The world of online web series is broadening every day. One of the hottest shows is out of Canada: Seeking Simone, and Jen Kilchenmann managed to catch up with the show’s creators, Renee Olbert and Rosemary Rowe, for So So Gay.
SSG: Tell us a little about your web series Seeking Simone. How did the project come about?
Renee Olbert (RO): The tag line for our series is Online Dating Has Never Been So Gay. As that tag would suggest, ours is a comedy about online dating. I play Simone, who suddenly finds herself transplanted from her native Vancouver to Toronto where she doesn’t know a soul. Despite her misgivings, her best friend Audrey coerces her into trying online dating. And hilarity ensues! The project came about because Rosemary and I had wanted to work together for some time and we got to a point where we were tired of waiting to be given permission to create art.
There is definitely a growing interest in web-based content. What was your main reason to produce for the web? Were you inspired by anyone to create this type of content?
RO: The main reason that we chose the web was because we wanted to create something that was distinctly ours. That we had total creative control over and that would represent stories that we wanted to see. The web felt like the perfect place for that to happen. The web right now is a little bit like the wild west of yore, which makes it the perfect place for artists to take control of their product and make it happen. All you need is a camera and a dream, people! And snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
We were ( and still are) greatly influenced by Felicia Day and her all round awesomeness. She really is the queen of this genre and we learned a lot from watching her series grow and flourish. That said, we take inspiration from all our fellow web series creators who are boldly going out into the internets and making compelling and exciting stories come to life.
As a general rule, while lesbian characters are becoming increasingly part of mainstream TV and film, do you personally feel represented? Which characters do you feel show the most positive images currently?
RO: Although I do applaud mainstream TV and film for the concerted efforts they are making to represent our community in more fulfilling and well rounded ways, I do believe we are a long way from where we should be. I long for the day that our lives, our loves and our stories are depicted with the frequency that straight stories are.
To be perfectly honest, I think the most real and grounded LGBT depiction on TV right now is the relationship between Cam and Mitchell on Modern Family. Not only do they make me laugh hysterically, but I believe them. I believe in their authenticity as human beings, as partners and as members of the LGBT community.
Do you have any advice for aspiring web series makers?
Rosemary Rowe (RR): Wow, do we ever. Here are my top webseries tips:
- Find people who are as excited about the project as you are. Renee and I are the first to admit that we are not filmmakers – so while our skill sets had the writing, acting and producing parts covered, that’s all we had covered. We were very lucky to find people who knew what they were doing – were it not for our Season 2 director (Naomi Jaye), our Season 1 director (Lisa Hayes), our multi-talented DOP (Danny Winchester) and our editors (Sara Gilchrist and Ian Harvey), we could not in any way have pulled this off.
- Keep your cast and crew well fed, especially if you’re not paying them. Seriously. Mini-meatballs + beer = loyalty.
- If you need something, ask! Whether it’s a piece of equipment you need or a location to shoot in, or an actor you feel may be ‘out of your league’, you should just ask ‘em. The worst thing that happens is that they’ll say ‘no’ – and often, they don’t! People are generally pretty keen to be part of fun projects.
- Support and learn from other web series creators. The web series community is pretty big and also, generally, pretty awesome. You may see some other web series as competition, but the internet is a big place and there’s room for everyone. It’s been really fun to connect with other web series creators and swap tips on everything from promotion to technical tips.
When can we expect the next episode? Where can viewers contribute?
RO: The final episode of Season 2 is in our editor Sara Gilchrist’s very capable hands – we hope to be able to wrap the season up (with a big cliff-hanger!) by the holiday season. As for contributions to our efforts – honestly, the biggest contribution our viewers can make is to enjoy the show and help us spread the word. Post about it on Facebook and Twitter! Blog about it! Tell your mom! That said, we also accept cash! You can send us your hard-earned dollars (or pounds) via the donate button on our website: www.seekingsimone.com
What types of other projects do you two work on when you’re not thrilling lesbians on the internet?
RR: Seeking Simone is my first foray into the magical world of moving pictures – I’m mostly a playwright and am working on a few different projects right now. My short faux-academic ‘Anne of Green Gables made me gay’ piece, entitled Anne and Diana Were TOTALLY DOING IT, was just published in an anthology called Queering the Way, and I’m putting the finishing touches on my ‘nurses in the Gold Rush, 1898′ play, Camp Victoria, which will hopefully be receiving a production next year. Corsets for everyone! I’m pretty old school.
RO: Wow, Rose, you’re burning it up out there! You all should buy the anthology- the play is great… I should know, I was in it! As for me, I recently had the great pleasure of teaming up with another amazing web creator Tina Cesa Ward to be a part of her latest project Good People in Love. It was such a thrill to be able to work with Tina and I’m very excited for everyone to get to experience this latest project. As a matter of fact, the first two episodes are now available. Watch it.
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