Little White Lie is a pre-StarKid web-series. The series consisted of eleven episodes and was posted on StarKid's YouTube channel between July 6-8, 2009.
Summary[]
Sami and Duder Reese are in a band. They are brother and sister. And they suck. They steal all their music and try to become famous in this new webseries.
Episode 1[]
The series begins in a cafe in downtown Arborland, Michigan, where Sami Reese and her brother Duder, together as Reeses Pieces, are performing '(Don't) Play a Riff On My Heartstrings' to a nearly empty room.
After realising that they are nearly out of time to sign up for their school's Battle of the Bands, they rush to Arborland High. Zack, who runs the Battle of the Bands, tells them that they can't sign up as they are 15 seconds late. However, Tanya Freemont, the school mean girl and the lead singer of the Hot Girls, also arrives late and Zack allows her to sign up, allowing Sami and Duder as well, at Tanya's request. As they leave, Sami and Duder encounter Kevin Bushwald being bullied by Jim Povolo. Sami helps Kevin, but he runs away.
Left worried at the band's chance of success after Tanya's insults, Sami decides that Reeses Pieces needs new talent, so they put up audition posters throughout the area. They go to Sweet Water Records, "where all the best musicians in town hang out", to put up their last posters. There, they hear Toby Phillips, Sami's crush, singing 'I Still Think,' as well as Tanya, who is Toby's girlfriend, and also there, putting up posters for her band. Kevin sees the audition poster.
Nobody comes to the audition until the end, when Kevin shows up. Kevin auditions, but is too nervous, and performs terribly. He runs out and Sami closes the garage door, but a crash is heard, and when they reopen the door, they see that Kevin has been knocked out by a car and the driver has driven away.
Episode 2[]
At the hospital, Amelia Bushwald, Kevin's aunt, informs them that Kevin is in a coma and thanks them for being his close friends, inviting them to her house for a meditation session for Kevin.
At their own home, a police officer questions them about Kevin's hit-and-run incident, but they are unable to give much information. They are stressed the importance of not sharing any information about the case.
At school, the bands all gossip about their theories on what happened to Kevin, ranging from a mechanical bull incident to being hit by a bird. Tanya has created a 'Save Calvin Foundation', and is fundraising for Kevin's hospital bills. Sami confronts her about pretending to care about Kevin.
They attend the meditation session at Kevin's house, but grow uncomfortable and search for a back door so they can leave. However, they instead find a room full of Kevin's music equipment. Looking through it, they find many of his songs, listening to 'It's Over Now,' shocked as they discover that Kevin is very talented at writing and performing music. Sami suggests they take his music, but Duder is against this. They leave the house, and Sami takes Kevin's sheet music with them.
Episode 3[]
Although Duder is conflicted, he and Sami practice Kevin's song.
At Arborland High's Battle of the Bands, Zack announces that the event's sponsor is Nigel Waters, the owner of Sweetwater Records, and he is offering a recording session in his new recording studio to first place. Hunkytonk perform 'Fancy Machine,' The Ex-Boyfriends perform 'You Left Me,' and Love Grenade perform 'Hold On Tight.' Jim reads his poetry, and Tanya Freemont and the Hot Girls perform 'Boy Toy.'
Before Reeses Pieces can perform, they are told they must sign a form confirming that their song is their own. Duder refuses to sign it, but after taunting from Tanya, Sami declares that she wrote the song, signing it and changing the band's name to Little White Lie.
Little White Lie perform 'It's Over Now', winning the audience over, but still losing, Zack choosing Tanya Freemont and the Hot Girls as the winners in the hopes of a kiss from Tanya, who mocks him instead. Toby tells Sami that they deserved to win, and Nigel Waters tells Duder that he loved their song and invites them to record as well.
Episode 4[]
Wrought with guilt, Sami and Duder decide to return Kevin's music and go back to being Reeses Pieces. However, upon arriving at school, they find that they are suddenly wildly popular. Jim asks to join their band, and Zack shows them the Little White Lie merchandise he has made and is selling, announcing himself to be the head of their fan club and their new publicist. They tell him that they have dissolved the band, but he convinces them not to. Tanya buys merchandise, apologises for her prior insults, and invites them to a party for the bands.
