Lynn Shelton in the MTV photo booth at Sundance 2010
Seattle film darling Lynn Shelton, director of “Humpday,” is moving to the web. She has directed a Seattle-based webisode series for MTV’s $5 Cover, a psuedo-reality web series that follows artists in multiple cities throughout the US. Lynn follows 13 eclectic Seattle bands, reenacting their triumphs and failures on stage and in their personal relationships for fictional drama.
The series follows the bands through “one wild weekend as they work, sweat, perform, and party in Seattle’s clubs, bars, after hours speak easies and crash pads,” according to the MTV site. It promises to “capture the color, flavor and texture of Seattle.” (Whatever that means…) All of the musicians will play themselves in stories based on their actual experiences.
Featured performers include the awesome electro-rap duo Thee Satisfaction, punk band Whisky Tango, hippie psychedelic group The Moondoggies and Sean Nelson, formally of Harvey Danger and The Long Winters.
I haven’t seen the show, it’s not live on MTV yet, but The Stranger reviewed it here. There was some minor outrage about the whole thing on the Slog Line-Out announcement. Comments from “Obligatory Lynn Shelton sold out comment” to “It lacks tact! These bands should be ashamed of themselves!” remind us that, around this town, being a true indie rock star means avoiding MTV’s mainstreaming influence like the plague. Personally, I think it’s worth it, seeing as everyone in the art world is scrambling for a paycheck, but hey, that’s just me.
Tags: $5 Cover, Lynn Shelton, MTV, webisodes
