Remember how much post-grad life sucked and how completely unprepared you were for it?
Yeah, so does Christine Sanders, the creator and director of the new web series Barely Adults.
The show follows Paige, a newly graduated WOC, as she faces the realities of entering the workforce. Just like most of us, she’s naive and enthusiastic and totally unprepared for what’s about to hit her.
Although Paige eventually lands her dream job, she has no idea how to deal with office politics and crazy bosses. And what’s more, she has to face day-to-day microaggressions just for being a WOC.
The four-episode series is largely based on the experiences of Christine and her friends, who had to deal with many uphill battles trying to make it in the media and entertainment industry.
All four episodes drop Tuesday, March 27th on both Facebook and Vimeo. So in anticipation of the launch, we chatted with Christine about the series and just how hard it is to “make it” these days. And don’t forget to check out the trailer below.
You’ve said that your target audience is WOC ages 21-34 but based on the trailer it also looks like there are quite a few things that all young women can identify with (including me!). Why do you think so many of us are going through these early career struggles?
I agree – several of the themes in the show are universal. College prepares you for the real world in a lot of ways, but it doesn’t teach you how to deal with a terrible boss. When you’re fresh out of college, you’re a bit naive. I think a lot of young women have gone through similar situations which is why I think they’ll connect with our main character’s story.
Can you explain how being a WOC uniquely affects Paige’s early career?
It is common for women of color to experience microaggressions in the workplace – and sometimes it’s hard to even know when it’s happening. There’s a scene in Barely Adults where this comes to life for Paige and her boss, Kendra. I think it’s interesting to juxtapose the two – Kendra, hardened after having experienced a career’s worth of microaggressions, and Paige, who is eager to please and unaware of what is going on.
Part of the show was funded via a Kickstarter campaign. What is it like knowing you have so much support behind you?
It’s an incredible feeling to know that so many people believe in this story especially because so many of them have lived it, and that there’s a community of people who want to see the series succeed.
So many web series have been picked up by major networks (Broad City, Insecure). Is that something you’d be interested in?
Of course! I’ve spent most of the past year dedicated to this project, and I’ve worked closely with a talented team, so I’d love to see it reach a wider audience. I’m really proud of the web series, but I had to cut out several characters, dialogue, camera angles, scenes, and certain shooting locations because of budget and time constraints. I can only imagine how incredible this series would be with a larger budget, the opportunity to further develop the existing characters and if I could add back a few characters that I loved.
Based on the trailer, Amber Avant (who plays Paige) looks like the perfect fit for the show! How did you find her?
We put an ad in Playbill, and Amber was one of the actors that we selected to come in for an audition. I knew she was perfect for the role once she auditioned. Her confidence, poise and professionalism really stood out. She pops on camera and she was quintessentially Paige.
Barely Adults Web Series Teaser from Crown Hill Productions on Vimeo.
