The Uncomfortable Lightness Of Being - Charlie Tries to Relax

Writer and director Jeffrey Gerein writes about the inspiration for Charlie's third outing.



Stress can be a powerful motivator... sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

‘Charlie tries to relax’ was based on some very true events. Aside from the obvious punch line of the audio tape being turned into a last day on the job fiasco, I was quite bemused by some of the things people say during these ‘relaxing’ guided meditation CD’s.

I had been having some trouble sleeping, I’m still in University dealing with many courses, papers, research, trying to get paying jobs and writing a great deal of screenplays. As such, I was a little stressed, so I turned to late night guided meditation for the sleepily troubled. The first few times it worked wonders, simple exercises of breathing was enough to help me relax enough to get to the point of sleeping, usually after four hours with only one or two before I had to get up in the first place. But I gradually got my internal clock back under control.

I tried a few, and most had some pretty obscure ways of making you feel relaxed.

In one I was consistently being reminded that I was very safe, that no harm could come to me, and that I was loved, very loved. At one point the author of this particular CD informed me that I was able to transcend space, and time. At which point I opened my eyes somewhat confusedly, he then went on to say that I was an all powerful, inter-dimensional being. I smiled and rolled up in my snuggie and enjoyed the rest of this illusion.

That was, in all honesty, what inspired the episode. My colleagues giggled a bit as we discussed the crazy scenario, what sorts of things the person could say and then finally the concept of having a employer/employee spat on the CD. A special thanks to my good friend David Proulx who left for Thailand the other day to start his new life abroad, and as well to the lovely Kyla Murphey who provided the voice of the disgruntled Susan.

p.s. I don’t actually have a snuggie, I turned my housecoat inside out, something tells me that it’s not quite the same.

An Exercise in Social Commentary - Charlie Watches TV

Actor and producer Bren MacDonald talks about the second episode of Complacent Charlie.



I don't remember when the idea of doing a second episode came up; it might well have been the same day we filmed the pilot. What I can tell you is that within days Jeff had written two really funny follow ups, one involving an elevator and what ended up as the third episode.

And then the Vancouver riot happened.

I was working that night. A friend of mine was actually trapped in the crowd with a dying cell phone, and I had this feeling of helplessness as there was nothing I could do to help her. In the back of my mind was "Really? We're really doing this?". It just felt so predictable; a re-hash of a decade old story with no punchline.

Two days later we were filming.

Andrew's script resonated with me on several levels. I felt it highlighted the absurdity of the riots themselves without belittling the impact they had on people. It also gave an opportunity to have Charlie directly interacting with another character, even just over the phone. That was something I didn't think we pulled off as well as we could've in the first episode.

It took me a couple takes to get comfortable in the role, but I'm really happy with my performance.

On the practical side of things, Andrew achieved a subtle flicker effect when Charlie turned on the television by waving his fingers in front of a lamp. These types of solutions are at the core of the independent filmmaking; we could've easily done without, but the effort adds that extra little bit to the immersion.

Andrew William Sampson, as he likes to be credited, was the key player here; in addition to writing he was director, camera, and editor. Oh, and he also delivered a fantastic performance as the then-unnamed friend on the other end of the phone.

And Jeffrey Gerein was sound. He also played Phillip Guyman, a character so much fun that we've debated bringing him back in one way or another.

The Origin of Charlie - A Look Back on Episode 1

Jeffrey Gerein talks about the inception of Complacent Charlie and the first episode.



It all began with a drive-thru.

There was nothing particularly askew about this drive-thru aside, perhaps, from two gentlemen a few cars back in the line-up waiting ardently for their turn at the poor two-way radio device that kept people from their hot food stuffs.

Within the vehicle were myself and my good colleague Andrew W. Sampson (he has a disposition to include his middle name in things and so I met him halfway with an initial). I forget what we were discussing at the time, most likely excerpts in lunacy from our short-term memories and attention spans in the plethora of comedic scenarios we could envision. At one point Mr. Sampson (as I refer to him) and I began discussing the hilarity of what someone’s reaction might be to a hostage take-over on the other side of the drive-thru speaker. The gag being that there was nothing one could really do but stare at the speaker in absolute horror.

Most rational people would dial 9-1-1, but where’s the comedy in that?

Then another idea struck us; what if the person sitting in the car didn’t give a flying circus pajama pant-leg about the terrible incident happening within the fast food place?

The inclusion of our good friend and colleague Bren MacDonald was a happy accident. The man, who tends towards the more energetic of roles, was in the neighborhood. Though a departure from his usual fare Mr. MacDonald ended up being the perfect choice for Charlie; his natural nonchalance fit with the character in a stellar fashion. And while it started out as myself and Mr. Sampson’s concept it quickly grew to involve Bren not just as an actor but as an integral part of the creative process and, more recently, as Producer.

And so there you have it, Charlie was born! Even the name was a random addition and has led to a number of misadventures ever since.

The concepts were improvisational; the more extravagant the situation, the more morose and disinterested Charlie would become and thus heightening the fun! We enjoy the idea of someone reacting in a way perhaps deep down some of us would like to if we, like Charlie, would truly believe we were the only ones with issues.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Here's Charlie

Well here we are with the first post about Charlie at the new and most certainly temporary version of the production blog. This is Bren, by the way. I play Charlie. Though I have little doubt there will be others who lend their voices to this platform, you're stuck with me today.

So let me be the first to welcome you to the Complacent Charlie production blog where you get a front row seat to the process of the show.

To some, this blog may very well be your introduction to our little comedy series. To others, you'll have heard about it through Facebook page, Twitter account, or from a friend (sorry, no link for that). Fortunately, as we're six episodes in, I don't have to sit here and tell you about how "this series will rock as soon as we get around to making it".

Because, you know, we already did that part. Hell, here's the first episode!

Charlie In The Drive-Thru

And of course the subsequent episodes.

Charlie Watches TV
Charlie Tries to Relax
Charlie Gets a Haircut
Charlie Plans His Day
Charlie Gets Robbed

Main Blip Page

So tell us what you think about the series thus far, and subscribe for more updates soon!