Make "Hot Wax" Sitcom, Episodes 1&2
Donation protected
Dear potential supporters,
As of last year, I began to develop an idea––a show––that germinated under the bright light of friends, humor, joy, passion and, often equally, frustration. In actuality it is the accumulation of some ten years: from studying and working in filmmaking; to moving to New York as a photographer and writer; to exploring the amusing, sometimes pointless, ridiculous corners of growing up and getting older; of haunting the East Village bars, surrounded by the incorrigible, lovable maniacs who all would be the inspiration for this show. Motivated by my appetite to leave a creative dent on this accumulated experience and a bit of existentialism, I had to step back from myself, my hopes, and ask: Really, what’s the best thing in this world I have to give? The answer was a lucid one: laughter (even a slightly younger me would fight it––damned if I wasn't taken seriously!). But the ability of which, or at the very least being a little bit of a nut, has always been my prized possession, so why defer to anything but? From this, “Hot Wax” was created. With it is the power to turn all the ephemeral, irreverent nonsense and laughs I've had with others into a shared feeling brought to life and magnified on a screen. I made it as a love letter to the East Village, to indulge fully our absurd senses of humor.
Now, "Hot Wax" is ready to go into pre-production with the first 2 episodes. Meaning crewing up, casting the show, as well as checking off a myriad of critical production steps before filming the two 30-minute pilot episodes in the spring. This filming will likely take 8-10 days. In conjunction with these steps, I must begin raising the budget that will take the project from now, all the way to the screening of episodes 1 and 2 of the show.
You can see the treatment here
WHAT I'M ASKING
So, in order to do this, I'm gratefully and proudly reaching out to my community of friends, family, peers and acquaintances in order to finance Hot Wax Episodes 1 and 2 as I have always respected the support we provide for each other in many forms. Please don't feel a small amount is an ineffective donation––think of it like this: A full production is a fabric of resources, even if you donate $10, that single stitch may be keeping a crew member fed. The money, in total, will be used towards every asset of pre-production, production and post-production: casting, rehearsals, equipment, production design, locations, insurance, catering, transportation, editing, and more. Once episodes 1 and 2 are completed Hot Wax will be well on its way to securing the means to make the remainder of the series, an approximate 6 additional episodes, with the final intention of placement on a direct-to-customer streaming service.
I hope you'll share in the process of its creation and soon partake in the experience of watching it! All donors (public) will be given special thanks credit in both episodes.
I have provided at the bottom of this a graph that sums up approximately how the money will be used. A more specific breakdown of the costs associated with producing these 2 episodes of "Hot Wax" can be requested by emailing: [email redacted]
BRIEF:
THE SHOW
HOT WAX is a single camera 30-minute situational and observational comedy set in Manhattan’s East Village. Multiple character arcs center around a pining, manic 30-year-old named Alan as he attempts to over-architect his dream life before time passes him by. Through occasional strokes of genius and frequent strokes of pure absurdity, he’ll either get there, go mad, or accept the fact that misadventures with his four beer-guzzling friends are part of the equation.
SYNOPSIS
Destined for greatness or just destined to be distracted? Neither stops anyone from getting older. That’s the hang-up for Alan, the creator of the fluke-turned-cult-play Ratman for which he’s been given an advance to adapt into a young adult book. Worried the genre may compromise his integrity, Alan also adopts a secret, “much more” literary project that takes up most of his time. Determined to make a name for himself (his panacea for getting older), his quixotic expectations seem constantly undermined as he amuses the whims and itches of his four louche East Village best friends instead of actually writing. They are the urban park ranger, Eddie; the student, Mimi; the star of Ratman, Ben; and the thirsty soul, Lou. Together the company’s fantasies unravel into fever dream as they while away the time.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Pilot episodes 1 and 2 are to be filmed with an approximate target production of spring 2019. Post-production of those episodes will be completed summer of 2019. Subsequently, a private screening is to be held in New York to cultivate interest and initiate the next steps towards producing the full season and securing a streaming home for the show. In total, season 1 of Hot Wax will be comprised of eight 30-minute episodes.
