Vampire Mob S01E05 “You Can’t Choose Your Family” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Vampire Hitman Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

“I’m selling all my sunglasses online. I won’t even tell you how many pairs have.”

Living with his mother-in-law is about as bad as Don thought it was going to be. And it turned out that his “business” isn’t as recession proof as he had hoped.

From YouTube Description:

Closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired.

Episode Five - “You can’t choose your family” Starring: John Colella, Reamy Hall, Marcia Wallace, Chris Mulkey.

Support Season Two! http://www.VampireMob.com

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Break Ups: The Series Ep.7 “Nicky & Tim” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Semi-Improvised Dramedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Don’t forget to send the thank you card to your aunt.”

I bet a lot of break ups happen during breakfast.

This episode is a little hard to watch, just because there’s next to no dialogue and only one wide shot. This episode is very much about the subtleties of what’s going through these two character’s minds as they eat their breakfast in uncomfortable silence.

On the one hand, it is brilliant masterwork of acting and confident direction. On the other hand… it can be hard to sit through the whole five minute piece without clicking away. While I don’t subscribe to shortened attention spans, I did find my attention wandering. You sort of have to force yourself to watch in order to really appreciate what’s going on in this scene. And, of course, the title provides the context. If this series was called “Falling in Love” the same scene could be watched with very different expectations and energy.

This is one of those things that I like the idea of, more than the piece itself. Other episodes are more watchable and entertaining. I’m not slagging it… I’m just saying that my tastes run a little more towards having more stuff going on in a scene.

From YouTube Description:

Happy spring everyone! Feel free to share this or “like” it as all the kids are doing nowadays.

Directed, Edited, Shot by
Ted Tremper

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Radiance Ep.7 | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Science Fiction Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Why do you all look guilty?”

As the realization sets in that they are in this for the long haul, it is time for someone to try to take charge.

It’s an interesting twist, just as I was thinking, ‘okay… now what?’ I find this little series, with its super-short episodes, incredibly interesting. Of course, in hindsight it is obvious that someone’s gonna step up and demand some sort of pecking order. Usually with them at the top. Maybe it is the short episodes, not giving me any time to predict what’s gonna happen, but this show manages to surprise me and entertain me.

I do feel like the end of this episode is a little soap opera-y, as in as soon as the story inches forward we move on. It’s not like there’s much in the of a story arc in 1 minute and 19 seconds. Some of the acting is a little stiff, and the natural lighting, and the handicam cinematography still feels a little too amateurish for me, but creator Jim Hansen has created an intelligent, claustrophobic thriller.

This series is a real diamond in the rough, and I do suggest that you’ll like it best if you go back and watch it from the start.

From YouTube Description:

Ten friends in Los Angeles experience an unusual event together- and try to survive.
Starring:
Brian Gattas
Jade Gordon
Tom Lenk
Chad Lindsey
Alisa Mcronald
Sam Pancake
Jack Plotnick
Christos Prevezanos
Chris Shea
Doug Stockstill
and
Rachel Stolte

Written and directed by Jim Hansen

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Tyranny Ep.12 “Losing It” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Sci-Fi Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve?”

A frenetic, intense episode that really puts you inside the emotional state of a guy coming apart at the seams.

There’s a cool montage in the middle, some found footage (at least it feels that way) and some original material, all mashed together as Daniel’s thoughts spiral out of control.

I really enjoyed the clash of source images through out - grainy video, sharp film looking shots, some somewhere in between.

And then a moment of normalcy, a phone call, makes it all seem like a weird fantasy. Is Daniel really losing his mind? Or is Isabella calling a lifeline that he’s clinging to for a lucid moment? And what happens New Years Eve?

With some shows, you feel like they’re coming to the end of their run or their season and the writer or creators are like, “Oh yeah, I need to get the plot going.” And instead of focusing on the characters that have lead you to stick around, they throw in plot twists that feel artificial. And you end up feeling like the end just sucked all the life and fun from the series. I’m not feeling that with Tyranny. There’s only three episodes after this one, so yes, granted we’re not at the end yet, but I feel like each episode is keeping the focus on Daniel but still ramping up the tension.

From YouTube Description:

Episode 12 of Tyranny the Web Series:
“Losing it”
After having been called into the FBI, Daniel McCarthy turns the camera on himself, as he documents his now heightened paranoia in a video journal.

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Radiance Ep.6 | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Science Fiction Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

“What about a government conspiracy type thing?”

The fall out from last episode, and the deaths in the basement. Now that they are past the initial crisis, the reality is starting to set in that there are no easy answers. Will the household survive?

Another short, punchy episode in this webseries about surviving a mysterious event. This is one of what I think of as a bridge episode, moving the plot forward after a big event, but itself largely expository.

From YouTube Description:

Ten friends in Los Angeles experience an unusual event together- and try to survive.
Starring:
Brian Gattas
Jade Gordon
Tom Lenk
Chad Lindsey
Alisa Mcronald
Sam Pancake
Jack Plotnick
Christos Prevezanos
Chris Shea
Doug Stockstill
and
Rachel Stolte

Written and directed by Jim Hansen

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Naomi The Show Ep.5 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“This may seem crazy but I’m having a slumber party. On Saturday night.”

Ha! Even though you see the punch line coming a mile away, these guys really land it. That’s the joy of the show that is Naomi The Show, it’s short, punchy and it always has a strong punch line at the end. The last line never fails to make me laugh - both with genuine humour and with delight.

