When dates go wrong RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.

Winner of the NYWIFT Outstanding Creator of a New York Series

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A BugHouse Media Original Series

Episode 01-04 are now live on the our YouTube Channel. 

Episode 01: MENAGE-A-DOG

Richard meets Sarah for a late-night hook-up only to be inundated by her dog AND ex-boyfriend/roommate/supervisor. Will the mishap go into Richard’s performance review?

Episode 03 : FREELANCE CEO

Richard hopes for a more substantial connection with Kendra, a "freelance CEO" who is more than hard core.

Episode 02 : LATE NIGHT FOODIE CALL

Looking for a little adventure, Celine decides to meet chef Dan at his restaurant after hours. Turns out Dan’s into “green beans.”

Episode 04 : MAN BUN & MALA BEADS

Celine meets Paul a "new age guy" who seems to want something more than the Green Bean Man. I mean, what could go wrong?

What is RFYL?

"Run for Your Life" is dating meets Run Lola Run. With the onslaught of dating and hook up sites comes, “Run for Your Life,”  a comedy web series about online dates that make you literally RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.  

Summary

Based in New York City,  our two main characters CELINE and RICHARD encounter one ridiculous date after another: a “freelance CEO”, a new age freek, a green bean guy, a couple of assholes, etc.  After imagining how the relationship could go even more terribly wrong, they come to their senses and RUN FOR THEIR LIVES….all over town.  After running past each other repeatedly in a Post-Dating-Stress-Disorder, Celine and Richard eventually meet, in future episodes...but will they find the love they are looking for?

How is it different?

“Run for Your Life” captures the comedic, surreal YET very real “I can’t believe this is happening” feeling that so many of us have experienced in online dating.  It’s an honest relief from the push/pull, love/hate feeling that technology has inspired in modern times, balanced with the timeless search for love That’s the subtext at the heart of this funny (not snarky) and bizarre web series.

Themes & Focus Point

  • The fucking of strangers
  • Loss of intimacy
  • The loss of the physical
  • The loneliest country in the world
  • The effects of dating surplus
  • The role of fantasy or fetish in online connection
  • Finding love/finding self
  • The colliding of worlds
  • The need for physical connection
  • Assumptions we make of each other
  • Quick to judge
  • Anything goes!

The Maker's Inspiration

“Run for Your Life” is a fiction show motivated by my personal quest to understand both the absurdity and complexity behind the/my search for love in modern technological times.  With the onslaught of dating and hookup sites comes more accessibility, more options, more noise and even more dating stories… Like the time I went out with “Ray-Ban Man,” who refused to take his sunglasses off for the entire date.  In fact, the third time I asked him, he said, “The more you ask, they more it won’t happen.”

I know I’m not alone in both the PAIN and COMEDY of online dating.  

ZACK GOLD GETING READY TO SHOOT A FANTASY SCENE.

ZACK GOLD GETING READY TO SHOOT A FANTASY SCENE.

It’s hilarious but it’s also a power struggle wrapped up in gender burrito.

We don’t marry the guy or girl down the street anymore (although my dad just did that). Instead we date, fuck, ghost, kittenfish, catch and release, bread-crumb, bench, do the slow fade and the stash.  All these things make for serious comedy, which is what keeps most of us alive.

But in addition to the comedy, as a maker, I’m also interested in the power behind the play, especially as it relates to given and identified gender.  What are the fantasies, assumptions, expectations created before, during and after dating, and how are they fueled by skewed ideas of power?  I believe it is these power-disconnects that can ignite dates into the realm of ridiculous absurdity.

MINI-SERIES FORMAT : INCLUSIVE

Shows are written from either Celine or Richard’s perspective to touch on differing gender perspectives in dating.  Sexual orientation, age and geography will be explored in future episodes and over the course of the series. This is because...

Each season of “Run for Your Life” will maintain a mini-series format and be SELF CONTAINED.

Once we’re finished with Celine and Richard (hipster 30s), we’ll move on to different people, situations and towns....and these singles are always running for their life..  This will give us the opportunity to explore the wide range of people + places and how internet dates can go wrong.

