Daryn Strauss and from the web series Then We Got Help, Julie Ann Emery ("Hitch") and Kevin Earley (Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie) at a WGA event at the Friars Club

A born and raised Jersey girl, Daryn Strauss grew up amongst a household of musicians. As a teen, she performed with the New Jersey Ballet Company and sang with Barry Manilow and Jose Carreras at Radio City Music Hall. She has  been the lead or co-star in the indie features Waiting in Woodsbury and Tech Room, several shorts including White Rabbit, which was a Top 10 film at the Asian American Film Lab in 2009 and also nominated for Best Direction and Best Editing. Daryn earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism magna cum laude from Montclair State University. A writer since childhood, she studied screenwriting at UCLA and has written several screenplays which have been workshopped in New York City.  At the end of 2009, Daryn was recruited by the Writers Guild of America, East to be a part of pioneering their new media group, making Downsized one of only twenty-two new media signatories. Downsized was also praised by both Tubefilter and New TeeVee, the industry's two leading trade magazines.

Daryn Strauss with Don P. Hooper and Timothy Cooper from the web series Concierge: The Series at the 2010 WGA Awards.

Web Series Network talked to Writer, Director, Producer, Actress Daryn Strauss of "Downsized" the web series. She talks about her web projects past and present, writing character-driven stories, and a few words for top journalists, network and studio execs reading this interview. 

Rich Mbariket: Where do you live and how did you get into making web series?

Daryn Strauss: I'm in New York City, which is mostly a theater and fashion city, and I think that is why a lot of talented people in New York are working on the web, because it is a venue to get on-camera work seen. I have a pretty close circle of friends who are actors/directors/writers and we have been doing little projects with each other for years to keep each other motivated and stay on our game. When I started writing "Downsized," I had already worked on some other people's web projects and I thought, why not do one myself? So, I spent a few months writing, and then nervously contacted actors asking if they'd play a role, and they were all into it. And then I contacted Chris Shimojima, and asked if he'd shoot it, and he was on board. And that's when I started freaking out because I had this ridiculously talented team and I didn't want to mess up.

RM: What's the "Downsized" story about?

DS: Basically, it's about several people trying to get through the economic crisis-- some are executives, some are cubicle workers, some are suburbanites, some are entrepreneurs, some are immigrants, but they all share this common thread of being surrounded by the absurdity of this recession. The stories intertwine, touching on topical issues in a satirical though thoughtful way. And of course, there are some love stories in there too!

RM: Tell us about the multiple hats you wear in making the series.

DS: I wrote "Downsized". I am also producing it and I directed it-- which is a recipe for some serious ADD. And being it is low-budget, I arranged the locations, the shooting schedules, the props, ordered the food, designed the web site! What else? I also acted in it, which actually I wasn't sure I was going to do. I was more interested in my role as writer/director. In fact, I kept forgetting I was acting in it and didn't remember to learn lines until the last minute! Lucky I wrote them!

RM: Tell us about the character you portray.

DS: I play Beth, a sales rep, who comes from a generation of women raised in the 90s with this idea that when you get to your late twenties/early thirties, you should have a reliable job, a perfect wedding and a house. Unfortunately for them, they reached this age during the recession, and instead, they are struggling just to stay afloat. I think this is a really common theme amongst women in my generation who've had to adjust their expectations right now. It's like hey, I was told to go to college, maybe even grad school, and I did that and I've worked my way up to mid-level, so why am I living in a tiny room, unmarried with no job! How did that happen? I also really wanted to have one couple that is really financially struggling but also extraordinarily in love to show that you can get through times like this. Of course, they'll have their struggles...

RM: I've followed the series from episode one and I must disclose that its one of the most authentic, character-driven web series out there. You write characters that the common man can relate to. How important is this?

DS: Wow, thank you! I don't know how important it is to make a good show, but it's just what resonates with me. I'm a pretty common person with pretty common struggles, so that is what I write about. And there are so many interesting things going on in people's lives right now that all you really have to do is just document it. I also studied screenwriting at UCLA so that gave me a good foundation to work with in setting up character-driven conflict, and I have terrific actors who make very authentic choices so you believe them no matter what ridiculous situation I put them in.

RM: You are currently in the sixth episode of season one. How many episodes will you have total and what should we expect in upcoming episodes?

DS: We shot 10 episodes so far. I'm aiming for 15-16 for the season. All of the characters will continue to try to financially survive, but the show is not just about being out of work. It's about how we all feel downsized in some way right now. How will these characters deal with that? So you'll see some entanglements starting to happen--- dalliances, flirtations, desperations that will affect people's judgments. We have a bit of a complicated situation with Connor and his cleaning lady Leyla. He's not exactly divorced yet, and she is very pregnant. We haven't seen him with his wife yet, but you will. Beth and Hank will be forced to continue to be creative in their financing, but it's never easy to broke, so will they be able to survive as a couple? Andy will try to recruit people into his self-help program The E-Trinity, but how exactly will his program "affect" people? And how will Astrid, the pageant coach, pay off her debt? We also have some other characters coming on who will throw some curves at these characters.

RM: How do you connect to your fans on social media?

DS: I'm still adjusting to the idea that we have fans!!! And I just want to say I really admire you for what you've done with the webseries network. I think it's a really fantastic resource for web content producers and fans. I am still learning about social media tools, and I've learned so much surfing around the site! Right now, we have a Facebook fan page, and we are also listed on a few websites like the webseries network and MOS Outloud. I actively check the comments and emails sent to us, and I watch other web shows. I haven't joined the twitter world yet.

RM: How important is consistency in delivering each episode on time?

DS: I don't know. I think most people who watch web series know it is not a typical TV show with a set weekly production table, and a lot of shows have no choice but to release episodes whenever they have one-- whether it be a week later or four months later. But I've seen many shows develop a strong fan base regardless of the time in between episodes. As for us, we've been trying to release them at 2-3 week intervals. The thing with web series is that people don't have to watch it at 8PM on a Wednesday, you know? They can watch it any time, so I feel like you need to give them time in between episodes so they can get to it before the next one comes out.

RM: For the Top Journalists, Network and Studio Execs reading this, what would you say to them?

DS: Web content creators are very creative, maybe because they've had to be to get the project produced, so I'm just waiting to see "web series" become a household word. I mean, people spend more time at their computer than they do anything else now, right? They download movies now, and I feel they want online programming that isn't just intended to be viral but has the same quality as a good film. Also, I think there is a niche for character-driven, dare I say it, female-driven content for the web as well, which is what I plan to focus on. I'm planning on working on a mini-series next, slightly longer content broken into a few parts.

RM: Anyone you'd like to thank?

DS: My very cool cast, all of whom are good friends and have been committed to this project beyond my expectations. Chris Shimojima, who is a one-man crew. You'd never know it was only him and a boom operator. My mother, who has been incredible, allowing me to toss ideas back at her at all hours and who also comes up with some gems herself which I will absolutely continue to take credit for! And my good friend Hy Bender for always hooking me up with a way to workshop my scripts and for introducing me to my actors and my acting coach.

Web Series Network proudly interviews dynamic individuals in web series. To nominate an individual to be interviewed on Web Series Network or to sponsor an interview, please email richmbariket@gmail.com.

View Help Wanted, an Imua! production:

HELP WANTED (ep. 15: PERSONAL ASSISTANT) from Imua! Theatre & Film Company on Vimeo.