Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard – S2E2 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Falon Ryan #Shakespeare #WebSeries
Step behind the scenes of Episode Two, Season Two to see how we put together the episode and get a taste of the fun and games of making an independent web series. Things covered this week include the importance we place on sound during filming, as well as the usual shenanigans our cast and crew get up to. Huge thanks to St Catherine’s School, Toorak where this was filmed for their amazing support and for making it possible for us to film in their wonderful venue. Featuring Falon Ryan (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Billy Smedley, Tim McCormick, Shane Savage, Marg Woodlock-McLean, Taylah McLean Filmed at St…
Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard – S2E1 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Stephen Costan #Shakespeare #WebSeries
Step behind the scenes of Episode One, Season Two to see how we put together the episode and get a taste of the fun and games of making an independent web series. Here we show you how to build a feast in an Elizabethan-style hall with a despot and his two security guards – on a very limited budget! Huge thanks to Lord Somers Camp, where this was filmed for their amazing support and for making it possible for us to film in their wonderful venue. Featuring Stephen Costan (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Billy Smedley, Abramo Peghini, Marg Woodlock-McLean, Phoebe Anne Taylor. Filmed at Lord Somers…
Season Two filming complete and more festival official selections for Season One!
What a month it has been! Exciting news is that we have finished filming for Season Two!! After our initial 2 day shoot in August, we went on to complete a gruelling 8 day shoot in September, but it was totally worth it! We have some amazing images from the shoot that we are so excited to share with you later this year and have a long list of people to thank for making the filming possible. First thank you goes to our amazing location sponsors – The Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne, Lord Somers Camp, Somers, St Catherines School, Toorak and Toorak College, Mt Eliza. We cannot thank these generous…
“Art Smitten” interview about Shakespeare Republic – the “Lost Tapes” edition …
On August 30th, Shakespeare Republic Director, Sally McLean, was delighted to be invited into the SYN FM studios to speak with “Art Smitten” hosts, Thomas and Alex about Shakespeare, the challenges when working on a web series, where were the sword fights? and why can’t she bring herself to say the word “Macbeth” out loud? Sally was particularly happy to be invited in, as the show is run by high school and college students – which is exactly the group we are hoping to bring to the series as audience. And it was a great experience – a fun and wide-ranging interview covering all things Bard, with a lot of laughter…
Our revels now are ended … for the moment … Season One Wrap Up …
Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act IV Sc 1 What a ride it’s been! As the dust settles on our final episode for Season One, we’d like to take a moment to say…
“Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?” … the making of Episode Six – Sally McLean as Billie (Sonnet 18)
Join us for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Sally McLean’s episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. Choreographed production conversations (seriously, Sally and Shaun were seriously in synch a few times – they nearly do accidental jazz hands. No, really!), the joys of filming outdoors in 25 kph winds and the bittersweet feeling knowing this is the last Shakespeare Republic episode for the moment – all this and more in this behind the scenes look at what goes on off camera and off script. Behind The Scenes Director of Photography: Billy Smedley Featuring: Shaun Herbertson, Billy Smedley, Sally McLean, Tim McCormick…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Sally McLean on playing Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“Who ever lov’d that lov’d not at first sight?” … the making of Episode Five – Michala Banas as Phebe
Join us for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Michala Banas’ episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. The danger of letting your Director of Photography get in front of the camera, the fondness Michala seemed to have found for the “bird” and the general silliness a night shoot can bring out in an over-tired cast and crew – all this and more in this behind the scenes look at what goes on off camera and off script. Behind The Scenes Director of Photography: Sally McLean Additional Footage: James Dene Featuring: Michala Banas, James Dene, Billy Smedley, Sally McLean, Tim McCormick, Perri…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Michala Banas on playing Skakespeare’s Phebe
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? … The Making Of Episode Four: Ben Steel as Juliet
Join us for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Ben Steel’s episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. A slightly more compact behind the scenes video this week, showing the drawbacks of working with animals (even if you weren’t supposed to be) and the joys of filming in yet another bathroom, among other visuals make up this rather smooth sailing version of what went on behind the scenes in episode four. Behind The Scenes Director of Photography: Sally McLean Featuring: Ben Steel, Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Tim McCormick Edited by Sally McLean Produced by Sally McLean, Perri Cummings & Billy…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Ben Steel on playing Juliet
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” … the making of Episode Three – Billy Smedley as Hamlet
Join us for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Billy Smedley’s episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. The need for crew to multitask when there are only a handful on set, malfunctioning props and some rather appropriate graffiti spotted on the other side of the road from where we were filming (which will hugely appeal to any gamers out there … Skyrim, anyone?) – all this and more in this behind the scenes look at what goes on off camera and off script. Behind The Scenes Director of Photography: Sally McLean Featuring: Billy Smedley, Sally McLean, James Dene, Tim McCormick, Perri Cummings…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Billy Smedley on playing Hamlet
