Wisted Productions

Shooting commences tomorrow on The Roommates episode involving a pyrotechnic and the roommates, who have their own ideas about blowing off steam. It involves a Hummer and a Chevy station wagon — that’s all I’m at liberty to say at this point.

Coming shortly is a brief bio of the cast, with pictures and maybe some sound bytes if I can find somewhere to hide a microphone.

For anyone inclined to wonder, we’re using Panasonic’s HMC150 and shooting 720p at 30fps. The heavy lifting for audio has been delegated to a Rode NTG-1, with occasional use of an Audio Technica lavalier. An Olympus LS-10 will also play a major role in the show, adding its exceptional abilities in ambiance recording and possibly some dialogue pick-ups.

Special thanks to Joshua DeCrane, our intern for the last several months. He is a recent Graphics Design graduate of Western Illinois University and is available for freelance hire if you’re looking for some extra polish or comic relief (he’s a very funny guy). He’s proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, and has over ten years of experience in production work. He recently completed his internship at Wisted and although he’s moving on, I hope to work with him again.

Thirteen roles have been officially cast for The Roommates, with a few hold-outs due to unforeseen circumstance. I hate that phrase: unforeseen circumstance. It’s like pomp and circumstance, only slightly less gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I hope to have everything finalized soon and will announce the fullRoommates cast list shortly.

To all auditionees who showed up at the Sands Regency, thank you for coming.  Even if not cast for the show, you will be kept on file for future productions, including but limited to a breathtaking new concept that blends porn and ice skating. Just kidding, I don’t know anything about ice skating.

The first Roommates appearance will feature a genuine pyrotechnician from Craigslist, a Hummer, and a gigantic explosion. As a general rule, The Roommates won’t feature much in the way of explosive action sequences, but this is a special occasion and deserves a deafening report to go along with it.

We’re currently in negotiations with private land owners  who also happen to own high-caliber weaponry for remote detonation. From what I understand, most of this is completely legal.

Stay tuned…

Just a quick thank you to everyone for making the auditions a great success. It’s clear that Reno has a lot of talent just waiting to be tapped, as our August 17th and 18th  sessions proved at the Sands this week.

Special thanks also go to the Sands Regency for donating the conference space. I tried one of their Thai dishes at the Fuzio cafe and was very impressed. Jennifer, Laura, and Hector in the sales department were all very helpful and even created some helpful signs for the auditions!

Nearly as exciting as casting is the compilation of a veritable rolodex of Reno’s best in performance talent. We’re looking forward to calling upon a handful of you for The Roommates as well as future productions in the Reno area. If your availability (location) changes on a permanent basis, please let us know! In addition, we’re always taking new submissions for talent, so feel free to refer your aspiring or established actor friends of all ages to Wisted (tell them to email their bio / photos / resume) for future consideration.

Thanks again, and we look forward to working with you!

August 17 and 18 @ the Sands Regency casino in Reno, NV (thank you Sands!). Everyone who submitted their info — thanks for your interest. Those of you who have been contacted with an invite will be supplied shortly with a time for your requested date (Monday or Tuesday) as well as the conference room you are to report to.

Due to the number of responses, your time will be randomly assigned. Looking forward to meeting you all at the Sands Regency!

Sands Casino

59 is entirely too young for anyone to die, let alone a writer as talented as John Hughes. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is my personal favorite, though his 80s films are equally noteworthy.

In 2001 I took my first theatre class in college, and our initial assignment was to perform a monologue. I picked The Breakfast Club because it featured some exceptional writing and I wanted to play an out-of-type jock (Emilio Estevez), far more challenging than the rueful,  dreary stuff most of the other kids went with (Bill & Ted’s Adventure, Bad Boys, and Independence Day come to mind).

Every time I rent a car at an airport, I’m reminded of the hilarious exchange between Steve Martin and the incompetent Rent-A-Car clerk. Hughes was right; the experience is usually less-than-pleasant. Last time I rented a car, one of their employees stole my Garmin GPS unit. Adios, John.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

After coming up empty with Boomtown and Harrah’s, things are looking promising for another downtown Reno property. They have good availability for conference bookings during the week of August 10th. Final details will be posted here soon so stay tuned.

Ever shopped on Craigslist? Pictures can be misleading, and a lack of accountability makes accuracy a rarity in this virtual flea market. The Roommates experience this firsthand in the series’ pilot, The Craigslist Couch, an episode that should strike a chord with the beatnik apartment dwellers of the world (me included).

Casting details will be finalized soon, to be followed by an infinitely charming piece of press copy that we’ll try to spin double-time as a purposeful bio feature for each of the major players. As for final auditions, we’re in talks with casinos in the Reno area, possibly leaning toward the one with the biggest Boomstick. Stay tuned, and RIP Walter Cronkite.

The response has been overwhelming for The Roommates, and auditions are looming near. Dates, times, and locations will be posted here within the next week or two, so stay tuned.

If you’re interested in auditioning, drop an email to wistedco@wisted.com with a brief bio and at least one current picture.

At this time we are seeking actors of all ages, but males between 25-35 are especially encouraged to audition. These will be the primary leads, though there is a definite need for regular extras, reoccuring guest stars, and other potential additions to the cast on a semi-permanent basis.