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

A Drama Webseries

4 Swirlies

“We’ll be talking. Everything will be going so great. It’ll be so perfect. And then she’ll realize that we’re actual talking. That we’re actually having a conversation, and she’ll get all weird and quiet and man, it sucks!”

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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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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Casual S02E03 “Elephants” | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Romance Drama Web Series

5 Swirlies

Casual 2.3: Elephants from Altermotion Pictures on Vimeo.

“I think if you don’t start taking chances you’re gonna regret it.”

Out of the 9 episodes I’ve watched so far, two were rated at 4, the rest were 5s. Every time I go to watch one of these episodes, I think that they just can’t keep being a 5 swirly episode every episode. That there will be some misstep, some tiny wrong note that will make me think “It was good, but it was no previous episode of Casual.”

And then, I watch the episode, in the short length of time that I’m allowed with each one, I’m transported. And it’s not like a whole heck of a lot happens. In fact, almost nothing happens in this episode. You get no closer to knowing why they broke up, or whether they are going to get back together, but you do get some rich, perfectly executed character moments.

I hope this series goes on forever.

From Vimeo Description:

Casual Episode 2.3: Elephants
Starring Lauren Marini & Brian Thomas Smith
Featuring Janna VanHeertum, Jessica Rich, Derek “D-Bone” Reckley and Michael Hobert
casualseries.com
facebook.com/​casualseries

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Bob and Andrew S02E01 “Fallout” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

4 Swirlies

“I understand a lot of things. Science, Kodiak bears, etc.”

One of my favourite buddy sitcomy comedies is back!

This episode of the Vancouver based web series Bob and Andrew pulls back on the wacky comedy of many of the episodes in the first season. It’s funny, but funny in a more dramedy, character based way. After the blow up of the last episode of the first season, Bob and Andrew aren’t on speaking terms, and they both seem to have messed up their lives.

The production seems to have stepped up a notch, with some really nice lighting and great sound work. It feels very crisp and sharp. The bar ambient sound background is nice when you take a moment to listen to it, which takes a lot of work to sound full without intruding on the dialogue.

While I think the writers, Bob and Andrew, did something smart in introducing new character dynamics, I miss the interaction between Bob and Andrew, It was their clear chemistry and back and forth – ‘we’re friends even though we almost never agree’ – that really drew me in. I miss them being together as much as they do, which makes me want to know what’s going to happen next, but I hope that it doesn’t take them the whole season to reconcile.

As with the first season, the writing is the real stand out in the show. Like I said, less pure out zany situational and more edging toward drama, but still strong.

From YouTube Description:

We pick up Bob and Andrew a while after the first season ended. They haven’t spoken in a while and so they’ve had to find a way to cope without the support of 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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Out With Dad S02E01 ”Out With Dad” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Family Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

NOTE: Probably won’t work on iOS devices.

“Maybe we are.”

Okay, here we go. Fresh from Blip.tv is the world premiere of Out With Dad, Season 2!

I don’t want to spend too much time talking, you should watch it yourself, but this episode transitions from season one to season two without a bump. The moment we’ve been waiting for happens, and it goes more or less as we knew it would – Dad was cool. Nathan had a nice little speech about the stages as he went through them, but the big problem in Rose’s life – even know that she’s out – is still Vanessa.

There’s lots of nice touches, and more awesome special effects as imaginary Rose and Nathan’s serve to let us in our their thoughts and emotions, a nice visual device. And really well done – the real Rose and the imaginary Rose have some great timing, which could not have been easy to achieve in the editing. Other than that, director Jason Leaver is smart enough to get out of the actors’ ways as they have this pivotal moment in their lives – the shooting, while strong, doesn’t stray too far from the standard close ups, allowing the conversation to be what we’re focused on. Although, I must admit that I spent part of their time in the car watching the scenery pass by, trying to figure out where they were when it was being shot.

I find myself wondering what’s coming next? The central question of season one – can Rose come out to her Dad – has been answered. Will her troubles with Vanessa take up the full second season? Now that Rose is out, will she be open about it to everyone? Either way, public or private, that’s gotta have a big impact on Rose’s life.

And what about Dad? In a show called Out With Dad, Nathan will surely have a big role in what comes next, but his worry about his daughter’s orientation is behind him and he doesn’t have a Vanessa in his life to take up the dramatic slack. Will his romantic life get in the way of helping his daughter navigate her early “out” days?

