Web Series Observer - Suck and Moan

Created by Brendon Fond

The Story: The end of the world is near. As a horrific viral outbreak creates a growing army of flesh eating zombies, what happens to those who have been secretly feeding on mankind all along? "Suck and Moan" chronicles the stress filled situations brought upon a group of reluctant vampires, who are forced into a battle with fellow flesh eaters, after their only food source is threatened. Tossing aside the tiresome melodrama of recent vampire lore, this witty web series addresses the smaller, every day issues, facing the undead, and the dangers of over thinking a struggle against the brainless. Despite their lightning fast reflexes, superior strength, and immortality, "Suck and Moan" reminds us all that vampires were people too…

The Observation: The human psyche is quite an interesting thing. For some reason (Observer included) we get all giddy as we watch ourselves get tortured and devoured by the undead, having our flesh ripped off our bones, blood spewing out of our throats, etc. It’s kind of like football for geeks. Talk about self-loathing. And much like those hordes of flesh-eating zombies, they keep coming at us in a variety of mediums and sub-genres. Don’t even start thinking that the genre is beginning to wane, or has been already for a few years. You know it, I know it, and Hollywood knows it – we are constantly hungry for more. All it takes is giving us a fresh take on the subject matter, pushing the boundaries of what we’ve seen. So, it’s safe to assume that it was only a matter of time before those fanged creatures of the night are blended with a little Kevin Smith twist.

 ‘Suck and Moan’, on the surface, tells the tale of a small group of vampires who are forced to deal with a quickly growing zombie outbreak. They are forced to take action and wage war against their rotting counterparts to save their food source (us) from complete annihilation.

Sinking our teeth a little further, the majority of each webisode is chock-full of dialogue, drolly over-analyzing some aspect of their species. They scrutinize the ‘rules’, so to speak, that we have come to associate with vampire, zombie, and even werewolf lore. It is quite reminiscent of a certain two clerks chattering their day away at a Quick Stop, nitpicking facets of geek-culture. I don’t want to get into specifics – I’ll save that for you to check out.

It took me a few episodes to get into this story, I have to say. In the beginning, it seemed to be just a bunch of random vamps with certain quirks as they watch over the amassing zombie infestation. But, as episodes progressed, I understood what the creative minds behind this series are going for. The characters grouped together and determined to fight the demise of their food source, and, in turn, themselves. The story arc that I found most intriguing was vampire Henry dealing with the mysterious side effects of accidentally drinking the blood of a zombie. And when I grasped the social commentary of all things vampire, it made this show much more enjoyable. My only hope is that the writers push their own limits even further, enhancing the gross out effects, as well as the crudeness of the characters’ discussions. 

The Bottom Line: While I do feel there is room to grow from both a storytelling and technical standpoint, ‘Suck and Moan’ is a nice, fresh foray in undead storytelling.

The Info: Suck and Moan is currently streaming eight episodes of their first season, with a ninth and tenth on the way. Check it out at www.suckandmoan.com, and be sure to follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

The Interview: I had a chance to ask series creator Brendon Fong, as well as producer Joel Bryant, about their show. Check it out after watching the first episode!

What triggered you to put this spin on the current trend of Vampire/Zombie/Horror films and television shows?
Brendon: I've never really been a big fan of the horror genre in general, but as the latest vampire trend hit a few years ago, there was an increased accessibility to these classic "monsters," in a lovey-dovey melodramatic way that dropped many of the horror conventions. I wanted to write within the horror genre, but in my own way, which led me to think about what life would be like for an immortal person who just happens to maintain that immortality by feeding on people. And to a further extent, what it'd be like to finally find a balance between attacking people and keeping those habits on the down low, only to have a massive outbreak of flesh eaters obliterate the lifestyle you've struggled to maintain. Myth has always shown us people, who actually hunt vampires, but the moment there's a zombie outbreak, mankind considers it the end of the world. Why?!

What can we expect from future episodes? Any spoilers you're willing to hint at?

Brendon: We really will find out what happens to Henry, who is patient zero of vampires who've contracted the zombie virus. Also, humans have yet to chime in on the equation... 

How will the show stand out amongst other series on the web?
Joel: Our show is written for the web. It's not a feature-length project broken up awkwardly into episodes or a "pilot" that we didn't sell so we popped it up online. It has been developed specifically for the web, written in web-ready 5-6 minute episodes. So it's easy-to-watch, easy-to-follow, and ready to be forwarded! Truth is, there's a lot of crap out there. My main goal when hopping aboard was: "Let's make this good!" It's too easy to pick up a camera and shoot anything and post anything nowadays. But there's something to be said for taking your time, doing it right, and making a series that you're proud of - not doing it just do to it, but doing it because you need to. Hopefully that quality - though not "Mad Men" or "Game of Thrones" - helps it stand out.

What advice can you give to other filmmakers trying to produce/market a web series?
Brendon: Make sure you spend plenty of time developing your idea. This is an amazing time when we all have the ability to shoot and distribute our own independent television shows, but make sure you're putting in the work to make a quality show that people can enjoy, rather than saturating the market with either something people have already seen somewhere else or a one note show that will be finished in four episodes. As far as marketing goes, take advantage of the ability to build personal connections with your audience via Twitter and Facebook. People are no longer content to sit and watch a program, when they can give instant feedback and act as a sort of "virtual producer" by supporting their favorite shows. You have to embrace that!
Joel: Also, be wary that this isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. I could count on maybe two hands the web-based shows that have actually turned a profit. It's not a great money-making idea. Sure, you never know, maybe your project could be the next "Guild" or "lonelygirl15," but keep financial expectations low and go into the web world with a sense of adventure and a sense of humor. If it's not fun, then there's no reason to do it.