Comedians and Vine stars Jason Nash and Brandon Calvillo have a new project that is largely inspired by their real lives: a full length film called FML: A Social Media Adventure.
The film centers around two men who travel across the country making short videos on a Vine-like app called Reload, trying to boost their social media following. Along with achieving viral fame, FML is also about the strong friendship between Nash and Calvillo’s characters, as well as the real-life one that inspired it.
FML: A SOCIAL MEDIA ADVENTURE • Kickstarter Campaign Video from Fantail Entertainment on Vimeo.
“[Brandon] quickly became my favorite person to work with on Vine…and I thought that would be a really hilarious movie: Two generations of guys going across country…so a lot of it’s based on real-life experience” Nash told Mashable.
Beyond being a buddy comedy, Nash and Calvillo are using their unique perspective as viral celebrities to make a point about modern life — in a funny way.
“It’s a cross-country road trip movie…and it’s really just a satire from my perspective…how there might be that disconnect between social media and real life and how people are profiting off it now. It changes people’s lives and sometimes it’s not for the better,” said Calvillo.
“It’s definitely a comedy…it’s also a commentary on what we’re going through right now with phones and Likes and people who care more about Likes than human contact,” added Nash.
Nash isn’t a stranger to the indie comedy business. His inaugural film, Jason Nash is Married, was released in June 2014 and received critical acclaim.
Much like Nash’s first film, FML: A Social Media Adventure is also slated to have a massive cast of Vine stars and comedians. Among the tentative cast are popular Vine celebrities like Robby Ayala, Ry Doon, Sunny Mabrey and Manon Matthews and comedians like Rob Corddry, Patton Oswalt and Busy Phillips.
Image: Jason Nash and Brandon Calvillo FML: A Social Media Adventure
Nash and Calvillo are launching a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $200,000 for the total production, in order to fund the total costs the come with having a large cast and various locations.
But their lofty financial goals also come with pledge perks perfectly fitting of Vine comedians. Nash, Calvillo and the rest of the cast are donating plenty of time and energy to deliver perks to helpful donors beyond branded t-shirts and copies of DVDs. Some rewards include cast members taking over generous fan’s social media accounts for a day, teach them a class on how to make a funny Vine or even a trip to the film set.
Nash, Calvillo and the many other performers who have signed on to be a part of the film boast millions of followers on social media. The duo is confident that their skills as Internet comedians will translate to the big screen, beyond six seconds. “Talent is talent, and I feel like there are a lot of talented people on Vine…they should be in movies,” said Calvillo.
“In some ways I think it will be easier…[Vine] has trained us well, but I also am looking forward to having more time with everybody,” said Nash.
The Vine duo are hoping FML: A Social Media Adventure will be the first in a new wave of comedy films.
“We want to make other movies with Vine people, we feel like this will be the new way to make movies. We want to make movies with people who already have followings,” said Nash.
Nash and Calvillo are hoping to shoot the film in the summer for tentative release in December 2015.
