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.
Recently, we’ve seen a lot of high-quality web series that examine forces like race, sexuality, and economics in big cities, and it’s time to add Giving Me Life (In The Land of Deadass) to that list. Creator Dafina Roberts‘ profile of six friends jumps numerous perspectives in an evocative way to emerge as a compelling dramedy.
The six characters featured in Giving Me Life are Black and Latinx city dwellers who are adapting to changes in their lives and environments. “With fundamentalism, conservatism and hate crimes on the rise in America, this series takes an inclusive and comedic look at love and friendship,” said Roberts in a press release. “With each episode, we explore challenges that marginalized identities often face while giving you a New York scene that isn’t often represented in television and film.”
Each of the show’s six episodes ventures into the point of view of a new character. Up first is Nala (Lori Laing), who struggles to find a new job after losing her position at a community center. Her dialogues with the other people in her world are sharp and witty, and the world of Giving Me Life bursts with colorful personalities.
To catch the rest of Giving Me Life‘s Kickstarter-funded first season, subscribe to its YouTube channel.
OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT
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.
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