Heather’s Vlog “Heather checks out getfanged.com and Grampires?” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Vampire Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I got this new leather jacket. The guy who was wearing it was delicious.”

This is the second episode in a row from the web series Heather’s Vlog that is Heather and her Dad talking about internet stuff.

There’s about half or three quarters of a minute at the end that’s vintage Heather’s Vlog, and is hilarious. The first half, they’re checking out getfanged.com, which, it turns out, is a real thing. And it is more a chance to rehash jokes about Facebook than anything really fresh. Once they start getting rolling on confusing Tony Danza for Billy Crystal, it takes off into the types of laughs that this series is capable of.

I think both the previous video and this are designed to bring in new views by connecting with other popular stuff. It can be a smart of promoting yourself online, but I don’t think it makes the best fodder from story or comedy.

From YouTube Description:

Heather shows her dad some more stuff online. Should you friend your dad on Facebook?

Please, nothing too creepy. She is deadly

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Bob and Andrew S02E04 “The Advice ” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I don’t read a lot into Christian medicine.”

Andrew misses the signals, and Bob runs up on the limits of rainbows, in this new episode of the Vancouver web series, Bob and Andrew.

This one feels a little less broad and sitcomy than many previous episodes, much more like a cable dramedy than the almost-network sitcom it usually is. It is good, just in a slightly different way. Both the guys are having relationship troubles, but I suspect that Andrew has more troubles to come from Lauren.

From YouTube Description:

Andrew seeks relationship advice from Lauren while Bob helps Spencer and his friend James design a Pride float.

You can find us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/wwwbobandandrewcom/30448589791

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Space Hospital S02E07 “The Egg and I” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Sci-Fi Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Barbara, however, is a patient, and should not be relaxing.”

Trippy.

To be clear - this cliffhanger episode of the science fiction comedy web series Space Hospital is NOT the season finale. I guess it is the mid-season hiatus. More episodes are coming down the pipeline.

I’ve talked a lot about this series, which leaves me with very little to say. I love it - it just makes me happy. Nurse Barbara gets a lot of screen time, which is great. Her reaction to the egg, part connection and part revulsion, is spot on. The android valet looks awesome. The nun’s prayer is hilarious. I love the props and the set dressings. The openning shot, the way they worked in the title, is a lot of fun.

I have to say, the sequence with Lindsey, the half android, was confusing to me - but I don’t really remember the events in the first season that led to her creation in the first place. Maybe I missed an episode? I remember the bionic tennis player…

This is a funny episode, more plotty than gaggy, and it moves pretty fast. It adds some surprising twists to the Space Hospital story - not to missed if you’re a fan of the show!

From YouTube Description:

Re: Giant Easter Egg, minus Easter…

Space Hospital gets religion in the form of a sexy nun and her cyborg valet, just as Nurse Barbara battles depression over her recent maternal disaster. Meanwhile, Yeoman Long ponders the true meaning of her death, resurrection and return to the hospital and the unsettling secrets hidden deep in her own programming.

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Naomi The Show Ep.6 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“It’s a magic book.”

This episode of the always reliably funny Vancouver web series Naomi The Show is a tiny bit of a departure from the normal format of the series - maybe not intentionally - by having the funniest bits be in the body of the episode and the button by less of a punch line than normal. At least, that’s how I found it.

Despite the somewhat cartoony character of the guy Naomi meets, this episode may not be THE funniest of the series, but it has the most funny moments through out. Noami Dayneswood has some particularly subtlety funny lines. Not that she doesn’t in other episodes, but here she seems less like she’s doing less of the straight set up work than she does in other scenes. She plays her lines to politely annoyed perfection.

From YouTube Description:

In Episode 6, Naomi meets a fellow book lover.

Created by Naomi Dayneswood & Jennica Harper
Director: Nicholas Humphries
Writer: Jennica Harper
Producers: Robert Woolsey & Naomi Dayneswood
Starring: Naomi Dayneswood & Stephen LeBail
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

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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Bob and Andrew S02E03 “The Meeting” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“You could get raped. That would make your day worse. Getting raped.”

Another hilarious episode of Bob and Andrew, the Vancouver based web series in it’s second season.

Now reconciled, Andrew helps Bob with a job interview with a scheme. Not a plan, a scheme.

This episode is a little more broad than the usual Bob and Andrew fair, but still has some very funny bits – and the three actors of “The Cincinnati Five” are really strong and they do feel like they come from Andrew’s world, who really is the zany one to Bob’s straight man.

It is beautifully shot, too. Last episode I mentioned the narrow depth of field as distracting to me, but in this episode it really works – it’s the “dirty” over the shoulder type shooting, soft in the foreground, sharp on the subject, soft on the background, that really makes the style shine. So, the same thing I didn’t love about the previous episode I do love here. It’s great to be an anonymous, faceless, critic on the internet.

From YouTube Description:

In this episode Bob has reached the end of his unemployment and needs to find a job. Feeling a bit nervous about his impending interview, Andrew decides to enlist some of his most trusted confidants to help.

