Absolution - John Gardiner

Posted by Steve on 15 March 2010 | 3 Comments

Tell us about your sci-fi web series.

Absolution the Series is a supernatural thriller set in Las Vegas. The story centers on two people, Shelly and Nathan, each of whom has traded their souls. While their souls are held as collateral, they must each pay off their debt to an otherworldly creature known as "Mr. S."

Where the first episode picks up, Shelly is well on her way to collecting her final soul / being done with this life. It's inferred that she's been at this for quite some time. Nathan, on the other hand, is in his cursed infancy, and isn't sure if he's alive or even awake. He's visited by visions of his wife.

Where did the idea/concept for your web series come from?

I was originally working with another writer/director to co-direct a production, but we couldn't decide on anything. We liked the idea of Las Vegas as an isolated and colorful place to set a supernatural story.

I'm a big fan of supernatural over sci-fi (sorry SciFinal!) so I opted for an angels vs demons story.

Absolution the Series is really a series about dealing with the wrongs of the past. I wanted to have characters who have committed terrible things that landed them in awful situations.

Name some of your sci-fi influences. Any favorite movies, TV shows, novels?

I'm a huge Joss Whedon fan. I like to joke on set that the entire series is my professional love letter to Joss. I'm also a big fan of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles (the series) as well.

Tell us about the technical production of your show. What camera & equipment did you use? Editing software & hardware? For visual effects, etc?

Absolution has been all over the technical spectrum. Most people are surprised when I tell them my usual crew is about three people total. Starting out, we shot the first few episodes with a Panasonic HVX and lens adaptors. Then schedules changed and my DP was booked solid for months, so I (director) started shooting scenes on the Canon 5D MKII and the 7D.

Can you tell us any interesting facts or trivia about your show? Any funny stories?

While editing episode 2 of the series, a hard drive was knocked over and we lost eight months of work. Hence the long period between episodes. Perhaps not funny, but trivia worth mentioning!

Director John Gardiner and cast member Paul Brindley have similar features. When the first trailers came out, John's family thought he was getting back into acting.

Cast members Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt play husband and wife on screen and they're married off screen as well.

In episode 2, a mugger is knocked out cold on the ground and then searched. The actor, Eric Shelley, wasn't available for pickups so the editor's girlfriend ''layed in'' for him wearing his red shirt.

In episode 3 the Shadow's costume, made primarily of latex and burlap, sweated off constantly and had to be repeatedly put on in between takes.

You can follow Absolution on Twitter at @AbsolutionShow or visit absolutiontheseries.com.

Absolution: SciFinal Page