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t” … the making of Episode Two – Rowena Hutson as Hamlet
Join us for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Rowena Hutson’s episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. The challenges of working with water and electrical equipment, the intricacies of bubble bath wrangling and our Director of Photography’s realisation that Shakespeare is still being quoted, albeit unconsciously – all this and more in this behind the scenes look at what goes on off camera and off script. Special shout out to the newest member of the team, Charlie Johnston, for his brilliant behind-the-scenes filming work and Samantha Barrett Brown for allowing us to take over her bathroom AND taking…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Rowena Hutson on playing Hamlet
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“Be bloody, bold and resolute” … the making of Episode One – Alan Fletcher as Macbeth
Join us in this video for a peek behind the curtain as we show you some behind the scenes fun and games from Alan Fletcher’s episode for Season One of Shakespeare Republic. Crew quoting Shakespeare, our Director officially being named “Chief Govt. Whip” and Alan giving Will Shakespeare some heartfelt advice – all this and more in this tongue-in-cheek look at what goes on off camera and off script. Director of Photography: Ben Steel Featuring: Alan Fletcher, Sally McLean, Dan Evans, Tim McCormick, James Dene, Billy Smedley, Chris Farrell Edited by: Sally McLean Music by: Silent Partner Produced by Sally McLean, Perri Cummings & Billy Smedley Don’t forget to tune…
CELEBRATING THE BARD: Alan Fletcher on playing Macbeth
We have mused on The Bard and now that Season One is airing, we are Celebrating The Bard! This is a series where we asked each of our ensemble members to write down some background on why they wanted to do the piece they did, how they feel it relates to modern life, what challenges and/or choices they faced and why and any other information that would be of interest to you, the audience. Director, Sally McLean, also shares some thoughts on the process from her perspective to give views from both sides of the camera. Each “Celebrating The Bard” piece will be published the Friday after the ensemble member’s episode has aired.…
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t” or, the joy and insanity of creative endeavour …
On the eve of our broadcast commencing for Season One of Shakespeare Republic, with Alan Fletcher’s episode going out tomorrow morning at 11am, we invited Director and series creator, Sally McLean to share with us her thoughts on the process so far and any lessons learned … Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge all the creatives out there who are working their butts off towards their goals and dreams. We here in Melbourne are blessed with a fantastic bunch of creative people in all areas of the Arts who are all still out there making stuff that keeps us entertained, enlightened and educated, often on little or no money…
Do you have a favourite Shakespeare play? Would you play Shakespeare nude? Hear from our cast on this and more during the Shakespeare Republic Season One Launch!
Welcome to a big week for Shakespeare Republic! This week we finally begin screening the series after many months of planning and hard work from all the cast and crew and we couldn’t be more excited! Further to our post about our fabulous launch event held last week at the lovely Courthouse Hotel in North Melbourne, we can also finally release the full video filmed by the talented Paul Anthony Nelson of Cinema Viscera and hosted by Special Guest, Shane Savage from, among other things, Australian Web TV phenomenon, Chris & Josh The Webseries where he plays “Chris” as well as co-writing and co-producing (really, it’s so exciting to see how well…
Shakespeare Republic Season One Launch – new video released!
We are so excited to share the above video with all of you, which gives you a bit of a preview of the other content we have coming up from the night, including interviews with all the cast! But before we get ahead of ourselves, for those who may have missed it, we launched Season One of Shakespeare Republic on Tuesday night this week at the fabulous Courthouse Hotel in North Melbourne to a packed house – and we had a ball (as you can likely tell from the above vid). We were especially grateful to have the wonderful Shane Savage step in to do the vox pop/doorstop interviews with…
Michala Banas on drunk texting and boy trouble … it must be our penultimate shoot day!
Please Note: to our knowledge, Michala hasn’t actually drunk texted – not around us anyway! But as far as her character is concerned … well, you’ll just have to see the episode to see what we mean!! On one of the coldest nights in August in Melbourne, the Shakespeare Republic team embarked on our latest filming adventure – Michala Banas’ episode tackling the Bard! Filming in my and Billy Smedley’s lounge room in Melbourne, Michala gamely jumped in the deep end with both feet and brimming with some rather brilliant ideas. My strongest memory from Monday’s shoot will be the laughter. I do love all my Republic peeps, but especially when we’re…
Ben Steel in shirt and tie with a webcam … Day 4 is complete!
Before I write anything else, I’d like to say: Happy Birthday Juliet! Juliet’s birthday is one of the few exact birth dates Shakespeare gave us in the text of his works. According to his play Romeo & Juliet, she was born on “Lammas Eve at night” (August 1), so her birthday in Shakespeare’s play is July 31st … which is today! Day four of filming was actually our first night shoot of the season, filming the wonderful Ben Steel as he wrangled a laptop and webcam for his episode of Shakespeare Republic. Of course, I had the bright idea of trying to catch the dying light through the windows in the opening…
VIDEO: Behind The Scenes: How To Clear A Set In 15 Mins, or That’s A Wrap For Ep 3!
