Sideline has produced three shorts written and preformed by Irish comedy duo The Rubberbandits for a new online initiative for Channel 4 in the UK.
The new initiative called Comedy Blaps, saw over 500 companies apply for eight slots from all over the UK and Ireland. It aims to provide visitors to the site with fresh comedy talent every Thursday through to mid-December. Sideline is the first Irish production company to successfully have a scripted comedy commissioned by Channel 4.
Billy McGrath, executive producer at Sideline commented on the initiative saying, "The talent and comic vision of The Rubberbandits shines through and the three online shorts reveal the unique world of Blindboy and Mr. Chrome as never seen before. Kudos too, to Paul Boland, Joe Clarke and Paul Webb, who ensured that Limerick embraced the filming of the Blaps. With director Declan Lowney on board each episode is so different in style and we are happy that all in Channel 4 are delighted with the end product.”
The three shorts include ‘The Concert’, which is now live on the website, sees The Rubberbandits trying to come up with a new song ahead of a big concert. ‘The Alarm Clock’ which will live in two weeks time and ‘Spoiling Ivan’ which will go live a fortnight later.
The shorts were directed by Declan Lowney (Little Britain, Father Ted) and produced by Dee Ellis (Ask Rhod Gilbert, The Panel). Executive production was by Billy & Gerry Kelly of Sideline. Directed of Photography on the project was Ross O'Callaghan (Hector I gCeanada, Feirm Factor) and design by David Wilson (Dorothy Mills, Shrooms). The series was edited by Michael O'Sullivan at Tangerine, with audio mix by Graham Bolger of Soundbank.
To watch ‘The Concert’ you can click here