The web series that combines soap opera histrionics, 1970’s-style sitcom hijinks, and over the top queer characters set in an alternate Capitol Hill universe has grown up and is coming to the big screen.
The creators of Capitol Hill are back with a second season and will be premiering it in its entirety January 12th at Northwest Film Forum. With support from a new major sponsor and a City of Seattle grant, the second season of the popular YouTube show promises to be even more impressive than the first.
“Season 2 is far more ambitious in every way,” said creator and director Wes Hurley. “The story lines are more complex and have a darker sinister edge.”
Hurley’s inspiration for the aesthetic of Capitol Hill was informed by 70s and 80s TV shows like Dynasty and Murder She Wrote. The inspiration for the content, however, is all thanks to Waxie Moon — the “international gender-blending queer lady boylesque performance-art stripping sensation” who plays the show’s protagonist Roses Smell.
“Like with many other of my projects, I’m inspired by my muse Waxie Moon to create things that have a certain duality – high-brow/low-brow, funny/dark,” said Hurley, who also made a documentary about the character played by Marc Kenison. “We set out to create something that was unlike anything else that you’ve seen and I think we succeeded in that.”
Season two also features drag performer Jerick Hoffer, who won the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race as Jinkx Monsoon.
Having funded much of season one through credit cards, Hurley secured a grant from Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture to fund a second season and was able to triple the size of cast from the first season. The show will feature spots for upcoming HIV vaccine trials at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center.
Authentic Capitol Hill background art was provided by John Criscitello and the show shot on a custom set built at 12th Avenue Arts. Designers built a city block to use aerial suspension effects and the score was created by two Los Angeles-based composers.
Distribution potential for the show is also growing. Capitol Hill recently partnered with Canada’s OUTtv and the show’s YouTube channel is now under the umbrella of World of Wonder, which produces RuPaul’s Drag Race.
So far, only the first episode of season two is on YouTube. Hurley said more episodes will be released in the coming weeks. After that, Hurley said he’s eager to jump into making season three.
“This surreal-soap-horror-comedy format can be taken to so many places. There’s so much I can do with it,” Hurley said. “As long as my friends want to work with me and make more episodes, we’ll make more.”
Capitol Hill 2 will play January 12th at Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. Tickets are are $10.
