Experiencing Interruptions?

THE WEB OPERA

"ENGROSSING & DISTURBINGLY REAL ..."
Cut Common, the New Generation of Classical Music

"HIGH VOLTAGE MUSIC! A BEAUTIFULLY, POIGNANTLY CONSTRUCTED & BRILLIANTLY REALIZED NEW OPERA!" - Fanfare

"GROUNDBREAKING ... A GREAT 21st CENTURY OPERA" - RANDY NEWMAN

With THE WEB OPERA, composer Michael Roth has assembled a team of progressive artists led by director Kate Jopson to create something completely new - an episodic through-sung web series based on true events, a groundbreaking experiment in music, film, and new opera honored so far by 35 film festivals, and a finalist recognized for a Digital Excellence Award by Opera America.

THE WEB OPERA tells of a group of college freshmen and the invasion of privacy that forever changes a young man's life. THE WEB OPERA also encourages and supports via its website suicide prevention and the fight against cyber abuse.

Featuring performances by Reuben Uy, Adam Von Almen, Stephanie Cecile Yavelow, Molly Connor, Joyce Lai and Loren Battley, directed by Kate Jopson, with texts by Kate Gale and additional texts by Michael Roth, filmed by DP Dana Fytelson with dazzling visual graphics by Lisa Glenn Armstrong, Yiyi Shao, and Christopher Gaal/Crazybridge Studios, and filmed as if seen via the cameras and webcams in a laptop, iPhone, or iPad, this story about the violation of privacy invites the viewer to violate the privacy of the characters themselves while viewing it.

Composer Randy Newman calls THE WEB OPERA 'groundbreaking ... a great 21st century opera, full of fine things and remarkably accessible. It is also an important story told very very well.'

And THE WEB OPERA has a mission - inspired by the real life tragedy of Tyler Clementi, THE WEB OPERA is presented online to encourage all who view it, via the website, to support organizations working for suicide prevention and against cyber abuse. The first three episodes are online now, episodes four and five will be complete within the next year or so. To view all three episodes - to see an early/demo version of Episode 4! - to support the filming of episodes four and five, and for information regarding THE WEB OPERA's mission, please visit www.thewebopera.com

More detailed synopsis (some spoilers):

In Episode One, a college freshman (FG97 - all of the characters are referred to by their e-mail addresses) is installing software for his new webcam when he receives a message from his new roommate, Violinist98. Online, he investigates his roommate to get more information about him, all the while communicating about it with his friend across the hall, June99.

In Episode Two, Violinist98 is practicing violin and then, distracted, he seeks solace online from a forum; eventually he receives a friend request from Bookstore90, a man he'd met the day before, and arranges a date with him for the next night. He informs FG97 via text that he needs the room.

In Episode Three, FG97 visits his friend June99 during Violinist98's date. Via his webcam, hoping to have a look at Bookstore90, whom FG97 finds suspicious, they have a quick look at the date and discuss this with June's roommate and two of her roommate's friends. Having looked, they see something they can't unsee - and FG97 informs others online about it in a tweet that Violinist98 reads later that evening - as he stares at the webcam.

* - As of December, 2022, THE WEB OPERA has been honored by 35 film festivals - most recently an official selection at the CULVER CITY FILM FESTIVAL, where it was screened on 12/3/22, and won the Grand Prize for Experimental Short Film; also an official selection at the LOS ANGELES EXPERIMENTAL DANCE & MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL (LA screening, 2/6/20), Toronto's CYRUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (Semi-Finalist), New York's IndieBOOM Festival (Winner, Best Music), ONLY THE BEST FILM AWARDS (winner, Best Musical, Short or Feature), the BEST SHORTS COMPETITION (Award of Merit; Humanitarian Award Finalist), INDIE SHORT FEST/LA, Australia's INTERNATIONAL SHORTS FESTIVAL, Prague's INTERNATIONAL SOUND VIDEO AWARDS (Honorable Mention-Best Experimental Video), LA's INDEPENDENT SHORTS FESTIVAL, the WEB SERIES FESTIVAL GLOBAL, LOS ANGELES CINEFEST (semi-finalist, Best Web Series), ROME INDEPENDENT PRISMA AWARDS (semi-finalist, Best Web Series), SHORT, TIGHT & LOOSE GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL (Award of Excellence-Original Concept), KESARI MOVIE AWARDS, the ONLY THE BEST FILM AWARDS, and AFTER HOUR (Best Television & Web Media); in addition to Awards of Merit from the ONE REELER SHORT FILM COMPETITION, online screenings from UK's LIFT OFF SESSIONS, New York's LIFT-OFF GLOBAL NETWORK, Tokyo’s LIFT OFF FESTIVAL, the HOLLYWOOD FIRST TIME FILMMAKER SHOWCASE, Honorable Mentions from NYC IO FILM FESTIVAL, LA's EXPERIMENTAL FORUM, UNDERGROUND FILM FORUM and the SANTA MONICA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Best Web Series from MOODY CRAB FEST and REDWOOD SHORTS & SCRIPTS, virtual screenings from GREAT LAKES FESTIVAL (Best Experimental/nominee), ALEXANDER VALLEY FESTIVAL (Best Short/nominee), CUTTING EDGE (Experimental Short-Finalist), GLOBAL MONTHLY ONLINE (winner, Best Short, Best Music Direction, Best Cinematography), Chicago's BLOW-UP ARTHOUSE FILMFEST, FLICKFAIR 2021, and Best Experimental Short from London's INDIE SHORT 24 FRAMES FESTIVAL. It was also honored by a screening at the American Composers Forum annual NEW MUSIC GATHERING in August, 2021.

