Indie Spotlight: Scotland, England Get Domestic In ‘United Queendom’

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. 

This edition of Indie Spotlight is sponsored by Tongal.

Scotland’s bid for independence, even though it ultimately amounted to a “nay” vote, served as one of the major news stories of the week. Now, as the British Isles are cooling off, a web series is providing a lighter look at the “conflict” between Scotland and England. United Queendom sets up a unique premise by mapping the Scottish struggle for independence onto a romance between two gay men.

The two main characters of United Queendom are Scott (Damien Hughes) and Adrian (Daniel Page), a couple that has been together “for centuries.” Adrian is brash, flamboyant, and incredibly controlling. He insists on counting all of the couple’s possessions as shared goods, much to Scott’s chagrin. Scott, however, is often too meek to truly stand up for himself. It’s a tale of an abusive relationship that happens to be a perfect analogue for current events.

Creator Bob Denham has more than just a clever idea at his disposal. He is skilled at expressing complex national issues as lovers’ squabbles, often times bolstered by puns. The second episode involves a divide between the two protagonists and is titled “Adrian’s Wall.” The third episode features a Scandinavian model

who also serves as a “model” for Northern European autonomy.

United Queendom is a well-crafted satire, and even though Scotland decided not to secede from the UK, Denham’s four-episode creation is still worth checking out. Plus, for Americans like me who may not be familiar with the issue, the series has education merit as well.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Shayla Hates Celebrities. A woman who is obsessed with celebrities decides to launch a web series so she can become one, too.
• Florence and Evelyn. A pair of women become criminals after their plan to get back at a two-timing boyfriend goes awry.
• Yidlife Crisis. This Jewish web series set in Montreal arrives just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
• Meanwhile… A comic book fan explains his passion through comparisons to other media.

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.

This edition of Indie Spotlight is sponsored by Tongal. Tongal is changing the way creative work gets done, by making it accessible to people everywhere. For brands, studios, and causes, Tongal’s innovative platform provides continuous access to a global network of creatives, offering fresh ideas and insights, and top filmmaking talent to bring them to life. Tongal’s collaborative, merit-driven process enables everyone to focus on the work they do best. The result is outstanding content delivered with great speed and efficiency. Tongal is based in Santa Monica, California.