Introducing: The Outs with creator Adam Goldman
Scott De Buitléir talks to the creator/director of web series The Outs.
It’s about how people deal with it, when big relationships fall apart… and how it spits you out in the end.
Adam Goldman sounds calm, confident and upbeat – the quintessential American tone – as he explains the essence of his show on a phone call from New York. As creator, director and co-star of The Outs, Goldman has made a six episode, Brooklyn-based “web show” that focuses on two characters, Mitch and Jack, as they try to get over their recent break-up. At first glance, the series look so professional that it seems like the prelude to a full-bodied television series.
Goldman created The Outs with his friend and roommate, Sasha Winters (who plays Oona in the show).
We thought we’d make the show we wanted to see; I asked people what their favourite gay show was, or a show that involved gay characters, and there wasn’t really one out there. So we decided to come up with a show with fully-formed, three-dimensional people – something that wasn’t really out there before.
Goldman has made a valid point; the last popular television drama in the US which featured gay lead characters was Queer As Folk, which itself was a version of the British original. The Outs‘ audience has clearly noted the gap in the market, and the reaction to the show is clear from their fans on Facebook, which passed the 4000 mark this August. “It’s really picked up steam online and we have an incredible audience. We were delighted with that,” Goldman said, “and we raised a glass to that achievement.”
The production and acting is of a high standard, making the show look like something one would expect from a large television station rather than a public-funded, independent project. Goldman plays Mitch, a witty yet conscientious character who bounces off best friend Oona (Winters), while the talented Hunter Canning plays the warm yet troubled Jack. The only noticeable flaw, if it can even be called that, is that Oona’s character quickly changes from being the quirky-but-warm best friend in the first episode, to something of a bitchy ‘frenemy’ in the rest. Winters plays both roles brilliantly, but the transition in attitude, if intended, isn’t explained. The one who seems to steal the show, however, is Canning.
The screening of the fifth episode in Brooklyn in September and will be released online soon afterwards. Afterwards, a sixth episode will be made as well as a special ‘Hannuka’ episode, thanks to their campaigns raising US$22,000 – two thousand more than expected. All the music is locally-sourced, providing a platform for such talented musicians as Strange Shapes, Chris Rubeo and Mike Hamel.
The Outs can be viewed on http://theouts.tv. The Facebook page is http://facebook.com/watchtheouts.
