Pandemics, zombification and vlogging… the most 2020 set of words you’ve heard.
‘Virus or Zombie?’ is an ironic-comedic web-series that serves as a satire on the current COVID-19 Pandemic about a vlogger who unwittingly documents her transformation into a zombie over the course of 7 days (told in short 2-5 minute ‘vlog’ episodes), created by Sydney-based actor Courtney O’Donoghue.
Watch ‘Virus or Zombie?’ All 7 Episodes Available
Logline: As a new deadly pandemic forces the world into an unprecedented ‘Great Lockdown‘, recently-unemployed Jordana Williams from Sydney starts a daily vlog to stay productive during self-isolation. After exhibiting symptoms of an unknown virus, Jordana realises she is actually vlogging her transition into a zombie.
‘Virus or Zombie?’ deals with daily life during a pandemic and how to cope with self-isolation, disguised as a comedic ‘vlog’, which combines the sensibilities of Casey Neistat with Robert irkman’s The Walking Dead; Think instagram influencer meets Warm Bodies or iZombie… with a dash of Big Brother; Reality TV with zombies.
“I had moments during the middle of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Sydney, where society began to resemble aspects of the classic apocalyptic zombie scenario (in which society breaks down and we revert to surviving based on instincts), and I wanted to expand on that” says Courtney O’Donoghue.
“My intention says says Courtney O’Donoghue was to make a comedy, but also a social commentary, that explores how people are coping with this situation. It’s aimed at 18-30 year olds, and deals with universally relatable topics such as isolation, worldwide pandemic, love & fear.”
The ‘zombification’ theme is a metaphor for how the current virus pandemic is making a lot of people act ‘brainless’ so to speak. Initially people were panic buying & hoarding, fighting each other over toilet paper, rice, pasta, soap etc. For so many people it was a struggle to get basic supplies. I wanted to create something based on the irony of the situation. Additionally, we’re dealing with the paradigm shift of trying to keep our social lives going while in self-isolation, and realising how reliant on technology we are to help us through these times, says Courtney O’Donoghue.
I wanted to portray a character who copes with self-isolation by turning to vlogging, who, like many others in real life, use the platform as a way to remain productive when the world expects you to stop. We never explicitly mention COVID-19 as my intention wasn’t to make light of Coronavirus, but to find the humour in a situation that everyone in the world was also experiencing.
We faced many creative difficulties while recording this, especially the challenge of trying to create content while adhering to the social distancing guidelines set out by the government. We had to be very creative to film around these restraints. When other actors were involved, we could only film when our body of government had increased the number of people who could gather outdoors, as we didn’t want to violate a quarantine order.
I wanted to be resourceful and show that you don’t need fancy cameras or professional gear to be creative and productive when cooped up in your own home, so I collaborated with videographer Steven Saphore to film the entire project on an iPhone 11 Pro. It keeps in line with the theme of ‘staying home’ and using our technology to cope with isolation.
Courtney O’Donoghue is a Sydney-based actor, writer, director represented by Suzie Steen Management. She has studied Theatre at Atlantic Acting School in New York City, and Acting for Screen at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. Her most recent roles include tv series, commercials, music videos and short films.
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