This is a great opportunity for independent digital creators. The Austin Film Festival will include a competition for produced scripted series (1-3 episode) as well as scripts for digital series. See if your series qualifies and enter here.
by Tai Fauci
While the 50 Shades of Grey film has finally fulfilled the movie going fantasies of the book’s devotees, the Internet has provided the rest of us with some hilarious parody. Here is our top 5:
1. 50 Shades of Buscemi
Mashing up the trailer by replacing the hunky Jamie Dornan with clips Steve Buscemi is brilliant. Can you name all the movies the clips are from?
2. Gilbert Gottfried Reads 50 Shades of Grey
Nothing is less sexy than the abrasive voice of Gilbert Gottfried spouting a woman’s erotic fantasy…or is it?
3. Elder’s React to Fifty Shades of Grey Trailer
The Fine Bros win with another Elders React. Frankly, these seniors aren’t really scandalized by the trailer, but you will be when they read aloud excerpts from the book. So, enjoy some uncomfortable laughs with these opinionated elders.
4. Fifty Shades of Grey – Lego Trailer
Because nothing says sexy time like a childhood toy with hard abs.
5. 5 Reasons Pornstars Hate 50 Shades of Grey
On Funny or Die, three witty porn stars give you a multitude of reasons why not to go see 50 Shades of Grey. They offer a simple, superior alternative, ”watch porn.”
“Yay, a goat.” This video is a must watch.
Some 8-bit debating courtesy of The Gregory Brothers
Gregory Brothers for the win.
Another great video from the Gregory Brothers. Love it.
by Caryn K. Hayes (@CarynGotThis)
Leap Year follows five friends who, after losing their jobs, eventually form a company together and win a contest orchestrated by their former employer. Their success in the contest earns them half a million dollars to take their business, a new holographic conferencing technology, to the next level. In the second season, the friends and business partners have moved to San Francisco from New York and are working to make their startup a success.
If I were giving grades to web series, Leap Year is one of those series that would be setting the curve. This series is one that anyone looking to create/produce a web series should look to as an example to follow. Kudos to the creative team of Wilson Cleveland, Yuri Baranovsky and Vlad Baranovsky for their great work.
With solid writing, acting, directing and excellent production value, Leap Year gets it right. The first season episodes are each roughly 10 minutes and the second season doubles that length. Season 2 also brings in some great star power in the form of Eliza Dushku, Emma Caulfield, Joshua Malina and more. Though some scenes seem to linger and milk the performances, the guest stars are well integrated and entertaining. Despite being a sponsored series, Leap Year doesn’t hit you over the head with Hiscox, the brand behind their series. In fact, considering the troubles the characters are facing, I’ve been waiting for the insurance company to swoop in and save the day. Aside from a short commercial break mid-episode, the brand takes a back seat to the storytelling. It is refreshingly tasteful.
When I look at this series critically, the “flaws” I find are matters of taste. Though I’m not a fan of the non-linear episode arcs, they are definitely done well. The quirky characters are certainly memorable but border on annoying, like in the case of the 19-year-old investor. Sure, he’s intended to be annoying but he stretches my patience as a viewer as much as he does for the main characters. But these are negligible things that definitely shouldn’t stop anyone from watching this web dramedy.
Verdict: Go watch it!
Get Social with Leap Year…
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeapYearTV
Twitter: @leapyeartv
Website: http://leapyear.hiscoxusa.com/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/theleapyeartv
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/leapyeartv/
by Caryn K. Hayes (@CarynGotThis)
Written by Emily Brownell and directed by Annie Lukowski, The Ex-Box follows the lives of separated couple, Nate and Allie, who can’t afford to break their lease forcing them to stay together in their tiny, and supposedly lucky, apartment.
The Ex-Box Trailer by theexboxseries
I’ve seen the first six episodes of The Ex-Box and I’m happy I stuck with it. Though I’m not blown away by anything in particular, the show looks great, it’s directed and acted well, and it has all the elements you’re looking for in a quality web series. Also, the leads, Emily Brownell and Adam Kitchen, work well together as the couple turned roommates. The one place I would suggest needs work is in the writing, which can be punched up. The first few episodes are okay but they suffer from the same problem I have with many web series pilots: failure to engage.
THE EX-BOX Ep #1 “This Is Yours, This Is Mine” by theexboxseries
Tasked with introducing the characters, setting up the situation, two difficult things to do well in five minutes, and while this one does that, the first episode also has to make me care enough to come back. That didn’t really happen for me until episode four. My problem with the first few episodes is that too much time was spent on the ex-couple playing somewhat repetitive pranks or trading insults instead of making me care about them as individuals or about their relationship. If I had been laughing every twenty seconds, this wouldn’t have been problem. Episode four is when things start to turn around and we get a peek into perhaps what their relationship was like before the breakup. For a romantic comedy, I wish that moment had come a little sooner.
Verdict: I’d say give this one a shot. If you’re a rom-com fan, chances are you won’t be disappointed. Here’s hoping there are more moments like the pie eating in episode five, homage to the infamous When Harry Met Sally scene and a definite LOL moment for me.
Get Social with The Ex-Box…
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theexboxseries
Twitter: @theexboxseries & @emilyfbrownell
Daily Motion: http://www.dailymotion.com/theexboxseries
