Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
By ALYSSA BRICKLIN
Palisadian-Post Intern
I recognize the trendy blonde and brunette pair the moment they walk through the door of the Pacific Palisades Starbucks on Sunset. The last time I saw them, they were sitting in a crowded bar bickering over the only attractive man in the corner. The next time I saw them was in a video online.
Melissa Hunter and Jennifer Cron—two PaliHi graduates and now recent graduates of Northwestern University—wrote, produced, and starred in a Web series called “Let’s Get Laid!” The show follows the life of characters Jenn and Melissa, recent college grads, experiencing the Los Angeles dating scene and life in transition.
Although they were part of the PaliHi drama program, and both graduated with a B.A. in theater and a minor in sociology from Northwestern, the pair, a year apart in school, did not become close friends until they began working on this project. The girls joke about their parallel lives. “We even got the same SAT scores,” Hunter says, with a laugh. Their paths finally crossed, fueled by the desire to pursue their entertainment ambitions. “As an actor it is easy to be passive about your career, and wait for agents and outside sources,” Hunter says. “We wanted to take it into our own hands,” Cron finishes.
The girls decided to jump on the trend of web series. “It’s a platform to reach our audience directly,” Hunter says, expressing excitement over the possibilities and resources available on the Internet. “We could never release a pilot so quickly if we waited for a TV network,” continues Cron. Hunter adds, “It’s the opposite. Now networks can knock on our door if they see something they like.”
The storyline of “Let’s Get Laid!” was inspired by one of the pair’s own dating experiences. One night, Hunter and Cron met Mr. Perfect, complete with a handsome face and British accent. He asked them both to dinner and said he would bring a friend. The question was: which girl did Mr. Perfect want the date with? The girls came up with strategies and code words to approach the situation. What ensued was a hilarious date night (but to find out how it ended, you’ll have to watch the show).
Everything in the series is based on the experiences of the producers and their friends.
“The best stories are ones that are based on reality,” Cron believes.
Of course, the scenarios are dramatized. Hunter and Cron didn’t want to get caught up in the angst so common in young dramas today. Instead, they address serious issues in a humorous way.
“Audiences on the Web want to be entertained,” they tell the Palisadian-Post.
However, the ladies of “Let’s Get Laid!” had more on their mind than entertainment.
“We wanted to break down gender barriers,” Cron says. “Girls and guys really aren’t that different.”
Hunter agrees, “The way the script is written, it could have been two guys talking.”
“Lets Get Laid!” will appeal to both male and female audiences. Men will get insights into the mind of women, and enjoy the sex appeal of the show. And as the characters of Jenn and Melissa search L.A. for dates, women will get exposure not as the prim and proper prey of the dating world, but as predators. Cron and Hunter want to show that women also go out looking for a good time in a stereotypically male fashion.
The main goal of “Let’s Get Laid!” is to accurately capture Hunter and Cron’s current stage of life. They found that, as actors, they were constantly auditioning for parts either older or younger than their actual age. There is not a wealth of entertainment being made about the lives of recent college graduates. Hunter and Cron wanted to express to a target audience of peers that life isn’t about having everything figured out, but rather the experience. “We want to stress that the show is not just about dating,” Cron says.
With money raised from friends and family, the girls started shooting the series in February on a budget of $8,000. The cast and crew included a few friends and many people contacted via craigslist and Facebook. Cron and Hunter explain that excitement about the project, not pay, was the incentive for the participants. They shot the footage locally, including in the Palisades and a Culver City bar. The show will debut with four 6-to-8-minute-long episodes. The release date is still pending.
“Lets Get Laid!” became more than a creative outlet for Cron and Hunter. The two actors developed interests in new parts of the entertainment industry. Hunter says she discovered she loves producing. She explains to the Post that the role gives one more creative control than acting. Cron also expresses interest in the overall process. She especially enjoyed the new experience of writing. The two say they worked well together. “When we got stuck we had each other to bounce ideas off of,” Hunter explains.
Hunter is currently employed at GOOD magazine, and Cron recently completed work as assistant to the executive producer of “The Amazing Race”. The soon-to-be roommates are both members of the Screen Actors Guild and are actively pursuing acting careers. The two say they want to continue “Let’s Get Laid!” and are exploring different avenues of how. Web series can get picked up by networks to use during commercials or put onto advertising-subsidized sites. Ideally, they say, the show would remain on its own Web site and they would add an interactive component. People could blog about their wild dating stories, inspiring new episodes for Hunter and Cron to produce. For Hunter and Cron, “Let’s Get Laid!” is a project that is in an exciting state of free-fall, just like its main characters and the actors themselves.
The trailer for “Let’s Get Laid!” can be viewed at youtube.com/letsgetlaid. By subscribing to the page, viewers will be contacted when new videos are posted. Hunter and Cron can be contacted at unattachedproductions@gmail.com. The girls also created their own website: www.letsgetlaid.tv.