Episode 5[]
At the party, everyone likes Sami, including Toby, making Tanya jealous. Tanya spreads a false rumour that Sami is undergoing a sex change, by asking Meredith to make sure everyone at the party knows to be sensitive about the topic. This works, and everyone is supportive, one boy making a speech announcing the party's support. Sami is embarrassed and runs out of the party. Tanya finds this hilarious, but everyone else is angry at her.
Toby runs after Sami, apologising, and explaining that he doesn't like Tanya and her friends, he only hangs out with them because he doesn't have anyone else, and he would much rather hang out with Sami. Sami invites him to join Little White Lie, and he does.
Episode 6[]
At Little White Lie's first rehearsal with their new members, Toby is over an hour late, and Duder and Jim decide to go to Sweet Water Records while Sami waits to see if Toby arrives.
Nigel Waters tells Duder that he was serious about his recording offer and wants the band to stop by his studio the next week, as he has an industry friend coming in from out of town who would love to hear their work.
Toby finally shows, apologising for his lateness as he was with Tanya. He looks through Kevin's sheet music, complimenting Sami on her songwriting, but is taken aback when he finds a love song, titled 'Sami.' He sings it to her, impressed by the song but confused as to why she would write a love song about herself. Sami tells him that she wrote it because no guy would ever feel that way about her. Toby leaves just as Duder returns. Duder tells Sami about the record offer, but she is still conflicted about the song Kevin wrote for her. She visits him in the hospital.
Episode 7[]
Tanya announces that she will be holding a Save Calvin meeting later that day, which makes Sami paranoid that Tanya knows something. She tells Duder to spy on Tanya to find out what she knows. No one attends the meeting, but Duder continues to follow Tanya, seeing her give Kevin's aunt a check for his medical bills. He follows her to a Hot Girls rehearsal, where she is kicked out, Alexa telling her that she has not matured and embarrassed them at the party, as well as breaking the news that Toby has quit and is now part of Little White Lie. Tanya rushes to Toby, but is devastated to find him singing 'Sami'. She goes home, watching a video posted to her Save Calvin website by an old friend of Kevin's, who mentions that Kevin used to have a website where he posted music. She does not remember the end of the address, knowing only that it was four digits.
Duder shows the video to Sami. Knowing that this website could reveal their secret Sami decides that they have to find it before Tanya does.
Episode 8[]
Duder spends all night looking for Kevin's website, brute-forcing through possible combinations for the address, until he is successful and finds www.kevin'ssecretplace4546.com. The website has several videos of his music, including a video of him singing 'It's Over Now.' They realise that the website can only be deleted from Kevin's computer. They break into Kevin's house, sneaking in to find his room while having to hide from his aunt.
Meanwhile, Tanya has also been up all night, trying to find the website. She finally succeeds and sees the video of Kevin. realising that Little White Lie stole the song. She begins downloading the recording of 'It's Over Now' and recording a video, explaining what Sami has done, but the website begins to be deleted. However, her download of 'It's Over Now' completes.
Episode 9[]
Sami and Duder run back home, where Sami finds that Tanya is in the room, having climbed in through the window to wait for her. Tanya reveals that she found Kevin's website, playing the song, and telling Sami that she will keep the secret if they allow her to join the band.
At their next rehearsal, Sami introduces Tanya to the rest of the band as their new backup singer. Toby is upset at this, pulling Sami aside to ask why this is happening. Tanya notices their closeness, and threatens Sami with revealing their secret if she pursues Toby. Tanya then makes a point to kiss Toby in front of Sami.
Episode 10[]
During Tanya's first rehearsal, they learn that she is a horrible singer.
Sami tries to teach her, but Tanya is a difficult student. Sami is frustrated, and asks Tanya why she would want to be in Little White Lie when she is the coolest girl in school, but Tanya says that everyone hates her. Sami continues to teach her, and Tanya gradually improves.
Little White Lie goes to the recording session at Nigel Waters' studio, coming in as the Hot Girls are finishing recording 'Boy Toy.' The two bands speak briefly, the Hot Girls mocking Tanya, but Sami coming to her defence.
They record 'It's Over Now,' Nigel's industry friend joining him and impressed by the song.
