JULY 27TH, 2021: After an amazing year on Amazon Prime, “Job Guys” is now available to stream on YouTube all over the world, so please check it out, share it, review it and get the word out that Dominick, Herman and Janet are open for business!
Interview with "Job Guys" Writer Dave Beaudrie
The wait is nearly over. With Job Guys releasing on Friday, April 24th exclusively on Amazon Prime, it was the perfect time to catch up with “Job Guys” writer, co-producer and costar Dave Beaudrie to talk the series, his character “Frank Walcot” and what happens next.
Q: What is your background as a writer and actor?
A: It’s my first time at both. Hope it works out…just kidding. I started acting at seven years old doing theatre and just never stopped. I moved to LA in 2002 after college and have been really fortunate with the opportunities I’ve had to work on fun projects with great people. Writing-wise, I started writing short stories at around 11 or 12 (years old) as a hobby and a form of escapism and then transitioned into one-act plays when I first moved here. I wrote a feature-film “The Miracle Man” that released in 2012 and have written other features and multiple shorts, some of which we’ve done under the Digital Myth banner. Others are in the pipeline. I’ve also written comedy articles for Cracked and articles for other sites under various pseudonyms.
Q: Where did Digital Myth come from? How did you get involved with Kevin and Brook?
A: I met Kevin years ago on a set. I had a migraine and was wearing sunglasses even as the sun went down, and I remember explaining the situation and that I wasn’t being “Hollywood cool.” We stayed friends and we always both had a drive and desire to create our own content and not just wait for other people to give us opportunities creatively, so we started collaborating a lot on short films with the goal of expanding to larger projects with more resources. That got codified with Digital Myth, since we were already working together so much that we ought to make it official and give it a name. I met Brook through Kevin, and Kevin pitched him to direct “Game Night,” a short we did several years ago that planted the seeds for “Job Guys” in a lot of ways. Brook did a phenomenal job with it and both Kevin and I loved working with him, so he was the natural choice to take the reigns on “Job Guys” as well as director and also a vital part of the production team.
Q: When you're writing the script, where do the jokes come from?
A: That’s really hard to answer. Where does anyone’s sense of humor come from? I think it really derives from having a strong sense or idea of who the characters are, at least on the page since they change once actors start playing them, and using those character dynamics to bring the humor out. If I think something’s funny, hopefully the world’s a big enough place that a lot of other people will agree. Then I just think of scenarios to put these characters in so they can react in a way that’s both true to them and that’s funny from an outside perspective looking in.
Q: What are some of your biggest writing influences?
A: There’s not a single name that comes to mind that I tried to emulate, but I’ve loved movies so much from such a young age that I think I internalized things like the three-act structure, which is different for a series like this one but speaking generally, and took ideas, characters and stories I liked and started blending them together while trying to put my own unique spin on them. Narratively, Dean Koontz is a favorite author, so I’d say he was and is a major influence from a prose standpoint. Then hopefully I keep getting better the more that I’ve done it.
Q: When crafting your character, what was the thought process? Is Frank inspired by anyone?
A: Maybe Jerry Maguire in a weird way? The main thing with Frank was that he truly sees himself as the hero in any story and is so self-absorbed that he can justify anything to himself. I always joke that Frank’s just misunderstood, but the truth is I wanted him to be this absolute snake hidden under a humorous or charming facade. He’s really fun to play and I really enjoyed the contentious dynamic between myself and Kev’s character Dominick.
Q: How was it acting alongside Kevin, Brandon, and Leesa?
A: I’d worked with all of them before and really like and admire each of them, so that was probably the most fun for me and what I was most looking forward to. Kevin exudes that tough-guy 80s hero persona that we purposely leaned heavily into that he could then contrast with really comedic beats that can catch an audience off-guard. He’s hilarious. It’s always enjoyable acting opposite him and our dynamic here was different than what we’ve played in the past. He’s also one of the most driven people you’ll ever meet. Brandon’s a chameleon who was down to do absolutely anything we asked him to and always brought his own ideas to the table as well. Leesa’s one of my favorite actors to work with as she’s so warm and funny as a person that it translates directly into whatever character she plays.
