About a dozen actors are sought for “Sundays,” a unique Internet show to be filmed on the Mendocino Coast this spring and summer.
The creator, writer and director/producer of “Sundays” is local resident Forrest Naylor and Fog Line Films. Naylor has several quite successful films that he has written, directed and produced, including “Calla Lily,” “Hallelujah,” “Favorite Color Pink” and others.
“Sundays,” not surprisingly, utilizes the cozy and gossipy setting of a small Northern California coastal town and the eclectic medley of characters who call it home.
“Millions of people of all ages are enjoying web series shows, because they traditionally are uninterrupted by commercials, they are 6 to 10 minutes long, and can be viewed from their iphones and computers — meaning they do not have to sit home in front of a TV to watch,” said Cindy Lemas, also from Fort Bragg, who will produce for the new series.
Naylor and Lemas, who both have extensive entertainment resumes, think this new technology presents a real opportunity to rural producers who would have had to compete in New York or Hollywood in years past.
“The only downside to this medium being so popular is there is more and more rubbish being uploaded these days, which makes it harder to find good content, ” said Naylor.
“But there are some fine jewels out there. More and more incredible talented people who didn”t have the means before to carry out their vision are creating engaging pieces of work. It used to be so expensive, and even if you were able to create something wonderful, there was the obstacle of how do I get people to see it?””
Naylor, a friend of Lemas and her husband Tim Gillespie, recently filmed the “Haunted Hall of Horrors” for the Fort Bragg Lions Club Leo Club Youth Group, said Lemas, who is the creative force behind the annual fundraiser.
“He was impressed with the production of this event and approached me with his project. I have always been impressed with his work and when asked, was delighted to be a producer of this web series,” Lemas said.
She says Fog Line plans to start filming early this spring in one week blocks through the end of summer.
“A perfect example of web series with a good story-line and content is the web series Sanctuary.” The show started out as a free web series that later got picked up by the Scifi Channel and is now premiering its second season,” said Lemas.
The “Sundays” web series starts with a web-based platform where viewers can tune in each week to click on the video and watch the show at www.sundaystheseries.com.
Fog Line is currently obtaining local “sponsors” of the show, who will get banner advertisements that direct traffic to their websites, Lemas said.
“We are also welcoming investors who believe in the project and can see the future of this form of entertainment. Our ultimate goal is to pay for the production, including cast and crew, and continue to build from there as the web series becomes more popular,” Lemas said.
Other web series programs have merchandise they sell to offset expenses and make money for the production.
Lemas, known locally for her singing and work with the disabled, is a graduate of Virginia Ernenwein”s School of Russian Ballet and was a lead performer for Ballet San Jose, including teaching Russian Ballet to young children. She was lead vocalist and sound engineer for The Sundance Band in the Greater Bay Area for several years. She has also produced shows nationally utilizing the talents of Special Olympics performers.
Lemas is currently a featured vocalist on “Pre-Flight” and “Landing,” music CDs that accompany two novels by Patti Angeletti. Most recently, Lemas was cast as a “client” on Lifetime TV”s “On the Road with Austin and Santino” show.
Naylor got his start in Amsterdam, acting in “The Amsterdam Chamber Theatre.” His career in Europe included co-writing an original play, “Playing With Shakespeare,” which went on a successful run in Amsterdam and received the honor of representing the Netherlands at the 1994 Cairo International Theatre Festival. After that he produced a play called “Cusp” which he staged in San Francisco at the Exit Theatre.
Auditions
Auditions will be held at the Mendocino Recreation Center in Mendocino this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 8-9 from 1 to 5 p.m. Naylor and Lemas are looking for four adult men, seven adult women and one male teen and one female teen for the cast.
A new episode of “Sundays” will air on the Internet every week for a typical TV type season consisting of 12 weeks. Like many of a new breed of internet shows, episodes are much shorter than TV.
Each episode will be generally around 10 minutes long and will be available for download to computers and mobile devices. A DVD will be made at the conclusion of each season.
Positions in “Sundays” are unpaid for now.
“As we obtain more sponsorships and/or investors, we will be able to pay everyone as the series becomes more popular,” said Lemas.
There”s more information at www.sundaystheseries.com. Those who want to audition can contact Cindy Lemas by visiting online and clicking on the “casting” link.
