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Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard (Season Two)

Winner of the 2017 CINE Golden Eagle Award for Best Digital Series and currently blitzing around the international film festival circuit (ranked at #14 on the 2017 Web Series World Cup globally and at #3 in Australia), Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard is firmly putting screen adaptations of Shakespeare back on the map.

"... this polished, beautifully made series from director/producer Sally McLean ... a fine use of the platform and, more importantly, a very fine adaptation of the Bard ... Shakespeare Republic is put together with grace and wit. An assortment of actors do terrific work making the (non-dumbed down) dialogue accessible, prying it open with great care and skill." - Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian

Using some of Shakespeare's most intriguing monologues and sonnets, Season Two of Shakespeare Republic explores a day in the life of 13 of Shakespeare's characters who exist in the same world, living their lives in modern society, sometimes meeting, sometimes passing like ships in the night, all using Shakespeare's original text.

"... incredibly clever and highly addictive ..." - Made In Melbourne Film Festival, Australia

Season Two of the award-winning Australian web series, Shakespeare Republic has returned with more bite-sized Shakespeare with a difference - growing from 6 to 13 episodes this season. Created and Directed by Sally McLean, Produced by Sally McLean and Billy Smedley and starring Michala Banas, Stephen Costan, Alan Fletcher, Nadine Garner, Dean Haglund, Christopher Kirby, Sally McLean, Tariro Mavondo, Wahibe Moussa, Falon Ryan, Shane Savage, Billy Smedley and Phoebe Anne Taylor, we're back bigger, better, Bard-er!

“… a sophisticated twenty-first century series with its own particularly Australian flavour.” – The Shakespeare Blog, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK

Filmed entirely by award-winning cinematographer, Shaun Herbertson on a RED Epic, each episode is linked to other episodes in the series via visual motifs, cast or locations, to give us a sense of seeing fragments of "one day in the life" of a modern, contemporary world where we all happen to still speak in Shakespeare's language.

The takeaway? Shakespeare speaks to us now just as strongly as he did 400 years ago when he first put quill to parchment.

"... a thoroughly fresh and modern take." - Kuriositas.com, UK

Shakespeare Republic - all the world's a stage ... especially in this digital age ...

See all episodes in Season Two here:
http://www.shakespearerepublic.com

PLEASE NOTE: the attached screener showcases 5 of the 13 episodes from Season Two. Please click the link below for the full season:

