4 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kopIPvezraA

“She loves the spotlight. It’s like food. She lives on it.”

This is the end of the three part episodic mini-trilogy, Midnight, Hunter’s Moon.

Mood wise, this is strange episode of the always emotional engaging Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden. It has more of a literary slice of life to it, rather than a wild party “Weekend at Bernie’s” vibe, which is kinda what I was half expecting. Not to have a dead guy they had to pretend that was alive, but that it was going to a ‘shit hits the fan’ episode. It feel more like a denouement, like the wrap up and cool down after the moment of highest tension.

I am constantly blown away by how simple but still confident and effective this show is. The simple shot in the bathroom, framed both in the mirror and er… not in the mirror, perfectly captured the moment. Of course, a lot of the credit has to go to the actors.

The one misstep, for me, was the scenes with Hunter and her boyfriend. I don’t get Hunter, I’m not sure how we’ve supposed to feel about her. We’ve seen her be mean to Beth many times, but now we get this scene where we’re supposed to identify with her missing her boyfriend? Or her boyfriend missing her? We’ve never really been given a reason to forgive her for her treatment of Beth, but she has this screen time that doesn’t really tell us much new about her as a character. It comes off flat to me.

And to be entirely honest, I’m not sure why the three parter is called Hunter’s Moon.

Still, what really sells this series is the fierce, almost way-too-close, friendship between Sarah and Kris. Kris all but forces Sarah out of her funk about Jake and Maggie. Does that mean that Sarah will go back to Jake? We’ll have to wait and see.

Oh, and the music? Amazing.

From YouTube Description:

And then it really HITS THE FAN. Jake seeks Sarah — he’s all puppy-dog eyes & wants to TALK because he LIKES her. Gulp. And Adrian (secretly) hunts the much younger Rox. So where will Sarah end up, in this Maggie-Jake-Sarah love triangle? And what about Beth and the Beth-Adrian-Rox situation? Who ends up coupled? And who just ends up alone? Something tells me… THIS is one of those nights where all questions gets answered.

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers growing up and getting down in the 90′s.

Visit us at http://OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

Find us on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/OJBishopsGarden

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for-and how they are never the same.”

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

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Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden S01E08 “Midnight, Hunter’s Moon, Pt. 3″ | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

4 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA2Hs-kBOP0

“These are the hands of Morgan Freeman”

Awesomeness.

This is part two of a three parter from the ‘growing up is hard’ webseries Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden.

There’s a lot of fun stuff going on - maybe favorite bits is the girls tittering over cute boys, and the simmering, quiet jealousy of Beth, played by Sarah Spencer. I think it is amazing because the whole storyline rests almost exclusively on the actor’s ability to emote. It can be risky, as a writer and director, to rely on your actor to communicate something that will make or break a moment. You’ll notice that pretty much all TV and movies have the characters telling us what’s going on at all times. Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden has some great acting and some not so great acting, but Beth’s role in the drama is to give longing glances out of the corner of her eye. A strong, subtle performance.

Then there’s the bizarre freestyle chant of “These are the hands of Morgan Freeman.” Is that a thing? Is that a reference to something? Or is it just something that Otessa Ghadar cameup with for this scene? It is kind of brilliant and deeply confusing at the same time. The delight the party goers have in joining in makes me think that there’s something going on here that I don’t know about. But then, much of the series gives me a voyeuristic sense, it is so believable and so specific.

My only complaint is that the YouTube description promises craziness, and except for the Morgan Freeman stuff, there’s not much craziness. I could have used more craziness. The episode is more about relationships - and while it works very well on that level I was hoping for a little more in the way of antics.

From YouTube Description:

Watch the craziness unfold as Beth and her friends tag along at Hunter’s house party. Hunter’s party has it all- indie bands, hot musicians, booze, and the objects of much teen girl idolatry: Adrian and Jake…? That’s right — JAKE shows up and things get super rocky for Sarah, who’s already had a pretty rough summer what with the Sarah-Jake-Maggie love triangle from hell. And poor Beth isn’t faring too well on her side of the Beth-Adrian-Rox love triangle either. Oh yea, and “The Hands Of Morgan Freeman” make an appearance too!

