always want to act, actors always want to write and producers want to direct so everybody wants to do different things. The only thing I really want to do is craft services [laughs]! So I’m planning on being the caterer for this job. It’s true; I’m the one most lacking in ambition. Everybody has so many ideas. Imagine getting nine strong-minded, wild people to agree on anything … it’s been hysterical.
Hutchison: It’ll be a giggle. It certainly hasn’t been done yet. Our project isn’t like anything done before us. As an actor, I’ve always a hand in producing other little projects and felt this was an opportunity, especially with the way the industry is going. The whole framework of how we do business is changing. We want the fans to be able to physically have something in their hands. We also wanted to give them an opportunity to be a part of the product, which you’ll see on the Web site and company Facebook page. There will be opportunities for the fans that they’ve never had before.
Hurst: It’s such an interesting time [for soaps] if you can hang in and not go completely broke and be brave and ride that wave! I’ve watched VENICE and did a little work with [director] Lisa Brown [ex-Nola, GL, et al] on GOTHAM. They’re all working very hard and doing great stuff. It’s exciting! I don’t want to see any more people I love or even don’t love, out of work. It’s scary!
Digest: Is it chaotic working with so many outspoken people?
Hutchison: There was no fear factor. Everyone felt positive and confident about jumping in and working with one another. It’s unusual for nine people to feel so in sync.
Hurst: We know each other so well. We know who doesn’t like to get up in the morning, we know who needs to eat regularly, who needs to take a nap in the middle of the day. There’s a language and a trust there.
Digest: Anything you’d like to say to GL fans out there?
Hurst: We miss them. We talk about them probably more than they talk about us. We’re just a bunch of saps! Hopefully, they’ll have fun with this.
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