web series

Anna Kerrigan, writer/director of The Impossibilities, wrote an article awhile back where she proclaimed that web series are replacing independent film. Unfortunately for most people, the word “web series” still has strong negative connotations, similar to “self-published author.” But The Impossibilities approaches the worn out topic of “artists finding themselves (but mostly losing themselves) in NYC” with a refreshing eye. Kerrigan isn’t here to tell the same tired ol’ stories and is actually more interested in redefining them while poking fun at itself. And if you think this series about a begrudging, platonic friendship between a man and a woman is going to end with them hooking up, think again. The woman is a lesbian, which takes the whole trope of “she’s just waiting for the right guy to come along” completely off the table. Oh, and did I mention there’s lots of magic?

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Thanks to Girls and Broad City, the internet seems over-saturated with these “20-somethings in Brooklyn” scripted web shows that go overboard with tweeness and hip references. Fortunately, Eat Our Feelings is refreshingly different. I first stumbled across them while searching for food documentaries on Vimeo, which took me to their Chopping an Onion video. At first I was confused, “Is this a sitcom or a cooking show?” But after watching their episode Sandwich Time, I was hooked. Each episode begins like a comedy skit before segueing into a cooking show. From grilled cheese sandwiches to gourmet pizza, they focus on healthy but easy meals that can be cooked by anyone who’s not a complete klutz in the kitchen. Combining their love for comedy and their love for food, Sasha and Emma have created a web series that will speak to your inner chef, even if you hate cooking.

Growing up, the world of insects and animals was made so dull by boring science teachers that now, as an adult, it never occurred to me how strange and compelling it actually is if you look beneath the surface. Green Porno, a Webby Award-winning series starring the timelessly beautiful Isabella Rossellini, does exactly that–showcasing the oddities of insect sex with a hint of humor and a ton of weirdness. Each episode focuses on a particular bug, from bed bugs to tapeworms, and is presented much like a one-woman show, with Rosselini performing as each bug herself like an eccentric theatre student. The video above is about the sad mating dance of bumblebees, but you can watch the rest via Sundance’s YouTube channel.

If you liked this, don’t forget to also check out MAMMAS, another Rossellini-produced web series about the maternal side of the animal world.

“The world is ending… but like… who really cares, you know?”

God Particles is one of the latest independent web series to hit the internet, and it’s also one of the best. Split into four parts, these videos follow a familiar narrative, but in an entirely new and engaging way. The premise? The world is ending. The plot is intricately webbed and tangles itself together nicely throughout the individual parts, capturing viewers and taking them for a wild, at times depressing, at more times hilarious, hormone-filled, and emotionally-rich ride . Filled with a cast of lovable/despicable characters, hints of cinematic flare, and a nod to many of the great films of the past, you are not going to want to miss this. Filmmaker Leland Montgomery fills in a much needed gap when it comes to representing the voice of today’s twenty-somethings.

All four parts of the series can be watched for free online. That’s right… what are you waiting for?