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers growing up and getting down in the 90′s.

Visit us at http://OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

Find us on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/OJBishopsGarden

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for-and how they are never the same.”

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

- If you like what we do, please subscribe! You’ll get every web series episode sent right to your inbox! -

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Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden S01E07 “Midnight, Hunter’s Moon, Pt. 2″ | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

5 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=riPg1BJC9Sw

“Water the plants, do the dishes, and no parties.”

What a fun, focused episode of the web series Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden.

I really like the storyline of Beth, her sister and her sister’s too-old boyfriend. I like the other storylines, too, but for the most part, Beth just quietly loathes her sister and crushes in the boyfriend, creating lots of subtle tension. The other storylines are more direct in the characters problems, like Sara being more or less a social outcast for sleeping with the guy that Maggie liked.

This is part one of a two parter three parter, and feels like it. I hope the next one is as fun as this one. (Thanks for the correction, Otessa!)

This series reminds me very much of the UK Skins at its best. As much as the drunken teen antics are played up for laughs and drama, there’s an honesty about it that sets it far, far apart from the almost unconscious moralizing that accompanies teen stories in mainstream fiction.

From YouTube Description:

Sarah is a hot mess after the fallout (ahem, being caught red-handed with Jake). She tries talking to Beth — but Beth’s just useless! However, Beth does have a parental-free house for the weekend. Score! Unfortunately, older-sister Hunter has some serious plans for a party without Beth. And, Hunter-the-Effortlessly-Cool-and-Scary… is used to getting her way. Totally pissed at the prospect of being kicked out of her own house — and the epic party — Beth plots revenge on Hunter (*and hocks something nasty in Hunter’s beloved CK-one perfume*). Then, Sarah and Beth decide to tag along + party-crash regardless and… well, just take a look and see!!

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers growing up and getting down in the 90′s.

Visit us at http://OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

Find us on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/OJBishopsGarden

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for-and how they are never the same.”

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

- If you like what we do, please subscribe! You’ll get every web series episode sent right to your inbox! -

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Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden S01E06 “Midnight, Hunter’s Moon, Pt. 1″ | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

4 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhXmA-ieN94

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

4 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqHbKUMYjTU

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

4 Swirlies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwg8l3l3iE

In this episode of the slice of life webseries Orange Juice in Bishops Garden, we get to know the guys.

I still like the first episode best, and there’s some rough “I’m drunk” acting, but the dialogue is what really shines. In the last episode, I felt like the plot was drawn from real life, but in this episode - although it could have been, maybe - I really get the sense that the writer/creator Otessa Ghadar really understands her characters, and just characters in general. And for all it’s simplicity, the sound and camera work is good, too. I’ve probably said it many times, but sometimes the hardest thing to pull off is having your camera and sound help tell the story without getting in the way. And shooting at night without a budget isn’t easy. It is actually lit very nicely - I wonder if they used their own lighting or if they made good use of the existing lighting? Either way, it looks great.

I feel like there’s not enough webseries out there like this one - honest and small but still being accessible and universal.

From YouTube Description:

It’s a boys night out at Bishop’s Garden. Jake wants to talk about the ladies, ahem, Sarah… but Trip is too faded to be of any help. Meanwhile, Travis takes the stage and tonight’s showing - “The Kauffman Family Dsyfunction’s Greatest Hits”. Should be a riot.

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

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Orange Juice in Bishops Garden S01E03 “Boys Night Out” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

3 Swirlies

“There are way better songs. It’s like for people who buy greatest hits CDs.”

This episode of Orange Juice in Bishops Garden had more in the way of rough edges than the first one. I loved the first episode of this webseries. Not so sure about this one. (Sorry guys.)

Where as the dialogue and the acting in the first episode felt raw and a little forced, but charming and fresh, this episode doesn’t seem to know where it is going or what it wants to be, and  the flaws feel so much more exposed. And there’s some not so great acting – especially of people acting drunk.

