Maid to Order, the popular web series about to kick off its second season on July 27 on its official website, tells the story of two clueless roommates who start a fantasy maid service only to discover fantasy is just as hard to manage as reality. This time around, Margot (Katie Carpenter) must manoeuvre urban Atlanta on her own, as June (Kendra Carell) faces her own obstacles in Los Angeles. Kevin Welch, one of the executive producers and directors on the series, gives us the 411 on the series, his background as a producer and his next film, the science-fiction film The Encounter.
indieactivity: How does one get into producing?
Kevin: I think the start to producing is the willingness and desire to get to the bottom of things. I had the opportunity to work for a show called Banshee after college as the Stunt Office PA. In that role I started doing a lot of SAG signatory research which allowed me to Production Manage a few Indies. That along with more research into IATSE, DGA and Teamsters led me to Line Producing which I continue to pursue today. I also still produce simple, small budget shoots and I always encourage those looking into learning about producing to do the same.
indieactivity: When did you form your production company – and what was the original motivation for its formation?
Kevin: Controlled Chaos wast started the winter of 2015. I was with my good friend and department head at the time, Marcus Young. Marcus is an amazingly talented Stunt Coordinator and Director, I was the Stunt Office Coordinator for Banshee season 4 which he was Stunt Coordinating. The show was coming to an end and we had a shared vision of continuing to work together and also building something that would start as an Action Services Company and grow to become much more.
indieactivity: What was the first project out of the gate?
Kevin: We were hired by Stunt Coordinator Danny Boyer on WGN’s Outsiders to provide equipment and office coordinating. When I got back to Atlanta my partner, Katie Carpenter, was working for a tech company who hired us to produce a series of adverts.
indieactivity: Do you think each project has improved as you go on?
Kevin: One can’t help but learn on every new adventure. Adventure is a good way to put what I feel with every new project I go on. Recently we’ve been producing a documentary “My Hero’s Shadow” which I have been consistently blown away with in terms of quality. I don’t think we would have gotten to this point without improvement in some sense.
indieactivity: What works better in this latest production that mightn’t have worked so well in the last one you did?
Kevin: Involvement. We put everything we had into season 1 and people saw that when it premiered. The crew on season one was tiny but insanely strong and through our efforts we created something that had network quality. Because of that folks were eager to come on board for season 2 which made shooting in both Atlanta and LA possible.
indieactivity: Is there anything about the independent filmmaking business you still struggle with?
Kevin: It’s the Wild West. Some projects are wonderful and others are abusive and scarring. In the indie world you have to do your research and really know what and who you’re getting involved with. Also the power of saying no and walking away when you’re being taken advantage of will ultimately serve you well.
Maid to Order Season 2 Poster
indieactivity: Where do you think your strengths lie as a producer?
Kevin: I’d say it’s my ability to go into any situation with the mindset that the outcome can be positive. We have to be the negotiators, counsellors, therapists and psychologists of our productions. You are the HR department, the buck stops with you, you can’t blame it on someone else. If you are able to embrace all of these things you’ll be a very strong producer, it’s something I will never stop working on.
indieactivity: How important is marketing? Do you think a project can make any dent without it these days?
Kevin: Someone has to keep on the ball with marketing. If you can’t hire a PR company then it needs to be a producer’s responsibility to get internet outreach. That means Facebook, Instagram, Website, YouTube page at minimum. And when you hire on PR don’t think the work stops there, the more you give and stay involved the farther you will go. The creator, Katie, works literally at all hours keeping the marketing train moving.
indieactivity: Can you tell us about your marketing activities on the project – and how it’s gone for you?
Kevin: I was Line Producing a film called Encounter earlier this year and we needed some PR help with the announcement of the project. Katie suggested October Coast to me who handled a film she starred in last year. I pitched them to the director and he ended up having a connection to them from the past. Once hired on the got to work and that film ended up being featured on the front page of Variety’s website. They are the best.
indieactivity: What do you hope audiences get from Maid to Order?
Kevin: Happiness. Well, happiness and inspiration. We love comedy and we love creating comedy because it brings so much happiness. That and an inspiration that you can take a small budget and still create something truly worthwhile.
indieactivity: What else have you got in the works?
Kevin: Continuing post production on My Hero’s Shadow. Also just started 1st AD’ing a feature in Atlanta basing out of Pinewood Studios. Maid to Order will stay in post-production for the next few months as we finish and release future episodes. I’m still continually applying to different projects and offering my various producer services. In the freelance economy of entertainment we gotta keep as many irons in the fire as possible.