Episode 11[]
A party is held at Sami and Duder's house in celebration of the recording session. Tanya thanks Sami for all that she's done for her, surprising Sami. Sami and Toby go upstairs so they can talk.
Tanya notices Duder sitting outside by himself and goes to sit with him, where he admits that he is outside because he is scared to talk to girls. Tanya offers to help him by having him role-play as if she is a girl he likes. She offers him advice, and he is able to give her a heartfelt confession. This overwhelms Tanya, and she rushes inside.
Meanwhile, Sami and Toby go upstairs so they can talk. Toby plays 'Sami', which he has finished for her. The song ends, and they kiss. Tanya goes upstairs, looking for Toby, and walks in on them kissing.
Tanya storms out of the house, Sami chasing after her. She tries to defend herself, but Tanya is devastated, and says she will tell everyone their secret, how they stole Kevin's music right after he was hit by a car on their own driveway. Sami realises that Tanya should not know the details of Kevin's case. It is revealed that Tanya was the driver, and she drives away. Sami sends everyone home from the party, Toby apologising as he leaves.
The next morning, Nigel Waters comes to their house to tell them that his friend that listened to their session was Arthur Kingsley, owner of Kings Records London, wants to sign Little White Lie. Despite initial apprehension, they decide to take the offer.
In the hospital, Kevin wakes from his coma.
Development[]
The series began development in 2007, after Eric Kahn Gale, helped by Nick Lang, Matt Lang, and Chris Allen, won a contest held by SOAPnet, a soap opera network. After creating the first entry, 'Night Call,' a ten minute soap based on a JD Salinger short story, which featured a score by Grant Anderson. The group, along with Brian Holden, then spent around 10 hours spamming votes to their entry, ending the voting period in second place. They then produced their entry for the semifinals, a five minute soap, titles 'The Harder They Fall,' experiencing several technical issues that resulted in the entire short being ADR. After winning, they received the prize of a $20,000 grant and a pitch meeting with Hollywood executives for a new soap opera series. Their original idea was a series called 'Out of Practice', which would be about a veterinarian who dealt with the pets of celebrities in Los Angelos. The idea for Little White Lie was then suggested by Chris Allen, the name being a result of a conversation about bands frequently having names that don't mean anything. The series was written over two months. Auditions were held with over a hundred people attendees, but no roles were cast from this process, aside from Rita Khori as Alexa, the roles going to actors that they already knew. Production began on the 25th of July, 2007 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was filmed over the course of a month.
On the 22nd of August, a day before filming for the Battle of the Bands scene, Grant Anderson was in a car crash, almost killing him and leaving him in a coma and with severe brain damage.
The show took around a year to be edited, Matt Lang, Nick Lang, and Eric Kahn Gale editing several hours everyday. A significant portion had to be ADR, due to limited knowledge of audio recording during filming. [1]
Following the success of StarKid's A Very Potter Musical, StarKid posted the series to their YouTube channel.[2]
Continuation[]
Despite the series ending in a cliffhanger, several StarKid members have confirmed that there will be no season 2, citing numerous reasons, such as expense, location of actors, visual age, and fatigue.
Eric Kahn Gale wrote a synopsis[3] of season 2, which was released on September 3, 2013 on his Tumblr page.[4] In this synopsis, Kevin wakes from his coma with significant gaps in his memory, including of the day he was hit and the music he wrote. When he regains his memory, he demands to join the band and for Toby to leave, but later leaves and tells them they can keep the music, Duder quitting out of guilt. However, at one performance, Sami is overcome with her own guilt and reveals the truth. Kevin achieves success as a musician and the series ends with Sami and Duder playing (Don't) Play a Riff On My Heartstrings in a coffee shop.
On the 7th of June, 2011, Eric Kahn Gale published 'The Bully Book', a novel set in the same fictional school district of Arborland. The book was promoted on Starkid's channel.[5] Eric Kahn Gale has stated that the sequel would have been set in high school, and the protagonist would briefly meet Kevin and Tanya would have been Kevin's bully.[6]
On the 17th of October, 2014, Nick Lang offered his synopsis of a second season as a stretch goal for the Kickstarter for his comic series 'Quicksand Jack'. However, the goal was not reached so his synopsis was not released.
