Low Budget, Compelling TV
Production Company Airs Anthology Series

For the past three years, Commack based Power of Cohesion Productions has been proving that you don't need a big budget or a network deal to bring compelling stories to the TV screen. Just ask viewers who have discovered the anthology series, The Realm of Never, which airs each Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on Cablevision of Hauppauge's Public Access Channel 20. It is the only known studio dramatic series on public access in the United States.

The Realm of Never is a contemporary rendering of the 1950's Playhouse- 90 television theater, mixed with the fantasy/reality overlap of The Twilight Zone," said Christopher Del Gaudio of Commack, creator/writer/director/co-executive producer of Power of Cohesion Productions. "I have a very profound concern and affection for the human condition. I love to get into the feelings and thoughts of my characters."

His co-executive producer Loretta Mirabella, said "What sets this show apart from others aired on Public Access Television is the unique creative writing and how each episode is extremely thought provoking. Viewers have told us that this show is above most of the mainstream television programming that they have seen. The writing is a mix of tradition and innovation with a surprise ending twist of Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Serling."

The third member of the Power of Cohesion team is Vernon Gravdal of Deer Park, co-executive producer for technical and post production. All three principals have extensive writing, directing, acting, production, technical, television and theater experience and skills.

Although his shows have ultra-low budgets of under $500 per episode, "public access need not equate to small - time amateurish," said Mr. Del Gaudio. He is part of a creative team which has a reciprocal agreement to work on each other's shows. He utilizes a revolving repertory company of professional actors who have worked on Long Island and in the tri-state area.

Mr. Del Gaudio feels that The Realm of Never provides an alternative to viewers who are tired of the usual fare on TV, where a "winner take all" prevails and the emphasis is on wealth, fame, and glamour. He prefers to focus on society's misfits, as most of us feels like a misfit at one time or another. Many of his teleplays are morality tales. When he sees something that touches him or concerns him, it will often end up in a script. He enjoys going against the grain by writing provocative stories that challenge audiences who may be hungry for something that is hard to find on TV these days. "The audience can only eat what it is fed," he said. We put it on a different plate and it's there for the taking. We offer something that's more incisive and thought -provoking."

"We don't insult the audience's intelligence and we don't talk down to them," said Ms. Mirabella, who added "Chris is really a genius. He has so many ideas, it's endless."

Mr. Del Gaudio is a 1983 graduate of Commack South High School. In 1988, he graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts., where he majored in drama and dramatic writing. He then pursued a career as an actor. His credits include Sabrina, the 1998 remake of Godzilla, two films with Al Pacino - The Devil's Advocate and Donnie Brasco, and several installments of Law and Order. He has now decided to refocus his energies primarily on writing.

The Realm of Never began airing in May, 1999 on Queens Public Television, then expanded to Manhattan Neighborhood Network. Since July 2002, it has also been seen throughout Long Island. (dates and times vary depending on the cable system.) There are hopes of further expansion. "We're looking to be in Los Angeles and England." said Ms. Mirabella. A new episode debuts at the beginning of each month.

Of the 23 episodes that have been produced and aired to date, two episodes were awarded the Hometown Video Festival Honorable Mention in the category of teleplay: School of Hard Knox for 2001 and The Fifth Wind for 2002. In July 2002, the episode Moratorium was accepted into the Long Island International Film Expo and screened at the Malverne Cinema 4.

Because it is shown on a public access channel, and there are no ratings, it is impossible to estimate the number of viewers for The Realm of Never. But the producers know that the audiences are finding and enjoying the show based on the increasing amount of feedback they get from viewers who e-mail comments to the address given during the end credits. They also have a website - www.powerofcohesion.com.

The team's next endeavor will bring the company into the independent feature film arena. A screenplay is nearing completion and financial investors are being sought for this project.

In addition, an independent short film titled, One Flight Down is near completion and will be ready to hit the film festivals this summer. "It's a little sci-fi story with an incredible twist that just blows you away," said Ms. Mirabellla.