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Meet the Team

MARTHA WILLIAMS (CREATOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR, EXEC. PRODUCER) Martha comes from a ridiculously "diverse" background that gives her the creative juice of a mac truck.  Preacher's kid, too tall girl forced into basketball submission, saleslady, life coach, sustainability activist, valet car parker...you get the picture. She's been making art since 2003.  First as a choreographer and since 2007 as a writer/director for video. Her work has recognized by the London Film Awards, Knoxville Film Festival, West Fest, Broken Frames, CineRail Festival, Dance Magazine, etc. and has been seen The Flea, Joe's Pub, The Joyce Soho, to name a few.  website

MARTHA WILLIAMS (CREATOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR, EXEC. PRODUCER) Martha comes from a ridiculously "diverse" background that gives her the creative juice of a mac truck.  Preacher's kid, too tall girl forced into basketball submission, saleslady, life coach, sustainability activist, valet car parker...you get the picture. She's been making art since 2003.  First as a choreographer and since 2007 as a writer/director for video. Her work has recognized by the London Film Awards, Knoxville Film Festival, West Fest, Broken Frames, CineRail Festival, Dance Magazine, etc. and has been seen The Flea, Joe's Pub, The Joyce Soho, to name a few. 

website

ASHLEY GEORGE (PRODUCER) Ashley is a director and producer based in New York, New York. Her work has exhibited at festivals and theaters such as Picture Farm Film Festival, GLITCH Film Festival, New York No Limits' Queer Film Initiative, Bideodromo Experimental Film Festival, MIX NYC Experimental Queer Festival, National Queer Arts Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival, and San Francisco's Roxie Theater and Castro Theater. She's a Gemini firecracker in a sugar bowl and is a sucker for all things 90s.

ASHLEY GEORGE (PRODUCER) Ashley is a director and producer based in New York, New York. Her work has exhibited at festivals and theaters such as Picture Farm Film Festival, GLITCH Film Festival, New York No Limits' Queer Film Initiative, Bideodromo Experimental Film Festival, MIX NYC Experimental Queer Festival, National Queer Arts Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival, and San Francisco's Roxie Theater and Castro Theater. She's a Gemini firecracker in a sugar bowl and is a sucker for all things 90s.

LUCKY CHEUNG (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)  Lucky Cheung is a filmmaker and cinematographer from New York. When he’s not out exploring the world you’ll find him behind the camera across narrative, documentary, fashion, music video, and branded content work. He seeks silver moments in the mundane, and likes brass objects and long walks on the beach.

LUCKY CHEUNG (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY) Lucky Cheung is a filmmaker and cinematographer from New York. When he’s not out exploring the world you’ll find him behind the camera across narrative, documentary, fashion, music video, and branded content work. He seeks silver moments in the mundane, and likes brass objects and long walks on the beach.

MARIA MARRONE (PRODUCTION DESIGNER)  Maria Marrone is a Venezuelan photographer and filmmaker that just recently received her BFA in filmmaking from New York University. She had production designed a variety of projects including short films, music videos, and commercials.  website

MARIA MARRONE (PRODUCTION DESIGNER) Maria Marrone is a Venezuelan photographer and filmmaker that just recently received her BFA in filmmaking from New York University. She had production designed a variety of projects including short films, music videos, and commercials. 

website

MARLENE NICHOLS (STORY EDITOR) Marlene Nichols is a writer & producer who’s worked in feature films, documentary, and reality. As a performer, she has created 5 solo shows and toured theme through the festival circuit in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and Paris. In 2013, she was the recipient of The Arctic Circle residency program and spent three weeks sailing and making art in the arctic circle.  website  

MARLENE NICHOLS (STORY EDITOR) Marlene Nichols is a writer & producer who’s worked in feature films, documentary, and reality. As a performer, she has created 5 solo shows and toured theme through the festival circuit in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and Paris. In 2013, she was the recipient of The Arctic Circle residency program and spent three weeks sailing and making art in the arctic circle. 

website

 

 

