Dick Bunny, a sarcastic man-rabbit, has escaped his storybook world, only to find himself in the middle of another hellscape—American mom culture. He finds the standards set forth to be utter bollocks and helps new mom Max navigate through to the other side. (Short Form Digital Comedy Series)
Dick Bunny, a sarcastic man-rabbit, has escaped his storybook world, only to find himself in the middle of another hellscape—American mom culture. He finds the standards set forth to be utter bollocks and helps new mom Max navigate through to the other side. (Short Form Digital Comedy Series)
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Story
Mission Statement
This show is about feeling lost in a too-fast world. It's about parenting and parenthood, but mostly how we reparent ourselves, and how much better it would be with a giant man-rabbit around. We want to tell this story so people know they're not alone. And we want to do it our way: with puppets.About The Project
Dick Bunny
A British storybook character comes to life in the bathroom of a sleep-deprived new mom.
Dick Bunny, a sarcastic man-rabbit, has escaped his storybook world, only to find himself in the middle of another hellscape—American mom culture. He finds the standards set forth to be utter bollocks and helps new mom Max navigate through to the other side. Together they tackle issues of identity, anxiety, and why, for the love of god, a thing like breast milk jewelry exists.
This short form, high-concept digital comedy series consists of six episodes packed with whimsy and weird that range in length from five to eight minutes. Each episode grows more nuanced, and the fantastical departures into puppetry, silent film and music video peppered throughout give a delightful levity to the harsh realities Max and Dick face. Dick Bunny grows from an annoying distraction into a trusted friend, a consigliere, and someone maybe we need just as much as Max does.
How it started...
Susie, Kim and Katie were all connected via the dreaded facebook in one of those mom groups you've probably read about in the NYTimes. Kim & Susie were both working with a larger sketch group when they realized they had a similar vibe, and wanted to collaborate. They met shortly before the pandemic lockdown in March of 2020 and began brainstorming what would become Dick Bunny.
Through the isolation and introspection, Susie managed to churn out our beloved series, and we knew we needed a fellow parent who had a flair for fantasy to help helm this behemoth.
Enter Katie Locke O'Brien.
With Katie came a plethora of phenomenal folks she's collected while working on shows from Ghosts, to Kenan, to Saved By the Bell. Katie has a keen eye for comedy, and a proven track record of creating whimsical and thought-provoking work with the barest of budgets - and racking up laurels in the process. Even better, she's fun and funny and just as confused by placenta art as Susie & Kim.
How it's going...
In March of 2022, we gathered our first crew, shot over a weekend in Kim's house, and had the artistic and creative time of our lives. Every single person who walked through the door, all weekend, made it a point to tell Susie how much they LOVED her script - how much they related to it.
This project is special.
We have already done so much! But every single thing you use on a set is expensive. And even with shooting 75% of our series in a completely free location, there are a ton of costs and fees involved in post-production. This show is full of video effects, we have hired a band to write and record a song, there are some spectacular costume pieces we've had to commission and build, and then (if we want people to see it, which we very much do!) there are lots of festival submission fees, which range from $30 to $180 each. Festivals are the quickest and best way to give your film notoriety, as they generate an audience for you, and can be a great early source of support and even community for a project...kinda like Seed + Spark.
Kate Miccuci as LARA, with Kim as MAX on set in March 2022
How it's gonna be...
With our projected schedule, we have eight more days of shooting. As mentioned, unlike the rest of the series (which is very contained to Max's house and head, usually with scenes for two people), the last few episodes take us to a Fancy LA Dinner Party, and an infant CPR Class. We need CPR Dummies, a dinner for 12 to 15 people to eat on-camera, way more money for actors (they make a whopping $201/day on this contract, and we're also feeding them), and all the state-of-the-art gear necessary to turn Kim's living room into a late-80's MTV Soundstage. -- Help!
Our objective is to wrap in August and to spend September and October editing furiously for our first festival deadlines in November. We will be submitting the series, and are hoping to pitch to networks. Our reasoning behind creating an entire season is that we wanted to make something that was truly ours, and to be able to tell the story without the creative limitations of a network has been incredible. Of course, our dream has grown as we sat at home, and when we wrote in cotton ball puppets, we couldn't have known how hard that would actually be, or what it would cost. This series is a love letter to anyone who feels isolated. This show is so much more than a showcase for an actor, or a proving ground for a director. It's a battle hymn. It's a cry for help. It's the most true thing we've ever been a part of making. And we're so grateful to you for taking the time to learn about it.
BUT WHAT ABOUT COVID!?!?
You're right, COVID is still a thing, and we are fortunate to be in a Union that has very rigid expectations for keeping people safe on set. If there is a tremendous spike in cases, or the recommendation from health officials is to shut down film production, that will apply to us, and we will have to reschedule. In compliance with current standards and our own health needs, we will have a certified Covid Compliance Officer making sure everyone tests prior to coming to work, and that we maintain proper distance and use protective gear on set. Luckily, there are very clear guidleines in place, and we have all been part of projects that had to zig when they thought they were gonna zag, due to Covid at this point!
