In this weekends Arts & Leisure section, two types of web series films were presented to audiences. The high budget film involving two well-known actors, verses the low budget film presenting poor quality and an unknown cast to its viewers.
Which type of film creates a better web series? Not the one you would think.
The “my Lifetime’s” web series episode Suite 7, included the famous Shannon Doherty, known for her role in 90210, and Wilson Cleveland, known for other short series films. The relatable scenario in the film catches the interest of viewers suffering from the common, “heart break” and “coping of a loss.” Doherty plays the role of an emotional hotel guest who experiences pain, depression, and all the symptoms most people suffer from a post break-up. To direct her attention from her problems, the woman keeps herself busy and in the end finds comfort in the hotel’s manager (Cleveland). Sure, the actors are experienced and their acting is great, but this does not always ensure the better film. This film not only directs its attention towards the female audience as opposed to males, but it’s story line is both bland and overly predictable.
The Oh, Inverted World web series catches the attention of the audience in a different way. Not only does the acting and expression give a hint as to where the movie is progressing, but the scenery and direction does as well. The film involves three bearded men and a girl. The group returns home from college and finds everything to be the same. Between getting beaten up by the popular jock (now a successful businessman) and doing anything for the girl of their dreams (yes, that includes letting her tie them up in her basement) all four of these characters find that nothing has changed in their mediocre hometown. The film is shot in black and white, to further portray the dullness of both the characters and the hometown. It is not until the end of the film where the story takes a completely unpredictable turn, leaving viewers anticipating the next episode.
According to Baruch College student Kari Pulizzano, “I thought the Oh, Inverted World’s film was more real. It was more relatable to our age group, graduating high school and then going off to college to come home and find it exactly the way you left it.”
Although the “my Lifetime” film involved clearly better acting and more money used towards the quality of the film, the story line and setting directs itself towards a certain type of audience, lacking other age groups and gender. Between the story line, cliffhanger ending, and creative filmmaking style of the low budget film, it directs its attention to all audiences and is overall the more interesting film. These two films prove that the amount of money spent does not always make the better film; it is the film that relates better to its audience and that keeps the viewers interested and anticipating the next episode.
