A case of mistaken identity coupled with a dose of poppers leads to a near hookup in this in-your-face bromantic comedy that pokes fun at the straight guy's paranoia about masculinity and sexual orientation.
A case of mistaken identity coupled with a dose of poppers leads to a near hookup in this in-your-face bromantic comedy that pokes fun at the straight guy's paranoia about masculinity and sexual orientation.
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Story
Mission Statement
STRAY puts two best male friends, one straight, one gay, at the center of frequent conversations about love, sex, and career, challenging both toxic masculinity and the idea that men can’t be open with one another. It features POC, LGBT+, and women in major roles in front of and behind the camera.About The Project
Creator Pablo Andreu, a straight guy, had an idea for a web series based on his relationship with his friend Chris, a gay guy. A voracious watcher of TV shows and web series, Pablo noticed that there weren't any shows that reflected the dynamic that he and Chris had: joking, posturing, ribbing one another, and talking openly about sex and attraction, while happening to be different sexual orientations.
Usually, a show is either considered strictly LGBT+, featuring mostly gay men and mostly targeting gay men, or a show is considered "mainstream," whatever that is anymore, and there happens to be gay characters.
Pablo set out tell that story and to take the opportunity to poke fun at the hysteria and insecurity a lot of straight guys exhibit about sexual orienation and masculinity. Pablo is not immune. He once told his sister that, as a straight guy, he could not tell if another man was attractive or not. This eventually became the episode "Hot or Not" in season 1 of STRAY in which "Jay" proves to "Rich" that he can, in fact, tell if another man is hot or not.
To make this story come alive, Pablo was lucky enough to enlist the help of a talented team, including:
Bri Castellini, STRAY producer, relentless jack-of-all-trades, creator of award-winning web series, Brains, creator of upcoming web series, Sam and Pat Are Depressed, and creator of the award-winning short film, Ace and Anxious.
Dane Benko, director (Season 1) and director of photography (Season 2), Head Editor at The Skin Deep, producer of the Emmy Award-winning digital series {The And}.
Cameron Clarke, who plays "Rich," is the artistic director of the New York theater company, Company of Fools, and was a member of the ensemble in the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar.
Sha James Beamon, who plays "Jay," had starring roles in the films Groove and Right of Way, and can be seen in the Netflix Original Show, The Get Down.
Season 1, which is nominated for an award at NYC Web Fest, was created on a shoestring budget, if the shoestring was lit on fire and its ashes flushed down the toilet (season 1 was funded with Pablo's bank account and the generosity of friends, who donated equipment, expertise, and time). Season 2 is a lot more ambitious, so it'll require more than shoestring ashes.
In Season 2, Rich and Jay's world expands, introducing new friends and love interests, including "Brock," Rich's homophobic "friend"; "Marquis," a holier-than-thou thespian; "Autumn," a sadistic world-saver; and "Luna," an unfiltered jocknerd.
Season 2 will contain 10 five-to-12-minute episodes, including a short-form adaptation of the 1980s comedy Clue, a Freaky Friday-esque episode in which Rich and Jay switch orientations; and an episode that deconstructs the ending of 500 Days of Summer which includes, if we hit our stretch goals, a protracted, Family Guy-style non-sequitur of a fight sequence.
At this point, you're probably asking yourself, "How do I give these people all my money?" Great question. Scroll back to the top of this page and click on the "Make A Pledge" button. And remember to click on the "Follow" button. We're not entirely sure why. We think it mobilizes the internet elves. Remember: A little goes a long way, and, more importantly, a lot goes even farther.
In all seriousness, though, we made this series to deflate toxic masculinity through humor, to challenge rigid notions of malehood, and to show that being a man can mean a lot of things, each of which should be represented and celebrated.
We have a great team in place. We have talented actors. We have funny scripts. We even have a proof of concept with season 1, which we made with NO budget, so imagine what we could accomplish with funding. We have in hand all the elements we need to make a fantastic season two except for one thing- YOU.
Join us in bringing more of this weird, funny, frank, and dare-we-say heartwarming bromance to life.
Incentives
$10
Social Media Shout-Out
We'll post a personalized thank-you image on STRAY's social media accounts, because you are AWESOME.
$25
IMDb Famous
The only thing better than being chocolate wasted is being IMDb famous. We’re so happy you’re pitching in that we're going to give you a special thanks on our IMDb page! Pretty sweet deal.
$35
Connect Four Technician
We're going to add you to the end credits of every episode, and we're going to create a special title just for you based on seasons 1 and 2 of STRAY! Want to be credited as our Connect Four Technician? Our Whiskey Grip? Our Pygmy Interpreter? Done. This is going to be the greatest end credits of ALL TIME!
This perk also comes with a social media shout-out!
$50
Personalized Magic Trick Video
Cameron, who plays aspiring magician Rich, will make you a personalized magic trick video. Yes, he really is that big of a nerd.
$50
Songbird Sha Serenade
When Sha James Beamon isn't playing Jay, he's busking his way through the streets of New York City. Let him serenade you with a personal thank you.