  • Kate Jopson
    Director
    Please see: www.katejopson.com
  • Michael Roth
    Composer, Producer
    Film & theatre scores: HENRY IV with Tom Hanks, THE TEMPEST with Christopher Plummer, new Shakespeare project with Al Pacino, JEWS & BASEBALL (PBS), music direction for Disney's PRINCESS & THE FROG (score by Randy Newman), many others; more info: https://rothmusik.wixsite.com/rothmusik
  • Kate Gale
    Writer
    Please see: www.kategale.com
  • Dana Fytelson
    Director of Photography
    Please see: www.danafytelson.com
  • Christopher Gaal - Crazybridge Studios
    Motion Graphics
    Please see: www.crazybridge.com
  • Lisa Glenn Armstrong
    Motion Graphics
    Please see: www.lisaglennarmstrong.com
  • Yiyi Shao
    Motion Graphics
    Please see: www.yiyishao.com
  • Reuben Uy
    Key Cast
    "FG97"
  • Adam Von Almen
    Key Cast
    "Violinist98"
    Please see: www.adamvonalmen.com
  • Stephanie Cecile Yavelow
    Key Cast
    "June99 "
    Please see: vayymusic.com
  • Molly Connor
    Key Cast
    "Roommate"
  • Joyce Lai
    Key Cast
    "Roommate's Friend"
  • Loren Battley
    Key Cast
    "Roommate's Friend"
    Please see: www.imdb.com/name/nm8546609
  • Steven Cahill
    Sound Mix
    Please see: www.stevencahill.com
  • Eduardo Vega, Humannovations
    Mental Health Advisor
    Please see: www.humannovations.net
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Music Video, Short, Web / New Media, Other
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 27, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • OPERA AMERICA - Digital Excellence in Opera - Finalist - 2023
    New York
    United States
    December 4, 2023
    Noteworthy Project - Finalist
  • Culver City Film Festival - 2022
    Culver City, California
    United States
    December 3, 2022
    BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM - SCREENING
  • Los Angeles Experimental, Dance & Music Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    February 6, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - SCREENING
  • NEW MUSIC GATHERING - 2021
    Minneapolis
    United States
    August 15, 2021
    Featured Presentation - New Music Festival
  • International Sound Video Awards
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    February 20, 2022
    Czech Premiere
    Honorable Mention-Best Experimental Music Video
  • BLOW-UP International Arthouse FilmFest
    Chicago
    United States
    February 8, 2021
    Chicago Festival Premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Cyrus International Film Festival of Toronto
    Toronto
    Canada
    February 1, 2021
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - SEMI FINALIST
  • London Indie Short Festival of 24 Frames
    London
    United Kingdom
    December 28, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
  • Flickfair Film Festival
    California
    United States
    December 1, 2021
    Official Selection - Online Screening 12/1-31/21
  • After Hour Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    November 3, 2020
    WINNER - BEST TELEVISION & WEB MEDIA
  • Cutting Edge International Film Festival
    Pampano Beach, Florida
    United States
    November 6, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION/FINALIST - EXPERIMENTAL SHORT - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Alexander Valley Film Festival
    Cloverdale, California
    United States
    September 26, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - BEST SHORT FILM - ONLINE SCREENINGS
  • Great Lakes Film Festival
    Erie, Pennsylvania
    United States
    September 24, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - BEST EXPERIMENTAL - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Redwood Shorts & Scripts
    Sunnyvale, California
    United States
    August 23, 2020
    WINNER - BEST WEB SERIES
  • Global Monthly Film Competition
    Los Angeles
    United States
    October 8, 2020
    WINNER - BEST SHORT FILM, BEST MUSIC DIRECTION, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
  • IndieBOOM Festival
    New York
    United States
    December 20, 2019
    WINNER - BEST MUSIC - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase
    Los Angeles
    United States
    September 21, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Santa Monica International Film Festival
    Santa Monica
    United States
    December 31, 2020
    HONORABLE MENTION
  • Moody Crab Film Fest
    Punjab
    India
    July 17, 2020
    WINNER - BEST WEB SERIES
  • Kesari Movie Awards
    Jaipur
    India
    March 20, 2021
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Best Shorts Competition
    San Diego, California
    United States
    June 18, 2019
    WINNER - AWARD OF MERIT - HUMANITARIAN AWARD
  • Soundwaves-Santa Monica Library New Music Series
    Santa Monica, California
    United States
    April 8, 2021
    Santa Monica Public Screening Premiere*
    *RESCHEDULED SCREENING - 2023
  • Rome Independent Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    September 5, 2019
    SEMI-FINALIST - BEST WEB SERIES - OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Short, Tight and Loose Global Film Festival Competition
    Delaware
    United States
    June 29, 2019
    WINNER - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - ORIGINAL CONCEPT
  • Independent Shorts Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    December 30, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • International Shorts Film Festival
    Southbank, Victoria
    Australia
    December 2, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    November 29, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Los Angeles CineFest
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • One-Reeler Short Film Competition
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    July 22, 2019
    WINNER - AWARD OF MERIT
  • Web Series Festival Global
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    August 10, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • The Lift Off Sessions
    Pinewood Studios, Ivers, England
    United Kingdom
    August 11, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Lift-Off Global Network Online Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    June 24, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - ONLINE SCREENING
  • Experimental Forum
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    August 11, 2019
    HONORABLE MENTION
  • Red Hen Press - Hen House
    Pasadena, California
    United States
    January 27, 2019
    PREMIERE - LAUNCH EVENT SCREENING
  • Tokyo Lift Off Sessions
    Tokyo
    Japan
    June 1, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION - ONLINE SCREENING
Director Biography - Kate Jopson