https://www.ozflix.tv/#!/browse/tv/944/season/2/shakespeare-republic

FULL EPK: http://shakespearerepublic.com/epk/

  • Sally McLean
    Director
    Shakespeare Republic
  • Sally McLean
    Writer
    Shakespeare Republic, Why Must The Show Go On?
  • Sally McLean
    Producer
    Shakespeare Republic, Champion
  • Billy Smedley
    Producer
    Shakespeare Republic, Champion
  • Shane Savage (Co-Producer)
    Producer
    Chris & Josh (The Web Series)
  • Perri Cummings (Co-Producer)
    Producer
    Shakespeare Republic, Trench
  • Michala Banas
    Key Cast
    Upper Middle Bogan, Nowhere Boys, MacLeods Daughters
  • Stephen Costan
    Key Cast
  • Alan Fletcher
    Key Cast
    Neighbours, Embassy
  • Nadine Garner
    Key Cast
    Doctor Blake Mysteries, City Homicide
  • Dean Haglund
    Key Cast
    The X-Files, Bones
  • Christopher Kirby
    Key Cast
    Iron Sky, Predestination
  • Sally McLean
    Key Cast
    Upper Middle Bogan, Worst Year of My Life - Again!
  • Tariro Mavondo
    Key Cast
    Winners & Losers
  • Wahibe Moussa
    Key Cast
    Kick
  • Falon Ryan
    Key Cast
  • Shane Savage
    Key Cast
    Chris & Josh (The Web Series), Ravenswood
  • Billy Smedley
    Key Cast
    Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
  • Phoebe Anne Taylor
    Key Cast
  • Shaun Herbertson
    Cinematographer
  • Tim McCormick
    Sound Recordist
  • Abramo Peghini
    Sound Recordist
  • Jordan Ross
    Composer
  • Tim McCormick
    Sound Editor
    Nominated "Best Sound" - IAWTV Awards 2017
  • Sally McLean
    Editor
  • Thanassi Panagiotaras
    Editor
  • Thanassi Panagiotaras
    Colourist
  • Project Type:
    Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Shakespeare On The River Festival
    Stratford
    Australia
    April 23, 2017
  • St Kilda Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    May 21, 2017
    Australian Festival Premiere
    Australia's Favourite Web Series Selection
  • Austin WebFest
    Austin
    United States
    July 1, 2017
    North American Festival Premiere
    Winner: Best Male Lead (Christopher Kirby), Nominated: Best Drama, Best Director (Sally McLean), Best Cinematography (Shaun Herbertson) & Best Editing (Thanassi Panagiotaras & Sally McLean)
  • Melbourne WebFest
    Melbourne
    Australia
    July 1, 2017
    Nominated: Best Australian Drama
  • Sicily WebFest
    Ustica
    Italy
    July 21, 2017
    Italian Premiere
    Winner: Best Cinematography
  • Baja Web Fest
    Tijuana
    Mexico
    July 22, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Tuscany WebFest
    Pisa
    Italy
    July 29, 2017
    Winner: Best Hair & Make Up
  • Festival de Cine de Fuengirola
    Fuengirola
    Spain
    September 10, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Portugal International Film Festival
    Porta
    Portugal
    September 16, 2017
    Portuguese Premiere
    Winner: Special Jury Award
  • Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Film Festival
    Stratford-upon-Avon
    United Kingdom
    September 23, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Minnesota WebFest
    Edina
    United States
    September 30, 2017
    Nominated: Best Drama & Best Performance (Christopher Kirby)
  • Bilbao Seriesland (Web Fest)
    Bilbao
    Spain
    October 24, 2017
    Winner: Best Ensemble (Amets) Nominated: TopAmets (Best Independent Series)
  • International Academy of Web Television Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    October 4, 2017
    Nominated: Best Ensemble Drama & Best Sound (Tim McCormick)
  • Brooklyn Web Fest
    Brooklyn NYC
    United States
    October 7, 2017
    Official Selection
  • UK Web Fest
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 21, 2017
    Nominated: Best International, Best Drama & Best Production
  • Baltimore New Media Web Fest
    Baltimore
    United States
    November 4, 2017
    Winner: Best Actor in a Drama (Christopher Kirby)
  • 12 Months Film Festival
    Cluj
    Romania
    November 8, 2017
    Winner: Best Web Series
  • NYC Web Fest
    New York
    United States
    November 10, 2017
    Nominated: Best International & Best Web Series
  • 60th CINE Golden Eagle Award
    Washington, Los Angeles & New York
    United States
    November 17, 2017
    Winner: Best Digital Series
  • New Zealand Web Fest
    Auckland
    New Zealand
    November 18, 2017
    Nominated: Best Narrative Show (International) & Best Director (International) (Sally McLean)
  • Rio WebFest
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    November 17, 2017
    Winner: Best Original Idea
  • Roma WebFest
    Rome
    Italy
    November 25, 2017
    Nominated: Best Drama
  • ATOM Awards
    Melbourne
    Australia
    November 30, 2017
    Finalist: Best Web Series
  • South Florida WebFest
    Miami
    United States
    December 7, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Anglicon’s Anglophile Film Festival
    Bellevue
    United States
    December 8, 2017
    Official Selection
  • International Online Web Fest
    London
    United Kingdom
