$5 Cover: Amplified

A multi-part web series created for MTV Media, “$5 Cover: Amplified” helped to pioneer the idea of editorially sound hybrid media partnerships at the advent of the postmillennial digital era. The project set out to articulate the muse behind a diverse group of emerging musicians in the American South, all of whom played fictional versions of themselves in a scripted episodic MTV reality-style show set in Memphis, Tenn. 

The $5 Cover concept was conceived by feature filmmaker Craig Brewer, a lifelong friend of OBM’s John Hubbell. It combined resources of MTV, the Memphis daily newspaper and local bloggers, photographers and filmmakers who created related local feature content.

 “Amplified” received two Emmy Awards.

 Underwritten by AT&T, a second season was set in Seattle, with fictional episodes created by director Lynn Shelton.

Filmed and directed by Alan Spearman. Edited by Eileen Meyer. Written and produced by John Hubbell and Andria Lisle. Produced by Jude Harris. David Gale, Executive Producer.