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/
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Sally McLeanDirectorShakespeare Republic
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Sally McLeanWriterShakespeare Republic, Why Must The Show Go On?
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Sally McLeanProducerShakespeare Republic, Champion
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Billy SmedleyProducerShakespeare Republic, Champion
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Shane Savage (Co-Producer)ProducerChris & Josh (The Web Series)
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Perri Cummings (Co-Producer)ProducerShakespeare Republic, Trench
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Michala BanasKey CastUpper Middle Bogan, Nowhere Boys, MacLeods Daughters
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Stephen CostanKey Cast
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Alan FletcherKey CastNeighbours, Embassy
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Nadine GarnerKey CastDoctor Blake Mysteries, City Homicide
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Dean HaglundKey CastThe X-Files, Bones
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Christopher KirbyKey CastIron Sky, Predestination
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Sally McLeanKey CastUpper Middle Bogan, Worst Year of My Life - Again!
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Tariro MavondoKey CastWinners & Losers
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Wahibe MoussaKey CastKick
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Falon RyanKey Cast
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Shane SavageKey CastChris & Josh (The Web Series), Ravenswood
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Billy SmedleyKey CastMiss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
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Phoebe Anne TaylorKey Cast
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Shaun HerbertsonCinematographer
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Tim McCormickSound Recordist
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Abramo PeghiniSound Recordist
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Jordan RossComposer
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Tim McCormickSound EditorNominated "Best Sound" - IAWTV Awards 2017
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Sally McLeanEditor
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Thanassi PanagiotarasEditor
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Thanassi PanagiotarasColourist
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Project Type:Web / New Media
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Runtime:6 minutes
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Completion Date:January 31, 2017
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Production Budget:9,000 AUD
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Country of Origin:Australia
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Country of Filming:Australia
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED
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Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Shakespeare On The River FestivalStratford
Australia
April 23, 2017 -
St Kilda Film FestivalMelbourne
Australia
May 21, 2017
Australian Festival Premiere
Australia's Favourite Web Series Selection -
Austin WebFestAustin
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 WebFestMelbourne
Australia
July 1, 2017
Nominated: Best Australian Drama -
Sicily WebFestUstica
Italy
July 21, 2017
Italian Premiere
Winner: Best Cinematography -
Baja Web FestTijuana
Mexico
July 22, 2017
Official Selection -
Tuscany WebFestPisa
Italy
July 29, 2017
Winner: Best Hair & Make Up -
Festival de Cine de FuengirolaFuengirola
Spain
September 10, 2017
Official Selection -
Portugal International Film FestivalPorta
Portugal
September 16, 2017
Portuguese Premiere
Winner: Special Jury Award -
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Film FestivalStratford-upon-Avon
United Kingdom
September 23, 2017
Official Selection -
Minnesota WebFestEdina
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 AwardsLos Angeles
United States
October 4, 2017
Nominated: Best Ensemble Drama & Best Sound (Tim McCormick) -
Brooklyn Web FestBrooklyn NYC
United States
October 7, 2017
Official Selection -
UK Web FestLondon
United Kingdom
October 21, 2017
Nominated: Best International, Best Drama & Best Production -
Baltimore New Media Web FestBaltimore
United States
November 4, 2017
Winner: Best Actor in a Drama (Christopher Kirby) -
12 Months Film FestivalCluj
Romania
November 8, 2017
Winner: Best Web Series -
NYC Web FestNew York
United States
November 10, 2017
Nominated: Best International & Best Web Series -
60th CINE Golden Eagle AwardWashington, Los Angeles & New York
United States
November 17, 2017
Winner: Best Digital Series -
New Zealand Web FestAuckland
New Zealand
November 18, 2017
Nominated: Best Narrative Show (International) & Best Director (International) (Sally McLean) -
Rio WebFestRio de Janeiro
Brazil
November 17, 2017
Winner: Best Original Idea -
Roma WebFestRome
Italy
November 25, 2017
Nominated: Best Drama -
ATOM AwardsMelbourne
Australia
November 30, 2017
Finalist: Best Web Series -
South Florida WebFestMiami
United States
December 7, 2017
Official Selection -
Anglicon’s Anglophile Film FestivalBellevue
United States
December 8, 2017
Official Selection -
International Online Web FestLondon
United Kingdom
December 9, 2017
Nominated: Best Director (Sally McLean) & Best Sound Design (Tim McCormick) -
Australian Screen Network Industry AwardsBrisbane
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 FestivalMontreal
Canada
January 26, 2018
Winner: Best TV & Web Series -
Bucharest ShortCut CineFestBucharest
Romania
January 28, 2018
Nominated: Best Web Short -
London Cinematic International Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
April 3, 2018
Winner: Best Web Series -
Carballo InterplayCarballo
Spain
April 5, 2018
Official Selection -
The Ozflix Independent Film AwardsMelbourne
Australia
April 7, 2018
Nominated: Best Web Series -
Widescreen Film FestivalMiami
United States
April 13, 2018
Nominated: Best Web Series -
Manhattan Film FestivalNew York
United States
April 18, 2018
Official Selection -
Vancouver WebFestVancouver
Canada
April 19, 2018
Nominated: Best Drama, Best Screenplay (Sally McLean - adaptation) & Best Original Score (Jordan Ross) -
Miami Web Series FestivalMiami
United States
April 27, 2018
Nominated: Best Editing (Thanassi Panagiotaras & Sally McLean) & Best International Cinematography (Shaun Herbertson) -
LA WebFestLos 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 FestivalManchester
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 AwardsPhiladelphia
United States
May 16, 2018
Nominated: Best Web Series -
Brazil International Film FestivalRio de Janeiro
Brazil
May 21, 2018
Official Selection -
TERMINUS Conference + FestivalAtlanta
United States
June 15, 2018
Nominated: Best Web Series -
Cardiff Mini Film FestivalCardiff
United Kingdom
June 22, 2018
Nominated: Best Female Director Fiction -
Short Cuts Film FestivalDandenong
Australia
June 23, 2018
Official Selection -
River Film FestivalPadua
Italy
June 29, 2018
Official Selection -
The Realist WebFestNizhny Novgorod
Russian Federation
August 4, 2018
Russian Premiere
Official Selection -
Lit On Film FestivalBrooklyn NY
United States
August 16, 2018
Winner: Best Lead Actor (Christopher Kirby) -
Web Series FestivalOrem 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 WebFestMontclair 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 FestivalNorth Hollywood
United States
October 31, 2018
Official Selection -
Asia Web AwardsSeoul
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 FestivalOregon
United States
January 12, 2019
Oregon Premiere -
Côte d’Azur WebFestCannes
France
May 18, 2019
French Premiere
Winner: Best Director & Best Dramatic Web Series -
London International Motion Pictures AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
May 22, 2019
Winner: Best Ensemble Cast (Series), Nominated: Best Web Series -
Golden Hollywood International Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
June 27, 2019
Nominated: Best Digital New Media -
Sydney WebFestSydney
Australia
September 28, 2019
Sydney Premiere
Winner: Best Male Actor (Christopher Kirby)
Distribution Information
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Ozflix TVCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
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
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