As previously reported, Guiding Light will be breaking soap opera barriers at the end of this month.

On February 29, viewers will be treated to a brand-new look to the show's daily episodes. There will be no more archaic, three-walled sets. Instead, the show will utilize permanent four-walled sets with ten-foot high ceilings.

Also gone are the 300-pound pedestal cameras, all of which will be replaced with handheld eight-pound mini-cameras.

"Soap operas have been shot, by and large, the same way since the 1950's, the same way 'I Love Lucy' was shot - with pedestal cameras, in just a few interior sets," Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler said. "Our audience is sophisticated enough to understand that's old-fashioned, and it isn't working for them anymore."

What's the advantages of these changes? They will help cut down on costs and will give viewers the opportunity to experience the different spaces that the characters inhibit, thereby increasing storytelling potential and intimacy with the characters.

"Our fans want to see more of our character's lives - from the houses they live in, to the cars they drive, to the experiences they have in their everyday lives," Wheeler said. Her and her co-production executives have even let their office spaces be used for filming.

As for outdoor shooting, Guiding Light has partnered with the town of Peapack, New Jersey, located near the show's Manhattan Studios.

"The changes will enable us to tell stories in a more intimate way, capturing real moments and engaging the audience on a deeper level," Wheeler said.

These changes are the product of a year-long research and experimentation period, intended to make Guiding Light compare favorably to the impressive look of primetime, while competing against repeats of primetime dramas that run on TNT and other networks during the day.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.