Filmmaking | Internet | Interviews | Massachusetts

Adults Only: A Web Series Come True

1 May , 2012  

Written by K. Correia | Posted by:

From comic books to web-series, Jason Burns & Plymouth Rock Creative are proving “you’re only limited by the parameters you set for yourself.”

Born and raised in Massachusetts, writer Jason Burns left his position as editor-in-chief at Ape Entertainment to found Plymouth Rock Creative, a digital production company focusing on the creation of new and original intellectual properties regardless the genre or platform. Best known for his original comic book series A Dummy’s Guide To Danger and The Expendable One, Burns’ childhood goal was to write for television and movies. He is now realizing his dream with his original web-series Adults Only.

Wanting to create a manageable production, Burns wrote scripts with limited locations. The main location of the production is an adult video store, which gives the series its title. The show’s focus is on a down on his luck ex-Olympic gymnast who accepts a job managing his brother-in-law’s adult video store.

The series, which debuted this past October, was shot entirely in Massachusetts, bringing opportunity into the region by hiring crew and staff found on NewEnglandFilm.com’s own website.

Burns has graciously taken time from his busy schedule to share his views on comic book writing verses writing for a web-series and the creation of his own production company and original series.

K. Correia: What prompted you to go from writing comic books & graphic novels to founding your own digital production company and writing & directing a web-series?

Jason Burns: I had spent a long time working in the comic industry, and while I love comics and grew up reading them every chance that I could get, my heart has always been in film and television. I knew that I wanted to write movies when I was old enough to read. It’s just always been my end goal, so when the opportunity presented itself to go out on my own and create the company and produce Adults Only, I jumped at it.

KC: How is writing for comic books different from writing for a web-series?

Burns: Well, actually it’s not much different at all. The short format of a web series is not dissimilar to writing a comic because you’re trying to cram as much as you can… as much bang for the buck… into a small area. Also, with comics, I’ve always been very dialogue driven, and I think that same freedom, to let characters be who they need to be, applies to a web-based series as well because while you’re confined by space, you’re not confined by expectations or commercial breaks. You’re only limited by the parameters you set for yourself.

KC: How did the concept for the web-series, Adults Only, come about?

Burns: Throughout high school and shortly after, I worked at a video store that had an “adult” section. We didn’t sell novelties or anything along those lines, but we rented out X-rated movies. A lot of the world came from those days in the store. The concept also enabled the company to create something that allowed us to be conscious of a budget. Limited locations. Easy to build. Capable of being created everywhere. So, I wrote the scripts and we set out to build an adult video store in the confines of a commercial office space. I’m sure our neighbors were confused.

KC: How did you go about casting for the series?

Burns: I first reached out to Ronnie Marmo, who is a regular on General Hospital and a longtime friend. He liked the project and he exposed the scripts to a few of his friends in the industry and a number of them signed on from there, including Vincent Pastore and Brianna Brown. Once we had a few locked in, the others just sort of fell into place. I always knew that I wanted to cast a rock star in the role of Shifty, and knowing that Sebastian Bach had acted before, I thought he’d be a perfect fit. We reached out to his management, he read the scripts, and signed on. In all honesty, most of the casting happened because we asked, which goes to show you that the “it doesn’t hurt to ask” lesson our mothers all taught us is accurate.

KC: On average, how long does it take to produce an episode of Adults Only?

Burns: We did the entire first season, 8 episodes, in six days, which for the record, I will never do again. Very stressful!

KC: Can you tell us of any upcoming projects your company, Plymouth Rock Creative, has in the works?

Burns: While we hope to continue to do more Adults Only, we are also working on a number of new projects, most of which will be announced soon.

KC: When is the new season of Adults Only scheduled to premiere and where can one find it?

Burns: People can check out season 1 online at www.youtube.com/plymouthrockcreative and they can stay up to date on new episodes and extras by LIKING us at www.facebook.com/officialadultsonly. We have also just signed on to do a comic book based on the Adults Only world, which will be out later this year.