‘A
merican Idol” creator Simon Fuller has moved to the Web for his next big project.
“If I Can Dream” premieres today both on hulu.com and ificandream.com.
It’s aiming to integrate the Internet and social networking to create an entirely different kind of series.
“This is a weekly, network-quality documentary on hulu.com and a show streaming on the Web in real time,” says “Dream” executive producer Michael Herwick.
“Kids are not watching TV these days — they’re on their computers, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter,” he says.
“This is a new entertainment property for the younger generation that the older generation can appreciate.”
In a hybrid of “Big Brother,” with elements of other reality shows, “Dream” revolves around five people — a musician, two actresses, an actor and model — living in a Hollywood Hills mansion and tracked by cameras 24/7 both inside and outside the house.
The five hopefuls were chosen by Fuller — who knows a thing or two about starmaking — after an exhaustive year-and-a-half search. They’ll move into the house around 7:30 p.m. tonight (NY time), and viewers will follow their lives as they try to make it in their respective industries.
Weekly recap episodes will stream on hulu.com, and ificandream.com will stream (for free), around-the-clock.
Unlike “BB,” the “Dream” housemates can leave anytime they want — and viewers can interact with them via blogs, MySpace, Twitter and Facebook.
“The idea is to hook them up with different people who’ll mentor them . . . whatever Simon [Fuller] thinks they need to become successful in their field,” Herwick says.
“We’ll send cameras to their auditions, meetings with record execs . . . and unlike ‘Big Brother,’ they’re not trapped in the house and this is not a game — it’s real life.
“People will be able to send tweets into the house and get the housemates to respond.”
The housemates — actors Ben, Kara and Amanda, model Giglianne and musician Justin — were found by two casting directors.
“We were looking for people who Simon Fuller could meet and say, ‘Yes, you could become a movie star or recording star,’ as opposed to a reality TV star,” Herwick says.
“There are interesting stories to tell, rather than forced competition and casting the ‘bitch,’ ‘crazy guy,’ etc.”
In a further attempt to integrate viewers into the show, there’s an “audition link” on MySpace in which viewers can download their own videos showing off their talents.
As one or more of the housemates finds success in Hollywood and leaves the house, they’ll be replaced by one of the MySpace auditioners chosen by Fuller and crew.
“It may take some of [the housemates] three months and others a year [to make it], but we’re committed to doing the show for a minimum of a year,” Herwick says.
“It’s a marathon . . . and based on Simon’s track record . . . something big is going to happen for them.”