Did you know hospitals hire actors to pretend to be sick to help train new doctors? They're called Standardized Patients. They go to crazy lengths to simulate real emergencies. We all love shows about the lives of doctors and nurses, but 'Patient' is the first hospital comedy from the patient's POV.
Did you know hospitals hire actors to pretend to be sick to help train new doctors? They're called Standardized Patients. They go to crazy lengths to simulate real emergencies. We all love shows about the lives of doctors and nurses, but 'Patient' is the first hospital comedy from the patient's POV.
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Story
Mission Statement
Our amazingly talented cast and crew represent intersectionality at its best. Series regulars include actors who are LGBTQIA+, hearing impaired, senior citizens, multiple genders and many ethnicities. Perhaps most important is the theme of mental illness which is at the very heart of our story.About The Project
This story begins with the worst waiter in the world. That would be me. Hi.
Most creative types get jobs waiting tables when they first move to New York, so that's what I did. Until I was fired for spilling tomato soup on a semifamous YouTuber's white pants because, as previously stated: I am the worst waiter in the world. So how to pay my rent yet stay far, far away from the food service industry?
A friend of mine recommended becoming a Standardized Patient -- an actor who pretends to be sick to help train new doctors. Great! I had a MFA in Acting and a BA in Biology. Perfect fit, right?
Cut to: being rejected from every program in the tristate area. Cool. So I thought Fine, you don't want to hire me? I'll hire myself! And just like that the idea for "Patient" was born.
I began submitting the pilot teleplay to competitions and film festivals hoping for some feedback to make it stronger. The response was overwhelming! To date it's been named a Finalist or Semifinalist in over a dozen contests and won Best Half Hour Teleplay at Creative World Awards and Cinequest Film Festival. Now it's time to make the damn thing.
But Rowan, you say, what exactly is "Patient"? And why should I care?
So glad you asked. Our show follows Adrian Irons -- a razorwitted, bisexual, self destructive standardized patient who can recreate the symptoms of any disease. He never holds back when it comes to teaching/terrorizing doctors-in-training, but talent comes with a price. Adrian's life is thrown into chaos when the symptoms start to stick. Other series regulars include Reynolds, a skateboarding septugenarian and youth culture fanatic; head of internal medicine and Adrian's BFF. Next up is Grace, the perpetually stressed hospital administrator, whip-smart HBIC, and Adrian's ex. Then we have Bex, an intriguing new nurse serving up equal parts effortless sex appeal and dad jokes; definitely a contender for Adrian's affections. Down the hall is Siobhan, a flinty Irish dementia patient who has not a f*** to give. Throw in a squad of five inept Interns and you've got the world of "Patient".
Although we definitely serve up the laughs in this dark comedy, at the very heart of the show is the theme of mental illness. Many of the characters struggle with mental health and Adrian especially must grapple with a rare disorder over the course of the series. Our primary goal is to entertain, but if we can work toward destigmatizing mental illness we will do so proudly.
Thank you so much for supporting our project! We literally can't do this without you. Times are tough - trust me, I get it - so even if you can't contribute financially at this time please SHARE this campaign with EVERYONE! You have no idea how valuable word of mouth is for us.
From all of us at "Patient"...
Incentives
$15
Band-Aid
We'll reach out through the interwebs with a big ol' hug to express our sincere gratitude (i.e. you'll get a personal thank you note). XOXO
$25
Multi-Vitamin
Meme Me! You will become the face of a new [fake] pharmaceutical ad. Don't worry, we'll err on the side of sweet instead of embarrassing. We'll share it on our socials or send it to you directly if you're shy :)
Plus all the above, of course +
$50
Chicken Soup
Got the sniffles? No? Oh... well, we'll send you a Patient Postcard in the mail anyway, signed by the cast and creative team. Feel better! Or... keep feeling fine!
Plus all the above, of course ++
$100
Antioxidant
No need to wait in line at the pharmacy! We're shipping you a Prescription Pill Bottle full of [legal] goodies! Side effects may include joy, giggling, and blood sugar spike.
Plus all the above, of course +++
$250
Probiotic
See your name on the small screen! We love you so much that we're putting you in the Special Thanks section of the credits. Now you HAVE to watch to the end! Mwahahaha!!
Plus all the above, of course ++++
$500
Acupuncture
Relive your college days with a Patient Poster to hang on your wall, signed by the cast and creative team! It will go great next to the Picasso.
Plus all the above, of course +++++
$1,000
Cryotherapy
You're invited to a super special Advanced Screening of Patient. You'll be one of the first people ever to see the pilot. Who else feels like a winner tonight?! WOOOO!
