Interview with Samuell Benta - Creator of All About The McKenzies

Samuell Benta has created an online sitcom series called 'All About The McKenzies'. The series has only been online a couple of months but has already notched up over 1/2 a million viewers an episode. We dropped Samuell an email to find out more about the show and his reaction to the success...

Hi Samuell. Perhaps we could start by asking you to tell us a little about your background?

Yeah. I'm a 25 year-old actor/writer/director of Jamaican/Antiguan heritage, from London.

I performed and took part in many school productions when I was younger, and starting taking acting seriously from the age of 17. Music was also one of my passions - I performed under the rap alias 'Myster?ous' - I had my fair share of run-ins with the law back then, but decided to turn over a new leaf and make a commitment to myself to set a positive example for the younger generation.

Inspired by the likes of Will Smith and Denzel Washington, I set myself off on a mission to become 'the next box office king in Hollywood'. My first TV experience was on The Bill, and I've since gone to on have roles in shows like Silent Witness, Hotel Babylon, Doctors and EastEnders E20. I was the first British actor to land a role in the franchise Power Rangers Operation Overdrive too, that took me to New Zealand for nearly 8 months filming.

So what was your inspiration for creating 'All About The McKenzies'?

I was going through a tough relationship at the time (this helped with storyline). There was also the fact that we, as a black community, do not have a lot of content that reflects us in a positive light - everything we see portrays a negative illusion of us. We are not like that and I feel it's my responsibility as a person to shine a different light for a different perspective, for the sake of the younger generation.

Thirdly, I feel that networks do not give us a chance to come up with our own content - it will either be watered down or tampered with in some shape or form, and so I said to myself that I was going to 'independently make this show and it will be a huge hit internationally!'

Lastly, as an actor we need to step up our game in the industry, it's not about just being an actor nowadays - I want to show people I am a brand; I am a product altogether who can write, direct, act and produce lots of shows!

So how did you get the kit, actors and other people involved to make it happen?

I created a PowerPoint presentation about all the characters and posted it online on a talent website to advertise for actors. I soon had shed loads of actors wanting to get involved...

I reviewed all their submissions and selected who I wanted to see audition. The auditions were held in a room in a university, and also at my friend's house. In terms of getting the equipment needed, I knew a cameraman and an editor who was keen to get involved and he had his own equipment.

What challenges did you face when filming it? We understand your first attempt at making the show had a few issues?

Yes, there were a few challenges! I filmed the first pilot episode in March 2011. I had hired a camera guy online, we laboured away for three days filming the episode (at the time web was not even an idea - I was aiming for TV, so 25 minutes of an episode was recorded).

Let's just say the camera guy never gave me my footage for the show and I've never heard from him since, despite all the emails and phone calls I made to him.

On the actual web series filming days, it was challenging wearing a few 'hats' on set, but it gave me such a buzz!

What did you learn/discover as you went on?

I learnt so much from all roles. I had experience directing on EastEnders... I was shadow directing with one of the main directors on there.

I am like a sponge where I absorb just by watching and listening on set, this helped me with directing actor's reels, and once again I learned from doing that!

I would say, as a producer, that's where most learning came from - and I will always be learning as things change all the time. Too much to mention here...

The show has become a hit... how did you build up such a big audience in such a short space of time?

I have promoted the show in school assemblies. I've also had a lot of interviews for bloggers online and newspapers (such as community papers and The Voice) and, most recently, got a write-up in The Guardian. There are a few websites in The States that have the series embedded on there also.

Would it be fair to say the reaction has been better than you could have ever expected? Or did you always know it'd be a hit?

I was expecting the audience to love the show, if I'm honest! I was overwhelmed with all the responses I was getting back from people and they kept asking for more, which was why I've started a campaign online for people to donate funds to making a second series.

Thanks Samuell, and all the best with your campaign to raise funds!

[i]You can see the full first series of 'All About The McKenzies' on YouTube