Red Bird (web series)

Red Bird
GenreDrama, Western, Action
Created byMisti Boland
Jeremy Osbern
Written byMisti Boland
Jeremy Osbern
Directed byMisti Boland
StarringAlexandra Goodman
Ian Stark
Armin Shimerman
Mike McShane
John Prosky
Kitty Swink
ComposerNathan Towns
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersAlexandra Goodman
Ian Stark
Misti Boland
Jeremy Osbern
ProducerChris Blunk
CinematographyJeremy Osbern
EditorStephen Deaver
Running time3–5 minutes
Production companyThrough a Glass Productions
Original release
ReleaseMarch 24, 2016 (2016-03-24) –
present

Red Bird is an American Western web series.[1] It was created by Misti Boland and Jeremy Osbern,[2] which stars the following artists—Alexandra Goodman, Ian Stark, Armin Shimerman, Kitty Swink, Mike McShane, and John Prosky.[3] An eight episode series (with three to five minute airtime per episode) premiered on YouTube and the show's website in March 2016.[4][5]

Tubefilter, in their Indie Spotlight, described the series as "a female revenge tale featuring Kitty Mae, who is seeking to get even with the gunman who killed her only son in cold blood."[6]

The Daily Dot issued a positive review of the series, noting that from "costumes to locations to an original soundtrack that has presence and bite, it looks and sounds just as you’d imagine the creators—husband and wife Jeremy Osbern and Misti Boland—desired it." But the reviewer also longed for more time in each episode. They stated that episodes "are centered around single set pieces or scenes that although well-scripted and shot, are short, mostly coming in at around three minutes only."[7]

Red Bird was shot on location and sets in Colorado and Kansas[8] City. They incorporated real horses, authentic old west set pieces, and practical gunshot and blood effects for the show.[9][7]

History

The story is loosely based on the Lawrence massacre of 1863, when William Quantrill and his guerillas killed up to 200 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas due to a border conflicyt. Osbern and Boland cited living in Lawrence and reflecting on the history of Bleeding Kansas as an inspiration for creating the series.[10]

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by: Written by: Original airdate
1"On the Precipice"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernMarch 24, 2016 (2016-03-24)
Kitty Mae tracks the J Gang into the mountains of Colorado in search of Jacob.
2"Betrayed"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernMarch 24, 2016 (2016-03-24)
Kitty Mae tracks down a map to Bloody Bill... while a dark figure tracks down Kitty Mae.
3"Bounty"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernMarch 31, 2016 (2016-03-31)
Kitty Mae is taken captive... and must come face to face with her past.
4"Samuel F*****g Green"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernMarch 31, 2016 (2016-03-31)
Things get unfriendly when a mysterious loudmouth tries to track down Kitty Mae.
5"Bill, Bloody"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernMarch 31, 2016 (2016-03-31)
Kitty Mae and Sam learn the true price of vengeance when they take the fight to Bloody Bill and his Bushwhackers.
6"Red Bird"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernApril 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)
Kitty Mae and Sam struggle with the fallout of Kitty's bloody quest.
7"Sons and Daughters"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernApril 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)
Thomas meets a mysterious girl and Kitty's revenge bears bitter fruit.
8"Revenge"Misti BolandMisti Boland, Jeremy OsbernApril 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)
Kitty Mae and Josie face off in the brutal conclusion of RED BIRD.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2017 44th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series Executive Producers: Misti Boland, Alexandra Goodman, Jeremy Osbern, Ian Stark; Producer: Chris Blunk; Director: Misti Boland; Writers: Misti Boland, Jeremy Osbern Nominated [11]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Alexandra Goodman as Kitty Mae Nominated [11]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Michael McShane as Sam Nominated [11]
Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series Armin Shimerman as Max Nominated [11]

References

  1. ^ "Documentary 'Run Free' a portrait of inspirational runner Caballo Blanco (+trailers)". kansas. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  2. ^ "Red Bird WebSeries". Indie WebSeries. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  3. ^ "Web Series Today: RED BIRD - Brand New Web Series - Coming Soon". www.webseriestoday.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  4. ^ Red Bird - Episode 01 - "On the Precipice" - Western Web Series (Alexandra Goodman, Will Averill). 23 March 2016 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Web Series Today: RED BIRD Episodes 1 & 2 NOW LIVE!". www.webseriestoday.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ^ "Indie Spotlight: Hilarious 'Danny's Choice' Follows An Overgrown And Highly Susceptible 11-Year-Old". Tubefilter. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  7. ^ a b "A mother exacts her violent revenge in new webseries 'Red Bird'". The Daily Dot. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  8. ^ "Red Bird: Western Web Series | Max it Magazine". maxitmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  9. ^ "Phil Wilke: Tenderfoot eats hot lead in western film". CJOnline.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  10. ^ "A conversation with the creators of 'Red Bird,' a new kind of Western". Lawrence.com. 20 March 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Nominations For the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 22, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.