Plus all the above, of course ++++++
$2,500
Penicillin
Congratulations, you are now an Associate Producer! You'll be credited on IMDb and the final credits of the pilot. With great associate power comes great associate responsibility.
Plus all the above, of course +++++++
$5,000
Miracle Drug
What?! Associate Producer wasn't enough? Hmm, okay... guess we're making you an official Co-Producer! You are moving up FAST in Hollywood. We'll use the sexiest font there is for the credits.
Plus all the above, of course ++++++++
$10,000
Elixir of Life
You are now an Executive Producer and technically our boss. Is there anything I can get you? Coffee? A neck massage? A kidney? You name it, it's yours... I may live to regret this.
Plus all the above, of course +++++++++
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
Band-Aid
We'll reach out through the interwebs with a big ol' hug to express our sincere gratitude (i.e. you'll get a personal thank you note). XOXO
$25
Multi-Vitamin
Meme Me! You will become the face of a new [fake] pharmaceutical ad. Don't worry, we'll err on the side of sweet instead of embarrassing. We'll share it on our socials or send it to you directly if you're shy :)
Plus all the above, of course +
$50
Chicken Soup
Got the sniffles? No? Oh... well, we'll send you a Patient Postcard in the mail anyway, signed by the cast and creative team. Feel better! Or... keep feeling fine!
Plus all the above, of course ++
$100
Antioxidant
No need to wait in line at the pharmacy! We're shipping you a Prescription Pill Bottle full of [legal] goodies! Side effects may include joy, giggling, and blood sugar spike.
Plus all the above, of course +++
$250
Probiotic
See your name on the small screen! We love you so much that we're putting you in the Special Thanks section of the credits. Now you HAVE to watch to the end! Mwahahaha!!
Plus all the above, of course ++++
$500
Acupuncture
Relive your college days with a Patient Poster to hang on your wall, signed by the cast and creative team! It will go great next to the Picasso.
Plus all the above, of course +++++
$1,000
Cryotherapy
You're invited to a super special Advanced Screening of Patient. You'll be one of the first people ever to see the pilot. Who else feels like a winner tonight?! WOOOO!
Plus all the above, of course ++++++
$2,500
Penicillin
Congratulations, you are now an Associate Producer! You'll be credited on IMDb and the final credits of the pilot. With great associate power comes great associate responsibility.
Plus all the above, of course +++++++
$5,000
Miracle Drug
What?! Associate Producer wasn't enough? Hmm, okay... guess we're making you an official Co-Producer! You are moving up FAST in Hollywood. We'll use the sexiest font there is for the credits.
Plus all the above, of course ++++++++
$10,000
Elixir of Life
You are now an Executive Producer and technically our boss. Is there anything I can get you? Coffee? A neck massage? A kidney? You name it, it's yours... I may live to regret this.
Plus all the above, of course +++++++++
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Simon Pearl (Director) - produces the hit web series "The Birds and the BS" with multii-Tony award winner Jordan Roth. On camera he can be seein in "Nurse Jackie", "Billions", and "Mommy Blogger".
Adam Paul Verity (Director of Photography, Editor) - by day he's a key cameraman for NY1, by night he's an accomplished freelance cinematographer and editor. Some of his films include "Falling", "Love You More", "Dark Country", and the music video "I Got You" by Galactus Jack.
Nitzan Mager (Consulting Producer) - recently debuted her feature "A Scientist's Guide to Living and Dying" which she produced, wrote, and co-directed. Her short film "Period Portrait"won awards from the National Board of Review and New York Women in Film and Television.
M. Rowan Meyer (Writer, Adrian) - check out his guest starring roles on "The Blacklist", "Royal Pains", and "Hellman v. McCarthy"... he needs the residuals.
Ruffin Prentiss (Bex) - best known for playing series regular Xavier Hughes in "The Arrangement". Catch him Sundays at 9pm on E!
Gannon McHale (Reynolds) - no stranger to the Spielberg tribe, appearing in the Oscar nominated films "Lincoln" and "The Post".
Kristen Lazzarini (Grace) - lights up the stage in plays such as "Marisol", "The Crucible", "Dead Man's Cell Phone", "The Balcony", and "Five Flights".
Deborah Hedwall (Siobhan) - a celebrated pro of stage and screen with arcs on "Jessica Jones", "Homeland", "Public Morals", and "I'll Fly Away" to name a few.
Rounding out the cast are the wonderfully talented Sarah Sirota, Jonathan Gregg, Meggy Hai Trang, John McGinty, Max Chernin, Christina Eskridge, Raymond J Lee and more.
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