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Our final plea...
There are great incentives, and some incredible ways to help us through post-production, plus opportunities to "Sponsor" a festival submission! We so appreciate your support for the upcoming global phenomenon that is Dick Bunny, and hope you'll hop on over to instagram, where you can follow along for more updates @DickBunny_Official and see more #BTS shots from our shoot in March!
Please SHARE this campaign! Email it to a mom-friend, or a weirdo that loves puppets, or anyone who wants to be a part of something magical! Helping us get the word out increases our chances of success!
****COPY AND PASTE THIS LANGUAGE TO SHARE ANYWHERE****
I just contributed to the Dick Bunny Seed & Spark campaign, and you should too! These weird moms are making their own show and it's got puppets and mocks GOOP, and is everything we need in the world. GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!! ? www.seedandspark.com/dickbunny-official
***COPY AND PASTE > MENTAL HEALTH***
Statistics show that 25% of new parents experience some form of post partum depression or anxiety. This digital comedy series, independently made by parents, seeks to shine a light on those moments and to confront them through comedy. Support here: www.seedandspark.com/dickbunny-official
***COPY PERSONAL TEAM PROMOS***
As a longtime friend of @thekimgriffin it's awesome to see her going for her dream. I donated to her Seed + Spark campaign for Dick Bunny - a digital comedy series she's producing and starring in. www.seedandspark.com/dickbunny-official
As a forever fan of @katielockeobrien it's been amazing watching her pivot and dominate episodic tv, so I cannot wait to see what she does with Dick Bunny, the short digital comedy series she's producing and directing. I just donated to their Seed+Spark campaign, and I hope you will too! Follow @dickbunny_official
As a true Susie Mendoza Stan, I have been waiting for the moment she'd get to create an entire world, and now it's here! Her digital comedy series Dick Bunny is currently fundraising on Seed+Spark, and looks incredible. The world needs more art made by real people, about real experiences. You know, plus puppets!
**COPY IF YOU DARE**
"A British storybook character comes to life in the bathroom of a sleep-deprived new mom." More magic, anyone? The fine folks over at @DickBunny_Show are raising funds to complete their genius digital comedy series: www.seedandspark.com/dickbunny-official
Incentives
$10
Sticker!
Get your own water bottle sticker! Plus, we'll give you a shoutout on our social media account: @DickBunny_OFFICIAL.
Can also be affixed to: your child's bedroom furniture when you're not looking, the car's upholstery, your new kitchen appliance, or even your in-laws' new boat!
Go nuts - We won't tell...
Claimed: 21 of 100
$20
Signed Copy of Natty and Mo!
Dick Bunny creator Susie Mendoza's darling children's book, Natty & Mo, helps children living with anxiety (and those who love them) to navigate their challenging feelings. It features tips for how to support a friend with anxiety from a clinical psychologist, and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations.
Claimed: 36 of 100
$50
Aggressive Puppet Pep Talk!!
The Puppets will send you a video message explaining why it is you're CRUSHING life, and all the ways that you rule and everyone else is basically stupid, and why aren't you THE BOSS OF THE EARTH?? We promise it will be weird and wonderful and brighten your day!
Sold Out!
$150
Hop Onto the Big Screen!
If you've ever sat through the credits, at the very very end, just like in books, there's a long-ass list of the people that made it happen by providing mental and emotional support, advice, and MONEY.
This Incentive entitles you to be credited in our "VERY Special Thanks" at the end of the film. Your true life goal. We know.
Claimed: 8 of 25
$300
Your Name in Lights
Let us celebrate you by naming a character, place or product in the show after YOU! Imagine, "Uncle Kelley's Organic Oatmilk Creamer"... has a nice ring to it, huh? Your dog, child or beloved long-lost relative's name can be a part of the magic. It's like a commemorative plate! You don't eat off it - you display it proudly for all the world to admire.
Claimed: 6 of 10
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Sticker!
Get your own water bottle sticker! Plus, we'll give you a shoutout on our social media account: @DickBunny_OFFICIAL.
Can also be affixed to: your child's bedroom furniture when you're not looking, the car's upholstery, your new kitchen appliance, or even your in-laws' new boat!
Go nuts - We won't tell...
Claimed: 21 of 100
$20
Signed Copy of Natty and Mo!
Dick Bunny creator Susie Mendoza's darling children's book, Natty & Mo, helps children living with anxiety (and those who love them) to navigate their challenging feelings. It features tips for how to support a friend with anxiety from a clinical psychologist, and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations.
Claimed: 36 of 100
$50
Aggressive Puppet Pep Talk!!
The Puppets will send you a video message explaining why it is you're CRUSHING life, and all the ways that you rule and everyone else is basically stupid, and why aren't you THE BOSS OF THE EARTH?? We promise it will be weird and wonderful and brighten your day!
Sold Out!
$150
Hop Onto the Big Screen!
If you've ever sat through the credits, at the very very end, just like in books, there's a long-ass list of the people that made it happen by providing mental and emotional support, advice, and MONEY.
