Real Tinder Convos
Logline: How awkward would it be if Tinder messages were said in real life?
Length: 30 secs per episode x 12 eps
Director/ producer: Holly Hargreaves
About the director/producer: Holly Hargreaves is a writer/director & actor based in Melbourne. Holly has a short film ‘Walk the Earth’ currently on the festival circuit and a comedy webseries called ‘For Actors’ which recently won an award at an LA web festival and is playing at the 2016 Miami webfest.
‘Real Tinder Convos’ is her second webseries.
Cast: Holly Hargreaves, Christian Bizarri, Rowan Howard, Paddy Mac, John Frankland, Justin Hosking, Nicholas Sopelario, Dominic Weintraub, Feliks Waltersdorf and Nathan Luke.
Looking for: Film festival directors & distributors
Release date: May 2016
1.) Why Real Tinder Convos?
‘Real Tinder Convos’ takes real messages from Tinder and we say them in a date setting - to show how awkward it would be to say tinder messages in real life. And I made it for two reasons. 1. Because I thought it would be funny & awkward and 2. Men treat woman like whores on tinder.
It’s like they forget basic things like respect. I totally get Tinder is a hook up app & that’s great but that doesn’t mean men can talk to us like we’re dirty stop-outs. There is no way men would talk to woman like that in real life. And this series shows just how cringe-worthy it would be if people spoke to each other in real life the way they do on Tinder.
2.) Why should I watch it?
It’s a quick, snappy, fun and light-hearted series. It’s easy to watch and hopefully relateable. Even if you have never used Tinder most people still have an idea of what it’s about.
3.) Web series vs Drama?
I love doing both but at the moment I’m really loving making comedy web series. It’s more fun. I was lucky and got to work with an awesome dop & editor named Josh Hoareau from Cinestudios on both this and ‘For Actors’ He’s super talented and makes the series look great.
And I like working with the same actors if I can - Some of my character’s dates in this –John Frankland, Nicholas Sopelario & Rowan Howard were all in ‘For Actors’ too. So I would say they are both pretty similar but the comedy sets are more relaxed and fun.
4.) How does your acting influence your directing?
I direct to make work for myself. But directing & acting is really difficult. Running a set then giving a good performance is hard and I think you need a good AD or someone who is off camera, watching and guiding your performance, which I never have because I work with a small crew.
But I was lucky with ‘Real Tinder Conv's’ as I had Josh (the DOP) who guided me a bit. We’d do a take and I’d look straight to him & he’d either give me a suggestion or say it was fine. It’s great when you have a safety net like that. From a directing point of view I always cast actors I know will be great in the role without much direction needed so on the day we can just rock up and shoot it.
5.) What's universal about it?
Well relationships are pretty universal and Tinder is all about relationships - whether that be just a hook up, or a conversation or an actual relationship.
6.) How has it changed from concept to production?
It hasn’t changed much. And the end result is what I had in my head - which rarely happens. That is thanks to Josh though and the amazing cast, hitting their wanker characters out of the ball park.
7.) And the feedback?
I have only just started releasing the series. We are up to Ep 2 now but so far the feedback has been good.
8.) What's surprised you the most?
I’m surprised by how many people seem interested in it and want to watch it. I feel like this is the most interest I have had out of the things I have made which tells me that it’s pretty relateable.
9.) Future hopes for it?
I would love it to get to as many film festivals as possible and for people just to watch it. It’s up on Funny or Die too which is great. It’s a fun, snappy series
10.) Anything else you'd like to add?
I do have a go at men in this series - I’m sure woman are shockers on Tinder too but I have concentrated on showing how awful men can be to woman on Tinder. The woman character – played by me in this - is witty, smart, funny and wonderfully sarcastic - while all the men are dumb, asshole wankers who think with their dicks so I am surprised no one has called me out on that yet.
11.) Future plans?
I am just writing a feature and am planning on making another comedy webseries at the end of the year.