Cast[]
Creative Team[]
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Eric Kahn Gale | Writer |
| Director | |
| Producer | |
| Nick Lang | Writer |
| Director | |
| Producer | |
| Art Director | |
| Matt Lang | Writer |
| Cinematographer | |
| Producer | |
| Art Director | |
| Chris Allen | Writer |
| Producer | |
| Brian Holden | Assistant Director |
| Producer | |
| Forest Casey | Cinematographer |
| Mark Swiderski | Music Production and Mixing |
| Composer | |
| Grant Anderson | Composer |
| Darren Criss | Composer |
| Music | |
| Lyrics | |
| Jeff Alder | Lighting Design |
Songs[]
| Song[7] | Sung By | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Caught In The Lie | Michelle Chamuel | 0:33 |
| (Don't) Play A Riff on My Heartstrings | Elona Finlay and Chris Allen | 0:39 |
| Same Old Situation | Chuck Criss | 3:27 |
| I Still Think | Darren Criss | 5:01 |
| Silent Movies | Mark Swiderski | 2:57 |
| Fancy Machine | Hunkytonks | 1:48 |
| Teething | Chuck Criss | 3:05 |
| You Left Me | The Ex-Boyfriends | 1:16 |
| The City | Chuck Criss | 3:33 |
| Hold On Tight | Love Grenade | 1:27 |
| Simple Kind of Song | Chuck Criss | 2:19 |
| Boy Toy | Tanya Freemont & The Hot Girls | 1:43 |
| It's Over Now | Little White Lie | 3:50 |
| Broken Record | Chuck Criss | 3:50 |
| Ukulele Song | Mark Swiderski | 3:50 |
| We Wish We Were Kids | Chuck Criss | 3:16 |
| Allison and John | Mark Swiderski | 3:51 |
| Hold Her Like Murder | Mark Swiderski | 3:07 |
| Sami | Darren Criss | 3:40 |
| Duder's A Spy | Brian Holden and Michelle Chamuel | 3:16 |
| It's Over Now (Acoustic Version) | Darren Criss | 3:22 |
| All Comes Tumbling | Grant Anderson and Mark Swiderski | 3:21 |
| Took Him Home | Mark Swiderski | 2:47 |
| Caught In The Lie (Acoustic Version) | Darren Criss | 0:36 |
Recording[]
A cast recording of the web series was released on June 30, 2009 to iTunes and Amazon. It was released for streaming on Spotify on December 25, 2020.
Trivia[]
- Little White Lie is technically owned by Disney, but Starkid was able to post it because the Disney staff who had organised the series had all left the company by the time it was completed.
- There was a running joke that season 2 would open with Sami and Duder sitting on a water tower, looking over Arborland, and saying some variation of a grizzled "I can't wait to get out of this town."
- The song 'Sami' was later reused in A Very Potter Musical, with lyric changes to instead be Ginny Weasley singing about Harry Potter.
- During the Battle of the Bands scene, Darren Criss is an extra in the crowd, despite also performing as Toby, disguised with a hoodie and sunglasses. Matt Lang and Eric Kahn Gale's sister Alyssa are also extras in this scene.
- Grant Anderson was considered to play Toby.
- Lauren Lopez was originally going to play Sami. However, she had trouble with the character, and after seeing her read for Tanya, Tanya was rewritten for Lauren Lopez and Elona Finlay was brought in to play Sami.
- Days of Summer was written to be used as the signature song for the second season, and finding a show to put it in became a running joke until it was used in A Very Potter Sequel.
References[]
- ↑ Little White Lie Hangout, retrieved 24-01-19
- ↑ StarKid Introduces: Little White Lie, archived from the original on 21-12-21, retrieved 12-01-18
- ↑ Little White Lie Season 2 synopsis, retrieved 24-01-23
- ↑ Little White Lie Season 2 Synopsis, archived from the original 13-09-30, retrieved 13-09-04
- ↑ The Bully Book, retrieved 24-01-23
- ↑ Eric Kahn Gale Interview- Part One, retrieved 24-01-24
- ↑ "Little White Lie". iTunes. 30 June 2009.