‘HActresses’ is a wacked 6-part comedy web series about EVIE STEVENS and LUCY LEW, two naive best friends who ambitiously strive to achieve one impossible dream: to become successful professional actresses before they hit thirty. Despite years of failed auditions, co-op theatre and independent films, demeaning jobs, unscrupulous bosses, abject poverty, failed relationships and very little progress, their dream (or is it a delusion?) never dies.
The girls share a house, a life and a dream together. But their only real current performing work is uploading acting scenes and Vlogs onto their YouTube channel with the assistance of their live-in-Landlord and long-suffering friend, financial backstop and washed-up musician TOMMY MCFARLANE.
In their desperation, they attempt to court the favour of their hack agent as well as producers, directors and casting directors. Instead, they just receive propositions from users, losers, phonies and big-time nobodies.
Although their lack of success may dampen their spirits at times, it definitely hasn’t extinguished the flame that has burnt brightly within them since they graduated from drama school.
Naively, the girls believe that their boss PEPPE DE LUCA may facilitate some opportunities for introductions, meetings and auditions. But after visiting his house, it becomes patently obvious that the favours that Peppe promises (if indeed they do exist) come at a very high cost – that is he expects sexual favours in exchange for such opportunities.
‘HActresses’ posits the question: Just how far do young actresses have to go to advance their career? In the wake of the horrific revelations about Harvey Weinstein, associates and other industry powerbrokers, this aspect of the HActresses storyline is timely and unfortunately all too familiar for girls and women both inside and outside of the industry.
The romantic relationships that the girls are involved in are not much healthier. Driven by arrogance and a sense of entitlement, both CHAD MORRISON and HANS DE KRETSER call the shots and hold the cards, a dynamic that the girls will begin to rail against and reject in Series 2.
Tommy is the only man that the girls can rely on and trust. His life may be a train wreck but the highly co-dependent relationship between Tommy, Evie and Lucy is based on loyalty and years of friendship – Tommy assists, supports and bails the girls out of trouble as many times as the girls rescue Tommy.
HActresses is created by and starring Belinda Kirwan (as Evie) and Nina Nicols (as Lucy). The series also stars the following Australian talent: Dave O’Neil, Lawrence Mooney, Mark Coles Smith, Jo Stanley, CJ Fortuna, Ben Hall, Abbe Holmes, Paul Ireland, Alf Nicdao, Eliza D’Souza, Tom Travers, Chris Gaffney, Loraine Fabb, Brenda Addie, Chris Gibson, Stephen Luby, Rob Taylor, Hannah Thiesz and Daria Elizabeth Fortuna.
Directed by Ben Plazzer.
Produced by Stephen Luby.
Producers: Stephen Luby and Vasiliki Kyriakopoulos.
Production Company: Ruby Entertainment.
Associate Producers: Belinda Kirwan and Nina Nicols.
