• Discussion,  Project Updates

    Shakespeare Republic on Book, Stage & Screen #interview #shakespeare #lovethebard

    Shakespeare Republic creator/Director, Sally McLean and Executive Producer/Ensemble member, Billy Smedley were delighted to be invited into studio to be interviewed by the lovely Samantha and Gordon Napier on their wide-ranging Arts and Screen show, Book, Stage & Screen on WYN FM on February 16. Dealing with everything from how do we select the pieces, to the Shakespeare authorship question, to the history of the Elizabethan playwrights, to what can go wrong on set when filming, this interview became so epic (at 45 minutes long), that it became a two-parter!  Both of which are available below from the Book, Stage & Screen YouTube Channel for your catch up listening enjoyment. Huge…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Henry V does laser strike – S2E6 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Billy Smedley #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Six, Season Two to see how we put together the episode. See how we turn the peaceful surrounds of Lord Somers Camp into a battleground, just how much effort we go to in pursuit of the perfect audio, meet lead actor, Billy Smedley’s actual laser strike team (they exist and their team name is awesome!), and see the difference between RED camera raw footage and the magic created after colour grading. Featuring Billy Smedley, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Jackson, Amjinder Mann and Jahran Schansemma (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Tim McCormick, Marg Woodlock-McLean and Falon Ryan (Crew) and Ahren Morris, Jamie Hannah,…

  • Project Updates,  Video

    Bard-Raising – Shakespeare Republic is Crowdfunding! And we have a new video!

    Join Republic members Alan Fletcher, Sally McLean and Billy Smedley as they take you through the current crowdfunding campaign for Shakespeare Republic as only they can. Yes, it’s time for some “Bard-Raising”!! (with thanks to our brilliant Sound Recordist, Tim McCormick for the title of this vid). Hear what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and how you can help! Or you can just skip it entirely and head straight to our campaign’s donation page at the Australian Cultural Fund and make your donation … your choice 😉 australianculturalfund.org.au/projects/shakespeare-republic-live/ Please note: no cast members were harmed during the making of this film, despite appearances to the contrary. We’re still not…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Project Updates

    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…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    “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…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    “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…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Celebrating The Bard

    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.…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Project Updates,  Team,  Video

    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…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    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)

  • Behind The Scenes,  Project Updates

    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…