I wanted to share a webseries that I did with my class of actors, SIMPLE LIVES.

It was more of a concept piece since we had no money to do it and I had to do it all myself, which ended up being so much work. Lots of challenges, with getting locations, and using them again a second time when you have no money. Actors being unreliable etc. In the end I tried to at least just come up with some general characters and situations that I would like to pitch to get funding and then doing ti the way it should be done.

Enjoy it.

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/iEzaj9PZ8f8


Episode 2: https://youtu.be/8tzcYXAtPvQ


Episode 3: https://youtu.be/5pFLRdfSrm8


More episodes will be posted over the next few weeks. Hoping to finish around 6 episodes from what we shot, and maybe more.

Episode 4 now up. Would love any questions or comments.

Enjoy and share if you want:

https://youtu.be/VTH2M8GHZM8

Episode 5 now up. Would love any questions or comments.

Enjoy and share if you want:

https://youtu.be/78nt94Yl8G4

For anyone enjoying it, here is Episode 6. Love to take questions.

Episode 6: https://youtu.be/tKXc0mH98y8

The silver headphones on the black dude in ep1 are waaaay too big.

Just saying. :-)

Andrew

I don't think there is a black dude in EP 1, and those headphones are cool expensive headphones.. juz saying! :)

But thanks for your comment..

Brian,

I hope you don't quit posting here because of a lack of comments. I like watching your work but I barely have time to watch it much less comment. I had a lot to say about Cup Cake but never got to it. I watched EP1. There is no need for me to give props for your professional level of polish. You know what your doing. This is not your first attempt at these shorts. I think they are outstanding with just a few caveats.

Andrew, you made me laugh out loud. With everything going on in that flick you chose to comment on the big headphones. They are annoying to look at. They look like they are going to fall off any minute. These are dramatic flicks, The emphasis is often on "dramatic" not ordinary. If he replaced them with ear buds then they should not be there at all, they would serve no purpose.

Keep it coming Brian, I will try to watch more when I get time. EP1 had far less mistakes than Cup Cake.

Steve

Wow, fantastic. How big is the crew that put this together.

Simon,

It's really difficult sometimes to know if the comments made are sarcastic, trying to be funny, or serious. So excuse me if I am lost.

Brian,

I hope you don't quit posting here because of a lack of comments. I like watching your work but I barely have time to watch it much less comment. I had a lot to say about Cup Cake but never got to it. I watched EP1. There is no need for me to give props for your professional level of polish. You know what your doing. This is not your first attempt at these shorts. I think they are outstanding with just a few caveats.

Andrew, you made me laugh out loud. With everything going on in that flick you chose to comment on the big headphones. They are annoying to look at. They look like they are going to fall off any minute. These are dramatic flicks, The emphasis is often on "dramatic" not ordinary. If he replaced them with ear buds then they should not be there at all, they would serve no purpose.

Keep it coming Brian, I will try to watch more when I get time. EP1 had far less mistakes than Cup Cake.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I would love to hear whatever you or others have to say. And I don't get discouraged. I take the hate as much as I take the compliments. Some comments just seem to be serve no purpose, but it'll good. I have thick skin, but obviously prefer constructive criticism as it will help better myself, even if I disagree with it.

I have more to come. Simple Lives only one more episode.

Yep, that was a serious honest question.
How many cameras, what about audio, lighting etc...
I noticed just you in the credits and If you have shot, directed edited etc... that's a massive undertaking.

Yep, that was a serious honest question.
How many cameras, what about audio, lighting etc...
I noticed just you in the credits and If you have shot, directed edited etc... that's a massive undertaking.

That's why I thought you were being sarcastic. Yes I did everything. And yes it was a massive undertaking, doing sound, DP, writing, directing producing, editing, make up etc.

Only used GH4, use my little soft boxes lighting set up and 4 wireless mics with a Tascam recorder.

It was doable.

Good on ya and I know how much work is involved, been there... hang on I'm still here.

Gota say the GH4 holds up well.