Q: What's it like to hand off your script to someone else (the director)? How was it working with Brook as director and editor?
A: That depends, as I’ve had both very positive and very negative experiences in that regard. This was the best kind. Brook is one of the hardest-working and dedicated pros I’ve ever seen on a set and that includes his work as editor as well. I had no concerns in him being in charge of set or of shooting, and the three of us (Dave, Kevin and Brook) were the three linchpins to the project where it couldn’t have happened in any capacity without all three of us involved. I can’t speak highly enough of Brook’s talent, attitude and dedication to making this the absolute best it could be. All three of us shared the desire to go whatever extra mile we needed to in order to make that happen, which was essential to “Job Guys” turning out as well as it has. He deserves to be recognized for his work and I hope it leads to other opportunities for him as well.
Q: What was one of your favorite moments from filming?
A: I’m not sure about moment, but all the stuff at Andre’s house was shot in one day and that was maybe 19 hours of shooting. It involved all sorts of shootouts, fight scenes and story beats that we really needed to get right for the season as a whole to work, and everyone there came together in such a beautifully collaborative way and had such a great attitude about everything. The end result was definitely worth it. I’m really proud of the entire team both in front and behind the camera on how that day came together,
Q: What's next for you?
A: I’ve got a small role in an episode of “Perry Mason” that debuts on HBO in June, but my main focus now is just getting “Job Guys” to the largest possible audience we can. I’m really excited to share the show with the world and I couldn’t be more proud of the final result. I’m nearly finished with a feature film script that I’ll be showing to the Digital Myth team in the near future and see if that’s something everyone wants to put their time and resources behind. Maybe “Job Guys” will return for a Season 2…it’ll really depend on what the reception and demand is for it. I can’t wait to find out.
Interview with "Job Guys" Director Brook Hubbs
With the recent release of the official trailer, we figured it would be a great time to catch up with “Job Guys” director, co-producer, editor and co-star Brook Hubbs to talk about the making of this very unique project.
Q: How did you get involved in "Job Guys"?
A: I directed “Game Night,” a short that Digital Myth produced in 2017. Initially, “Job Guys” was pitched to me as a spin-off on Kevin's character (Kevin Caliber, playing the role of Dominick) and the guys asked me if I was interested in directing. My answer of course was yes. I had a great time collaborating with Kevin and Dave (Beaudrie, writer and co-star) on “Game Night” and was excited to see what the three of us could do beyond making short films. Dave had also expressed his plans for growing Digital Myth and I wanted to be a part of that.
Q: What attracted you to the project?
A: Doing a series, which started at six episodes, felt like something I wanted to accomplish. I've worked on two pilots and a series that only lasted four episodes because eventually people lost interest. The prospect of shooting an entire series all at once was too good to pass up. When I came on board, we ended up expanding to 10 episodes, and later 12, and each episode has its own feel and every scenario gives me an opportunity to flex my filmmaking skills.
Q: What made you decide to direct, produce AND edit?
A: Directing is my primary focus, so when they asked me to direct their project I was excited. I came into it early, so I ended up contributing a number of story ideas and took a bit more ownership than if someone asked me to direct an already completed script. And that's basically how I ended up producing on it. I wanted the best possible results, so I'd buy and make props, buy assets for post-production, license music and reach out to bands I know, etc. I also purchased all new camera gear, which was probably the most fun. Using a gimble changed the way I shoot. I knew we had a minimal budget, and I don't mind pulling double-duty as director and cinematographer. Kevin and Dave are both great at communicating with the actors if I'm ever caught up in the cinematography. I volunteered to edit up front to keep things simple. Although editing took a long time, I enjoyed crafting the project in all three stages.
Q: Of those, what was the most challenging?
A: Everything is a challenge, or at least to get the best results I can. I have to challenge myself. The guys may get frustrated because it can take some time, but when I know I can do better I'm not going to put out something that's sub-par. While editing is the most tedious (I'm not just editing, I'm also cleaning sound, sound mixing, sound designing, color correcting, color grading, creating and compositing visual effects, etc.) I would say directing is the most challenging. You can go into any project with a vision of what you want, but that vision is never going to be 100% fleshed out. I'm talking down to the details: what color shirt is the guy in the background wearing, where should the actor be looking in relation to the lens, what to do about that clock in the background, how do we feel about the arrangement of furniture... all these details are things that someone on set has to do and they're all going to ask you. If you don't have an answer, they're going ask someone else and you can lose control of the set. Communication is a must, but the secret to effective directing, as I've discovered on this project, is decisiveness.
