by Dov Kornits
Starring Lawrence Hawkins (Dear Evan Hansen, Neighbours), Guy Vadas (aka @PotteryBoy in his acting debut), with a special appearance by Danielle Cormack, SITUATIONSHIP is a 26 x 1 minute vertical series that recently launched on National Coming Out Day.
So, what’s director Roberto Nascimento’s ‘Coming Out’ story? “I came out when I was 23 or 24. It took me a while to muster the courage to admit it to myself and talk to people about it. But when it came to my family and friends, I was incredibly lucky to have such supportive people around me. A lot of people don’t have that experience, which is why creating a queer show feels so important: to offer positive representation to those who are still figuring out who they are. And that’s why we chose to launch the series on National Coming Out Day – in celebration and solidarity.”
How does one learn to make a 26 x 1 minute vertical series?
“I love a challenge, so I wanted to experiment with the format while still creating something beautiful, with a strong focus on great performances and a visual language that keeps audiences curious and engaged. It’s a mix of my experience making traditional web series and short films, with a little bit of madness thrown in. The cliché is true: every film project is a small miracle, isn’t it?”
Where did the story/stories for SITUATIONSHIP come from?
“The idea for SITUATIONSHIP came from my own dating experiences – both good and bad – and my love of rom-coms. Having lived in multiple countries, I’ve noticed similar patterns in people’s behaviour, regardless of geography: everyone wants connection. Now, as a Sydneysider, I wanted to make Sydney a character in my take on the classic rom-com – one that feels queer, exciting, and cinematic.”
How did you fund SITUATIONSHIP?
“SITUATIONSHIP was almost entirely self-funded! To get things started, I ran a crowdfunding campaign and raised $3,000. The rest came from my own money, along with contributions from our cinematographer Tommy Thoms, who invested in some beautiful lenses, and our producers Judah Jackson and Monique Placko, who supported me enormously throughout the shoot.
“I also want to acknowledge the entire cast and crew for this project. These incredible professionals donated their time and expertise because they believed in Situationship, and I’m incredibly grateful and humbled by that.”
We understand that you’re also developing a feature film – how does someone switch between approaching the making of a Vertical series with a feature film?
“Whether you’re approaching a vertical series or a feature, I think it all comes down to having passion and a clear point of view, while staying open-minded and unafraid to hustle. I’ve made heaps of short films and web series, and now I’m working on a vertical series, so it feels like a natural progression. I’m so ready for a feature. I’ve already written the script: a queer dramedy about letting go of the past in order to grow and find a new family. I love stories about outsiders, and we’ll shoot the film mostly in Australia and Brazil. I’m about to begin the process of finding investors, so it’s all very exciting.”
