Students Create Web Episode Series About College Life

When college students Chris and Robby woke up outside after their 21st birthday bash, they assumed their night included dancing, girls and a fist fight. But a friend later confirms the intoxicated duo spent the entire party outside lying on top of their cars.

“What were we even doing out there, man,” Chris asks a hung-over Robby.

The characters “Chris” and “Robby,” played by Christopher Correa ’10 and Robby Hardesty ’11 are two of four main characters in the new FutureHouse Pictures Enrolled web series. To date, the FutureHouse Pictures staff has created two episodes, screened exclusively through YouTube.

Correa ’10, who started up FutureHouse Pictures this year, debuted the Enrolled pilot Nov. 12. To date, it’s had more than 2,200 views.

Enrolled is a collaborative effort; Correa, Hardesty, Josh Margolin ’11, and Caitlin Winiarski ’10 write, film and act in the show.

“When I first planned to start a production company, Josh, Robby and Caitlin were the three names that I knew needed to be on board,” Correa says. “We’ve worked together on campus at one point or another, and I think all of them bring something unique to the table.”

In the group’s initial meetings, they talked about – and watched – every television show that they could. They took mental notes and brainstormed a story line. They decided to tell stories of four friends that live together on campus.

The first episode focuses on the show’s main protagonists, Robby and Chris, with a small glimpse of characters Josh and Caitlin. Other characters will be developed in later shows.

“That’s our duty as storytellers. We want the world they live in to seem plausible and real,” Correa says. “Most importantly, though, we want the show to be fun and funny. We want the audience to make connections and go back to these episodes more than once.”

Enrolled was filmed exclusively on the Wesleyan Campus; the pilot episode includes scenes on College Row near Judd Hall, the Center for the Americas, outside Olin Library, the Center for the Arts and inside their student residence at 128 Church St. Other actors and actresses include Zach Rebich ’11, Allie San Roman ’11, Charlotte Krem ’12, Reilly Park ’10 and Gabe Elder ’11. Sasha Solodukhina ’11 assisted with technical aspects of production.

One of the production’s major challenges is finding time to work on the show in between classes or and other commitments made by full-time college students. To overcome this, the group films their scenes in the early morning, before class.

“A lot of us are pretty much exhausted all the time,” says Josh Margolin. “I feel I’ve become increasingly aware of how few hours there really are in a day when you’re balancing classes, homework, filming, eating and nap-time. Nevertheless, the process can also be a blast and once we finish the work, we are all really thrilled that we stuck it out and completed what we set out to do.”

Although Correa and Winiarski will graduate this May, they plan on continuing the series, working remotely from New York City. They’re also planning to produce two 12-minute films in 2010.

“We would love to continue the series,” Correa says. “I have always worked hard on things that I’m passionate about. It’s always nice to see that hard work pays off.”