You can find us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/wwwbobandandrewcom/30448589791 And you can also find us on Twitter @bobandandrew

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Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden S01E05 “Misery in McMansion” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Drama Webseries

4 Swirlies

“I’m dying and you’re cheating on me?”

Last episode I was still gushing over this series like it had Hello Kitty in it, and this episode… well, I keep going back and forth.

In some ways, it is awesome. It is more dramatic than most episodes of Orange Juice In Bishop’s Garden, with blood and sex and what looks like a half-hearted attempted suicide. And while it it mostly works, I kinda feel like the impact of the accident undermines the other scenes with the two main girls, who otherwise I want to get more screen time with.

We pick up where the previous episode left off, and everything seems to be going great - but then the accident comes. And it is bloody and gross and pretty well done - it looked painful and scary. I’m yelling at the screen, call an ambulance, but the drunken teens do what all drunken teens do; they tried to fix it themselves. In fact, there wasn’t one suggestion to call an ambulance. It made me frustrated as a viewer, but that’s probably exactly what would happen in that situation. Those moments are some great writing.

Where it really lost me is while poor Maggie is bleeding into the sink, we go off and follow Sarah who feels bad because she was caught fooling around with the guy that Maggie likes. And there’s what seems to be a poor attempt at suicide - which I kinda don’t understand. Was she seriously trying to slit her wrists with a safety razor? Was she just trying to cut herself to feel better? Was she just being dramatic? I didn’t get it, and her friend didn’t seem overly concerned about it either way. And while we didn’t know what was happening with Maggy, we got a scene where Sarah hoped Maggy would forgive her.

I feel like this episode really tried to push the melodrama without really dealing with the consequences, which I suppose is part of what makes it melodrama. What I do like, is how the accident leads to the discovery, dove tailing the two plots nicely and naturally. There may be some missteps, but there’s still plenty of good storytelling.

So yeah, parts of it are great, parts are not great. It is still a really amazing, unique web series.

From YouTube Description:

The party kicks it up fierce at Yasmine’s house, sans parents and full of top shelf liquor. Maggie’s got that not-so-fresh-feeling after downing an entire decanter of creme de menthe — and when a MAJOR accident ensues, it threatens to bring down the whole house of cards. The stars finally align for Sarah and Jake… but then Maggie walks in on the “lovebirds.” Is it the final nail in the coffin of their (ex)best friendship?

French Subtitles by: http://www.univers-l.com/

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Casual S02E05 “A Planted Seed” | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Romance Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

Casual 2.5: A Planted Seed from Altermotion Pictures on Vimeo.

“She’s only happy on the outside.”

Another episode that leaves you with hints – is that why they’re no longer together?

I gotta say, this is the first episode of the L.A. web series Casual that I can remember not being blown away from by. And that, in and of itself, is an accomplishment, but the other shoe had to drop some time.

I felt like there was something just slightly off about the production. I found myself noticing the actors’ make-up. Was it just that so much of this series takes place at night and most of this episode takes place during the day? I also found some of the scenes too quiet – not the dialogue, but the background and room tone – which, for me, creates an “unreal” feeling that this series has managed to avoid until now.

This is the second last episode in the second season, and I wonder if creator Jay Diaz felt the need to shuffle the story along, since this is one of what I would call a bridge episode. I feel like it is all set up for the last episode.

All that being said, this is still one of my top five favourite series on the web right now. I mean, just because it is slightly less awesome than the previous episodes still makes it awesome. The final moments really hit home, both in the present day time-line and the past time-line. Has he moved on? Did she cheat? All questions that – I hope – will be answered in the next episode.

From Vimeo Description:

Casual Episode 2.5: A Planted Seed
Starring Lauren Marini and Brian Thomas Smith

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Bob and Andrew S02E02 “The Meeting” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I’ve been seeing this guy, Spenser. He lacks facial hair but he’s a pretty nice fellow.”

YAY!

At the risk of a spoiler alert: Bob and Andrew reconcile!

The second episode from the second season of web series Bob and Andrew really brings it. It is set entirely at a coffee shop, as they try to convince each other, and themselves, that their lives are going great.

My one, minor complaint about this episode is the super narrow depth of field that they use in the close ups (foreground sharp, background fuzzy) made it a little too self consciously filmy for me.

What slams it out of the park, as always, is the writing and the chemistry between them. The quick cuts revealing the truth about their lives are hilarious, and I love the confident one liners that snap back and forth. Some of my favourite moments are the subtle taps at the fourth wall, like Andrew commenting on his imagined cut scene.

I feel like the previous episode was sort of a prologue to this season. Now that the boys are back together, will they be able to get their lives back on the rails? Structurally, the creators of Bob and Andrew, Bob and Andrew, just might have done something brilliant to refresh the stories they tell this season. I wonder if they will take advantage of it? Only episode three will tell.

From YouTube Description:

Bob and Andrew meet up to discuss their lives apart from each other.

You can find us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/wwwbobandandrewcom/30448589791 And you can also find us on Twitter @bobandandrew

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Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden S01E04 “Yasmine’s House” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Drama Webseries

4 Swirlies

“It’s like the Circle of Hell that Dante forgot.”

