Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Directors: Darren L. Downs and Will Weatheritt, Princess Pictures
A new online comedy series Flats has been launched on the popular ‘Slap Bang’ YouTube Channel and it’s set in Fitzroy Community Housing.
In their first acting roles, the six-part series stars real residents of inner-city Melbourne’s community housing. The fictional story follows 27-year-old Joey as he is released from prison and returns home to the Fitzroy flats in the hopes of reuniting with his girlfriend, Rachol, and the young son he’s never met. However, while Joey served time, life in the community didn’t stay on pause. Rachol is not thrilled to see him, especially as he seems to be straight back to his old ways, under the bad influence of his best friend Troy.
Flats is written and directed by Darren L. Downs and Will Weatheritt, with the cast embracing the opportunity to perform.
Weatheritt, who also stars as Joey, worked in the housing commission’s local supermarket, lives close by, and has been filmmaking with the housing community for seven years. This series is the culmination of those relationships and all that work.
The casting of Ciaran Griffiths in an important supporting role gave a huge lift to production. Ciaran became a familiar face to UK and international audiences for playing the fan-favourite character of Mickey Maguire in the acclaimed British series Shameless, created by Paul Abbott, a show which already provided a useful reference for Flats.
As Will says: “I’m incredibly proud of my good friends in the community who thrived on set and whose performances have given the show it’s heart. Their improv and comic timing would rival any professional actor.”
Downs pointed out the aim was to make a series that would “deliver big laughs, no matter how dark the subject matter got. There are serious themes here, but first and foremost we just wanted to entertain, and I’m confident the series delivers that in spades.”
