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

A Drama Webseries

5 Swirlies

“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/

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Casual S02E06 “A Fork/Road” | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Romance Drama Web Series

5 Swirlies

Casual 2.6: A Fork/Road from Altermotion Pictures on Vimeo.

“I thought I wanted this.”

A devastating season two finale of the killer web series, Casual.

I wouldn’t say there was anything in the way of plot twists or surprises – okay, there’s one – but you certainly feel like writer/director Jay Diaz is effortlessly weaving plot threads back and forth until they come together in a thematic flurry at the end. I must admit, I did lose sense of a couple of things, I found myself wondering which timeline I was in for one or two scenes. And didn’t The Girl meet the new boyfriend guy in the past, before they broke up? I’m a little confused, but it is still very rewarding, and for me, none of those confusions got in the way of enjoying the story.

What I did like was the sharp writing and portrayal of a person who struggles to please everybody, and feels like she’s trapped between competing demands. I think it quite easy in relationships for someone like that to deprioritize the one thing that give you the least guilt, which is often your significant other. Your boss might have unreasonable demands and your family gives your grief if you don’t do what they want, and the person who is the most easy going is the one who ends up getting the least of your attention. Plenty of relationships break up because of that. The break up in Casual isn’t really that straight forward, just like in life, but I would say it comes down to the lives they wanted diverged, and neither were willing to be the one who sacrifices other parts of their lives to make it. It’s the old ultimatum, “It’s me or the band,” in more a subtle, non-band form. (You’ll always lose that one, either way it works out.) He’s not willing to turn down a big opportunity in his career, and she’s not willing to set boundaries on her responsibilities in order to give him what he wants.

In all aspects of life, whether it is our careers or our romances or our family lives, we rise to a level of… for want of a better word I’ll say success, until we a not willing to sacrifice some other part for continued success. Do we take that big promotion, knowing our kids will see even less of us? Do I piss off my family because my fiance wants a small wedding? I think many people go through life feeling like these choices are made for them – because they don’t consciously understand their values that shape the choices they make.And I guess that’s what it comes down to Casual, and in real life relationships, are your values similar enough to make the relationship work in the long term?

That’s the stuff that’s flapping around my head after watching the second season of Casual, a web series that manages to capture all the subtleties and drama of life without slipping into melodrama. You can contrast it to Untitled Fiction Project, which in many ways is similar, but that show is much more in-your-face dramatic (while still grounded in the characters and their choices). They’re both among my favourite web series dramas, but for different reasons.

Technically, Casual is incredibly strong. It is polished, tight, and knows exactly what emotional beats it is playing at what moments. A stand out series, and one that is best enjoyed from the beginning.

From Vimeo Description:

Casual 2.6: A Fork/Road
The much anticipated Season 2 Finale
Starring Lauren Marini & Brian Thomas Smith
Guest Starring Mary Jo Deschanel
Featuring Janna Vanheertum, Derek Reckley, Michael Hobert, Jamie Stout, Jessica Rich, Jonathan Mariande, David Goryl and Alyshia Ochse

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Take Me Back Ep.7 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

Take Me Back – Chapter 7 from Joe and Seth on Vimeo.

“Okay, but then who the fuck is that in the kitchen?”

This series started so strong, but I feel like it’s been running in place for the past three or four episodes.

I think the problem is that this show has an interesting plot, but not particularly interesting characters. For many screenwriters who have read Sid Field, (or even ones that haven’t, it has become something of a screenwriter clutch) the story is divided into 3 acts, which is really just a pretentious, ‘How To book’ selling way to say beginning, middle and end. The middle, the act 2 of movies, is the hard part because it is easy to fall into the trap of having your characters spin their wheels until enough has happened that they can head for the ending you have planned. And that’s kinda what’s happening here – the middle of the story isn’t the interesting part but the writers need certain things to happen in order to get to the ending… only those certain things aren’t particularly surprising or interesting.

In the case of this episode, we’ve kinda seen much of this happening already. In fact, we kinda could have skipped from episode… 4 maybe to this one without anyone feeling like they’ve missed much (with a little tweaking of the writing, perhaps.) I mean, I get it – plot wise you could argue that stuff has happened, we haven’t been staring at a blank screen, but has enough information been revealed, either of the plot or the characters, in the past three or so episodes?

Well, there’s only three episodes left, so I hope we’re headed into the Act Three, the end, and that some cool, surprising stuff will happen like it did in the first four or so episodes.

From Vimeo Description:

Allan tries to make amends with Emma, while Al waits patiently for the results of his last phone call.

This is the seventh of 10 chapters in the original web series, Take Me Back. New chapters air every Monday. Check the series out and leave your comments in its proper home at TMBtheseries.com

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Aidan5 Ep.7 “The Life of Riley” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Sci-Fi Web Series

5 Swirlies

“In the illegal world, we’re born in a sewer.”

This episode of the unique, mixed media science fiction web series Aidan5 takes a break from the high octane action of the previous few and gives us a little backstory into Riley.

One of the things that this series does well is to take a look at cloning from various angles, and how it impacts our society; even if some of the angle they choose to examine are a little obvious. In this one, they tackle a few things, including clone discrimination. My favourite bit - and a very nice, interesting touch, is how vilely Riley’s original reacts to her clone, who then goes to the original’s funeral.

One the parts I liked the least is seeing Aidan as heroic (and thus, presenting him as heroic to the audience) for brutally beating a bad guy unconscious for threatening to hit Riley. Sure, the guy was a bad guy, but Aidan is a cop - we’re supposed to cheer on this behaviour? It is a small beef, more of a pet peeve about how the U.S. cop mythology is handled in general rather than a complain about this episode. Oh, I also cringed a bit when Riley was portrayed as a damsel in distress that needed to be saved by a strong man handing out savage beatings to those he disagreed with. I’m not saying every woman in every novel, TV, web series whatever needs to be portrayed as being as tough if not tougher than a man, it just felt very… thoughtless on the part of the writers, not coming so much from the character and on the cliche side.

I like that they’re willing to take a break and do something a little more introspective. And writing wise, it was interesting that Riley choose not to remind Aidan that they had met before - like she was making a clean break from the past. I also like that they fast forwarded a bit from the end of the previous episode - not that there couldn’t have been some great episodes in that period, but they chose to take a different route. For me, every evidence that the writers and creators are making choices about their story makes me respect them more.

I also really like seeing some new locations - man, I don’t how how the artist doing the backdrops can keep up with this show. They must be drawing all the time. One thing that I don’t think I mentioned before is the trouble they must have in matching the POV between the drawings and the live action material. How do they make sure the perspective isn’t off?

From YouTube Description:

Episode 7: A look back at Riley’s cloning and troubled past.

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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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Radiance Ep.9 | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Science Fiction Drama Web Series

5 Swirlies

“Guys, I saw something.”

Oh no! After the discovery of yet another pair of bodies, the housemates get a clue about what they’re dealing with… and what might happen next.

A nice, tense little episode. The web series Radiance has very short episodes in a serialized format, and it is one of the few series that manages to keep the atmosphere tense in just about every one. There’s a total of 19 parts, which means we’re only at the halfway point.

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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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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Radiance Ep.8 | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Science Fiction Drama Web Series

5 Swirlies

“I wanna die on a full stomach.”

Whoa. Suddenly, a lot happens in this minute and a half episode.

More mystery. More deaths. A new character. Probably if you have been following this show, you’ve been intrigued enough to finish watch the rest on your own. If this is your first time coming across this series, this isn’t a bad entry point.

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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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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