$75
Early Access
Because you're a super cool insider, you'll get unlisted links to episodes and digital scripts the week before they go live on YouTube.
$100
Name A Character
Since Jay and Rich are heading out into the real world this season, tons of new characters will be seen on screen, and for this amount, you'll get to name one! Within reason. Don't make this weird. Only non-speaking characters.
Claimed: 8 of 10
$100
Professional Press Release
Not sure know how to write a press release? Don't worry, STRAY creator Pablo Andreu has you covered. He has 12 years of public relations experience. Give him all the pertinent information and he'll draft a professional press release for you. He'll even give you advice about how to pitch the media to maximize coverage. (Note: Allow for one-week turnaround time)
Claimed: 0 of 10
$250
Tinder-Grindr Profile Page
Send us a headshot and we’ll create a dating profile of you that will be featured in season two! So when Rich and Jay are swiping through Tinder and Grindr, your beautiful mug will pop up in a close-up! We’ll share a digital copy with you ahead of season 2. In the meantime, we’ll show you all the love with shout-outs on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$250
Public Relations Package
Not sure how to write a press release? Don't know how to pitch the media? How do you find the right media contacts for you? STRAY creator Pablo Andreu, with 12 years of public relations experience, has you covered.
He'll write a professional press release for you, he'll write your pitch letter, he'll provide you with the contact information of 12 media contacts relevant to your project, company, etc., and he'll be available for a 45-minute video consultation as well as email follow-up to answer your questions about your PR campaign.
(Note: Please allow for a two-week turnaround time for all assets and consultation).
Claimed: 0 of 5
$500
Write A STRAY Minisode
Have an idea for the show? Write the script and we'll shoot it for you. Seriously.
Here's the deal. It can't be longer than a single script page, it can only include the main characters, Rich and Jay, and it has to be set in an apartment. No frills, no special effects, nothing offensive. Other than that, go nuts!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$750
Comic Strips™ Strippergram
If burlesque and SNL had a baby, it would be Comic Strips – a themed male striptease experience delivered right to your door. Want to see what Jon Snow looks like underneath that Ikea rug, what Dracula is hiding underneath that cape? This could be the perk for you.
Must be in New York City. Comic Strips needs one month from time of donation to plan the experience.
Claimed: 0 of 2
$1,000
Associate Producer
Damn, bruh! We're so grateful that you'll not only get an IMDb page, but one that says "associate producer," because that's what you'll be!
$1,000
Friendsgiving in NYC
What’s better than Thanksgiving? Yes, Christmas and probably Halloween. Definitely your birthday. But also Friendsgiving. Have Friendsgiving dinner with the lead actors in STRAY, Cameron Clarke and Sha James Beamon, and creator Pablo Andreu in New York City. We'll let you know what's in store for season two and beyond, and you can pick our brains about the show. This perk also comes with behind-the-scenes access to shoots, provided your schedule aligns with the shoot schedule.
The dinner will take place in an apartment in New York City following the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign. Exact date to be determined. Travel costs not included.
Claimed: 2 of 5
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Social Media Shout-Out
We'll post a personalized thank-you image on STRAY's social media accounts, because you are AWESOME.
$25
IMDb Famous
The only thing better than being chocolate wasted is being IMDb famous. We’re so happy you’re pitching in that we're going to give you a special thanks on our IMDb page! Pretty sweet deal.
$35
Connect Four Technician
We're going to add you to the end credits of every episode, and we're going to create a special title just for you based on seasons 1 and 2 of STRAY! Want to be credited as our Connect Four Technician? Our Whiskey Grip? Our Pygmy Interpreter? Done. This is going to be the greatest end credits of ALL TIME!
This perk also comes with a social media shout-out!
$50
Personalized Magic Trick Video
Cameron, who plays aspiring magician Rich, will make you a personalized magic trick video. Yes, he really is that big of a nerd.
$50
Songbird Sha Serenade
When Sha James Beamon isn't playing Jay, he's busking his way through the streets of New York City. Let him serenade you with a personal thank you.
$75
Early Access
Because you're a super cool insider, you'll get unlisted links to episodes and digital scripts the week before they go live on YouTube.
$100
Name A Character
Since Jay and Rich are heading out into the real world this season, tons of new characters will be seen on screen, and for this amount, you'll get to name one! Within reason. Don't make this weird. Only non-speaking characters.
Claimed: 8 of 10
$100
Professional Press Release
Not sure know how to write a press release? Don't worry, STRAY creator Pablo Andreu has you covered. He has 12 years of public relations experience. Give him all the pertinent information and he'll draft a professional press release for you. He'll even give you advice about how to pitch the media to maximize coverage. (Note: Allow for one-week turnaround time)
Claimed: 0 of 10
$250
Tinder-Grindr Profile Page
Send us a headshot and we’ll create a dating profile of you that will be featured in season two! So when Rich and Jay are swiping through Tinder and Grindr, your beautiful mug will pop up in a close-up! We’ll share a digital copy with you ahead of season 2. In the meantime, we’ll show you all the love with shout-outs on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$250
Public Relations Package
Not sure how to write a press release? Don't know how to pitch the media? How do you find the right media contacts for you? STRAY creator Pablo Andreu, with 12 years of public relations experience, has you covered.
