Web Series: “Kill Me”
A new 5 episode comedy web series on the iO Comedy Network.
Chicago has a well-established reputation for developing incredible comic talent at such improvisational training grounds as The Second City, iO Chicago, and The Annoyance Theater, so it’s not surprising that more and more original comedy web series are being produced here.
One which just was released on the iO Comedy Network is “Kill Me”. Here is the series trailer:
I caught up with the series lead Lilliana Winkworth for a Q&A:
How did you come up with the central concept of “Kill Me”: Featuring actors who specialize in playing dead people on TV shows and movies?
I originally came up with the concept when I was in high school, about ten years ago. I was just starting to develop my love of comedy and my first favorite filmmaker was Christopher Guest. The mockumentary style drew me in immediately, and I started to think of worlds I could create to put this format on. One night watching Law & Order with my mom, it just clicked — the fictional world of corpse acting.
What was your scripting process like? How much was improvised on set?
Jeremy, my writing partner, and I went through countless drafts to get “Kill Me” to where it is now. First it was a pilot, then it was a web series, then it was a pilot again. The script process really clicked once we decided to ground each episode with the location of a fake TV procedural. From there, all the pieces fell into place. Using some of the best comedians in Chicago, we were completely open to improvisation. We would use the structure of our script and then make sure to create an atmosphere where actors felt like they could play within those borders. At least every episode has an example of a line that was completely improvised.
What sort of production and post budget were you working with? How did you secure those funds?
We secured a total of around $7000 for both production and post-production. We created a donor packet detailing our plans and hopes for the show that we sent out to specific family and friends, and then we also created a GoFundMe page. We also co-produced this with the local Chicago production company ADPT, so that helped with a lot of the finance organization.
How did you go about casting for the series?
Being in the Chicago comedy scene, Jeremy and I have made friends with amazing talent. We looked at our character list and basically tried to make sure a friend of ours was featured in the series. For the more central roles like Corey and Roger, we reached out to specific Chicago comedians and actors that would fit the role.
How long was production and where did you do the shoots?
Production lasted 10 days and we shot all over the city. We used the training hospital at UChicago, Garfield Park, the iO Theater — everywhere.
Is there one particular production anecdote which sticks out for you?
Jimmy Pennington, the actor that plays Roger, told me in between takes of a scene in Episode 2 to cherish this process — the shooting and production. I was freaking out about all the details and loose ends and he reminded me that this was going to be something I look back on and love forever. Making a project I’m so passionate about with all my friends. That has been the thing that sticks with me the most from this process.
How did you handle post-production?
We hired an editor to take on three episodes and Jeremy, who has experience as a freelance editor for Nickelodeon and A&E, took on editing the rest. For sound, we hired an amazing musician named Patrick Budde that I knew from a friend and spent hours in his basement studio scoring and finding the perfect sound for the series. For sound mixing, Jeremy hired a friend of a friend who lives in New York and was willing to cut us a nice friend of a friend discount.
The series is hosted on the iO Comedy Network. How did that come about?
Jeremy and I are a Network Team at the iO Comedy Network, meaning we are one of four sketch comedy teams that produces original content for the Network. We started shooting sketches about two years ago and are still creating new content monthly, so teaming up with the Network (which already has a good follower base) seemed like the right fit.
What are your plans for “Kill Me”? Any other projects you have in the works?
Our hopes and dreams for “Kill Me” would be to partner with a TV platform and grow it into a long form show. We are submitting it to all the festivals and are working to make this series be seen by as many humans as humanly possible. Jeremy and I are definitely continuing to write together and expand our portfolio as a comedy team.
