Веб-сериал «The Banks» о жизни в Цинциннати набирает популярность в соцсетях

Cincinnati-based Dreamdoor Films has launched “The Banks,” a new web series which is quickly gaining popularity online. “Our goal is to showcase both the city and the creative people who live here, showing the rest of the world that Cincinnati is not just a great city, but a place where creativity is alive, active and worth paying attention to,” said Silas Tibbs, creator and director of “The Banks.” During a recent 30-day Instagram reporting period, “The Banks” generated 46,040 views, reached 10,221 accounts and recorded 1,755 interactions. The account added 99 net followers, and 75% of all views came from non-followers, indicating that the series is reaching well beyond its social media audience on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. “The Banks” is a vertical comedy series about friendship, misadventures and falling in love with Cincinnati, one Banks adventure at a time. The series follows around a group of aspiring socialites, who are chasing acceptance, status and community. “The idea of vertical content is something that has been budding in the entertainment industry for a few years now, but Cincinnati is a little bit behind trend. A lot of the big entertainment hubs like Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York have already kick-started and launched their own vertical series, whether that’s comedy or drama. It’s really something that came about and started outside of the traditional entertainment industry,” said Tibbs. People can be at a bus stop, in the car, or on a lunch break, and they are constantly consuming content on their phones and tablets. “The model of entertainment has shifted in that direction, where we want to put content directly into people’s hands,” he said. Tibbs said a lot of creators and filmmakers have started creating their own content, and Hollywood has started to respond. “I reached out to some talented, local actors. So, we got together, and I pitched them on the idea of making a show about the very interesting, quirky, kind of country, kind of metropolitan town that is Cincinnati, and specifically, The Banks, because it is its own ecosystem and its own universe. What we wanted to do was create a show that was very much like ‘New Girl’ versus ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,’ where it is an ensemble of interesting and unique characters,” Tibbs said. He said the show is set in downtown Cincinnati at The Banks. “It’s titled ‘The Banks,’ but we are all over downtown Cincinnati, speaking to the Cincinnati culture that we know as people,” said Tibbs. The series centers on Macy and Quinn, best friends who are navigating Cincinnati identity from opposite directions. Macy is determined to turn Quinn into a true Cincinnatian, while Quinn returns as a former Middletown outsider who is still learning the city’s codes. They are joined by Tanner, a charming fix-it man and West, an ex-fraternity entrepreneur with a man for every problem, as well as a larger ensemble of friends, rivals and social climbers. “I picked The Banks for several reasons. It is its own kind of unique river culture. We have the Bengals and the Reds. The first episode of ‘The Banks’ is about the phenomenon that is Reds opening day, and the misadventures that can happen on opening day. So, they are outlandish misadventures, but that’s what makes it funny,” Tibbs said. He also wanted to bring attention to The Banks, as it grows, to attract residents and visitors to the Cincinnati area. “Cincinnati needs more people to move into the area, so part of the reason I chose ‘The Banks’ is a nod to Cincinnati tourism,” Tibbs said. “I want be part of the solution, showing this is a place where young people go to live out their metropolitan dreams. Cincinnati is a big small town and ‘The Banks’ perfectly shows how you can be metropolitan but still have that small-town, Midwestern vibe.” In creating “The Banks,” Tibbs said his objective was twofold. “Objective No. 1, as a director, I see a lot of local talent that’s really, really good, but they don’t have a lot of opportunities because they are not in the right clique, or they are not well connected, or they don’t necessarily know how to get into Hollywood and LA. I’m there, and I can write and shoot. So, I want ‘The Banks’ to be a lightning rod for local actors, so they can be inspired to create their own career, but also to create an opportunity, where they can come and play, and sharpen their craft,” he said. Tibbs, a Cincinnati native, said his second objective is to build an entertainment company that is based in the Midwest. He currently resides in Mason. “Hollywood needs to see there is a creative powerhouse here, and there is a creative economy here,” he said. He also wants to build an audience in Cincinnati to attract investors and increase the scale of the production. For more information, or to watch “The Banks,” go to instagram.com/thebankstheseries. Episode 3 is currently in postproduction. Tibbs said Dreamdoor Films is developing the series as expandable, locally owned intellectual property with opportunities for brand partnerships, tourism collaborations, local business integration and season sponsorship. Dreamdoor Films is a creative, Cincinnati-area company focused on cinematic production, branded storytelling and the development of original entertainment intellectual property. The company is led by Tibbs, who acts as executive producer.