The web television series “Thurston,” which features the work of producers and actors from Northern Virginia Community College, has been nominated for four 2014 International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) awards.
According to the official “Thurston” website, the show is a “Western drama about the residents of a remote mining town and their struggle for survival in the 1880’s Kansas Ozarks.”
“Thurston” was created by Kathryn O’Sullivan, a Manassas campus communication and theater studies instructor. Former NOVA faculty member Paul Awad is a co-executive producer with O’Sullivan. It began airing in 2011, according to O’Sullivan, who spoke with PotomacLocal.com about being nominated for the awards:
The show began airing online in October 2011. Paul Awad (my husband and Co-Executive Producer/Director/Cinematographer) and I had been hearing about web series from our students and started looking into this form of entertainment to be better informed for them. (Paul teaches at The Art Institute of Washington.)
Around the same time, we saw a special on the height of Westerns on television and thought it might be an interesting backdrop for a web series. A few weeks later we attended the Dramatists Guild national conference and heard Susan Miller (Anyone But Me) speak about web series and we decided to take the plunge and create a Western for the web.
Loudoun campus communication and theater studies instructor Lisa Nanni-Messegee and Loudoun campus student Garrett Brennan are actors on the show. Former NOVA faculty member Todd Messegee and several other NOVA students are also involved with “Thurston.”
I first heard about web series from my screenwriting students at NOVA. The cast/crew has many NOVA folks. Paul Awad (former NOVA adjunct professor) is Co-Executive Producer/Director/Cinematographer; Lisa Nanni-Messegee (current professor at the Loudoun campus) plays Jo Maxwell; Todd Messegee (current adjunct professor at NOVA) plays District Attorney Stewart and has served as assistant director; Garrett Brennan (current NOVA student) plays Owen Snead; Garry Westcott (former NOVA student) plays Marshal Perry Robinson; Bob Martin (former NOVA student) played Garrett Thurston; Peter Ponzini (former NOVA student) played the Bailiff and has crewed for the show; and Nick Barry (former NOVA student) has crewed for the show.
The show is nominated for best dramatic series (O’Sullivan and Awad), best directing (Awad), best cinematography (Awad) and best male performance in a drama.
We just finished season two and are on hiatus. Season two ended with Maggie having her baby and confessing to the Marshal; Agnes Snead abducting her youngest son and forcing Rosie, her former soiled dove/employee, to marry her middle son; the arrival of the charming rogue Edmund Snead; and the introduction of Benjamin and Inolah Walkingstick, Cherokee brother and sister.
Season three promises to reveal the fallout of these events and some reunions. We’ve been incredibly grateful for the recognition that our show has received. The show, crew and actors have won nine awards and been nominated for several more.
The series has primarily been filmed in Virginia and in Maryland. Filming locations in Virginia include Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre in Bristow, Spotsylvania County Historic Courthouse in Spotsylvania, and Wytheville.
The 2014 IAWTV Awards will be live-streamed online on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
According to the IAWTV, nominees will be voted on by the digital entertainment professionals who comprise the IAWTV membership.
O’Sullivan, Awad and Nanni-Messegee plan on attending the ceremony.
Recent Stories
Volunteer Prince William has new opportunities for those looking to give back. Help seniors with snow removal, assist a deaf nominee at the Influential Women Awards, teach English, support brain injury survivors, clean up the Bull Run Watershed, or provide meals for the homeless. Find out how you can make a difference in your community today.
A 56-year-old Woodbridge man was fatally struck by a vehicle early Thursday morning while attempting to rescue a loose dog from traffic on Dumfries Road.
Peter Rabbit has scrambled the eggs, and it’s up to you to find them, solve the puzzles inside, and beat the clock to win a basket full of toys and candy. Join the Scrambled Egg Hunt at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre on Saturday, April 19 for a unique twist on a spring tradition. Hunts take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 per group (up to six people). Space is limited—click the link above and reserve your spot now or call 703-365-7895 for more details!
The Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats), in collaboration with the Fredericksburg Area Museum, Germanna Community College, and Dovetail Cultural Resource Group/Mead & Hunt, have unveiled a new alternate uniform identity for select games in the 2025 season.
McClung-Logan Equipment Company is hosting its 40th Annual Oyster Roast, a signature customer appreciation event celebrating tradition, community, and generosity.
This year’s milestone celebration will take place on Thursday, March 6th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fairgrounds.
The first Oyster Roast began as a fundraiser in 1985, led by White Oak Equipment founder Frank McCarty, to raise donations for an employee battling cancer. This turned into a time-honored tradition for individuals facing hardship.
A Night on the Riviera
Experience a magical evening at the Embassy of France with A Night on the Riviera, an event that will transport you to the glamour of the French Riviera while celebrating the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras!
Indulge in an exquisite selection of French wines and champagne, paired with the finest French cuisine prepared by the talented Chef of the Embassy of France. Additionally, Chef Hugh Cossard will be carving ham live, ensuring freshness and exceptional flavor. Don’t miss out on the authentic French crêpes, made to order and sure to transport you straight to the streets of Nice.
For those seeking an extra touch of exclusivity, the VIP experience includes unlimited champagne, adding an extra layer of sophistication to this festive celebration.
Environmental Film Festival: Turtle Walker
DC Premiere.
In the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along India’s coastline and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest, he unravels mysteries
