Many have seen their bright, yet mysterious lights in the nighttime skies. Others have experienced the nightmare of being abducted by the extraterrestrial beings that inhabit them. The strange, unexplained phenomenon of UFO’s (unidentified flying objects) has captivated and fascinated millions of people throughout the world, and continues to be a huge part of popular culture, including countless movies, TV and web series alike.

So too has the drama, adventure, suspense, romance and memorable characters depicted in soap operas – not just existing TV soaps like DAYS OF OUR LIVES, GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, REVENGE and GREY’S ANATOMY (just to name a few), but also through web series including DEVANITY, SPLIT: THE SERIES, plus BLUE (on the WIGS network), and the upcoming WINTERTHORNE.

Combining the world of UFOs and dramatic soap opera storytelling in a unique, yet powerful mix, is season 2 of MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS, which premiered its first of 6 episodes on December 2 via its official web site.

The series focuses not just on UFOs and alien life, but also on the incredible impact of UFO encounters not just on those who’ve seen them up close, but also their families and friends.

Created, written by and co-starring Richard Cutting as its title character, acclaimed abnormal psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Milgram, M.D., season 2 of MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS continues the story of Sally Lemm (Walker Hays), a successful corporate lawyer whose hectic life becomes even more so after she begins having a series of frightening dreams; dreams brought on by the trauma of her encounter with aliens.

Dr. Milgram attempts to make sense of Sally’s nightmares and experiences, only to see his professional and personal life (plus that of Sally’s) gradually unravel. Making things even worse is the presence of newspaper reporter Lisa Hill (Danielle Davy), whose investigation of Dr. Milgram threatens to expose the brilliant psychiatrist’s darkest inner secrets, and whose pursuit of journalistic excellence comes with a devious, cunning seductiveness.

Joining the series’ vast ensemble cast for season 2 is daytime soap veteran, and Emmy nominee Colleen Zenk (AS THE WORLD TURNS) as Broadway star Whit Wilkerson. Although her success on the Great White Way has provided her with plenty of professional satisfaction, Whit’s been haunted by a mysterious disease that could possibly cost her her life.

Adding to her problems is her daughters’ plans to move from New York to Baltimore. Luckily, Whit’s longtime friend and aide Teddy (Tuck Milligan) continues to be her constant companion, helping the longtime Broadway diva to maintain a positive attitude, or almost too positive, amid the otherwise dire circumstances she finds herself in.

Before season 1 of MILGRAM reached over 2,000,000 views on the now defunct Koldcast.TV web series network within 2 months of its July 2012 debut, before it achieved countless awards from web festivals and before it won the respect and admiration of industry professionals, MILGRAM existed only as a feature length screenplay that Cutting wrote with the goal of getting a studio to put its weight behind it.

As he soon learned, though, that goal would prove to be easier said than done. “When you find a good story, but you can’t get it produced, there is tremendous frustration,” he says. “I spent years in meetings looking for indie budgets. Pitching in LA and New York, off and on. But essentially having what I call the world’s most expensive coffee coaster – the unproduced screenplay.”

Given that frustration, Cutting decided to take MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS in a completely different direction; one that would eventually lead to it becoming one of the web’s most acclaimed, and most watched, web series.

As he explains, the rush that comes with going out and transforming lines on paper to a visual experience was the biggest factor that led to his retooling of the series.

“As theater-trained actors we are used to ‘standing up’ the play. In the film/tv business you spend so much time pitching, (and) the story can lose its appeal because you’ve been pitching it, selling it, marketing it for so long, that it can get flat in your heart,” Cutting adds. “In the web series world, you do all the necessaries of script polishing, but the next step is shooting, not pitching. It’s exhilarating!

A veteran UFOlogist, Cutting also decided to restructure the series in order to adapt to the increasing changes in filmmaking technology and the growing popularity of web series. Yet, as he explains, MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS is about much more than otherworldly beings, flashing lights and the mystery they provide.

“Wishing to explore the no-holds-barred web series arena, I wanted to dip into my favorite types of material, see where there was overlap and craft something unusual,” Cutting says.

“When you take on the UFO thing, there is strong pull to show the freaky stuff, the ships, the aliens, ray guns, etc. “So I decided to cut across the grain on that and go with the personal stories, what happens to peoples’ relationships when someone in their midst is affected by alien intrusion.”

