Trailer Made
Trailer Made is a comedic soap opera web series created by writer/director Jason Vitteri-Lewis. In 2012, the series was nominated for four Indie Soap Awards, winning the category of ‘Best Writing in a Web Series (Comedy).’
Synopsis
Trailer Made chronicles the lives of a group of charming and distasteful trailer park housewives. Following a lottery win, the girls find their lives thrown into a whirlwind of chaotic drama when a stranger appears, claiming to be a surgically enhanced missing friend. Join these lovable women as they navigate one self-induced crisis after another in this fabulous representation of trailer park life.
Production History
Breaking the stereotype that soap operas can only portray the dramatic lives of the upper class, Vitteri-Lewis and friend Greg Cox developed the idea that would evolve into Trailer Made. Jason went on to script all thirteen of the first season episodes in 2009 upon being admitted to film school at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2010, Vitteri-Lewis formed Disastrophe Films LLC, a production company specializing in web entertainment. He serves as the series' director, along with its companion vlog, How I Seize It.
Principal filming for Trailer Made took place between May and August 2010, having suffered a delay when their first trailer park location washed away in the 2010 Tennessee floods. The series was shot on location in Nashville, Tennessee and is composed entirely of local talent and crew.
In December 2011, after scoring a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Patricia Rulon the year prior, it was announced that Trailer Made had received four nominations at the 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards, produced by SFNtv and WeLoveSoaps.Net. Those nominations included nods for Best Comedy Webseries, Best Comedy Writing and Best Ensemble Cast as well as one for Laura L. Thomas in the Best Supporting Actress category for her portrayal of unapologetic nympho 'Tapioca Marmalade.'
The awards ceremony took place on February 21, 2012 and was hosted by Colleen Zenk of As The World Turns fame. Days Of Our Lives alums Kevin Spirtas and Patrika Darbo presented the award for Best Writing in a Comedy Webseries and announced Vitteri-Lewis as the category's winner.
Release Schedule
The first four episodes made their public screening on December 7, 2010 at Green Hills Cinema to positive response. It was first made public to internet audiences on November 1, 2011 via the Disastrophe Films Youtube Channel. Since then, it has been added to Vimeo, DigitalChickTV and Blip.tv.
In June 2011 both Trailer Made and How I Seize It began rebroadcast runs on VBCTV.com and are currently airing season 2 of How I Seize It. How I Seize It can also be seen on Ebaumsworld and Funny Or Die.
Although a Season 2 has been scripted, final decisions on returning to production have yet to be determined. How I Seize It has been renewed for a third season.
Cast of Characters
The Housewives: |
TAPIOCA MARMALADE (Laura L. Thomas) - A boy-crazy, dethroned ex-beauty queen, Tapioca is forced to care for her comatose husband following his accident while digging graves for the local cemetery. An unapologetic nymphomaniac, this trailer park queen doesn't let her husband's condition hamper her libido one iota. This Tin Dreams vixen is a Hell-On-Wheels southern bell that lets nothing stand in the way of self-gratification, financial or 'otherwise.' Tapioca secretly resents Chrystal's broadening brood, unable to conceive a child and haunted by the mystery of her adoption. As departing housewife Mary Lou sums up, "We loved her too much to call her a [...] to her face. You do that with friends."
CHRYSTAL BOVENE (Kellye Mitchell) - Move over, Octomom! Sweet and sometimes clueless Chrystal had big dreams as a teenager, to one day host her own arts and crafts segment on the HGTV. Unfortunately, it seemed that the universe had other plans for her, when she became pregnant at age fourteen and continued to become pregnant every year after. With a husband on the road eleven months out of the year, Chrystal balances being a mom with...well, being a mom. Little does she know she's about to pee another plus sign. With an upcoming opportunity to audition for So You Think You Can Hot Glue looming in the distance, will the pressure of this virtual single parenthood prove too much for Chrystal? And what exactly IS a narcoleptic vagina, anyway?