This Incentive entitles you to be credited in our "VERY Special Thanks" at the end of the film. Your true life goal. We know.
Claimed: 8 of 25
$300
Your Name in Lights
Let us celebrate you by naming a character, place or product in the show after YOU! Imagine, "Uncle Kelley's Organic Oatmilk Creamer"... has a nice ring to it, huh? Your dog, child or beloved long-lost relative's name can be a part of the magic. It's like a commemorative plate! You don't eat off it - you display it proudly for all the world to admire.
Claimed: 6 of 10
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Katie Locke O'Brien
Katie Locke O’Brien hails from small-town New Hampshire and got her start performing at theaters around New England. At her first audition ever, she was cast as Annie in Annie. (She subsequently learned this does not happen at all auditions.) Years later, she got her LA start as an actress appearing on Justified, Weeds, Community, Chuck, Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life and Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here.
Katie wrote and directed festival short films Lone Douche and Discard. Her 2018 short Have It All, which she directed, wrote, and in which she stars, was a finalist for HBO's Insider Comedy Short Challenge at the Women in Comedy Festival, a semi-finalist for the NBCU Short Film Competition, and took home the Jury Prize for Narrative Short Films at the Napa Valley Film Festival, among other accolades. Katie was selected for the 2018 inaugural class of NBC’s Female Forward Initiative for female episodic directors and has directed multiple episodes each of single-camera comedies including CBS’s Ghosts, NBC’s A.P. Bio, Kenan, Blockbuster, Perfect Harmony, Maggie, Saved By The Bell, and the finale episodes of the upcoming Disney+ limited series The Clauses.
As a writer, Katie was featured on the prestigious Young & Hungry list in 2017. She co- wrote and produced the award-winning festival short The Real Truth Behind the Real True Story. That team also created the feature dramedy The Thing Before the Thing, which premiered in 2020. Additionally, Katie has developed comedy series with IFC, ABC, and WB.
Katie graduated from Harvard University with honors in English and American Literature and Language…where she spent all of her time at play practice or tap dancing. She is repped by Gersh and Echo Lake Entertainment, and she happily serves as personal assistant and fan club president to her 4-year-old son, Julian.
Kim Griffin
One of those obnoxious hyper-functioning types, Kim was felled by parenthood roughly a decade ago, just like Max, and is still trying to get back on the horse. Originally from Oklahoma, she received a BFA from Boston University, followed by an MFA from The Old Globe - University of San Diego. She's performed in many regional theaters, most fondly The Old Globe, Huntington Theatre Company, City Theatre Co. and The Humana Festival of New American Plays. Film credits include A Lotus Til Reckoning, Movement + Location. As a stand-up, she's performed at Haha's, Flapper's and various other dives in the LA area.
As an arts educator, she has had the pleasure of working with students across disciplines in theatre departments at the University of Pittsburgh, Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, and Pomona College.
When she's not enjoying the escapism that making & watching tv afford, she's coaching actors and influencers with auditions & accents, parenting two amazing kids, and working as a pediatric patient and parent advocate. She's the busiest woman in Hollywood no one's ever heard of.
Her independently produced podcast, Off the Fucking Rails with Kim Griffin, discusses grief, trauma, how we survive our lives, and highlights sharing resources and building community through interviews with fascinating people from all walks of life. Find it wherever you get your pods.
Susie Mendoza
Writer/Author, Susie Mendoza, seeks to help moms process the trauma of motherhood through talking soup cans who speak a gibberish understood only by those who have watched their baby eat dirt and thought, “good mineral content”.
In writing Dick Bunny, Susie was inspired to view her own experiences through the lens of magical realism. As in all her work, she looks for the funny in life’s dark corners, to reveal it’s brilliant underbelly. As a pastor’s daughter, who traveled frequently to new places, she developed a sense of humor as a tool to understand the world around her.
It was only years later, when she found the improv world that she found others like her. During her tenure at both Second City and UCB, she developed characters and material that propelled her writing. Her character, Ranger Jean, from a Second City sketch about a lonely camp ranger with boundary issues, became a feature vehicle for SNL star, Cheri Oteri.
With each attempt to understand and connect with the world, a new character or story began marinating. Her first feature, a romantic comedy satire, Meet Cute, was based on her dating adventures - it won Best Romantic Comedy at the Broad Humor Festival. Her Christian boarding school comedy, Pathways Prep, was inspired by her experiences with strict moral codes and drunk driving skits where someone inevitably
gets pregnant from drinking beer, and was picked up by Lot 31 Productions for development.Her humor essays can be seen on sites like: Scary Mommy, McSweeneys, Mom.com, The Pregnant Chicken, UpWorthy, Ravishly, and more. With the launch of her children's book, Natty and Mo, she added illustrator to her arsenal. Her McSweeney’s article, Meat Suit, is currently being developed as an adult animated series.
With Dick Bunny, she seeks push back on the idea that good moms dedicate all to their children. She and the team are taking back the narrative to produce a story that truly reflects our experience of motherhood. The good, the bad, and the soup cans.
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