    December 9, 2017
    Nominated: Best Director (Sally McLean) & Best Sound Design (Tim McCormick)
  • Australian Screen Network Industry Awards
    Brisbane
    Australia
    December 9, 2017
    Nominated: Best Web Series, Best Director (Sally McLean), Best Writer (Sally McLean) & Best Producer (Sally McLean)
  • Near Nazareth Festival ( NNF)
    Afula
    Israel
    December 13, 2017
    Officially Selected
  • Canada Independent Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    January 26, 2018
    Winner: Best TV & Web Series
  • Bucharest ShortCut CineFest
    Bucharest
    Romania
    January 28, 2018
    Nominated: Best Web Short
  • London Cinematic International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    April 3, 2018
    Winner: Best Web Series
  • Carballo Interplay
    Carballo
    Spain
    April 5, 2018
    Official Selection
  • The Ozflix Independent Film Awards
    Melbourne
    Australia
    April 7, 2018
    Nominated: Best Web Series
  • Widescreen Film Festival
    Miami
    United States
    April 13, 2018
    Nominated: Best Web Series
  • Manhattan Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    April 18, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Vancouver WebFest
    Vancouver
    Canada
    April 19, 2018
    Nominated: Best Drama, Best Screenplay (Sally McLean - adaptation) & Best Original Score (Jordan Ross)
  • Miami Web Series Festival
    Miami
    United States
    April 27, 2018
    Nominated: Best Editing (Thanassi Panagiotaras & Sally McLean) & Best International Cinematography (Shaun Herbertson)
  • LA WebFest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 27, 2018
    Nominated: Most Outstanding Direction (Sally McLean), Most Outstanding Cinematography (Shaun Herbertson) & Most Outstanding Sound Design (Tim McCormick)
  • Pilot Light TV Festival
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    May 5, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Carmarthen Bay Film Festival(BAFTA Cymru Qualifying Festival)
    Llanelli, Wales
    United Kingdom
    May 15, 2018
    Welsh Festival Premiere
    Nominated: Best No Budget Short
  • Philadelphia Independent Film Awards
    Philadelphia
    United States
    May 16, 2018
    Nominated: Best Web Series
  • Brazil International Film Festival
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    May 21, 2018
    Official Selection
  • TERMINUS Conference + Festival
    Atlanta
    United States
    June 15, 2018
    Nominated: Best Web Series
  • Cardiff Mini Film Festival
    Cardiff
    United Kingdom
    June 22, 2018
    Nominated: Best Female Director Fiction
  • Short Cuts Film Festival
    Dandenong
    Australia
    June 23, 2018
    Official Selection
  • River Film Festival
    Padua
    Italy
    June 29, 2018
    Official Selection
  • The Realist WebFest
    Nizhny Novgorod
    Russian Federation
    August 4, 2018
    Russian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Lit On Film Festival
    Brooklyn NY
    United States
    August 16, 2018
    Winner: Best Lead Actor (Christopher Kirby)
  • Web Series Festival
    Orem UT
    United States
    August 18, 2018
    Winner: Best Dramatic Web Series & Best Budget Under $10,000 - Nominated: Best Director - Drama (Sally McLean), Best Ensemble Cast, Best Cinematography (Shaun Herbertson), Best Lead Actress (Sally McLean), Best Lead Actor (Christopher Kirby)
  • New Jersey WebFest
    Montclair NJ
    United States
    September 15, 2018
    Winner: Outstanding Drama Series - Nominated: Best Actor in a Drama (Christopher Kirby), Best Director in a Drama (Sally McLean), Best Cinematography in a Drama (Shaun Herbertson), Best Ensemble Cast in a Drama, Best Series Premise, Best Editing (Thanassi Panagiotaras & Sally McLean)
  • Festival Internacional de Series web de Medellín (FIS-MED)
    Medellín
    Colombia
    October 3, 2018
    Colombian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Valley Film Festival
    North Hollywood
    United States
    October 31, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Asia Web Awards
    Seoul
    Korea, Republic of
    December 15, 2018
    Winner: Best Web Series of All Genres - Nominated: Best Music (Jordan Ross), Best Director (Sally McLean), Best Lead Actress (Sally McLean) & Best Drama Series
  • Oregon Cinema Arts Film Festival
    Oregon
    United States
    January 12, 2019
    Oregon Premiere
  • Côte d’Azur WebFest
    Cannes
    France
    May 18, 2019
    French Premiere
    Winner: Best Director & Best Dramatic Web Series
  • London International Motion Pictures Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 22, 2019
    Winner: Best Ensemble Cast (Series), Nominated: Best Web Series
  • Golden Hollywood International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 27, 2019
    Nominated: Best Digital New Media
  • Sydney WebFest
    Sydney
    Australia
    September 28, 2019
    Sydney Premiere
    Winner: Best Male Actor (Christopher Kirby)
Distribution Information
  • Ozflix TV
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Sally McLean

