Drama Alums Prepare For Their Web Debut
When out-of-work Jonah (Jacob-Sebastian Phillips ‘12) comes to live with his best friend Conner (Andreas Damm ‘12), they decide they must prepare for the impending “Zombie Apocalypse.” However, due to lack of money, the two must get resourceful and use what they can to plan for their survival.
So begins Phillips’ and Damm’s new web-series, Prepare.
“As recently graduated actors [from The New School for Drama], we wanted to create something with film,” says Damm. “We don’t have a lot of experience with filmmaking and this project became an opportunity to build a story, while learning about camera work.” Fellow Drama grad playwright Daniel Pearle (’12) is also onboard as a production adviser.
The web-series seemed like the perfect solution for them to do something fun and creative.
They started the production company, Safe Circle Productions, with the goal to air episodes later this month on not only their own site, but other hosting sites such as Funny or Die, YouTube, Vimeo, and MyTeeVee.com – the latter founded by Drama alums Kevin Allen Jackson (’98) and Andres Faucher (’00).
“We simply wanted to create something together,” Damm continues. “We respect one another as actors and we enjoy working with each another,” and cites the collaborative classes at The New School for Drama as a wonderful platform on learning how to create and work with other fellow artists.
All-in-all, this “crash course” in filmmaking has been incredibly rewarding and exciting for them.
“It’s a great feeling to actually have control over something and simply create work,” Phillips adds. “Of course, there are also moments when the project becomes incredibly overwhelming and challenging. There have been and there will be many more speed bumps, but we wouldn’t have it any other way – and seeing a final product is very rewarding.”
“We are doing what Drama taught us: create your own work,” Damm interjects. “Don’t wait for something to come your way – make it happen for yourself!”