What's that? I'm in a Web Series? Okay cool!

I've heard that the best way to tell a story is to start at the end briefly, then to go back to the beginning and work your way back to the end, giving a chance for different characters to show their perspectives. However, I don't have time for that. I have funerals to go to (Horrible skiing accident, don't ask) So I'll make this as brief as I can.

As actors, its easy to become naturally pessimistic. It happens and it's perfectly normal. It's just how we cope with working in a very competitive business. Being told that you're not right for a role because you look to young, or your nose is the wrong shape, or crotch-less jeans are inappropriate attire for an audition-- well, it helps give you a thick skin. As well as this, we've all been involved in projects that have fallen through. Film projects are notorious for this. That's why we try and avoid getting over excited when fun jobs come up. However, containing my excitement when Trit told me about Ultra Clean proved to be impossible.

A few months ago I was involved in a show with the other cast members called The Playwright's Dozen. Unbeknownst to us, Tristram came and saw it. He must have liked what he saw because a few days later, he added me on Facebook and told me that he really enjoyed the play I wrote "Ones and Zeros". I put the enjoyment factor of that play on the performances of Ollie Brylynsky and Jack Gow rather than my writing but what evs.

Anyway, about a month ago, we were told that a comedy Web Series called Ultra Clean had been written and we were being considered for roles. "Hell to the yes!" I yelled out loud as fellow bus passengers looked at me with what I can only describe as a combination of disgust and annoyance. After I got kicked off the bus, I read the synopsis. It was really something else. Exactly my kind of humour which is both amazing and kind of creepy. The characters are so well written and the dynamics between the four Ultra Clean members is really going to drive this show along. Ollie, Tina and Tara are all amazing actors and their involvement guaranteeing that this will be an amazing show to work on.

In just over a month, we've met three times, had table reads, rehearsals, production photos taken, found a production company and set up locations for shooting a pilot. This is going to be a rollercoaster ride, so keep your arms and legs in the cart at all times and if you vomit all over yourself, well...I know a good team of cleaners who can help fix that right up.

Thankyou for sitting through what is sure to be the worst written and least funny of all the posts on this blog. Let me reward you with a picture of a happy puppy!

What? That's what happiness looks like, right?

Right!?

Let's film a pilot

Well, just under a week after we started the discussions with various production houses to help us create this original look at the workplace comedy, we found a company keen to help us with a pilot (and hopefully our full series).

I would like to formally announce our partnership with 'Action Productions Australia' and an amazing like-minded Writer/Director/Producer Darren J Burns.

So what's next? Well we are looking at a date in November to film our pilot episode and from there we have an amazing opportunity to pitch our best possible version of the already strong first episode of 'Ultra Clean'.

Are we excited? You damn right we are!

We will continue updating this blog with the process and we look forward to continue with our plan to make this show hit your screens sometime in early 2013!

Cheers!

Meetings

We're having meetings this week.  I've been studying this instructional video from our computer overlords and as a result I'm now confident that I know what a meeting is.

Moving things along

Well, what a hectic few days that was. As the previous post confirmed, we have a cast!

What a cast they are, they laugh at my terrible jokes! But in all seriousness they are really great to work with, and this can now move along even further.

Today we all got together to do some promotional shots (will try and upload a small video by the end of this week) and basically get together again to talk our next step of the plan.

We are also discussing our future after the pilot, as any good pitch needs to know where it is going next. We are really building up to something great! We hope to be meeting up with production companies next week.

I guess the most ideal situation would be that we are filming (or even finished filming) the pilot by this time next month, so it's all getting serious here now.

Of course we will continue to blog about it to keep you all in the loop. (Or follow us on twitter @UltraCleanTV)

Finally, I didn't get bitten.
-John W

We Have Actors!

John and I met with four actors last night for the main roles in our web series, and it went exceptionally well!  For some reason our meeting took place in a soon-to-be-demolished building, which seems to have been largely appropriated by birds.  Possibly zombie birds.  We could hear them scratching at the walls and thumping at the windows, trying to get at us.  There were several times I swear I heard my name, hissed softly through a half-open beak.  But none of that distracted from our excellent meeting!

We did table reads of our first two scripts, and our actors showed a wonderful understanding of the material and great affinity with the characters.  Choosing a group of young actors who know each other and have worked together before has made our job much easier.  They’re a ready-made team, they've got chemistry together and they understand each other's rhythms.

John's a great director and he instantly formed a working rapport with the actors.  It was a joy to behold.  I've directed scripts I've written in the past, but I can't really see why I'd ever need to again if I can get John Wood to do it.  The guy was born to direct.

So... the big moment.  We are pleased to announce our cast for Ultra Clean:

• James Chapman as Hunterr
• Tina Cornac as Marissa
• Oliver Brylynsky as Dan
• Tara Gallop-Brennan as Gabby

I saw these guys perform as part of a showcase for their acting class called The Playwrights' Dozen just over a month ago and was mightily impressed.  In fact, the idea for Ultra Clean was born as I watched these talented actors ply their trade and thought "Someone should really make a web series with these guys, so he can blog about it".

Our actors are going to start blogging as well, to give their perspective on this experience.  Stay tuned for four different versions of "the night of the zombie birds".  Fun game: see if you can guess who was bitten by a zombie bird and is hiding it from the rest of us!