One of the things I wanted to talk about is the length – at 13 minutes, it is long by web series standards. Now, this is very popular show, with around 1.5 million views, I don’t think the length of it will be a barrier to hitting 2 million and beyond. And web series and general will get longer. But I do hope that longer episodes doesn’t mean more drawn out episodes. I hope that Out With Dad continues to pack the episodes full of story. And there’s no reason why this episode couldn’t have been two episodes – either way it would have been just as strong. So the choice is: longer episodes or more of them? Which would you choose?

I feel like this episode is more of an end to season one, leading us into season two. With so much resolved, I’m looking forward to the new conflicts that season two will bring.

Congrats to the cast, crew and creators of Out With Dad! I know you guys are celebrating your launch tonight, as celebrate you should. You guys make one hell of a web series. Can’t wait to see that rest of them!

From Blip.tv Description:

When we last saw Rose, she was practising coming out to dad ? but will she? Does she have the courage? Inside she knows it?s time. But how will dad react if she does? Coming out can be the scariest thing a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning teen will ever go through.

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Take Me Back Ep.6 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

Take Me Back – Chapter 6 from Joe and Seth on Vimeo.

“I am open to you, I’m wide open. I’m like a golf tournament.”

In this episode of the web series Take Me Back, Al’s escape attempts with his cool radio phone sends his doppleganger’s attempts to woo Emma into a tail spin.

It’s cool and everything, and a good episode, but I feel like we’re coming aground on the complications inherit in the concept. First of all, where’s this show going? Many scripts and stories have their hardest time in what Sid Field called Act Two. Essentially, the middle stuff between the beginning and the end. It is hard to keep your story fresh, moving forward and interesting as you’re setting up what will be the ending. Here, I feel like the series is in a stall for the last couple of episodes. Al is stuck, and Allen is getting what he wants (until the end of this episode, maybe).

But what really starts tripping me up is the logic problems that you always run into in time travel. If the doubleganger, called Allen, is a future version of Al and has lived through what Al is living through, why does he always seem surprised at Al’s attempts to escape? Does he know what’s going to happen, or does he not know. In this episode, it is clearly implied that he should know – but he doesn’t. Maybe they’ll try to explain it away, but it starts to unravel if you pull at that thread.

As always – great acting, great filming. The static with the radio phone was great. This is very good show, but I feel like we’re not getting any deeper into the story or the characters, we’re just playing out the plot.

From Vimeo Description:

Al reaches out for help with his makeshift telephone while Allan spends the evening with Emma. Is either one successful?

This is the sixth 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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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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Aidan5 Ep.6 “Off The Tracks” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Sci-Fi Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Be advised: Suspect is clone of Detective James Aidan”

This episode of webseries Aidan5 is both supremely awesome and little cheesy at the same time.

This is supremely ambitious - shoot outs, flying scenes, a train racing through a city scape, giant crashes and explosions… in a Hollywood feature, this scene along would cost a million bucks and take months to make. There’s plenty to admire about the execution of this in such a small webseries - and what I’m assuming is a labour of love more than a lucrative venture for the creators.

But I found myself thrilling to the action and wincing at the same time. Some of the dialogue and action are standard action movie moments and cliches that feel like they’re here more because that’s what happens in action movies rather than being natural or believable to the story and characters. And there’s an odd moment at the end where Aidan, after risking the lives of dozens if not hundreds of people by firing at a train in the middle of a big city, lets the bad guy go because he runs out of bullets (he doesn’t try to chase him down or go after him, nor does he radio in that the suspect is getting away) and then he tends to his partner who was just in a horrific crash. It might seem like I’m a fanboy nitpicking how I would have done it - there’s nothing easier than going on the internet and spouting off on how you would have it different or better, without knowing any of the reasons or complications that lead to the creator’s decisions - but I don’t think that’s where I’m coming from. I feel like the writing here has taken a back seat to the cool, actiony, plot-twisty stuff in this episode.

Like I said, there’s a lot in this episode that they did right. I don’t know how they manage to make this episode every month. The animation may just be in a pencil sketch style, but the angles and camera moves are extremely well thought out and executed. Some of the greenscreen work is a little rough, but some of it is actually quite amazing - like the shots from “outside” the flying police car in which we partially see through the pencil sketch window. I can’t imagine that something like this is easy to pull off, but in watching the episode is so well pulled off that you don’t even notice it - you just accept it. And, for its flaws, the episode is incredibly cool.

And very watchable. I hope that my discussion of those flaws dissuades you from watching it, because it is easily one of the best science fiction webseries out there.

From YouTube Description:

Episode 6: After killing Hicks and stealing the Infinity database, Matthew escapes the police station with Aidan and Riley hot on his trail.

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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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