Striking writers into "The Void" with Web deal

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Three striking writers have found work with a new-media studio run by a former MTV Networks executive.

The trio -- Chris DeLuca, Dominic Dierkes and Jonathan Garbus -- are producing a Web series titled "The Void" and have signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Worldwide Biggies, a company formed in 2005 by Albie Hecht, the former president of MTV Networks' Nickelodeon cable channel.

Hecht said "The Void" is similar in tone to the satirical "Kentucky Fried Movie," and he sees the potential for an ongoing series or a move to TV. One clip features two of the writers playing a normal game of chess interspliced with triumphant voicing and sound effects from the game pieces.

Hecht has yet to secure distribution for the program, which started production this week, but said that he could launch a stand-alone site for the project or make a deal to post it to an existing property like Viacom's GameTrailers.

DeLuca's writing credits include CBS' "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" and NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Garbus has appeared on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." Dierkes has written for MTV, cable sibling Spike and Fuse.

Observers have speculated that the striking talent could move to the Web in the case of a prolonged strike, which moves into its eighth week Monday. This week, former News Corp. executive Ross Levinsohn expressed interest in funding the writers through a new-media funding company he founded along with former AOL CEO Jonathan Miller and partners from the now-defunct venture capital group ComVentures.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter