Hilarious Housemates: New Web-series aims for Serious Laughs
By: David Briggs
(Posted: August 29, 2016)
Terrible roommates. Most of us have had them—and the unwashed dishes, late rent, missing food, and arguments over the Roger's bill, that arise in their wake. The stories can become legendary, and can also inspire great comedy, for deep down, there is something hilarious about someone debating about what constitutes "excessive" use of dish soap.
Filmmakers Trish Rainone and Katie Uhlmann are taking the horrible roommate scenario and mining it for comedic purposes, with all the laughs and drama rendered into a ten-part web-series, intriguingly titled, My Roommate's and Escort. |

Or at least that's what Rainone's character, Heather, is trying to discern. Despite all of the hints and suggestions dropped by Uhlmann's character Kesha, Heather just can't be sure. Of course, it's this misunderstanding that creates the comedic tension throughout.
Referring to Rainone and Uhlmann as filmmakers doesn't give enough credit where it's due. As mentioned, they are both playing the lead roles, and both have strong resumes in the acting department.
They also wrote the series together, are producing it together, and Uhlmann is taking the helm as director of the series.
"We're shooting all of this in September," Rainone explained. "We have it fully cast, and we've started crewing up," for the Toronto shoot.
The ten episodes will run about five minutes each, and "basically in every episode the roommate does something that effects Heather," Rainone says, adding that Heather "gets dragged into situations, and the roommate who's creating all of the problems is completely oblivious to it."
"She tries to deal with it but it blows up in her face," Rainone says, referring to her character's attempts to deduce the truth of her new roommate's profession.
Referring to Rainone and Uhlmann as filmmakers doesn't give enough credit where it's due. As mentioned, they are both playing the lead roles, and both have strong resumes in the acting department.
They also wrote the series together, are producing it together, and Uhlmann is taking the helm as director of the series.
"We're shooting all of this in September," Rainone explained. "We have it fully cast, and we've started crewing up," for the Toronto shoot.
The ten episodes will run about five minutes each, and "basically in every episode the roommate does something that effects Heather," Rainone says, adding that Heather "gets dragged into situations, and the roommate who's creating all of the problems is completely oblivious to it."
"She tries to deal with it but it blows up in her face," Rainone says, referring to her character's attempts to deduce the truth of her new roommate's profession.
"I've had so many roommates since moving to Toronto, and you have no idea what you're getting into," Rainone says. "You're under a roof with someday, and you ask yourself, why in the world am I living with this person? How did I get myself into this?"
These questions, which so many people have asked, in part inspired the series' creation. With the scripts in the can, Rainone and Uhlmann have been busy in pre-production on the series and raising money for the project. Their Indiegogo campaign has been well-received, and there's still time to check that out. A $30 contribution will get you an invite to their TIFF party, which will be fun for all. Raise a drink to the memory of bad-roommates past, and help support some indie film. After all, like Rainone said, "with so many terrible roommate situations, why not poke fun of it?" Stay tuned for My Roommate's an Escort, as it should hit the screens later this year. For all the details, be sure to follow the team for updates! Indiegogo page |