Ah, I forgot to ask you, Audio, how did you handle this with 4 or more actors at once, what gear do you use.

Ah, sorry I just re read your response with audio in previous post.

Cheers,
Simon

Cupcake

Wow.

Good on ya and I know how much work is involved, been there... hang on I'm still here.

Gota say the GH4 holds up well.

Ah, I forgot to ask you, Audio, how did you handle this with 4 or more actors at once, what gear do you use.

Ah, sorry I just re read your response with audio in previous post.

Cheers,
Simon

Yeah I kinda prefer doing the sound myself, unless I have a budget for some real good sound people. I just found most sound people don't do that good of a job if you are on a budget. This is also from doing a ton of post over the years on other peoples projects. I am still learning, but I have come far in the last year or so.

Thanks for watching Cupcake :)

Yes, I can understand doing things yourself, I also do the same. What mics where you using on the Actors mate.

Cheers,
Simon

I used the Rode wireless mics. I do have some issues with some of them and they need some repairing.

Thanks Brian, look forward to watching more of your work.

Cheers,
Simon

Started at ep 3 to get a taste...and have started to work through the series. Totally hooked. This is an incredible effort.

Really love the acting across the board. Especially like 'Ida' (sp); the combo of her accent, attitude, and confidence is incredibly sexy. The racial mix and accents among the other actors give them a really unique and edgy rawness.

For want of better description, there's a kind of dark psychological undercurrent...these are anything but simple lives. It reminds me a little of one of my favourite series, "Six Feet Under".

I have subscribed to your YouTube channel.

If you're still active here, do you mind if I fire away with production questions?

Started at ep 3 to get a taste...and have started to work through the series. Totally hooked. This is an incredible effort.

Really love the acting across the board. Especially like 'Ida' (sp); the combo of her accent, attitude, and confidence is incredibly sexy. The racial mix and accents among the other actors give them a really unique and edgy rawness.

For want of better description, there's a kind of dark psychological undercurrent...these are anything but simple lives. It reminds me a little of one of my favourite series, "Six Feet Under".

I have subscribed to your YouTube channel.

If you're still active here, do you mind if I fire away with production questions?

Hi Miggy,

Thanks so much for taking the time out to watch and commenting. I know how little time people have these days. Of course you can ask away. This was more of an experimental series I did with a group of actors I work with. And there were loads of problems, but we can discuss whatever you wanna ask about.

Cheers for getting back.

Were the episodes getting written as you went?

Yeah. Because I lost locations and actors as it went on. We did it for no money so it was hard to rely on a lot of things.

Thanks for getting back.

Yes, I can understand that. Must be frustrating for you at times I imagine.

Things really started taking strange turns in eps 4, 5 and 6.

Did you have the first few episodes more tightly scripted?

Interested to know more about how you were treating highlights.

They often look deliberately blown out. Is that how you were exposing, or was that a result of grading?

Recently shot some vox pop footage in strong midday sun, and it really got me thinking more about highlights/shadows.

Thanks for getting back.

Yes, I can understand that. Must be frustrating for you at times I imagine.

Things really started taking strange turns in eps 4, 5 and 6.

Did you have the first few episodes more tightly scripted?

Interested to know more about how you were treating highlights.

They often look deliberately blown out. Is that how you were exposing, or was that a result of grading?

Recently shot some vox pop footage in strong midday sun, and it really got me thinking more about highlights/shadows.

Sorry it took so long. been trying to finish another short film.

The whole story was more of an overall arc based on the characters, each having their on journey. I had somewhat a beginning and where I wanted it to go, but tings went bad went we lost locations and actors who were an integral part of it. I only wrote bits and pieces at the time. We had no money and I really didn't even know if we how far it would go. Just wanted to create something to pitch to people.

You really only have two choices when you shoot interiors. You can have the windows blown out or cover them with ND filters, but as a one man show that's not very feasible for me. And I like the blown out look.

But I learn each time I shoot, so I may change the way I do things in the future. Lots of it depends on post production too. Still learning to be a better colorist.