Gunderson ready for web debut

The much talked about local webisode series Gunderson is about to debut its first Internet-cast in April.

"We'll be hosting launch parties both in Regina (April 5th) and Yorkton (April 7th), so we invite fans to come out to that," said producer Daniel Redenbach. "Tyson and I will be in attendance, as well as other cast and crew. We'll be screening some of the episodes for the first time ever, and some exclusive footage. But most importantly they can join us online! We're very active on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, so they can come comment, send us a message, share it with their friends... we involve and respond to everyone we can. We post all kinds of stuff- pictures, stories, news, even special videos like "Shit People From Yorkton Say." Glen Gunderson is on Facebook as well... though sometimes there is no controlling what that kid will say."

In terms of viewing the webisodes, fans will have choices as to where to find them.

"The episodes are de-centralized - meaning they can be watched, downloaded and shared on a variety of different sites and platforms (YouTube, Vimeo) on the computer, on your smartphone (iPhone, Android), or other devices (iPad, PlayStation, etc)," said Redenbach. "We'll be launching our first episode on April 8. New episodes launch every Sunday night after that for the next three-months. Fans can find everything collected at www.gunderson.tv , or they can join us on Facebook or Twitter."

For Redenbach, and series star Tyson Off of Yorkton, getting to the launch date is a major moment for the series.

"I feel wicked rank about it all," said Off who portrays Gunderson in the series filmed last summer in Yorkton and Regina. "This was just an idea a couple of years ago. Dan wanted to do this, and the fact that he wanted to do this with me was a big deal. He's one talented son-of-a-Gunderson when it comes to film/media/getting things done/playing video games.

"I was stoked then, and I'm super stoked now."

Redenbach said it feels like the end of a long road is near.

"Having completed the majority of the show feels great. To put it in perspective, Tyson and I wrote the treatment for Gunderson way back in January of 2010," he said, "and because of the size of our show and budget, most of the work had to be done by a small group of people.

"Being involved in every stage of production is exhausting- after you've written the scene, rehearsed it, shot it, looked at it 50-times, and now have it in an episode- it's difficult to know if it's still funny, or still relevant.

"It's been a long, challenging, and fun road!

"People are really responding to our trailer and the clips we've released, but I'm still anxious about it, naturally. We're really proud of what we've got in our hands here ... the most exciting part is going to be sharing it with everyone else."

Off said he feels Gunderson as a finished product is close to what was envisioned from the beginning.

"Everyone that worked on this thing is incredibly talented, as far as I'm concerned," he said. "So, you get a bunch of talented people in the same place working towards making something awesome, and you get a spot on product."

Redenbach said obviously things change as a production develops, but the end product is still pure Gunderson.

"Things change the most during shooting, compromises have to be made at every turn," he said. "Collaboration is another important part - getting to integrate the work of a costume designer, the ideas of the cast, the props from the art director... the project always takes on a life of its' own. The process is very organic.

"We were so lucky to have such a great creative team in our cast and crew. We owe a lot to the sponsors, and all the places in Yorkton that were locations, that fed us, that we shopped at... we couldn't have pulled it off without them, or them believing in us and our little project. Because of them, we really got to make the show that we wanted to make.

"The overall themes and the feel of the show are exactly how Tyson and I envisioned it when we spoke about it those years ago."

So Gunderson is a quirky, mature comedy, which those involved in the film hope attracts a broad Internet audience.

"As a show, Gunderson is a hilarious, raucous, and awesome tale of a loser in Yorkton at odds with his mayor-candidate father," explained Redenbach. "But underneath those layers, it's really about that relationship that develops between yourself growing up and your hometown. Glen Gunderson blames his misfortune on everything around him - his dad, his friends, the city. We explore that idea of community and family through the eyes of this totally close-minded, idiotic, conservative schmuck."

Off was more direct in his description.

"Gunderson is about a pathetic, drunk, loser, who might be Yorkton's only hope." offered Off. "They just don't know it. He is a hyperbolic version of my former, drunker self. Incredibly exaggerated, I wasn't that big of a loser."

Will there be a second season of Gunderson? The response on the Internet will determine whether the cameras roll on a second season.

"Season 2 will depend entirely on the response of the fans and the community we find on the web. We have a treatment written and a notebooks full of ideas, all bigger, better, and more outrageous than what we did in Season 1," said Redenbach. "If people dig it and support it, there's no end to the misadventures Gunderson can get up to in Yorkton."

Off agreed.

"Let's just see how season one goes before we get all hyped up about season two," said Off. "If the demand is there after the last episode then it's a possibility, but I'd still need to discuss things with my agent, Fat Al. Just kidding, I don't have an agent. Fat Al is just a cat owned by a couple of my friends."

So what will make Gunderson a success?

Off said success is more than sheer viewer numbers for him.

"I hope this series makes a few people really angry, and I hope it makes a few thousand people laugh, really hard," he said.

"Mostly, I would like to see it benefit the cast, crew, and our sponsors. A handful of people worked really hard on this thing and it wasn't easy when other groups and individuals in the city were trying to shut us down or make things much more difficult than they needed to be. Everything worked out though, so I can't really complain all that much."