Q: What was it like working with Kevin, Brandon and Leesa?
A: I had worked with Kevin before on “Game Night,” but this project was great because his character had a lot more to do. He's in almost every scene! Kevin is an absolute pro, and he has a keen eye from an actor's point of view that was really helpful not only in getting the best results from him but also communicating with the other actors. Plus, we're buds so messing around until we get something we both like was a lot of fun.
I was really happy to work with Leesa. She was supposed to be in “Game Night” originally, but a scheduling conflict had ruined that. Leesa has this crazy ability to develop chemistry with any actor she's in a scene with. She's very friendly and people gravitate to her. Plus, she's funny as hell and makes it look effortless.
Brandon was my wild card going into this. He was the only one of the three I didn't know beforehand, and I had a different idea of his character before he took ownership of the role. I really loved the way he interpreted the character, and his absurd portrayal may be my favorite thing about the show. Plus, Brandon is a director and knowing that made me stay on my toes so I never felt like I looked unprofessional to him. We've also become friends through this and that's been great.
You didn't ask about working with Dave, so I'm gonna tell you this here: Dave has the best eye for detail of anyone I've worked with, almost frustratingly so. We didn't need a script supervisor when he was around. His writing and sense of humor are unique: It's some kind of a mix of 90's action and a cartoon brought to life. I knew it was going to be funny when we did our first table read. Dave takes it seriously, and he's very supportive of my process and encourages me to go the extra mile.
Q: Any favorite scenes or moments from the shoot?
A: They say your favorite thing is always the last thing you do, and I still get a kick out of a sequence in Episode 5 (‘Star Struck’) where Kevin's character meets his crush, a pop star played by Sara Choi. It was our largest cast in one scene, and we rented a cool studio in Burbank where the lighting looked great. It made my job a lot easier, and Kevin had a lot of great ideas that came out hilarious. It was probably the hottest day though, so not as fun to film but it was great to watch. We have our big fight in Episode 7 (‘Hold That Thought’) where the actors choreographed their fights with the stunt guys while I was shooting other scenes. So I got to see the awesome moves they came up with and figuring out how to shoot the action was so much fun.
Q: What would you like to see for the project moving forward?
A: I really just want people to see “Job Guys!” Visibility seems to be the biggest thing plaguing talented filmmakers these days. I've spent something like 15 months making this project... that's over a year of my life! Of course I want people to like it, to find it funny, but even if they hate it I'll just be glad they watched it. Alright, enough pleading... I'd love to see “Job Guys” take off. I'm down for a second season, after a bit of a break. I know Dave has ideas, and I'd love to take the characters in an all-new direction. But in the meantime, I'm excited that this is finished and I'll be working on some new, exciting projects. I'm co-producing a film with Kevin, and Brandon and I are working on a new project. Through “Job Guys,” I was able to create my own production studio Wild Abandon Films, and I'm looking forward to growing my own brand. I couldn't have asked for a better project to launch it.
Interview with "Job Guys" Star Brandon Fisher
Following interviews with “Job Guys” stars Kevin Caliber and Leesa Durst, we caught up with the third of our trio, Brandon Fisher, to talk about his role in “Job Guys,” how he has approached it and how he ended up underwater in freezing cold weather. Twice.
Q: How would you describe "Job Guys"?
A: Job guys is an action comedy about two overzealous brothers who are trying to make a name for themselves in a not-so-legal business venture. The story follows these two imaginative but dim-witted characters through a series of comedic pitfalls. With the help of their newly found assistant, they embark on a journey that will lead them to their dream of becoming the ultimate badass tough guys. Or will it?
Q: What character do you play?
A: I play Herman. He’s a lovable moron. His own vision of himself is much more grandiose than his actual reality. Think Chuck Norris meets Rain Man. Deep down, he has a big heart and loyalty is his biggest strength. He is afraid of nothing and will do anything with the veracity of a child. It's a good thing Janet and Dominick are there to babysit.