Additional information for "Hot Wax" can be requested by emailing: [email redacted]
How the budget gets divided (approximately)
As of last year, I began to develop an idea––a show––that germinated under the bright light of friends, humor, joy, passion and, often equally, frustration. In actuality it is the accumulation of some ten years: from studying and working in filmmaking; to moving to New York as a photographer and writer; to exploring the amusing, sometimes pointless, ridiculous corners of growing up and getting older; of haunting the East Village bars, surrounded by the incorrigible, lovable maniacs who all would be the inspiration for this show. Motivated by my appetite to leave a creative dent on this accumulated experience and a bit of existentialism, I had to step back from myself, my hopes, and ask: Really, what’s the best thing in this world I have to give? The answer was a lucid one: laughter (even a slightly younger me would fight it––damned if I wasn't taken seriously!). But the ability of which, or at the very least being a little bit of a nut, has always been my prized possession, so why defer to anything but? From this, “Hot Wax” was created. With it is the power to turn all the ephemeral, irreverent nonsense and laughs I've had with others into a shared feeling brought to life and magnified on a screen. I made it as a love letter to the East Village, to indulge fully our absurd senses of humor.
Now, "Hot Wax" is ready to go into pre-production with the first 2 episodes. Meaning crewing up, casting the show, as well as checking off a myriad of critical production steps before filming the two 30-minute pilot episodes in the spring. This filming will likely take 8-10 days. In conjunction with these steps, I must begin raising the budget that will take the project from now, all the way to the screening of episodes 1 and 2 of the show.
You can see the treatment here
WHAT I'M ASKING
So, in order to do this, I'm gratefully and proudly reaching out to my community of friends, family, peers and acquaintances in order to finance Hot Wax Episodes 1 and 2 as I have always respected the support we provide for each other in many forms. Please don't feel a small amount is an ineffective donation––think of it like this: A full production is a fabric of resources, even if you donate $10, that single stitch may be keeping a crew member fed. The money, in total, will be used towards every asset of pre-production, production and post-production: casting, rehearsals, equipment, production design, locations, insurance, catering, transportation, editing, and more. Once episodes 1 and 2 are completed Hot Wax will be well on its way to securing the means to make the remainder of the series, an approximate 6 additional episodes, with the final intention of placement on a direct-to-customer streaming service.
I hope you'll share in the process of its creation and soon partake in the experience of watching it! All donors (public) will be given special thanks credit in both episodes.
I have provided at the bottom of this a graph that sums up approximately how the money will be used. A more specific breakdown of the costs associated with producing these 2 episodes of "Hot Wax" can be requested by emailing: [email redacted]
BRIEF:
THE SHOW
HOT WAX is a single camera 30-minute situational and observational comedy set in Manhattan’s East Village. Multiple character arcs center around a pining, manic 30-year-old named Alan as he attempts to over-architect his dream life before time passes him by. Through occasional strokes of genius and frequent strokes of pure absurdity, he’ll either get there, go mad, or accept the fact that misadventures with his four beer-guzzling friends are part of the equation.
SYNOPSIS
Destined for greatness or just destined to be distracted? Neither stops anyone from getting older. That’s the hang-up for Alan, the creator of the fluke-turned-cult-play Ratman for which he’s been given an advance to adapt into a young adult book. Worried the genre may compromise his integrity, Alan also adopts a secret, “much more” literary project that takes up most of his time. Determined to make a name for himself (his panacea for getting older), his quixotic expectations seem constantly undermined as he amuses the whims and itches of his four louche East Village best friends instead of actually writing. They are the urban park ranger, Eddie; the student, Mimi; the star of Ratman, Ben; and the thirsty soul, Lou. Together the company’s fantasies unravel into fever dream as they while away the time.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Pilot episodes 1 and 2 are to be filmed with an approximate target production of spring 2019. Post-production of those episodes will be completed summer of 2019. Subsequently, a private screening is to be held in New York to cultivate interest and initiate the next steps towards producing the full season and securing a streaming home for the show. In total, season 1 of Hot Wax will be comprised of eight 30-minute episodes.
Additional information for "Hot Wax" can be requested by emailing: [email redacted]
How the budget gets divided (approximately)
Organizer
Steven Yatsko
Organizer
New York, NY