POLLY ‘MAMAW’ JUGGS (Layne Sasser) - Tin Dreams mother hen Polly 'Mamaw' Juggs, has gone green! As the trailer park's herbal pharmacist, Mamaw has found dealing in the nation's #1 cash crop to be quite a lucrative endeavor when her new pickle-flavored crop becomes the new must-have for local tokers. Remember not to leave the trailer park without picking up a nickel bag of Mamaw's "Magic Pickles!" This free-spirited, free wheeling slice of sunshine is about to be overcast by a dark cloud as her holier-than-thou sister is forced to take up residence across the street. Overprotective of her fellow housewives, she can go from best friend to worst enemy quicker than you can spit. Just piss her off. We dare you.
PRUDENCE MERIWETHER (Patricia Rulon) - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned by her tax-evading late husband. Widow to an evangelical minister and rising local politician, Prudence's fall from grace hits a boiling point when her financial situation lands her in the Tin Dreams zip code. Now, the trashy trailer gals she socially ostracized from her high-and-mighty pulpit are her neighbors, including her estranged, and popular sister. Prudence, overwhelmed by her fall from the heavens, turns to the bottle and in an accidental combination with cleaning product fumes, speaks directly with the man upstairs. Politely prejudiced Pru misinterprets these conversations with God and continues her downward spiral from Apple Springs' social ladder.
GUADALUPE DE LEON (Amanda Salinas) - South of the border sexpot Guadalupe is obsessed with getting married. She has to be. It's the only way she can stay in the country! At the onset of our story, Guadalupe arrives at the Tin Dreams Trailer Park having assumed the identity of missing battered housewife Mary Lou Forrester. Supposedly the product of a post-plastic surgery "Mary Lou," Guadalupe has actually swaped lives and must pose as her until she can get that green card. This enormous undertaking is no easy task. Especially with that accent! But, when we discover what it is Guadalupe is running away from, can anybody really blame her?
LORETTA JENKINS (Cinda McCain) - A self-professed functioning drunk, Loretta rules the roost of her Tin Dreams Trailer Park with an iron fist full of Coors Light. Uncensored and mean-spirited, she is '[...]' personified. Maybe [...] is too hard of a word, considering that subsisting on a diet of pure alcohol might just mean that she's hungry. Whatever the case, Loretta refuses to hold her tongue and releases her views to the world through a series of online rants entitled "How I Seize It." This country slumlord is as unpopular as she is inebriated. Just don't be late on rent or say something 'ignunt' or she'll "cut off your head and throw it at ya."
THE HUSBANDS: |
CLETUS BOVENE (Michael Golebiewski) -- CHARLIE MARMALADE (Clay Hillwig) -- REVEREND MERIWETHER/GOD (voice) (Dan McGeachy)
THE YOUNGINS: |
PATSY CLINE BOVENE (Maranda Shepherd) -- TAMMY WYNETTE BOVENE (Kara Shepherd) -- CONWAY TWITTY BOVENE (Brenner Jennings) -- WAYLON JENNINGS BOVENE (Jake Jennings) -- MINNIE PEARL BOVENE (Josie Hancock) -- FREDDIE FENDER BOVENE (Gavin Jennings) -- HANK WILLIAMS JR. BOVENE (Jude Schipper) -- DOTTIE WEST BOVENE (Bet Bayer) -- ROY ACUFF BOVENE (Cameron Miles)
TIN DREAMS TRAILER PARK RESIDENTS: |
‘2-PIECE’ (Kathy Jean Williams) -- DEPUTY JOE (Jason Reed) -- FLICKA (Amy Holt) -- BUBBA (Byron Rice) -- SCOOTER (Jonathan Patrick Hayes) -- BARNEY (Terry Gragg) -- BISQUIT (Lynda Cameron-Bayer) -- LONETTE (Maggi Bowden) -- CANDY (Maria Williams-Shepherd)
SPECIAL GUESTS: |
MARY LOU FORRESTER (Jennifer Osborne & Laura Beth Wells [voice]) -- NURSE MIKASULABAI (Brianne Lee) -- DR. MIKASULABAI (Renzo Vitteri) -- RHONDA BOVENE (Jessica Pruitt)
Season 1
Episode number |