Q: How did you get involved in the project?
A: I know people, that's all I'm gonna say…
A: What's it like working with Brook? (Brook Hubbs- director and co-producer)
A: Brook is a very even-tempered director. He has compassion for his actors and crew. He always keeps the set fun and inventive. It's great working with a director that has vision, but isn't afraid to find all the happy accidents in a day of shooting.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about shooting?
A: Honestly, all of the crazy stuff that my character gets to do. I've gotten to dance in my underwear, play with nunchucks, do drugs (lots of drugs), and oh yeah...let's not forget.... cannonball into ice cold water!
Q: What are your thoughts of working with Kevin and Leesa? (Kevin Caliber, Co-Star playing “Dominick” and Leesa Durst, Co-Star playing “Janet.”)
A: Kevin is an awesome actor to work with. He made it easy to find the brother chemistry between our two characters. He’s always open to ideas and is free to create. He is very funny and talented. Leesa is a little spitfire. She's hilarious and really tough. I can't imagine anyone else being Janet. Both of these actors play an equal part in making this project feel like a day with friends more than a job.
What else have you been working on?
A: Being a Dad and finding more projects like this!
Interview with "Job Guys" Star Leesa Durst
We reported recently on “Job Guys” star Leesa Durst wrapping her shooting for Season 1. We sat down with Leesa on her last day on set to get her thoughts on the show, her costars and coming out of retirement for the role of ‘Janet.’
Q: How would you describe the show?
A: Job Guys is about some truly incompetent but lovable idiots. Dominick and Herman are two wannabe hit men who are looking for their "big break," but are far too unorganized and chaotic to land a professional job. They hire Janet to be their secretary, and before long they've bitten off more than they can chew.
Q. Who do you play?
I play Janet the secretary. Think Annie Potts from “Ghostbusters,” but Janet definitely has more determination and professional motivation. She's had her share of run-ins with thugs and crummy boyfriends, which is why she connects well with these two guys who would love nothing more than to rid the earth of people like that. For a paycheck of course.
Q: How did you get involved in the project?
I've worked with Dave (the writer) a few times before in other projects, and Kevin (who plays Dominick) was one of the first friends I made when I moved to LA over six years ago and we've been able to do projects together before as well. They reached out to me to see if this is something I'd be interested in doing with them, and I said “DUH."
Q: What's it like working with series director (and co-producer) Brook Hubbs?
A: I can't even imagine Brook being angry or mean. He definitely has the hardest job; what with holding a heavy camera, checking script continuity, directing AND editing. But despite all the multitasking, he remained patient, supportive and flexible. He's a damn saint.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about shooting?
A: My favorite part about shooting was getting a chance to goof around with some seriously wonderful and funny people. Towards the end of us shooting, I started to get a little emotional because I was about to move to San Francisco and this was the perfect book-end to my acting career in Los Angeles. I feel so lucky to have gotten to be a part of something really cool and funny right before leaving this strange land of Hollywood.
Q: What are your thoughts about working with Kevin and Brandon? (“Dominick” and “Herman” respectively)
A: Kevin (Caliber) and Brandon (Fisher) are the easiest people to work with ever. Kevin I've known for forever, and it's been cool seeing him become so confident in expressing his ideas and giving helpful feedback. It's not fair that he gets to be a hunk and funny AND smart. So annoying.
Brandon is such an amazing performer, and if you met him after seeing him play Herman you'd see why. He's basically the opposite of Herman, thank God. He's kind, professional, funny and an amazing dad! It was such a pleasure getting to work with him!
A: What’s next for you now that you’ve wrapped Season 1?
My fiancé and I just moved to the Bay Area at the end of February and I'm going to grad school for Social Work! I'm hoping to be working with parolees and ex-convicts on their rehabilitation and re-entry programs, which is ironic since I played Janet, who helps criminals land jobs murdering people. Ain't life funny? Anyway, I hope to continue acting as a hobby because I've loved having it as a creative outlet.
Q: Any final thoughts?
