[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]“No Strings Attached peers beneath the covers of the exhilarating, at times awkward, world of dating apps and recreates this world with puppets re-enacting actual dating app dates as told by the people who’ve survived them. Real people, real voices, real stories” (ABC).
No Strings Attached is a genre bending mashup of equal parts documentary, comedy and puppetry TV. This series peers beneath the covers of the exhilarating and often awkward world of dating apps. No Strings Attached features true Grindr, Tinder, Happn, RSVP and Snapchat stories re-enacted by a cast of puppets. Innovative and off-beat, this series features real-life voice recordings of people relaying their tales of dating triumph and woe in 5-7 minute vignettes.
These recordings are then lip-synced and re-enacted by puppets who dramatise these dates; from the ordinary to the extraordinary and the heart-warming to the heart-breaking. On the surface, No Strings Attached is an entertaining puppetry series, but at its heart it’s a study of modern relationships and the surprising and silly things we do when we’re trying to connect with another human being.
What inspired your web series?
All that funny, crazy, silly and ridiculous online dating and dating app stories from my friends and colleagues.
What was the intention behind using puppets instead of people?
No ‘normal person’ wants to talk honestly and openly about their sex life on TV and so we had a problem making the series. We had all of these great stories, but nothing to visually accompany them. A friend of mine is a puppeteer, so I approached him and he loved the idea of making this show.
Why did you choose web series as your format?
A web series was something that was achievable for us. We didn’t have the budget for a TV series or a longer format and so this was something that we could create on the weekends with the help of numerous favours from friends in the industry.
What are the challenges you came across when making your series and how did you overcome them?
Hiding puppeteers is probably the biggest challenge of shooting a puppetry series. You might have a gorgeous shot, but you have to figure out how to hide 2 puppeteers in that shot and still make it look good.
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How did you fund your series?
We funded our series with the support of Screen Australia, Film Victoria, the ABC and NBCU.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]How did you approach production differently after receiving funding for the series?
It was a much more professional production after we received funding. It was such a relief to be able to pay all of the talented, hard working and passionate members of our crew for their time. It also allowed us to have an actual budget for the puppets and props as well as camera gear. Which really took the look and feel of the show to the next level.
Do you have any future plans for this series?
We are in the process of trying to sell it in the US. Ideally we would love to do a US/ Australian co-pro.
What do you want your audience to take away from this series?
It’s really important to us that we don’t just tell funny, silly, awkward and embarrassing stories about online dating. But we also want the series to say something greater about the way that technology is now increasingly mediating our relationships and our lives and the changes (both good and bad) that these bring about for us when searching for love in 2017.
What is unique about your series?
Our puppets are pretty unique. We had an amazing team of Melbourne puppeteers build them and we had a ball designing unique looks for all of our characters.
FOLLOW NO STRINGS ATTACHED
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