Lucy & James - New Zero-Budget Sitcom!

Hello all,

I've been wanting to make the leap into comedy for some years now, and have made my first foray by writing and directing a 3 part mini-series to showcase me as a director. It's called Lucy & James, it's about a couple (almost 30!) who both lose their jobs on Monday and the week that follows.

We've made three 20 ish minute episodes that'll launch online later this year. This is my first project as a writer / director having spent the last 6 years as an editor / cameraman on various TV.

We made Lucy & James with two great actors, Lucy Leigh and James Alper and we made it for no money, filming on Canon Digital SLR cameras.

It's about our situation, which was that myself and my partner both effectively lost our jobs on the same day (we were freelance and worked together) when the Tories axed the education channel we were working for. Sitting around unemployed for a couple of months I thought about how odd a situation it would be for most couples, especially as a lot never spend that much time together (if they work apart!). So that was the genesis for the idea.

Here's the 3 minute trailer!

http://www.vimeo.com/27616106

What I'd like to share with you is a trailer for the mini-series we've made. We'll be posting the episodes online soon to be shared but I'd love to know what you all think of the trailer, and the premise for the series.

My aim for it was to show what could be done for zero budget (giving myself something to do whilst out of work!) as well as hopefully making people laugh!

I think a lot of people can relate to being out of work (sadly) and also of the realities of turning 30 and realising that you haven't achieved what you thought you would by that age!

The production values obviously aren't as high as 'real' TV and we shot each episode in 2 days.

I'd really value any feedback or criticism of those taking the time to watch it and will update our progress as we finish the episodes and post them online.

Thanks.

Ewan

I like it. I'm astonished this is zero budget, it's shot very well and the actors have a rapport that you'd expect to pay for. From a trailer perspective, a few thoughts

1) I like the premise, it's current and attractive to a lot of 20/30 somethings that aren't necessarily in the same situation job wise, but are living together can 100% relate...there's plenty to explore there.

2) trailer wise, there's some great material in there, but it watches too much like a list, a bit like an actor trying to "show off their range", that said, I still like it.

3) Careful with the "one liners", it's easy for some to come across a bit scripted, think more about what the characters would tell each other rather than try to import a gag..."your kidneys would go first" is funny on paper, but you've set up a cat gag and it's useful to explore the cat a bit more it's a good comic device in couples. i.e. "we have to sell the cat" // "umm if we sell anything it would be your DVDs"// "lucy,*cut to cat lying in a throne style basket*...really" // "what?!"

3) You can't use INXS music, it will set you back tens of thousands, find your own music....irritating as hell because the music works perfectly, but tis a fact of life unfortunately.

4) are they looking for new jobs? there's a lot of mileage there.

5) disregard any negatives from points 1-4, this is great, there's a rare realism in this, from it's camera angles to the relationship between the couple, there's a lot to explore and I'm keen to learn more about the characters...that's the best compliment I could give you.

great project, PM me if you need a sounding board for anything.

Thanks for watching the trailer and taking the time to feedback to us.

There's a lot more I'd have liked to have done (like the rest of the series!) but to be honest when you have no money you just have to do what you can!

Thanks for your thoughts on the trailer. I wanted to convey a sense of what the story was about, so I guess it does feel a bit "listy" but I couldn't think of another way of doing it so this'll have to do!

The 'one liners' you're referring to weren't scripted. That was improvised!

I thought it was a great way to show the panic that sets in (and to be honest the only time I did it!) Funnily enough although we filmed it in my old flat (and we have two cats) they never made an appearance. I was weary about including animals as commissioners HATE them!

I can use the INXS music for now. If it was going out on the TV then I'd get it licensed but for now (online) it's fine. Given the sheer number of trailers / clip reels that use licensed music it's not a problem. Unfortunately to enter any competitions I have to change it. Which sucks.

There's some of them looking for a new jobs, you're dead right, huge mileage here.

Thanks for comments and the feedback. Look forward to sharing the series with you when it's ready! Also very helpful comments for the script I'm writing.