Dave (Beaudrie- show writer and playing “Frank”) was also such a joy to work with, even when he's playing a villain. He's such a hard worker and puts so much love and care into his scripts. He is the best person to collaborate with, because he's generous, encouraging and funny.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Rumors that Beaudrie slipped Durst $50 following this interview have not been proven...)
Leesa Durst (Janet) Wraps on Season One
The Job Guys team is sad to say goodbye for now to Leesa Durst as she has wrapped her role as Janet for the first season of “Job Guys.” The characters of Dominick (Kevin Caliber), Herman (Brandon Fisher) and Janet (Durst) have affectionately been referred to as “The Trio” by show writer and co-producer Dave Beaudrie, and now the first of the three has completed shooting. What that also means is that “Job Guys” is ALMOST done shooting the first season, as Caliber and Fisher will be shooting through to the last day of production. With two major locations remaining on the production schedule and editing already underway, you’re likely to start seeing promotional clips, trailers and materials sooner rather than later. But in the meantime, we thank Leesa and tip our collective hats to her for a phenomenal performance that is guaranteed to be a fan-favorite.
Interview with "Job Guys" Star Kevin Caliber
Co-producer and “Job Guys” star Kevin Caliber recently sat down to answer some questions, talk about the series and the role he plays along with what the future holds.
Q: How would you describe Job Guys?
A: Job Guys is a show about 2 “brothers” who live by their own rules. They are not the brightest and that tends to get them into trouble.
Q: What character do you play?
A: I play Dominick, one of the two who are trying to become legit businessmen. He is a tough guy with a short fuse, but he always tries to be ethical.
Q: How did the project come to be?
A: We were inspired after filming the comedy short film, “Game Night” with the same group of filmmakers. The characters are loosely based on the hitmen doing the odd job in that film. We thought it could be funny with unlimited possibilities. When I watch action movies or anything else with hitmen involved, I always wonder what these people do on a regular basis. That was part of the inspiration behind the story.
Q: What’s it like working with Brook? (Brook Hubbs, Co-producer and director)
A: Brook is an easy-going filmmaker that is incredible to work with. He is open-minded and lets everyone’s opinions be heard. But he also has a vision and does everything to translate that vision to the screen.
Q: What were you most looking forward to in regards to shooting?
A: I have always enjoyed working with this cast and crew in smaller projects, so doing a larger scale production is really exciting to me. I have only been able to bring Dave’s (Dave Beaudrie- writer/co-producer) characters to life for a day or two in short film/sketch format, so the idea of filming an entire series is very exciting.
Q: What are your thoughts on working with Brandon and Leesa? (Brandon Fisher, Co-Star playing “Herman” and Leesa Durst, Co-Star playing “Janet.”
A: I have had the pleasure of working with both of these talented people before. I had recommended Leesa to Casting on several projects in the past and always have a great time on set with her.
This will be my first on-screen project with Brandon. I have had the pleasure of not only acting alongside Brandon now, but also being directed by him (in the short film “The Best Laid Plans.) I really respect his style and commitment to the work. We can only assume that will translate to an on-camera role as well.
Q: What else have you been working on?
A: The last year has been a busy time with several projects. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work on projects with very successful industry personalities. The most fun on set I have had was on “Futureman”- a crazy sci-fi comedy on Hulu. Season 2 is coming in early 2019. Another show I have a recurring character on is the primetime drama: Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have-Nots” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN.)
I also have several films spread across nearly every genre recently released or coming soon.
Q: Anything else you’d like readers to know?
A: This series is a bunch of friends getting together on nights and weekends trying to create something fun. We do it because we genuinely enjoy working with each other and hope that we can make something that people will enjoy!
