Bebo in the News
<< Return to press pageSOFIA'S DIARY SET TO SPILL SECRETS ON BEBO BRAND NEW ONLINE DRAMA PREMIERES MARCH 14
March 3, 2008
London, 3 March 2008 - Following in the footsteps of the runaway success of ground-breaking online drama KateModern, social media network Bebo today announced the launch of its next must-see online series: Sofia's Diary, debuting on Bebo on Friday, March 14.The series will follow 17-year-old Sofia Taylor (Rachel Hyde-Harvey; The Bill, Holby City), charting her ups and downs as she adjusts to a new life living with her dad, step mum and baby step-brother after being sent to London by her mum after accidentally blowing up the school chemistry lab! Sofia is feisty and witty with a fast, smart answer for (almost) every situation she gets herself into at school, at work and beyond - things are never dull!
Each week day Sofia and her friends will update their video diaries with 2-3 minute installments at www.bebo.com/sofiasdiary as well as their own Bebo profiles, with the audience following the story and engaging directly with each character for a truly interactive online experience. Like KateModern, Sofia's Diary will blur the line between fiction and reality by combining real events and fiction. In a unique twist, each week fans will literally decide which way Sofia should turn regarding an important decision in her life, with their vote determining the outcome.
Dealing with the sudden upheaval of her life, Sofia keeps in touch with her friend Jo back home through her online diary, filling her in on her new life in 'big, noisy, dirty' London. Joining Sofia in her exploits is her new best mate Jill (Lauren Gordon) - the perfect accomplice! Jill is a tough cookie, but with a sweet centre once you get to know her. Sean (Gavin Stenhouse) is another close friend of Sofia's, a mad Chelsea fan who secretly holds a torch for Sofia. Sean also loves his music and plays keyboard in a band with Jill's brother Mickey.
Then there's Josh (James Nield). He's Mr Hot, or so he thinks. He's got the goods, and the swagger to match and is the bad boy who every girl likes. An avid photographer, Josh has a job at the teen fashion magazine Wicked where Sofia also works. Rebecca (Georgina Leahy) is Sofia's nemesis at school; attention-seeking and competitive, Rebecca is the resident sexpot.
At home, Sofia's dad Simon (Paul Opacic) is a hard-working photographer, struggling to adapt to life with a teenager - as is Emma, Sofia's stepmother / model / actress / whatever. Though friendly and supportive, Sofia sees Emma as pushy and someone who tries a bit hard. Then there's little step brother Dylan ' AKA the Devil Child ' enough said!
Alice (Heidi Monsen) is Sofia's boss at Wicked magazine - a grande-skinny-sugar-free-vanilla-latte kind of person. She's a bit Devil Wears Prada and sees working at Wicked her stepping stone to her dream job editing British Vogue. Lucky Bebo members who auditioned for the show through the site are also still in the running for a minor role on the teen drama - watch this space.
Based on an international format owned by Sony Pictures Television International, Sofia's Diary is being produced by Irish producers Campbell Ryan Film Productions for Bebo and shot on location across London. The cross-media series will be funded through advertising, with a range of sponsors set to integrate their products seamlessly into the series. Beginning on Bebo, Sofia's Diary is set to become a multiplatform brand, stretching across print, radio, podcasts and more.
Conceived by Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile service. The original programme now has 200,000 visitors per month online, over 19,000 mobile subscribers and has run four series on Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP2. The series has since been adapted for audiences in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, Vietnam and now the UK.
Bebo recently became the world's only global social media network. This radical new vision for online media combines community, self-expression and entertainment to enable its users to consume, create, discover and share content through the Bebo website.
Unlike its competitors, Bebo offers access to a line-up of high originally commissioned quality programmes. Its first hit series KateModern received more than 35 million views in its first season and attracted more than five million views in the first two weeks of its second season. In addition, Bebo also offers a broad range of entertainment from professional broadcasters, independent producers and other rights owners, giving users a simple set of tools to create their online media collection and communicate their tastes to everyone in their network.