Hard to Be Me

Hard to Be Me is an independently produced comedy-drama television pilot created by and starring Edward Robert Bach.[1] The show follows second-year art student Kevin Hamilton (Bach) and his vlog in which he tells the story of his week through art.[2]

Hard to Be Me
Created byEdward Robert Bach
StarringEdward Robert Bach
Kendra North
Katie E. Jones
Michael Garvey
Ali Walton
Doug Henderson
Megan Hurst
Kelli Biggs
Estenia Goodridge
Carleen Troy
Brandon Rice
Opening theme
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of episodes1
Production
Executive producer(s)Edward Robert Bach
Robert P. Bach
Virginia Ryker
Producer(s)Lauren Gildner
Aditi V. Desai
Edward Robert Bach
Virginia Ryker
Running time45 minutes
Release
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
External links
Website

This framing device led to Hard to Be Me being called "the first web 2.0 television show"[3] and was cited by the director of the pilot episode Erik Cieslewicz as one of the main reasons he worked on the project.[3][4] It was described as "a little Gilmore Girls a little Everybody Hates Chris",[5] which was called a major component of the show by the pilot's creators.[6][7][8]

Hard to Be Me won a "slew of awards at film festivals"[9] and was also pitched to several networks[10], ultimately landing on Amazon Prime.

Synopsis

Using the framing device of Kevin's video blog, the pilot follows Kevin receiving the weekly assignment of creating the blog from his demanding Communications 101 professor Dr. Candice Wilkes (Biggs). His first blog, introducing his family and friends, introduces the audience to the universe of the show as well.[5] The show also follows a group of characters, who like the audience, are watching Kevin's blog as part of the narrative of the show.[3]

Cast
  • Edward Robert Bach as Kevin Hamilton
  • Kendra North as Patricia Hamilton
  • Katie E. Jones as Shannon Hamilton
  • Michael Garvey as Patrick Hamilton
  • Ali Walton as Olivia Willis-Henshall
  • Doug Henderson as Daniel Corrigan
  • Megan Hurst as Juliet Crawford
  • Kelli Biggs as Dr. Candice Wilkes
  • Estenia Goodridge as Melody
  • Carleen Troy as Shareece
  • Brandon Rice as Malcolm

Production

Bach stated that "There is definitely some of me in the plot and character developed around Kevin" and that he hoped "Viewers will see themselves in all the characters" as well.[1] It took approximately a year from start to finish to produce the pilot episode.[11] Bach stated numerous times that he would like the characters in the show to be relatable and empathetic while the plots to be universal and family friendly.[1][6] Additionally, the reason to set the show in Washington, D.C. was to show "the softer, non-political side of DC and the people who live here."[7]

According to Cieslewicz, "the goal from the beginning was to create a broadcast-ready pilot",[11] and that the production considered "hundreds" of actors from the Washington, D.C. area when casting.[4] Kevin's favorite artist in the show is also one of Bach's as well: Drew Struzan. According to Bach, Struzan "liked the idea of the Pilot"[7] and his self-portrait appears in the pilot.[12]

In August 2010, the show reached an agreement with Cyndi Lauper to provide her track "It's Hard to Be Me" as the theme song of the show.[10] Before that date, and beginning again in 2020, the theme song for the show is "Ready or Not," by Long Since Forgotten.

Release

As of June 29, 2020, the Pilot episode of "Hard to Be Me" is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Reception

In addition to calling the pilot "the first web 2.0 TV show", The Wausau City Pages also described it as "giving a truly unique perspective on youth, life and social media technology."[3] Blogger William Powell declared in his review that the show was "directed with crisp professionalism by Erik Cieslewicz" and that "Hard To Be Me is a pilot that will probably wind up on the small screen on a major network soon. Mark my words."[5] Additionally, the pilot won several awards at film festivals, some are listed below.[9]

Awards
Year Category Institution or publication ResultNotesRef.
2011 Best Dramedy New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Won Short Category [13]
2011 Silver Award California Film Awards Won TV Pilot Category [14]
2010 Best TV Pilot New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Won [15]
2010 Leading Actor
Leading Actress
TV Pilot		 Accolade Competition Won Edward Robert Bach
Kendra North
Award of Excellence		 [16]

References
  1. Fill, Gerald (March 4, 2010). "Resident Creates, Writes, and Acts in New TV Show". Mount Vernon Gazette. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  2. Jung, Jamie (October 28, 2010). "Central Wisconsin's version of Cannes- Local film festival an 'eye-opening' experience". Stevens Point Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  3. Corvino, Dino (October 28 - November 4, 2010), "Movies With a Wisconsin Connection". Wausau City Pages.
  4. O'Donnell, Joseph (August 1, 2010). "Interview with Director Erik Cieslewicz". Eerie Digest (Interview). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  5. Powell, William (March 11, 2010). "Hard To Be Me TV pilot features many DC actors". The Examiner.
  6. Sklar, Debbie. "Hard to Be Me shoots for prime time television". The Accolade Awards (Interview). Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  7. O'Donnell, Joseph (July 1, 2010). "Interview with Edward Bach – Hard to Be Me Pilot". Eerie Digest (Interview). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  8. Pflugshaupt, Amy (2010-11-05). Sunrise 7 (Interview). Interviewed by Erik Cieslewicz. Wausau, Wisconsin. Missing or empty |title= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. Uhlig, Keith (November 5, 2010). "Filmmaker with Wausau roots brings TV pilot back to central Wisconsin". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  10. O'Donnell f, Joseph (October 1, 2010). "Press Release – "Hard to Be Me" – Art in Real Life". Eerie Digest. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  11. Hutton, Carrie (November 4, 2010). "Independent films coming to region". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  12. "Hard to Be Me" (Trailer #1). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  13. "New York Film and Video Festival".
  14. "California Film Awards". Archived from the original on 2012-04-23.
  15. "New York International Independent Film and Video Festival".
  16. "Accolade Competition" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-12.
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