A graduate of The Actors Institute, London, further studies undertaken with the faculty at the Howard Fine Studio, Australia, Sally McLean has played roles in over thirty UK and Australian professional theatre productions, including Flame Trees, Uncle Vanya, The Auxiliary, Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords), The Clairvoyant, P.S I Love You, the Australian Premier of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and the World Premier of Annabel’s Requiem on the West End.

Sally has also played Shakespeare in both Australia and the UK, playing roles in Macbeth and Hamlet in the UK before performing for three seasons with the Australian Shakespeare Company in their critically acclaimed productions of Comedy of Errors and Romeo & Juliet.

Sally has additionally appeared in various lead and guest roles on numerous UK and Australian television series including Utopia, Lowdown, Elephant Princess, Flying Doctors, Totally Full Frontal, Blue Heelers, Tonight Live, Bingles, Comedy Inc. and the BBC mini-series Bootleg. Film credits include Raymond Taylor’s Earnest Adventures In Love, V for Vienetta, Evie Wants A Baby and Why Must The Show Go On? (playing Lady Macbeth), amongst others.

Her work behind the camera began with the BBC as a member of the Books & Special Projects Unit in BBC Music & Arts. Three years in production at the BBC led to her writing and producing her first film A Little Rain Must Fall in London in late 1996, thought to be the first TV-length drama to be shot on DV tape in the UK, and to her forming her production business Incognita Enterprises under the Honorary Patronage of Oscar® nominated actor, Sir Nigel Hawthorne – an association that continued until his passing in 2001.

Since then, Sally has worked in production for Channel Nine, Endemol Southern Star and others on programs including Big Brother, Australian Idol, The X-Factor and 1 VS 100, written and produced a number of short films and two theatrical productions (which she also directed), and is currently writer/director/producer for her first feature-length documentary, Champion (the story of Franz Stampfl), due for release in 2017. Other industry activities include serving as an official Jury member in both acting and screen craft categories for the AFI Awards, AACTA Awards and ATOM Awards since 2010.

Sally continues to work in Australian theatre, film and television as an actor as well as developing several projects for both the big and small screen as writer and producer.

IMDB PROFILE: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0572643

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Why Shakespeare?

Shakespeare Republic was a passion project for me from the moment I thought of doing it (about a decade ago) and stemmed from my ongoing love affair with all things historical, dramatic and particularly Elizabethan.

From my time spent at drama school in London to my thesis on Elizabethan Theatre (for which I also spent time watching the building of the new Globe Theatre on Southbank, spending time inside it’s walls as history was recreated around me), to my time being mentored by Sir Nigel Hawthorne until his passing in 2001, my work in production with the BBC Music & Arts Department and then my work with the Australian Shakespeare Company over three seasons, I have spent the better part of my adult life discussing, performing and celebrating the Bard.

But that wasn't always the way. Until I landed in drama school in London, I too was one of those actors who just thought Shakespeare "wasn't for me". I'd played Shakespeare pieces before, but never really "got" it. After a year with a brilliant Shakespeare teacher, Phil Peacock, and the chance to immerse myself in the world Shakespeare lived in - that all changed. I was a convert.

So, like all good converts, I began to wonder how I could make Shakespeare more accessible. Then along came the medium of the web series and voila! Shakespeare Republic was finally born. Bite-sized chunks of Shakespeare for people to try out and see if they like it. No more than 7 minutes of invested time to see if Shakespeare really is or isn't for you. All set in familiar, 21st Century settings, to help underline that what he wrote about 400 odd years ago is still happening now - albeit with the aid of computers, smart phones, surveillance technology and other gizmos we have invented in the years between.

An additional delight was my fabulous cast who came to the project with a range of experience playing Shakespeare - from Shakespeare veterans, to never having played him before. Four of our cast make their Shakespeare debut with this series - and I am so grateful they agreed to take this sometimes overwhelming step with me. It was challenging, it was sometimes daunting, it was crazy hours with minimal sleep, but most importantly, it was fun. So much fun.

So much so, that with two seasons now behind us, we're in planning for Season Three!

Shakespeare Republic is Shakespeare by the people for the people and I think proves correct one of his most famous quotes: “All the world’s a stage …”

Indeed, especially in this modern age, it is.

Sally McLean
Creator/Producer/Director
Shakespeare Republic