User:MichaelQSchmidt/workspace/Squatters (TV series)


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Squatters is an online sitcom written and directed by Brendan Andolsek Bradley (who stars as Hank), and produced by Bradley, Frank Kramer and Cooper Harris.

Background
Squatters was inspired and written by Bradley, an actor who experienced several stints "between places" in New York City.

While couch surfing in Los Angeles, Bradley had the idea to write a sitcom pilot about two characters who decided to stop paying rent. His vision was to create the "anti-roommate comedy." After successfully producing 3 transmedia commercial campaigns and working alongside digital creators/pioneers Felicia Day and Sandeep Parikh, Bradley was motivated to independently produce the series online.

Bradley self-financed the entire first season on credit cards and bartering acting work for equipment. Reportedly, during production he racked up so much debt, could no longer afford his rent; So he moved his belongings into his car and subleted his apartment. Luckily Squatters caught the attention of radio personality Frank Kramer whose production company, Toad Hop Entertainment, committed finishing funds to complete the first season and pay the deferred salaries of the cast and crew.

Bradley became friends with Erik Scott Smith while filming an independent film where they starred opposite each other. The role of "Alex Selkirk" was a perfect fit. Bradley reached out mostly to friends to fill the roles including Cooper Harris, Sandeep Parikh, Marty Lodge, Ryan Sypek, Jessica Andres, Austin Highsmith, Brian Ames and Steffany Huckaby. Christiann Castellnos was cast from a video submission. At a Tubefilter mixer midway through production of Season 1, Tony Janning asked Bradley if he could be on the show. That night Bradley went home and wrote a role into the script for him. Similarly, Joseph D. Reitman texted Bradley his interest in the show and Bradley offered him a role.

Production of 14 original episodes for season 1 began on May 13, 2009 with the official season premiere on the popular website, DailyMotion on July 1, 2010.

Storyline
Squatters is about Hank and Alex, two New York City 20-somethings who get fed up with paying rent and decide to live without an apartment. They each take a unique approach to their housing dilemma. Hank relies on his rugged good looks and frat boy charm to seduce women and “take them back to their place” for the night. Meanwhile, Alex secretly converts his office cubicle into half-decent sleeping quarters and freshens up in the employee bathroom.

Release
DailyMotion premiered Squatters as their first original comedic series on June 1, 2010 with over 10,000 views on the first day. The show has since become the most watched original series on DailyMotion and syndicated to Blip, YouTube, Vimeo and Boxee.

Reception
Squatters was first publicized in a featured article on Tubefilter News in October 2009. The coverage got the series noticed by DailyMotion, resulting in an exclusive, official content deal.

The show premiered June 1, 2010 on DailyMotion receiving over 10,000 hits. An early review from Tubefilter News reported, “they have a gold mine of a show on their hands.”

Squatters won the Judges Choice Award at S3LA after screening June 18, 2010 in Hollywood.

The series was invited to screen at Comic-Con 2010 as part of the ICONS Festival on July 24, 2010.

Squatters was an official selection of the 5th Annual Independent Television Festival, screening at the Laemmle Sunset 5 on August 2, 2010 to a sold-out theater.