Being a teenager can be fun at times, but the experience comes with plenty of drama along the way towards adulthood. Season 2 of the hit drama YOUTHFUL DAZE continues to prove that axiom in each episode as it continues the story of a group of upper class teenagers who live by their own rules while hitting the books at Southern California’s prestigious Westfield Prep high school.

Created by series star Bryan James, along with production partner Conor Beesemyer of James Beesemyer Productions, YOUTHFUL DAZE’s 22 episode sophomore season debuted this spring, and new episodes air each Sunday night at 9 Eastern/8 Central/6 Pacific on its official web site and via the popular web series platform Webisodes Network (see links below).

Already, YOUTHFUL DAZE has achieved an intensely loyal worldwide fan base totaling over 40,000 viewers, and season 2 promises to give them more of the exciting romance, passion, backstabbing and betrayal they’ve come to expect in each episode.

The series stars Bryan James (Drew) and Ethan Daniel Corbett (Tommy) as star crossed lovers in a storyline that is being praised by the soap opera industry for its compelling betrayal of two teenagers, who happen to both be guys, that are in love. It’s refreshingly honest in ways that not only are applauded but should be mimicked.

“There’s no reason this should be as groundbreaking as it’s become,” says James with a smile. I grew up very liberally, very accepting of all walks of life. There are Drews and Tommys in every corner of every town in America. It’s 2014, who gives a shit anymore?” Love, hate, blackmail, insecurities, as well as their own struggles with their sexuality, are just a few obstacles these lovers must overcome to be together. Drew and Tommy have the potential to go the distance if the fan reaction is any indication.

Juicy obstacles lay ahead. Tommy seeks to win Drew’s love once and for all, but he soon finds himself competing for his love with the dangerously unpredictable Oliver Cardin (Easton Schirra). Oliver has returned to Westfield Prep after doing time in juvenile hall, and just so happens to have his eyes on Drew.

However, Drew also has friends that try to help him cope with the sudden changes he’s experienced. Among them: his childhood friend Cody Ryan (David Loren), who seeks to protect Drew from all those who try to take advantage of him.

There’s also his best friend Mallorie Watson (Jessica Osgood), a fiercely loyal young woman whom Drew has also known since childhood. Mallorie’s romance with Sean Mercer (Ash Nair) has finally come full circle, only to have both their relationship – and her life – in danger of falling apart when she finds out he’s been unfaithful.

Also joining the cast in season 2 is Sarah Hester as Drew’s greedy cousin Becca Malone, who comes to live with Cody, Drew and their aunt Kathy and struggles to keep up financially with the 1% from birth. Blood is thicker than water, but greed might corrupt Becca past the point of return.

Inspired by a love of teen soaps like THE OC, GOSSIP GIRL and 90210, plus the hit ABC drama REVENGE, James and co-producers Easton Schirra and Conor Beesemeyer developed the concept for YOUTHFUL DAZE over seven years ago. However, they didn’t want to just make another drama about the lives of young people who deal with the constant struggles of being a teenager.

“…The concept was to take a teen drama series and turn it on its head by making it more contemporary to what this generation of teenagers is like. Imagine if the end of days is real, (and) what would the last generation of teenagers be like,” James says.

Finding actors to play people who would represent Earth’s last adolescents in YOUTHFUL DAZE was an extensive process, made easier by the fact that some of the show’s cast were in touch with each other long before production got underway.

“The cast auditioned for roles and/or were hand selected for the parts. Sarah Hester and Bryan James have been friends since high school and have been wanting to work together for 10 years. Bryan created the role of Becca Malone for her. Ethan Daniel Corbett and Bryan James spent a good year talking about doing the Drew and Tommy storyline and rehearsing together before the cameras started rolling. They are currently working on Season 3 as well,” adds James.

Along with longer episodes, season 2 of YOUTHFUL DAZE is different in that its overall production quality improved from season 1. “We had longer shoot days, and we worked in more places, it was a completely different experience than season one. Everyone got along very well. Everyone was very committed to the process,” James says. As a result of the show’s more extensive story lines and scripts, James and his crew utilized more locations during production for season 2.

Despite the marathon hours spent on set and off, James and his team took considerable pride in putting each episode together. “What was that process like? It was showing up at 5 AM and working until 2 or 3 AM most of the days for myself. I love what I do, so it is something I am able to do and do well. The production process evolved with more cameras, better sound, more crew, and in post production working with a group called Red Smack Vinyl Party releasing original music from the show that is available for purchase on the website.”

As YOUTHFUL DAZE heads toward its third season, James hopes to continue to bring viewers more of the compelling drama and interesting characters they’ve come to expect in each episode. For James, plus his entire cast and crew, the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the series makes the hard work of producing YOUTHFUL DAZE a true labor of love.

“We’ve been getting a lot of comments about the show from fans recently, saying they want DVDs of the show, that they love the show. People saying the show should be on television, or Netflix. All of that is really nice and feels great because I work very hard on this show, I do it all from pre-production to post production and any artist will understand this, but when your working that hard and putting all of yourself into something, having it be seen by others is all you could want. Life is good and we start filming season 3 in a few weeks.”

ON THE WEB: www.youthfuldaze.com

WEBISODES NETWORK: http://ww2.webisodesnetwork.com/youthful-daze

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