This show always has strong acting, too. Naomi Dayneswood is always spot on as someone who knows life is out to get her but can’t help herself but hope for the best, even when she’s sure that something awful is about to happen. You can see that tug of war in her, the expectation that this will blow up in her face but she’s too nice to not to get dragged along by the need to politely continue. Her scene partner is always good, but in this case Shane Kolmansberger is really awesome, charming and nuanced as “the buddy” type guy with an agenda.

Noami The Show is sweet, charming and consistently funny.

From YouTube Description:

In Episode 5, Naomi makes weekend plans with a classmate.

Created by Naomi Dayneswood & Jennica Harper
Director: Nicholas Humphries
Writer: Jennica Harper
Producers: Robert Woolsey & Naomi Dayneswood
Starring: Naomi Dayneswood & Shane Kolmansberger
Director of Photography: Christopher Charles Kempinski
Editor: Chad Galloway
Sound Design: Michael Scott Schrum
Makeup Design: Alyssa Satow & Katie Satow
Title Credit Design: Christopher Preksta
Music Composer: Chris King
Extras: Alyssa & Esmé Roberts

Proudly Supported by Vancouver Film School - http://www.vfs.com

See full crew listings at http://www.naomitheshow.com/cast-crew

Find out more about Naomi: The Show at http://www.naomitheshow.com

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Moolt “I Have Bird” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Cartoon Comedy Web Series

5 Swirlies

“He did it.”

I have not laughed that hard in a long time.

This is a silly series, almost sketch comedy, but I just think it is hilarious.

From YouTube Description:

My facebook

Check out what Harut’s new pet Parrot can do!

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Radiance Ep.5 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Science Fiction Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

“It’s a good plan, being down here.”

All of these episodes are super short, this one is less than two minutes. I actually had more or less written this episode off until I got to the chilling ending.

I may be blowing it for you by talking about it, but I totally did not see the ending coming until the one guy was calling down about breakfast. It freaked me out.

This series continues to surprise - every time I think it has lost its mojo, it hits me with a sucker punch. Am I the only one enjoying this show?

From YouTube Description:

Ten friends in Los Angeles experience an unusual event together- and try to survive.
Starring:
Brian Gattas
Jade Gordon
Tom Lenk
Chad Lindsey
Alisa Mcronald
Sam Pancake
Jack Plotnick
Christos Prevezanos
Chris Shea
Doug Stockstill
and
Rachel Stolte

Written and directed by Jim Hansen

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Tyranny Ep.9 “The Man From Atlantis” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Sci-Fi Web Series

4 Swirlies

“HAARP. Mind Control. Beaming images from Alaska. Bouncing them off the ionosphere into our brains. Using microwaves.”

A nice, tense little episode that delivers a fair bit of exposition without feeling like it does.

This episode really highlights the beautiful rich art direction and cinematography. The sound and music is expertly done, too. What really sells this episode is the mood - everything works together to create a mood that both ominous and fun.

I really like the secondary characters in this series. Quite often in a web series, even if your main guys are strong performers, the day player type actors are noticeably less experienced. Here every actor and actress feels both well cast and talented (and charismatic) enough to carry their own series. Even this bookstore guy - his mostly expository lines are delivered with just the right blend of jaded passion; exactly like so many of people I know from that sort of world.

Let’s go back to the lighting and camera for a moment. After you’ve watched this episode (you are watching, aren’t you?) click on any frame at random while Daniel is in that bookstore - each frame would make a remarkable photograph. It is just lit and shot beautifully. Some D.P.’s are afraid to let things go too bright or too dark, but this image uses the whole range, and the shooter, Silas Funk, is willing to let a face go dark, as long as it looks natural and aesthetically pleasing.

From YouTube Description:

Episode 9 of Tyranny the Web Series:
“Man from Atlantis”
Taking his friend Kurt’s advice, Daniel ventures to Atlantis Books in downtown San Francisco, where he meets an unusual book store owner who decides to educate Daniel on various conspiracies.

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Break Ups: The Series Ep.6 “TJ & Katie” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Semi-Improvised Dramedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I’d drop you out here and leave you to freeze in the goddamned Hoth that is Chicago right now.”

Ha ha!

This is an awesome episode of Break Ups: The Series, which takes place in a blizzard.

There’s many fun things going on in this episode, one of the biggest is that they were shooting in a blizzard so the scene is entirely about the blizzard.

Ted Tremper really knows what he’s doing, and by keeping the frame wide and having the couple argue in blizzard blown silhouettes means that we can enjoy the worst night of their lives at a remove. Hearing them talk about very specific stuff, but all we see is them waving their arms around and stumbling through the snow gives us a sense of detached voyeurism.

Plus, the scene improvised by Jagodowski and Thomas is hilarious in a “I’m glad its not me” way that avoids the cringe type comedy some of the other episodes go for. It is so over the top silly, and both characters are giving as good as they get. Some other break up scenes clearly have a good guy and bad guy, not here. Here they’re both in full on assault mode.

A lot of the individual lines are pretty funny, and I’m a bit awed by how specific the moments and the back stories are for an improvised piece.

I like this series a lot, but this one is one of my favourite episodes.

From YouTube Description:

Spread the news! Break-ups is back! Please share this on your facebook wall!

Instead of staying in last night, we decided to brave the Blizzard of 2011 and do some shooting. We sincerely hope you like it!

Improvised by
TJ Jagodowski
Katie Thomas

Sound by
Jared Larson

Directed, Edited, Shot by
Ted Tremper

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