What is About Schuyler Falls?
About Schuyler Falls is an original web-based entertainment serial. Installments, which we call episodes, are posted online, where you can read the scenes, view images of the cast and
locale, look into the characters' backgrounds, and -- most importantly -- take
an active part in the direction of the series. ASF is created not only by its
staff, but by the audience, who play a vital role in determining plots and characters.
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Is it based on a TV series? Are there video episodes?
No, it's wholly original and is a text-based serial developed solely for the web. There are no
video episodes. Although we wouldn't say no to a TV adaptation in the future! Back
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How long has ASF been around?
ASF premiered on November 15, 1997, and was in continuous production (aside
from scheduled breaks) until June 2003. At the time it was one of the Web's longest running series. The show continued to be available on the Web, and returned to production in November 2007. Back to Top
Can I get reminders of new episodes?
We send out announcements to remind the audience
when new episodes are posted -- click here to join
this reminder list. The series is broken up into seasons, with anywhere from 22 - 40 episodes posted per season. Back
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What's the genre?
It's a continuing drama that focuses on mystery, romance, and
humor. To help you put it in the familiar perspective of TV, picture
a combination of nighttime drama -- anything with continuing plot
arcs, such as ER, West Wing, The Practice, etc. -- and daytime
soap opera. The series' TV inspirations include everything from
American Gothic, Dark Shadows, LA Law, Picket Fences, Melrose
Place, Another World and Days of Our Lives (circa 1990).
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What's it about?
ASF is about a community--a variety of folks who can be kind or malicious,
saintly or deviant, clever or dumb as a post, passionate or murderous. At its
most basic, it's about the citizens of an upstate New York town whose lives suddenly
intersect when a murder rips their world apart.
Speaking thematically, ASF focuses on the darkness and complexity that lurks
within the human mind. In Schuyler Falls, people are often their own worst enemies.
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How do you pronounce "Schuyler"?
"Sky - ler." The town is named after the real Philip Schuyler, a
Revolutionary War soldier and statesman from New York. Back
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Is there a real Schuyler Falls in New
York?
Yes, though it's not the town upon which our fictional setting is based. Schuyler
is a very popular name in NY, thanks to the aforementioned famous local/historical
figure -- there's also a Schuyler Lake, Schuyler County, and even Schuylerville.
The fictional Schuyler Falls is very loosely based on Upstate New York locales
such as Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Troy, although we have placed its location
further south (in Columbia County, which does exist). Back
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Who are the characters?
In the first season, you'll meet Frank, a detective who'll need all the grit
and strength he can muster as he investigates the brutal slaying of his beloved girlfriend;
Jonnie, a young man whose involvement with a 'simple' revenge plot has spiraled
out of his control; Tristan, the CEO of the city's largest corporation, whose
boyish good looks clash with some terrible secrets and possible violent tendencies;
Martina, the intelligent and compassionate attorney forced to fight for her dearest
friend's life; Olivia, a sensuous schemer and sometimes vulnerable vixen who is
fighting for her own survival; Jem, the ambitious, amoral, greedy, conniving yet
charming publisher of the town's newspaper; and Rena, common-sense driven nurse
who can't see love when it's right before her eyes
as well as many others.
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Is ASF suitable for children?
No. ASF contains mature themes and situations, including some violence and
sexual content. Though there's very little material that is "R-rated,"
ASF is more appropriate for adults and older teenagers. Back
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I haven't been reading since the beginning. It's
not too late to jump in to the storyline now, is it?
Of course not! All past episodes are
always available for viewing, so you can start from the beginning
and continue at your own pace. Or, since we've provided recaps --
one-page summaries of events from past episodes -- you can just
read all the recaps and zip right to the current episode. No muss,
no fuss! Finally, we now provide season
summaries, which will get you caught up on all of our past three
seasons. Back
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Many online series use famous soap or TV actors to
depict their characters. Why doesn't ASF? Who are the faces we see in the
character profiles?
Back in 1997, ASF actually "pioneered" the use of actor photos to
create its ideal cast. Indeed, many of ASF's characters were created with certain
performers in mind. The idea was quickly copied throughout the web by other online
series ... not surprisingly, since it really is a terrific way of capturing the
fans' attention!
However, ASF's producers were always conscious of the copyright problems that
these images represented. As writers we never felt right violating the copyright
of other artists (i.e., the photographers responsible for the images). We're happy
to say that the photographs you now see have been purchased and used with permission
free of subsequent royalties courtesy of Hemera Corporation, Art Today, MicroGrafx,
and other such companies. The models' identities remain anonymous (though we'd
be glad to give them credit should anyone come forward!).
For nostalgia's sake, we'll still offer a list of the characters' "original" portrayers. | Back to Top
Does it cost anything to view this series?
Not at all. This is a free content site. | Back
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I don't see any ads. So how do you make money? Are you
going to charge in the future?
We are looking for creative sponsorship -- unobtrusive product placement, for
example -- but ASF is currently a noncommercial venture. Our audience can help
us greatly by donating a small amount towards annual
production costs, which would be greatly appreciated. Other ways to help might
include visiting our store to buy some ASF products or books/gifts. But our regular
quality content is free and will almost certainly remain so. Back
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Who are the people behind ASF? How was it conceived?
ASF was conceived back in 1995 by Cassie, Victoria and
Kira, a trio of young women who worked together in the same company
and shared a love of soap operas (but a frustration with their lack of quality).
What started off as a parody of Melrose Place written in a series of e-mails
developed a life of its own. Each writer wrote a scene and sent it along to the
next partner, who added her scene, and so on, in what is commonly called a "round
robin story."
Victoria eventually dropped out of the circle many months later, but Cassie
and Kira had fallen in love with the characters, and no longer saw the series
as a mere parody. Deciding upon the web as a possible medium for gaining an audience,
the pair returned to the beginning of the series and rewrote everything, exising
the farcical elements (including some delving into the supernatural) and sharpening
the characterizations. Eventually Schuyler Falls (as it was originally called)
premiered on a humble AOL site in November 1997.
The series was advertised on soap opera and television newsgroups and message
boards, and thanks to word-of-mouth, SF had a tiny but avid audience. At the end
of the first season, the series' site left AOL for its skyfalls.com domain and
a new name: About Schuyler Falls.
Shortly thereafter, after a great deal of behind-the-scenes work, Kira (who
was in charge of promotion and design) decided the site was ready to be submitted
to the Yahoo! directory. A rare event occured when on the first try, Yahoo! not
only accepted ASF, but its editors deemed the series worthy of being its featured
Sites of the Day for June 21, 1998. Thousands of new visitors flooded in, and
other directories and awards sites took note: in short order, ASF received praise
from CoolCentral, Netscape, Infoseek, About.com (formerly The Mining Co.), among
others. (Click here for a list of awards.)
Cassie left the ASF team shortly after its first season due to her upcoming
marriage. Her tremendous impact on ASF is still felt thanks to the storylines
she helped conceive, many of which will continue to develop in the fourth season.
Kira remains on as producer and head writer for the series. Others
who have played important parts in ASF's production include Kim Anderson, Darla
Dixon, Chloe Samuels, Jill Robbins, Phil Meranus,
Tom King, and Ted Stafford. Back
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Can you tell me more about the staff?
Sure! Here is a bio for Kira.
What is the name of your theme song?
"Hell's Bells," by Dennis M. Reed. This moody, tense
piece has been licensed for ASF's use through SoperSound Music Library.
[Still haven't found the answer to your own question? Write
us!]
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