Additional Cast Announced for "Job Guys"- Now Filming
New roles and castings have officially been announced for the 10-episode first season of “Job Guys,” which is now in production. A final cast list is expected to be released as early as next week as the rest of the team assembles. In the meantime, check out the latest additions to the Rogue’s Gallery along with a current mystery…
Tarniesha Stimage will play the role of “Sage,” the leader of a competing organization that looks to move in on the Job Guys’ turf. This town ain’t big enough for the both of them…
Jessica Cook is cast as “Vulture,” Sage’s right-hand woman and all-around badass who has a definite bone to pick with our favorite underhanded thugs-for-hire…
Director and co-producer Brook Hubbs will be adding “actor” to his triple-threat resume, as he’s signed on to play an as-yet-undisclosed role in Season 1. We’d tell you what it is, but then we’d have to kill you…
"Job Guys" Production Photos
The most recent round of production photos have been released from the “Job Guys” set, along with a brief video teasing what is to come. Stay tuned, as more casting news is coming later this week…
Production Begins...
“Job Guys” has officially begun shooting, with the initial schedule focused on green screen work for the show open and for shots/graphics needed for other scenes/episodes in the show. Check out the Behind the Scenes video below, in addition to photos from set!
"Job Guys" Announces New Cast Members
The production team behind "Job Guys" is proud to announce additional casting for the series as the team moves closer to production. Sara Choi has been cast as Kaye, Malerie Stanley is cast as Tess, Casey Dolkas has been announced as Marvin and Raymond Vinsik Williams will be playing the role of Andre. Digital Myth is thrilled to welcome this extremely talented group of individuals into the cinematic world of the Job Guys. Stay tuned for more information and casting to come!
Sara Choi as "Kaye": One of the biggest pop stars in the world, the success of Kaye Andrews is only outsized by her ego and insecurity. Dominick's an unhealthily huge fan, but his opportunity to meet her does not go as expected...
Malerie Stanley as "Tess": Kaye's tortured assistant, Tess will do what she has to do to get her job done, even if it means bringing in the Job Guys for a VERY unconventional mission on behalf of her client.
Casey Dolkas as "Marvin": Accountant to the...well, whatever the opposite of "stars" is, Marvin tries to help our "heroes" manage their misbegotten wealth...or lack thereof.
Raymond Vinsik Williams as "Andre": An early target of a Job Guys assignment, Andre ends up being a LOT more than what our heroes are anticipating, and he ain't going down without a fight...
Script Reading/Pre-Production Meeting: "Job Guys" Now Casting
The "Job Guys" team had their first script read with principle cast last night, even as several other important roles are still in the casting process.
From Left: Brandon Fisher (Herman), Leesa Durst (Janet), Alex DeMartino (Maria), Dave Beaudrie (Frank), Kevin Caliber (Dominick) and Brook Hubbs (Director).
Kevin Caliber as "Dominick": one of the two brothers who set out to form their own personal enforcement agency and become YOUR thugs of choice for all your underhanded needs.
Brandon Fisher as "Herman": the other brother from another mother, Herman's the loose cannon of the duo and the one voted "Most Likely to End Up with a Life Sentence" in his high school class. Or he would have been, had he gone to high school.
Leesa Durst as "Janet": the newly hired and long-suffering secretary for the Job Guys who is simply hoping to get some good medical benefits out of all this bullshit...
Dave Beaudrie as "Frank": the Job Guys' not-so-silent business partner and law enforcement contact who may...or may not... know a lot more than he's telling.
Alex DeMartino as "Maria": One of the brothers' first clients and femme fatale extraordinaire whose assignment turns out to be much more than what it seems...
"Job Guys" Enters Pre-Production
Digital Myth is proud to announce that "Job Guys," a 10-episode web series written by Dave Beaudrie and directed by Brook Hubbs, has entered pre-production. Kevin Caliber and Brandon Fisher have been cast in the lead roles of "Dominick" and "Herman," respectfully. The two brothers are determined to get a personal enforcement business off the ground and become your personal murderers, debt-collectors and all-around thugs of choice. Leesa Durst will play "Janet," the brothers' newly-hired and long-suffering secretary. Casey Dolkas is cast as "Marvin," the poor accountant who tries to help our "heroes" manage their misbegotten wealth...or lack thereof. Dave Beaudrie will be playing "Frank," a law enforcement contact who knows a lot more than he lets on. "Job Guys" is produced by Kevin Caliber, Dave Beaudrie and Brook Hubbs. Created by Dave Beaudrie and Ryan Andrew Niswander. Based on characters created by Beaudrie in the short film "Game Night," another Digital Myth production that was also directed by Hubbs.
