Last Will and Testicle - Season 2
A gay man struggles with his walking and talking lump of testicular cancer.
Interview with Writer/Director Byron Lane
Watch Last Will and Testicule season 2 on Dekkoo and iTunes
Congratulations on Season 2! How does the second season develop from the first?
In Season 1, my character tells his quirky friends and family that he has cancer and tries to comfort them by saying he’ll be okay. In Season 2, he finds out that even though the cancerous tumor testicle is removed, there’s still the chance it could come back. So he’s struggling to cope with the reality he’s not really cured (at least not right away—testicular cancer, however, is one of the cancers with the best treatment success rates). His lump of cancer, played by brilliant actor Drew Droege, follows him around and threatens his peace of mind.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this webseries?
We hope you think it’s funny! We’ve won awards and been in several film festivals. This is a series that wants to hear you laugh and also make you think—to find humor in things that can be difficult, to find camaraderie among people who are maybe going through what you’re going through, and to maybe see the world a bit like I did “after cancer,” as a place where time is valuable and life is meant to be lived.
Is it best if I view Season 1 before starting on Season 2?
Sure. But it doesn’t really matter. Season 1 has had lots of film festival play so it’s sort of certified as a fun ride, but to be honest, Season 2 is my favorite with shorter and tighter and edgier episodes. Each season is about 20 minutes so for god’s sake just watch both. Ha!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The biggest changes were done in editing. Sometimes a scene is too long or a bit of dialogue too clunky so it gets cut and rearranged. I edit all of the episodes so I am able to craft a mood based on what I wrote. I also love to steal looks and behaviors from actors that are maybe out of context in real life but I edit them into scenes to add some texture.
Last Will and Testicle is now screening at film festivals. What type of feedback have you received so far?
So much love! I’m so excited to have been in the festivals where we screened so far, including Dances With Films where we won an Audience Award. We have more festival screenings coming up but I can tell you about them yet because they haven’t been formally announced. But I’m so jazzed!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It wasn’t feedback but audience reaction that has been on my mind. When Season 1 screened at Dances With Films I was suddenly hyper-sensitive to the audience, especially people who could have been my parents. Every time there was a testicle or sex joke I cringed a little. But luckily everyone laughed on cue and we even won an award from the audience. I guess it’s okay if I keep my edgy humor after all.
What are you looking to achieve by having your webseries more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Hope to inspire, entertain, engage. I hope your readers enjoy the series and reach out and share their opinions and views. So many people have reached out during this process and I love it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this webseries’s message?
Always looking for ways to get the material out there. Happy to connect with agents and distributors. Let’s have fun!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this webseries to have?
I hope people enjoy it as I mentioned above. This series has been so fun and healing for me and I hope everyone who sees it can get a sense of that and share a smile with me.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about Season 2?
Is there a chatty “lump of cancer” in your life?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of this awesome ride! So grateful for the cast and crew and fans!
What else are you developing or working on now?
Writing a new series about a family in Louisiana, and editing a new one about twins. Stay tuned. Subscribe on YouTube for the latest.
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Last Will and Testicle - Season 2
Length: 20 minutes
Director: Byron Lane
Producer: Byron Lane
Writer: Byron Lane
About the writer, director and producer: Byron Lane is a Los Angeles based writer, actor, comedian. He wrote, produced, directed, and star in LAST WILL & TESTICLE, an award-winning webseries about testicular cancer which been called "fearless" by Cosmopolitan Magazine, "hilarious" by Carrie Fisher, "brilliant" by Stephen Fry, and "hysterical" by Livestrong Foundation. He also wrote, produced, and stars in the feature film comedy HERPES BOY, which also stars Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer, and won several festival awards including Best Comedy at Comic Con and an Audience Award from Austin Film Festival. He lives in Los Angeles with his boyfriend and their one-eyed rescue dog named Tildaswinton.
Key cast of Season Two: Byron Lane, Drew Droege, Peter Porte, Mark Jude Sullivan, Sam Pancake, Iva Turner, Eliza Shin, Jaime Moyer, Heath Daniels, David Luck, Jeff Gadigan, Brian Hennigan, and Wade Solomon. Cinematography by Nathan Warburton.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): yes.
Funders: Kickstarter
Release date: All episodes now at www.LastWillAndTesticle.com