THE CAST

MIA DARROW as CELINE Mia Darrow is a 3rd generation New Yorker. After attending the HS of Performing Arts, she tried to square-peg-round-hole it studying neuroscience. Now she acts, makes music and is writing her first feature film. She is so psyched to be part of Run For Your Life! w ebsite  / IG: @miadarrow

MIA DARROW as CELINE

Mia Darrow is a 3rd generation New Yorker. After attending the HS of Performing Arts, she tried to square-peg-round-hole it studying neuroscience. Now she acts, makes music and is writing her first feature film. She is so psyched to be part of Run For Your Life!

website / IG: @miadarrow

ZACK GOLD as RICHARD Zack Gold has appeared on television series Adam Ruins Everything, DIG, The Colbert Report and had a recurring improv based role on the hit prank show Deal With It, created by Howie Mandel.  In 2014 Zack was nominated by the International Academy Of Web Television for Best Comedy Actor in A Web Television Series for his leading role on the viral comedy hit series Stockholm.  He performs sketch and improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre.   website

ZACK GOLD as RICHARD

Zack Gold has appeared on television series Adam Ruins Everything, DIG, The Colbert Report and had a recurring improv based role on the hit prank show Deal With It, created by Howie Mandel.  In 2014 Zack was nominated by the International Academy Of Web Television for Best Comedy Actor in A Web Television Series for his leading role on the viral comedy hit series Stockholm.  He performs sketch and improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre.  

website

CHARACTER

Compelling character will be key to making these more than one-line episodes. For example, maybe the warlock feels really misunderstood and is looking for approval. Or perhaps the apologizer is really making the date feel wrong in a backward, passive aggressive way.

MICHAEL AURELIO as PAUL Michael Aurelio is a Brooklyn based actor. TV guest star roles include TNT's "Murder in the First" and "We Are Men" on CBS. A lifetime stage actor, Michael has performed at The Old Globe, Redcat, Boston Court Theater, Theatricum, and HERE Arts Center. He has a BFA in acting from Cal Arts. imdb  

MICHAEL AURELIO as PAUL

Michael Aurelio is a Brooklyn based actor. TV guest star roles include TNT's "Murder in the First" and "We Are Men" on CBS. A lifetime stage actor, Michael has performed at The Old Globe, Redcat, Boston Court Theater, Theatricum, and HERE Arts Center. He has a BFA in acting from Cal Arts.

imdb
 

MANDY SCHMIEDER as AMANDA Mandy Schmieder can be seen as "I'm So Bad" Mandy, the bi-curious fitness student, the apologetic scientist, and the pregnant cannibal, as a recurring guest on Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer. She teaches improv comedy at The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) and has an M.F.A. in Acting from UC-Irvine. She's signed with Danny Prather at Hudson Artists Agency. imdb

MANDY SCHMIEDER as AMANDA

Mandy Schmieder can be seen as "I'm So Bad" Mandy, the bi-curious fitness student, the apologetic scientist, and the pregnant cannibal, as a recurring guest on Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer. She teaches improv comedy at The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) and has an M.F.A. in Acting from UC-Irvine. She's signed with Danny Prather at Hudson Artists Agency.

imdb

NICHOLAS FEITEL as DAN Nicholas Feitel is an actor, writer, former modern-dance critic, minor reality show person and current dog walker living in New York City. Credits include HBO’s Divorce, Adult Swim’s Neon Joe and the upcoming James Franco Show The Deuce. He sweats more than most people and is usually happy to meet you. website  

NICHOLAS FEITEL as DAN

Nicholas Feitel is an actor, writer, former modern-dance critic, minor reality show person and current dog walker living in New York City. Credits include HBO’s Divorce, Adult Swim’s Neon Joe and the upcoming James Franco Show The Deuce. He sweats more than most people and is usually happy to meet you.

website
 

NICK JORDAN as HUCK Nick was most recently seen guest starring on the Emmy award-winning ID series "A Crime to Remember" and making his Off Broadway debut with the historic Pan Asian Repertory Theater in Damon Chua's Incident at Hidden Temple. In 2016, Nick was nominated for the MITF's Best Actor Award for his work in John Adam's In the Shadow of a Dream. He's worked on several indie features and shorts, as well as some of NYC's best theater, including UCB improv and The PIT's sketch comedy. You can catch Nick as series regular on Trunk Face Media's darkly comic "House of Dreams" web series. website  