I love this webseries.

My only complaint is that some of the acting is… not great. And for all of its rough edges, everything else about it is so amazing. The storylines are original, sharp and more character than plot. I love the chemistry between the two main girls - I love that feel like outsiders even while doing everything with the same group of girls. The writing is top notch, and some of the framing and the way it is shot is really nice. Sure. there’s a couple of shots, especially covering the dialogue, where it kinda feels like the camera was just plunked down, but then there’s many shots, like the one with the girls looking at the house, that are rich with drama and emotion. The shots of the girls swimming were so natural that I started to feel creepy, like I was intruding on their privacy.

I like this episode like I liked the first one. Well, okay - almost as much. For some reason, the scenes in Bishop’s Garden don’t seem to work as well as scenes set somewhere else. I dunno why that is.

I’d like to come back to the acting for a second. I shouldn’t just leave a blanket statement like my earlier one lie, because the truth is that the two main girls (at least the two I think of as the main girls) are actually quite good. There’s four seasons of this show, which is an amazing accomplishment right there. I’m eager to watch each episode, but I’m also excited to see how the cast and crew improve during all those episodes!

Thanks to Otessa Ghadar for making such a wonderful show!

From YouTube Description:

While the parents are away, the kids will play. Yasmine’s parental units go out of town and a party ensues at her ridiculously fancy house, complete with Olympic-size pool and some stealing of beer from her college-guy-neighbors… *Plus* things are looking up for Sarah & Jake…

French Subtitles by: http://www.univers-l.com/

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Out With Dad S02E02 ”Asking Out Alicia” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Family Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I have to puke. Hold my bag. Watch my board!”

Every now and then we like to have one of the creators behind a series do a sort of guest review of their own show. Actually, we only did it once before, with Tyranny, but I thought it worked out nicely. I asked the creator of Our With Dad, Jason Leaver, if he’d like to do one for the first episode of his second season. He said no. But he did agree to do it for his second episode! And we’re glad he did, because there’s a lot of interesting behind the scenes stuff in here…

The Watch List asked me to post a review of my own episode two weeks ago. A filmmaker reviewing his own work? An interesting concept! I declined however, because felt it would be too presumptuous of myself for 2×01 “Out with Dad”. It’s a different for 2×02 “Asking Out Alicia”, with this one I can sit back and enjoy just like any other audience member. This was true when we were filming and while I was editing. So ya, I can review this episode.

First a bit of background, this one was written after production began for season two. I’d already filmed scenes with Laura Jabalee, which you’ll see later. Often when working with actors I find I’m inspired to write more for them; this was no exception. Plus, I wanted to write more scenes for Corey Lof – this guy is hilarious. I’ve come to know Corey and Kate very well, and I know they understand comedy.

However, our three leads were faced with a challenge: our location.

We filmed this episode entirely in front of The 519 Community Centre on Church Street, who allowed us to use their facility to stand in as our high school. Church Street is the centre of LGBT life, vibrance and pride in Toronto. It’s the friendliest street. There is a fantastic energy. There also happens to be a lot of traffic with heavy trucks! There must have been a construction site nearby. Each time one of those trucks drove by we had to stop recording. It was LOUD. The actors quickly caught on to what audio level was acceptable. Instinctively they would pause their performance when a truck approached, when they got the nod from me they’d continue with the scene. What astounds me is their performances never suffered. They kept their energy up, they stayed in the moment. This is especially remarkable for Corey, whose character is the driving force of this episode. In comedy timing is everything. Yet some how his timing was unaffected! The pauses and restarts by the cast were no challenge for me as the editor to work with. Which reminds me, I was sitting on a train editing this episode, laughing out loud most of the time. I hope my fellow passengers didn’t mind!

You also have to pay attention to “Alicia’s pack of girlfriends”, played by Shailene Garnett, Carolyn Nettleton and Lizzie Stuart-Morris. I love them in every frame they’re on screen, they’re hilarious! I never offered them any direction, which I probably shouldn’t admit… but I didn’t need to! Each of them took it upon themselves to have a different reaction to the conversation unfolding before them. Watch for more of them in Out With Dad.

Next up, is the Adrian Ellis’s score. He went with a highly percussive, almost jungle-inspired track, as if saying Kenny is “on the hunt”. The first draft of the score suggested a 1970’s swagger. It fun, but given that our characters were born in the 90’s, it didn’t fit right. In the version you hear, all Adrian did was modify his bass track making it feel a little more modern – it kind of has a reggae vibe to it. I pushed him to have fun with the score. He included some hilarious hits to certain story beats, my favourite: the ding as the metaphorical light bulb turns on for Kenny at 3:05, and the way the music practically says “ooooh…” as Rose learns Alicia asked about her at 2:46.

I had fun making this episode, I can sit back as part of the audience and I enjoy what the cast and composer give us. I’m sure you will too!

P.S. I love the music! Thanks, Jason!

From Blip.tv Description:

Kenny finally finds the courage to ask out Alicia Van Harren, well, eventually.

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