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A hit YouTube video lampooning London's music industry is being commissioned for television.
Svengali, which is filmed in the capital, was created by actor Jonathan Owen and features Alan McGee, the record boss who discovered Oasis.
Owen plays the manager of a rock band called the Premature Congratulations, and the series follows his attempts to get them a record deal. So far five episodes, all five minutes long, have been posted online, each attracting more than 15,000 hits.
"We wanted to show exactly how the music industry works in London, and create a kind of Spinal Tap for it," said Owen, 38. "As a Welshman in London I found it amazing the way people here, and those in the music business in particular, are so obsessed with being cool all the time. We wanted to show that. We also wanted to write something without the constraints of the commissioning process, and just see if we could make it go viral online."
Video may contain swearing
The show was written by Dean Cavanagh, writing partner of Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh. In one episode, Owen's character, Dixie, tries to persuade ex-Libertines frontman Carl Barāt to reform the group so his band can support them. Former Oasis guitarist Bonehead also appears.
Glaswegian McGee co-founded indie label Creation Records and boosted the careers of pioneering bands such as The Jesus And Mary Chain, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine.
In Svengali he plays himself "brilliantly", said Owen. "He heard about the project and wanted to be in it, but offered to help us get hold of music stars. If there's anyone in the music world whose address book you want access to, it is Alan's."
Offers to turn the series into a TV show poured in. "We held out for a long time but now we're going to say yes," Owen said. "We're deciding which to go with. We'll be like the Arctic Monkeys of TV, having made our name online first."
There are plans to release the theme song, on which Owen sings: "I can be like the Welsh Dennis Waterman, starring and singing the theme song."
Reader views (5)
This series is up there with John Niven's Kill Your Friends and is simply the best satire on the contemporary music industry that has ever been made. Owen is set for superstardom, guaranteed.
- Eddie Piller, London England, 08/10/2009 14:28
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Very good that, "its left me thirsty for more tho! whens the next episode out!
Spence massey
Salford city radio
- Spence Massey, Manchester uk, 08/10/2009 14:00
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Svengali is no longer the best kept secret on the internet! Each webisode has been bang on the button and the show deserves a much wider audience.
- Craig Lawson, Leeds, England, 08/10/2009 13:33
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Got to say that this is the most honest, natural and funny thing I've seen in ages. It's got the Curb Your Enthusiasm feel to it. I'm a fan of Dean Cavanagh's writing after seeing C4's Wedding Belles and am glad to hear that Svengali will be reaching a much deserved wider audience. Let's hope that the TV people do not mess it up 
- Aaron Greenberg, London, UK, 08/10/2009 13:20
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each episode leaves you a bit more desperate for the next.
The love that the writer, director, and actors give to the fans make each and every person feel like the series was created exclusively for them.
It sucks you in, and you're practically screaming at Dixie that Horsey isn't the friend he thinks he is.
That, along with the fantastic music throughout(The intro music is credited to Pocket Devils which featured Jonathon Owen) makes this the most watchable series i've seen yet. Give it a watch....
- Angela Loughran, London, England, 08/10/2009 12:22
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