While Santa Claus, his toy-making elves and high-flying reindeer attempt to deliver Christmas happiness for kids big and small at their North Pole headquarters, Santa’s other helpers work towards that goal in the everyday world. Though there are endless tales of how things operate at St. Nick’s factory, season 1 of the surreal comedy series TAPE unwraps a David Lynch-esque look inside a secret workshop that’s as outrageously unusual as the people who work in it.
Yes, Christmas may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the 8 episodes of this critically praised web series (airing on its Youtube channel and web site, additional links below). Co-produced by its co-stars, James Andrew Fraser and Neva Tamsen, TAPE takes place in the gloriously odd world of Bobienski’s Wonderbox Workshop.
Overseen by its over-the-top leader, Boleslaw Bobienski (Fraser), this inconspicuous operation works ‘round the clock to prepare the holiday season’s most desired items in the basement of a local shopping mall. While the often tyrannical Bobienski drives his worker elves insane during business hours, they valiantly try to make Christmas gift dreams come true for kids from 1 to 92.
Boleslaw’s wacky staff features Bixie Boo (played by Tamsen), whose work ethic goes unpraised by everyone except the adorable little stuffed bunnies she tags along with. While shop elf Patsy Riphorn (Suzanne Kennedy) takes pride in her no B.S. view of life, she and the other employees of Wonderbox must tread very lightly around the very naughty gift thief Steeley Daniel (Daniel James Owen), and the mysterious Muck Fritter (played by Ryan Palmer).
James Andrew Fraser co-stars as the tyrannical head of a mysterious Christmas gift workshop in the surreal comedy series TAPE.
Garfield Festival (Danish Farooqui) happily sees opportunity when chaos envelops the workshop, whose employees include the brother and sister pair of Mathilda and Shmuel Blumenthal (Samantha Rubin and Rob Douthat, respectively).
Employed as Boleslaw’s right-hand woman, the self-absorbed Mathilda is literally spoiled rotten by her dad. On the other hand, he’s consigned son Shmuel to seemingly irredeemable black sheep status.
TAPE’s creators owe the series’ creation to a host of creative influences: David Lynch (TWIN PEAKS), Wes Anderson, John Hughes (HOME ALONE), Tim Burton (THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), Mindy Kaling and Judd Apatow, to name a few.
However, an equally significant influence on Fraser and Tamsen’s work on TAPE is their collaboration with the performers who comprise TAPE’s cast. Having all studied acting at the New York City-based Tom Todoroff Conservatory, the whole group relied upon their extensive training to help them fit into their characters.
“We had worked with the same core group on various film projects throughout the conservatory and had an understanding that each of these individuals were team players with a unique skill set that allowed for the flow of creativity and the achievement of greatness,” says Tamsen. “We all understood each other after spending so much time with each other in school, and knew what strengths each actor could capitalize on.”
Fraser and Tamsen applied their respective creative skills to several areas of the show’s production. “James and I would talk for hours and map out each episode,” Tamsen replies. “Then, we would write together and strengthen the plot points. I designed the set, James did the shot lists, James edited and I did special effects. We work well together.” Fraser agrees. “We are able to identify each other’s strengths and use those to our advantage. We split things up on this project that way so each of us could work independently if need be. It went well.”
With its edgy concept and production style inspired significantly by the undeniably offbeat aesthetics of filmmakers like Lynch, Wes Anderson, and Tim Burton, TAPE’s callbacks to popular holiday films are also noteworthy.
Bixie Boo, played by TAPE co-star Neva Tamsen.
“We touch on clichés and make references to some of our favorite Christmas movies such as HOME ALONE (“he made the wrapping paper disappear”), ELF and HOOK,” comments Tamsen, who also wrote TAPE’s incidental music. “When I was composing some of the music, I tried to emulate John Williams’ (score) from HOME ALONE to give it a more festive nostalgic spirit.”
Though TAPE’s funny twists on those classics are one part of the show’s experience, the unnerving impact of its full presentation will confound viewers. “You never get ahead of the plot because it is so out of the ordinary,” says Tamsen.
“Music and sound were effective in challenging how the audience should feel when taking in the visuals. It creates a juxtaposition and a feeling of being disturbed. We were seeking to find the balance achieved in GOOSEBUMPS or ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? to provide a sort of nostalgia. It is a comedy, but there is a dark horrific undertone that prevails throughout the series.”
On the subject of production design, Tamsen found some wacky materials to help fit the homemade aesthetic of TAPE’s workshop set. “I ordered all of the props and sometimes they would arrive comically smaller than expected, or comically larger,” remembers Tamsen, who praises how those bizarre visual elements go hand in hand with TAPE’s outlandish humor. “Since the show was so absurd to begin with, (the props) only added to the appeal and overall outrageousness.”
TAPE’s humor won’t exactly appeal to the masses, but Fraser and Tamsen are convinced that their upside-down take on Christmas will be unwrapped (no pun intended) by connoisseurs of dark and offbeat comedy. “I think anyone that likes anything weird, like someone who loves (the Golden Globe-winning James Franco film) THE ROOM, would love TAPE,” Fraser says of the show. “(TAPE is about) finding humor in things that aren’t necessarily set up as a joke.”
Steeley Daniel, played by Daniel James Owen in the hilarious comedy series TAPE.
Recently featured on digital video news site Tubefilter’s Indie Spotlight, TAPE’s cranked-up-to-11 rate of zaniness has helped to make the series a winner with viewers. “Those who have seen it already have praised its comedy and uniqueness and have gone on to watch it a multitude of times! It is incredibly enjoyable,” says Tamsen.
With a second season of TAPE on the drawing board, Tamsen and Fraser already have high hopes for the future of their passion project.
“I hope that it reaches as many eyes as possible. I think it could bring a mass amount of joy and laughter to the audience that takes it in,” Tamsen remarks.
Underneath its comedy, TAPE’s message of unity is something that every viewer would do well to remember: “…Embrace your differences because they are your strengths and (that of) those of the people around you. There is never a hindrance in behavior. It is a uniqueness that sets us apart and allows us to thrive,” Tamsen exclaims. “To think outside of the box is to succeed and (to) find true joy, especially in the holiday season when were are faced with so many personalities being thrust together.”
Christmas, like every other season, has its moments of joy and chaos. Taking a momentary break from the madness to have a great laugh is TAPE’s mission. “The world is filled with stresses, fears and negative emotion. TAPE is designed to be an escape to another world where anything can happen,” replies Tamsen. “I want the viewers to see the humor of functioning in a world where neurosis and eccentric behavior thrive together, for that to parallel people’s everyday experiences, and (to) know that there are other strange individuals out there!”
Of TAPE, Fraser observes: “I think it also shines a light on showing the audience that everything doesn’t have to be serious. If you find the humor in the mundane, (and) if you change your mindset to be like ‘how can I make myself have fun right now?’, the world can be an amazing place – no matter the situation you’re faced with.”
NOTE: While Fraser and Tamsen say TAPE is not closed-captioned, they add that character subtitles will be used in the show’s eighth episode (the season finale).
ON THE WEB: www.tapewebseries.com
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCHhhH88O4vtPIk1pn1nEg/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/tapewebseries/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/TapeWebSeries
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tapewebseries/
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