But at the same time, I do like these characters – what attracted me to the first episode is still here; the chemistry between our two main characters, the one girl who hates her perky sister but has to rely on her for a ride… that stuff is interesting to me and rings true. The drunk guy who forgets how to pee… not so much. Oh, I did like the scene where the guy tries to shotgun a beer but it all but explodes all over his face. I feel like probably much of what happens in this episode is based on real stuff, and so it feels kinda obvious and anecdotal. (Is this the case? If someone involved with this show is reading this, maybe you could let us know in the comments below?)

Sometimes it’s hard for a writer – any writer, no matter how experienced – to keep their secondary characters from taking over the scenes from the main characters. Secondary characters are often more broad, and therefor they can be more motivated. When your character is more nuanced, it is easy for their complicated motivations to get lost in a scene where, for example, someone just wants to pee. Plus, writerly types are more observational by nature, so they tend to write characters that observe rather than act. This is pretty much true of all fiction writers, everywhere.

Anyway, I’m still hooked enough to be looking forward to episode 3!

From YouTube Description:

Tonight is the night. The party gets started in the infamous Bishops Garden. And don’t you worry there will be mischievous and slightly unfortunate happenings. Sarah & Kris get Maggie shot-gunning some brewskies, hoping it’ll keep her from macking on Sara’s crush, Jake. The plan goes awry though, when Maggie gets bold instead. Um, looks like cold 40′s & love triangles don’t mix! As if that weren’t bad enough — then, the cops come…

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers in the summer of 1994.

Visit us at http://OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

Find us on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/OJBishopsGarden

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for–and how they are never the same.”

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

- If you like what we do, please subscribe! You’ll get every web series episode sent right to your inbox! -

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Orange Juice in Bishops Garden S01E02 “Will You Be There Tonight?” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

5 Swirlies

“I like you like I like my orange juice.” – Lyric from “Midnight Joyride (Concentrated)

Okay, the song hooked me right from the first scene, but OMG y’all! This is an amazingly fun little series that is really strong on characters and little moments. While there’s one or two scenes where the production is not great, the writing is sharp and clean without taking itself too seriously. This show reminds me of the first season of the U.K. TV show Skins (which I loved) and Juno (which I did not – but those who did should like this series anyway).

There was one commentator on YouTube who ripped into this episode for a number of reasons, but I couldn’t disagree more. Maybe it is the teenage girl inside of me, I think this show creates vivid characters that we instantly understand and brings them to life in ways that feel at once larger than life and totally believable. We very quickly get inside these girls’ heads and know what they’re thinking, which is one of every writer’s goals.

I like the shooting, it doesn’t give it a documentary feel, quite, but the natural lighting and the simple camera angles work with the script and the acting to make it feel real. The sound is good, too, especially given the fact that they claim to have made this episode with no money. They use some music which they clearly did not own, and probably didn’t pay for, but from what I can tell the theme song was written for this show. Now that alone is pretty cool; even cooler is how amazing the song is – I can’t stop playing it. It reminds me of the cereal song written for the movie Ping Pong Playa, not so much in sound or style but in the subject matter and being written for something else.

I kinda stumbled on this series, and I’m so glad I did. There’s four seasons already, and I can’t wait to watch the next one!

From YouTube Description:

See where it all begins… It’s the start of the summer of 1994, and Kris prods best friend Sarah to finally make a move on her long-time crush Jake (before Maggie does it instead). Meanwhile Beth finds herself in a different love triangle with her best friend Rox and the older bike messenger: Adrian. After a trip to the liquor store (where the owner couple puts their 8 y.o. behind the counter), the gang all meets up in Bishop’s Garden, where the fun really starts. But more fun means more drama…

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers in the summer of 1994.

Make sure to visit us at http://www.OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for–and how they are never the same.”

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

- If you like what we do, please subscribe! You’ll get every web series episode sent right to your inbox! -

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Orange Juice in Bishops Garden S01E01 “Orange Crush” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List