He'll write a professional press release for you, he'll write your pitch letter, he'll provide you with the contact information of 12 media contacts relevant to your project, company, etc., and he'll be available for a 45-minute video consultation as well as email follow-up to answer your questions about your PR campaign.
(Note: Please allow for a two-week turnaround time for all assets and consultation).
Claimed: 0 of 5
$500
Write A STRAY Minisode
Have an idea for the show? Write the script and we'll shoot it for you. Seriously.
Here's the deal. It can't be longer than a single script page, it can only include the main characters, Rich and Jay, and it has to be set in an apartment. No frills, no special effects, nothing offensive. Other than that, go nuts!
Claimed: 0 of 5
$750
Comic Strips™ Strippergram
If burlesque and SNL had a baby, it would be Comic Strips – a themed male striptease experience delivered right to your door. Want to see what Jon Snow looks like underneath that Ikea rug, what Dracula is hiding underneath that cape? This could be the perk for you.
Must be in New York City. Comic Strips needs one month from time of donation to plan the experience.
Claimed: 0 of 2
$1,000
Associate Producer
Damn, bruh! We're so grateful that you'll not only get an IMDb page, but one that says "associate producer," because that's what you'll be!
$1,000
Friendsgiving in NYC
What’s better than Thanksgiving? Yes, Christmas and probably Halloween. Definitely your birthday. But also Friendsgiving. Have Friendsgiving dinner with the lead actors in STRAY, Cameron Clarke and Sha James Beamon, and creator Pablo Andreu in New York City. We'll let you know what's in store for season two and beyond, and you can pick our brains about the show. This perk also comes with behind-the-scenes access to shoots, provided your schedule aligns with the shoot schedule.
The dinner will take place in an apartment in New York City following the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign. Exact date to be determined. Travel costs not included.
Claimed: 2 of 5
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Pablo Andreu, creator, writer, director. Pablo Andreu is not a creator or a scriptwriter. He’s certainly not a filmmaker. He’s just a guy who decided to make a web series called STRAY. It’s a bromantic comedy in which a brash gay dude and a nerdy straight guy talk sex and relationships while reconnecting in New York City years after college. He hopes it’s funny. By some inscrutable alchemy, his scribblings have wormed their way into The New York Times, McSweeney’s and some others. Usually, you can find him babbling here: https://medium.com/@pdandreu
Bri Castellini, producer, assistant director. Bri Castellini has an MFA in Writing and Producing for Television and a BA in Creative Writing, studying in New York and Oregon, respectively. She currently resides in Brooklyn with her partner and works as the Community Director for Stareable.com. She is the writer, director, producer, and editor, among other things, of the award-winning short film Ace and Anxious, the creator, writer, producer, and star (among other things) of the award-winning comedic zombie web series Brains, the creator, writer, producer, and star (among other things) of the upcoming web series Sam And Pat Are Depressed, the executive producer and assistant director (among other things) for the award-winning web series Relativity, and the producer and assistant director for the web series Stray.
Dane Benko, director (season 1), director of photography. Dane Benko is a Brooklyn-based cameraman, DIT, and editor as well as a DIY/independent filmmaker. He currently works as the post-production supervisor and head editor at The Skin Deep, an creative studio that produces interactive documentaries about human connection in the digital era, including the Emmy award winning digital series {The And}. He is a member of The FilmShop, a NYC independent film collective, and a former member of Basement Films in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Cameron Clarke, "Rich." Cameron Clarke is an actor, writer, magician, and professional goofball. A frequent stage actor, Cameron was recently seen as a member of the ensemble in the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar. Other credits include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (The Fools & Kings Project), Orlando in As You Like It (Barefoot Shakespeare), and Brick in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (Parkside Players). Stray is his first webseries, and he’s more than thrilled to be a part of it, playing the hilarious Rich. Cameron is also a director, and the artistic director of Company of Fools, a fledgling independent theatre company.
Sha James Beamon, "Jay." Sha James Beamon is a Black, Jewish Jedi who plays Jay in the Hit Web Series Stray. He is best known 4 His Beautiful Head of Afro-Centric Hair and Purple Yarkmulke combination crowning him “The Holy Hebrew Highness of Hip-Hop & Hilarity”. He has also been known to carry a utility belt equipped with a holstered afro pick and multi-colored lightsaber to name a few features. He is a Love Based Actor and Musician that sometimes does Stand-Comedy and Writes. He enjoys using The Force and staying fit af. He does not like closed minds or wasted time. In addition to 2 playing Gay Jay of Stray, Sha is also in The New Films Groove (Sequoya Nelson) and Right of Way (Kenny Green). Catch Him if U Can ;-})
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