Now that daily commutes are back we bet you’re constantly on the look out for fun, bitesized content to make your mornings and evenings less gloomy…or, maybe you’re more of a cheeky binge on the weekend kinda person! Either way, great stories are the glue that hold us together and we have some great suggestions for you to check out.
So snag a seat on the train and settle in because we have a list of 11 fantastic web series produced by talented creative teams from around the country. These stories are filled with humour, resilience, inspiration and human connection. From a Hearse to a school formal and absurd workplaces, we’ve got the perfect antidote to a stressful day.
Read on and discover your next binge-worthy series. Hear insightful anecdotes from the creators themselves, shared exclusively with Colour Box Studio, about the inspiration behind the series.
From the Hearse’s Mouth
Former funeral assistant turned comedian, Annie Louey, takes an impressive lineup of Australian comedians for a spin in a Hearse while discussing death, grief and the beautiful moments in life. Expect ghost encounters, diverse perspectives and deeply personal stories. It’s frank, raw, heartwarming and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Annie Louey, shared how she self-funded the series and how teamwork and persistence got the show to the finish line:
“I self-funded the series and it was treated like a short film where most people volunteered their time, including myself and the guests. We didn’t have to pay for any of the locations and everything was filmed in two days…the hearse nearly died on us the second day so it was almost a complete disaster!”
Annie Louey – Creator/ Producer.
You can watch From the Hearse’s Mouth on Youtube. 6x episodes, 2022. Produced by Annie Louey and Heidi Pietzner.
The Formal, Season 4
Dynamic creators Mon and Han are back for season 4 of The Formal. This endearing mockumentary follows Mon and Han as they attempt to make it to the pinnacle of high school experiences – the formal afterparty. This queer centred comedy explores friendship, the pains of growing up, the uncertainty of the future. There’s even a cameo from Chris Hemsworth…sort of.
You can watch season 4 of The Formal on Youtube and seasons 1-3 on Tik Tok. 34x episodes, 2021-2022. Created by Monique Terry and Hannah-Rae Meegan.
Lil CEEBS
Written and directed by Betiel Beyin and Leigh Lule, Lil CEEBS follows neurotic best friends Zion and Ruby on their quest to find a tolerable yet easily replaceable third-wheeling friend. It’s an eccentric and heartfelt quest for connection that celebrates young, black, female friendship featuring creepy dolls, poetry and a friendship NDA.
Lil CEEBS co-creator, Betiel Beyin, shared the vision behind the project with Colour Box Studio:
“We wanted to make a show about two young black girls from the West-side, who are unapologetically themselves,”
Betiel Beyin, Lil CEEBS co-creator.
You can watch Lil CEEBS on Instagram. 4x Episodes, 2021. Written, performed and created by Beteil Beyin & Leigh Lule. Produced by Nikki Tran and Amie Batalibasi.
Latecomers
This series delves into the complexities of sex and love whilst living with disability. Creators Angus Thompson and Emma Myers, both individuals with cerebral palsy, present a raw and honest representation of the frustrations that come with navigating romantic relationships in society. Combined with co-creator Nina Oyama’s experience as a carer, this series offers a realness and explicitness that’s rarely paired with portrayals of disability onscreen. There’s pain, tenderness, awkward dates and love triangles – all the ingredients of a fantastically complicated romcom.
Actor and Co-Creator of Latecomers, Angus Thompson, shared how his lived experience informed the creative process:
“When you have cerebral palsy and you’re trying to find love, or even just a hook-up, the journey comes with a lot of awkwardness, rejection, pain and loneliness. Most people just take it as their lot in life – but not me. I made a whole show out of it! And so did my co-creator Emma Myers.”
Angus Thompson, Latecomers Co-Writer, Co-Creator and Actor.
You can watch Latecomers on SBS On Demand. 6x episodes, 2022. Written and created by Emma Myers, Angus Thompson and Nina Oyama.
Celebration Nation
Celebration Nation is a workplace comedy series from creators Molly Daniels, Gaby Seow and Jenny Zhou. Set in a party shop, each episode centres around a different holiday celebration with an endless supply of visual gags and eccentric co-workers. There are possessed souls, undercover mystery shoppers and stolen guide dog donations to make you giggle.
Co-Creator of Celebration Nation, Jenny Zhou, shared her thoughts on creating content for a gap in the market:
“We made this series as a love letter to our retail jobs. With a combined 10+ years in the industry, it’s a job that has always been there for us as we continue our journey as creators. There is a gap in the market for shows that are target the 20-somethings to the 30 somethings, so we wanted to create a show that spoke to the contemporary women that we are. Youtube was the perfect platform to do work with this on!“
Jenny Zhou, Celebration Nation co-creator.