Cutting feels that MILGRAM’s emphasis on dramatic storytelling and personal character studies may be the biggest thing that sets it apart from other movies, TV and web series that focus on UFOs. “How does it (alien intrusion) affect their job? Their marriages, their friendships, etc. That’s where the soapy aspect is right at home,” he adds. “I like to say, ‘we aren’t so much about ray guns as we are about relationships.”

The formula for MILGRAM’s success is quite simple, as Cutting describes it: “Soaps + UFOs = massive audience appeal.” Thanks to the massive appeal of both pop culture/entertainment staples, MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS has achieved an incredible fan following, and continues to have immense crossover appeal with fans of melodrama and aliens alike.

“Viewer and fan reaction has been strongly positive, and we always seek to stay in touch with our fans, who are quite passionate about the show (picking favorite characters, suggesting future plot lines, commenting on why a character did x or y thing, etc.),” Cutting says.

“We seem to do well amongst our web series peers, who particularly like: certain individual performances, our visual style and the writing.”

Each episode of MILGRAM will also strike a chord with anyone who’s ever encountered extraterrestrial life, and lived to tell about it. “Emotionally, this story appeals to anyone who seriously wonders what would happen to them tomorrow, if tonight, an alien appeared at their bedside and touched them,” Cutting says.

“It’s a creepy thought. Who do you tell? Will people think I’m crazy, and what could that mean for my relationship, my job, my friendships? We are a show about, “Holy sh*t, I just saw an alien! No, really…’ And looking around to see who is looking at you in judgement. Alien intrusion can mean alienation among the ones you love.”

While the show’s dramatic approach remained unchanged from season 1 to season 2, its production style improved by leaps and bounds.

Along with 5 new cast members, longer episodes and a seemingly darker atmosphere dominating season 2’s storyline, MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS is dramatically different than it was in season 1.

Given that he’s an actor, Cutting had no trouble finding, and working with, his talented ensemble cast. However, with several scenes during MILGRAM’s 6 episode second season taking place in New York, and with New York-based actors joining the existing ensemble, Cutting, his cast and crew had their work cut out for them even before cameras rolled.

“The main process issues were with the addition of new players, and adding New York as another location. We were running and gunning a lot,” says Cutting, who adds that despite those difficulties and many others, his team managed to get the job done every time. “Some of this beautiful work was completed very rapidly, and always on the thinnest of logistical resources. That is a credit to our team, which has now gelled and really works like a clock.”

In fact, the dedication and determination of indie web series creators to put out a quality product, no matter how limited the resources or how long the odds, is something Cutting has always admired and respected.

As he explains, their hard work, plus the incredible support and friendship that they’ve provided to their fellow filmmakers, has inspired Cutting as a filmmaker.

“Their energies and fine shows, against all odds, are astounding. The web series world works with no resources and produces astounding product,” he says. “I am so proud of my fellow web series creators, the producers, actors, writers, shooters, VFXers, etc. They amaze me.”

Adds Cutting: “Being good at rapidly producing high-quality low cost shows is an exhilarating thing. You envision it, you write it, you shoot it, and put it out there. The process itself is inspiring,” he says. “You get to use your creativity and go to full product before it gets stale in your heart. I am grateful to live in this time of instant magic for the storyteller who needs to tell his or her story.”

Overall, MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS does much more than just captivate followers of aliens, UFOs and other strange happenings. It tells a powerful story of people; people whose personal and public lives are affected by unexplained experiences, and how they manage to cope with them.

“The world is not as it seems. There may be more that is unseen than seen. In the visible world, but also in peoples’ hearts and minds when they are facing ultimate issues together. Who holds, who folds, and why?” Cutting asks. The series also asks a very important question: is everything really as it appears on the surface? “No one is prepared for alien presence. Particularly when those you know become alien before your eyes,” says Cutting.

(Note: Season 2 of MILGRAM AND THE FASTWALKERS is not currently closed-captioned (mainly due to budgetary constraints, Cutting says), but he adds that it’s being considered.)

ON THE WEB: www.fastwalkerseries.com

YOUTUBE (season 1 episodes): https://www.youtube.com/user/Thefastwalkerseries

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milgram-And-The-Fastwalkers/120760658003208

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/TheFastwalkers