NICK JORDAN as HUCK

Nick was most recently seen guest starring on the Emmy award-winning ID series "A Crime to Remember" and making his Off Broadway debut with the historic Pan Asian Repertory Theater in Damon Chua's Incident at Hidden Temple. In 2016, Nick was nominated for the MITF's Best Actor Award for his work in John Adam's In the Shadow of a Dream. He's worked on several indie features and shorts, as well as some of NYC's best theater, including UCB improv and The PIT's sketch comedy. You can catch Nick as series regular on Trunk Face Media's darkly comic "House of Dreams" web series.

website

 

TAM SHEPHARD as SARAH Tamara is from Idaho. She went to the very prestigious Idaho State University where she got her bachelor's and then ran away to NYC.  She enjoys collecting vinyl records (her recent finds include The Best of Doobie Brothers and Wham!), and walking to meet the step goal on her pedometer.  Otherwise, you'll find her at home with her 2 cats Maddie Zeigler and Bruce Springsteen. website  

TAM SHEPHARD as SARAH

Tamara is from Idaho. She went to the very prestigious Idaho State University where she got her bachelor's and then ran away to NYC.  She enjoys collecting vinyl records (her recent finds include The Best of Doobie Brothers and Wham!), and walking to meet the step goal on her pedometer.  Otherwise, you'll find her at home with her 2 cats Maddie Zeigler and Bruce Springsteen.

website
 

LEAH SHORE as SWING Leah Shore is a filmmaker and artist who have been fortunate to have her films shown at over 100 film festivals, museums, galleries and shows worldwide. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazines “25 New Faces in Independent Film”, and has been written about in publications such as VICE, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Nowness, Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine and Talkhouse Film, etc. She is a freelance director, writer, animator, artist and music-er. Most recently you can see her performing as a lead in Onur Turkel’s TV project, Black Magic For White Boys, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017. She is thrilled to be joining the cast of RFYL!! www.leahshore.com

LEAH SHORE as SWING

Leah Shore is a filmmaker and artist who have been fortunate to have her films shown at over 100 film festivals, museums, galleries and shows worldwide. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazines “25 New Faces in Independent Film”, and has been written about in publications such as VICE, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Nowness, Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine and Talkhouse Film, etc. She is a freelance director, writer, animator, artist and music-er. Most recently you can see her performing as a lead in Onur Turkel’s TV project, Black Magic For White Boys, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017. She is thrilled to be joining the cast of RFYL!!

www.leahshore.com

WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH:

Our goal with “Run for Your Life” is to become a highly popular, funny, yet smart inside look on the difficulty of miscommunication with stranger/dates and modern love overall.  We want people to gain insight into their love lives and to laugh about it at the same time.  

We want to bring people of varying demographics together in the struggle to find love. And we want to find solutions together to spread more love (inner idealist turrets syndrome, apologies).

 

WHAT'S NEXT

  • Increase online presence on YouTube.  More views, more subscribers!

  • Partner with a platform to collaborate with as a co-producer and distributor

AND / OR

  • Find investors & sponsorships to self-produce

ONLINE PRESENCE

  • “Run for Your Life” LAUNCHES VALENTINE’S DAY  #fuckvday

  • The series will live on BugHouse Media’s YouTube channel

  • The series was originally funded through Kickstarter, with 176 backers and an overall contribution of $20,504

  • The series maintains consistent communication through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

CROWD-SOURCED STORIES

Eventually we will ask our audiences to submit their story to be used as inspiration for an episode.

This will create a sense of community and competition that, we hope, spreads the popularity of the series.  

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE FAMILY

SINGLELING a nationally touring storytelling show about being single in the modern world

OTHER MEN NEED HELP a podcast about the emblems, habits, and struts in the male performance

HUNT FOR ADVICE dating coach Hunt Ethridge

DATEPLAY gaming meets dating

MISS VERA finishing school for boys who want to be girls

We continue to expand our network and look for opportunities to cross-pollinate.