You can watch Celebration Nation on Youtube. 6x episodes, 2021. Created by Jenny Zhou, Molly Daniels and Gaby Seow.
All My Friends Are Racist
This series follows First Nations, queer and eccentric best mates Belle and Casey as they navigate life in their early 20s. Tensions rise as they attempt to enter the job market amidst viral videos, cringeworthy bosses, complications with friends and the ultimate symbol of assimilation; a ‘live, laugh, love’ T-shirt.
You can watch All My Friends Are Racist on ABC iView 5x episodes, 2021. Creator/writer: Enoch Mailangi, writer: Kodie Bedford, director: Bjorn Stewart.
Kutcha’s Koorioke
Kutcha Edwards hosts a star lineup of some Australia’s most talented Indigenous artists for a cruise around the streets of Fitzroy on Wurundjeri country. Together they discuss their connection to the iconic neighbourhood as well as sharing personal stories of discovery, pain and growth. Guests include Dan Sultan, the late Archie Roach and the late Uncle Jack Charles. Join Kutcha for a yarn!
You can watch Kutcha’s Koorioke on Youtube. 16x episodes, 2019. Produced by Anna Grieve and John Harvey.
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this content contains images and voices of deceased persons.
No Ordinary Love
No Ordinary Love is a K-drama inspired web series from creatives Esther Fwati, Helen Kim and Mina Kang. The series follows exes Beck and Hyun Woo as they are thrown together in unlikely circumstances and forced to hash out the reasons for their failed relationship. It’s a poignant look at interracial relationships, cultural expectations and broken promises.
Creator, Actor and Co-Writer of No Ordinary Love, Esther Fwati, shared with Colour Box Studio about what she hopes audiences will take from the show and why she wanted to create the series:
“I think the biggest thing audiences can take away from watching the series is just to be entertained! Just to watch something that gets them hooked, makes them feel happy, excited, seen, fuzzy feelings and butterflies. I think as a creative team that was our first intention to create something that made our audience feel, and if deeper conversation surrounding the themes of the show can be had that’s just a bonus.
I think it’s important that people of colour can have content that serves multiple purposes, some educational, some that challenges the status quo, some that’s a political statement and some that’s for entertainment and a good watch! “
Esther Fwati, No Ordinary Love Creator, Co-Writer, Producer.
You can watch No Ordinary Love on Youtube. 5x episodes, 2022. Written by Esther Fwati, Mina Kang and Helen Kim.
Australian South Sea Islander Stories
ASSI Stories began as a multimedia project for Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) to attend storytelling and media workshops to raise awareness around community and history. The series includes stories of activism, healing, serving community and discovery. The project was created in collaboration between Colour Box Studio founder, Amie Batalibasi and the Australian South Seas Islanders Secretariat Inc. (Brisbane).
You can watch Australian South Sea Islander Stories on Vimeo. 7x episodes, 2014.
FRESH!
Set in a Melbourne market, FRESH! follows several store owners from diverse ethnic backgrounds as they negotiate familial and cultural tensions in the workplace. Expect absurd interactions with rotten potatoes, burnt-out mothers, racist ‘Karens’ and spiritual healing with mayonnaise.
Writer/Producer of FRESH! Nikki Tran, explained the inspiration behind the series with Colour Box Studio:
“It’s a love letter to the community that I grew up in but also a look a the joys and pitfalls of living in a gentrifying multicultural community.”
Nikki Tran, FRESH! Writer/Producer
Producer Simon Trevorrow shared about the process of making a series independently:
Producing an independent web series was incredibly difficult. It was a constant juggling act but ultimately, what makes an independent production like FRESH a reality, is the commitment of the cast and crew.
Simon Trevorrow, FRESH! Producer.
You can watch FRESH! on Youtube. 6x episodes, 2018. Creator, Writer, Producer: Nikki Tran, Producer: Simon Trevorrow.
#Matched
#Matched follows Areema, a young Muslim Australian woman searching for her perfect match. There are plenty of cringeworthy first dates, meddling mothers and even an encounter with a Jinn. This is the first Australian production to enact a Cultural Safety Policy on set which committed to at least 50% Muslim cast and crew, and accommodated religious holidays and prayer times into production schedules.
You can watch #Matched on Tik Tok. 20 Episodes, 2021-2022. Created by Kauthar Abdulalim.
All images courtesy of the artists.