Today we bring you a fun short clip from our most recent shoot at The Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne, featuring Director, Sally McLean, Director of Photography, James Dene, Sound Recordist, Tim McCormick and Ensemble member, Billy Smedley – showing how team work can clear a set in 15 minutes – shown in under 1 minute, due to the wonder of time lapse photography. Enjoy! Camera: Sally McLean Music: Kevin MacLeod Featuring: Billy Smedley, Sally McLean, James Dene & Tim McCormick With thanks to: The Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne (http://www.courthouseonerrol.com.au)
VIDEO: Musing On The Bard: Sally McLean On Shakespeare
As part of our Musing On The Bard series, we sat down with each of our ensemble members to find out what their thoughts are on Shakespeare, the challenges they face when working with Shakespeare text and any other thoughts they might like to share with you and us as they embark on this journey into our new Republic. Our final video in the series focuses on Shakespeare Republic founder and Director, Sally McLean, who shares her feelings on approaching Shakespeare as someone who deals with dyslexia, the challenges of finding the meaning in the text and her thoughts on how Shakespeare should be first experienced. Interviewed by fellow Republic ensemble member, Michala Banas,…
Updates: Billy Smedley in a Red Room, wearing a suit with a silver tea service … 50 Shades of Shakespeare, anyone?*
*DISCLAIMER: Sorry guys, the scene Billy shot yesterday has nothing to do with that other Red Room stuff … we just thought it was funny that he was in a suit in a Red Room with expensive silverware – completely by accident … but we’re not entirely convinced that Shakespeare is ready for that other kind of treatment … yet 😉 It was with great anticipation that we headed off yesterday morning to the north side of town to shoot our third episode for Shakespeare Republic, this time featuring Republic member, Billy Smedley in a suit, a red room and my rather leaky silver service (nothing that some gaffer tape couldn’t fix…
VIDEO: Musing On The Bard: Billy Smedley On Shakespeare
As part of our Musing On The Bard series, we sat down with each of our ensemble members to find out what their thoughts are on Shakespeare, the challenges they face when working with Shakespeare text and any other thoughts they might like to share with you and us as they embark on this journey into our new Republic. Our next video in the series focuses on Republic member, Billy Smedley, who shares his feelings on the staging of Shakespeare’s works in the 21st Century, what the challenges are, and the love he has for Shakespeare’s works in general. WARNING: Billy shares all this in his usual direct manner, and while we have…
VIDEO: Musing On The Bard: Michala Banas On Shakespeare
As part of our Musing On The Bard series, we sat down with each of our ensemble members to find out what their thoughts are on Shakespeare, the challenges they face when working with Shakespeare text and any other thoughts they might like to share with you and us as they embark on this journey into our new Republic. Our next video in the series focuses on Republic member, Michala Banas, who shares her feelings on playing Shakespeare 400 years after he lived, the language and how she feels about taking on the Bard for the first time in her career. Michala’s sense of humour is evident in this piece, as well…
VIDEO: Musing On The Bard: Rowena Hutson On Shakespeare
As part of our Musing On The Bard series, we sat down with each of our ensemble members to find out what their thoughts are on Shakespeare, the challenges they face when working with Shakespeare text and any other thoughts they might like to share with you and us as they embark on this journey into our new Republic. Our third video in the series focuses on Republic member, Rowena Hutson, who shares her feelings on playing Shakespeare, the language and how she feels about the Bard in general. You’ll also see a cameo appearance from Alan Fletcher, who managed to turn getting everyone coffee during the shoot into an ode to the…
VIDEO: Musing On The Bard: Alan Fletcher On Shakespeare
As part of our Musing On The Bard series, we sat down with each of our ensemble members to find out what their thoughts are on Shakespeare, the challenges they face when working with Shakespeare text and any other thoughts they might like to share with you and us as they embark on this journey into our new Republic. Our second video in the series focuses on Republic member, Alan Fletcher, who shares his feelings about Shakespeare and the work in a contemporary context, as well as his general thoughts on Shakespeare as a writer and Shakespeare’s contribution to the world of literature. Through this interview, we get just how much Alan loves…
Updates: Rowena Hutson, five crew and a rubber duck … it must be our second day of filming!
As a rather chilly and very blustery Queen’s birthday Monday dawned, it found myself and several members of our extended Republic making our way down to the Mornington Peninsula for the second day of shooting. In a very beautiful bathroom, kindly provided by long time friend, Samantha Brown (we were around 5 years old when we first met. Who knew back then that one day I’d be filming Shakespeare in her bathroom!?), our crew gathered around to film Shakespeare Republic ensemble member Rowena Hutson – and a rubber duck. As you can see, a bath was involved, so that does somewhat explain the rubber duck – but you’ll have to wait until the episode…
