Indie Spotlight: ‘Written It Down’ Turns Single Lines Into Improv Gold

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now.  Read previous installments here.

I’ll admit that I’m bending the rules a bit with this week’s Indie Spotlight. I’ve chosen to feature a series that has drawn tens of thousands of YouTube views and has been picked up by Funny or Die, so calling it an ‘indie’ web series is a bit of a stretch. Still, Written It Down has the heart of an independent web series, and I’m guessing most readers haven’t seen it, so that’s good enough for me.

Written It Down is an Australian web series themed around breakups. One performer sits across from his significant other and drops the breakup bomb; his or her reasoning is written on a piece of paper sitting on the table. These reasons range from “I can’t stand your movie reviews” to “I’m you from the future.” Once the truth is out, the two actors must put their improv skills to the test and build a scene.

As with any improv show, Written It Down hinges on the talent, quick wits, and flexibility of its actors. Each episode is a lesson in give-and-take, and the performers do a great job of building up each others’ characters rather than tearing them down.

The result is a series that works on every level: Written It Down is funny, impressive, and a lesson in improv comedy. With Funny or Die picking the series up, there will be much more to come–and that’s very good news.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT:

• Just Us Guys. A gay dad and his straight son share a Gilmore Girls type of relationship.
• Method or Madness. Two actor friends get into all sorts of trouble as they live their lives in New York City.
• Minute Motivations. This series provides weekly videos that attempt to inspire their audience by offering motivational tips and suggestions.
• Vampz! A wannabe vampire must balance her cheerleader roommate and an invasive vampire hunter.

Got a series you’d like to see featured in the Indie Spotlight? Be sure to contact us here. For best coverage, please include a full episode in your e-mail.