Kate Jopson (director) is the Artistic Director of the Aliso Theatre Company, having previously been Artistic Director of both Circle X Theatre and the Flagship Theatre, all in Los Angeles. Recently, she directed the short film PROTECT & SAVE (official selection Pasadena International Film Festival, Alexander Valley Film Festival, Dam Short Film Festival) and developed documentaries with the Academy-Award winning company Stick Figure productions. As a theatre director, she specializes in experienced-based productions in locations as varied as a Frank Lloyd Wright house, a horse ranch, a beach, and a flower-filled basement. Recent theatre credits: HOLE IN THE SKY (Circle X Theatre); CANDIDE (Santa Cruz Shakespeare); FEFU AND HER FRIENDS (Circle X Theatre/J.U.S.T Toys Productions, LA); 1984 (Greenway Court Theatre, LA); AN ACCIDENT (Griot Theatre, LA), TWELFTH NIGHT (Courage Theatre Co. LA); SECOND SKIN (The West/The Flagship Ensemble); A WILLOW GROWS ASLANT (La Jolla Playhouse —Without Walls Fest.) B.A UC Berkeley; M.F.A in Directing from UC San Diego. http://www.katejopson.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Cruelty can happen so casually, especially with the distance that social media allows. Social media is a double-edged sword, it can help those who feel isolated find a community and it can also bring out the darkest urges in humans. You no longer have to look someone in the eye and see the damage you have wrought. Micro-aggressions and unexplored prejudices can balloon into great wrongs. In the first three episodes of THE WEB OPERA, we see how two young men's choice not to face the discomfort of addressing their differences leads to a thoughtless and deeply violating action. We also examine how privacy is willingly and unwillingly taken from us.

The youngest in my "millennial" generation grew up without ever knowing a time before the internet. Some of us feel that privacy is overrated, that "we have nothing to hide so why does it matter?" I also fall into that reasoning, at times. But then something like the true events at Rutgers that THE WEB OPERA is based on happens and I must re-examine my online presence. When I do, it is often terrifying how much of my life can be easily accessed and how little is under my control. That is why I wanted to film it in a way where you are watching people through their devices while they are going about their daily lives, unaware of our gaze.

While the story is small, the ramifications are big. Composer Michael Roth felt that an "opera" would help us find the emotion behind these small moments while keeping the larger scope of the message always present. The music defies genre, having moments of rock, pop, new music, musical theatre, and sound design fused together into the experience. The webseries itself also invents a new genre of "Web Operas."

Overall, we tried to suit the medium to the story and the story to the medium to find a way to get into the heart of some of the largest issues of our time.