Production code |
Episode title |
Original Airdate |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
101 |
Tin Dreams |
November 1, 2010 |
In this new webseries dramedy, the lives of a dysfunctional cluster of trailer park housewives starts to settle down six months after hitting the lottery. That is, until three of them receive letters from Mary Lou, who disappeared shortly after getting her share of the money. |
2 |
102 |
Pills Made Outta Horse Piss |
November 9, 2010 |
Mamaw, Chrystal and Tapioca commiserate on the patio to read portions of a letter from missing housewife Mary Lou, who announces her return following some extreme plastic surgery. In actuality, Mary Lou, fleeing an abusive marriage, swaps lives with a mysterious Mexican woman. |
3 |
103 |
Jesus Freak |
November 22, 2010 |
After learning that Mary Lou (in some form) is returning to Tin Dreams Trailer Park, Mamaw and Tapioca witness a familiar face moving in nearby. Later, Mamaw reaches out to her estranged sister with mixed results. |
4 |
104 |
Guess Who’s Coming |
December 7, 2010 |
A driven young lawmen arrives on Ragged Isle to assist Sheriff Dalton in his investigation of the recent deaths. Vicki stumbles upon a secret meeting in the woods. Things get heated at the town meeting when the subject of the annual lobster festival comes up. |
5 |
105 |
The Case of the Narcoleptic Vagina |
January 17, 2011 |
Chrystal's visit to Tapioca's plastic surgeon doesn't go as smooth as planned. Meanwhile, Mamaw arrives at Mary Lou's trailer with Tapioca, who is finally making good on her promise to keep the place tidy. Their discovery within throws a wrench into their party plans. |
6 |
106 |
Lockjaw |
January 17, 2011 |
With the death toll rising, Sheriff Dalton and Deputy Dan intensify their investigation into the mysterious island deaths. Meanwhile, at the town library, Paul and Vicki continue an investigation of their own. |
7 |
107 |
There's My Beer |
February 14, 2011 |
Mamaw and Tapioca return from gathering party supplies and are confronted by their inebriated trailer park manager, Loretta Jenkins. Meanwhile, as Chrystal and the kids wait at the airport, the mysterious stranger posing as Mary Lou prepares to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. |
8 |
108 |
A Whole New Mary Lou |
March 14, 2011 |
Chrystal's son, Waylon, grows suspicious of Guadalupe, who is passing herself off as his mother's best friend, Mary Lou. Meanwhile, Mamaw comforts Tapioca, upset over Chrystal's pregnancy and her inability to conceive a child. Tapioca takes her frustrations out on Loretta. |
9 |
109 |
Best Fake Titties |
April 18, 2011 |
The trailer park residents are shocked when Chrystal brings home the Extreme Makeover version of their beloved Mary Lou in the form of hot tamale, Guadalupe. Will she be discovered as an imposter or is everyone already too drunk to notice? |
10 |
110 |
Rice Krispy Treats |
May 2, 2011 |
Chrystal's surprise birthday party is in full swing as Guadalupe successfully (at least for now) dupes everyone into believing she is the real Mary Lou, with the exception of a suspicious Loretta. After accidentally snacking on a plate Mamaw's special treats, the girls recall a time capsule they buried back in high school. |
11 |
110 |
Time Capsule |
May 16, 2011 |
Tapioca blackmails Chrystal's eldest, Patsy, into being their designated driver in a quest to recover the gals' high school time capsule, setting off a night of misadventures none of them will soon forget. |
12 |
110 |
Your Children Need To Be Cleansed |
May 30, 2011 |
In the first part of the season finale, Chrystal deals with the depression regarding her impending pregnancy, Prudence returns from jail and Mamaw learns of a bet Tapioca has made with Loretta involving their upcoming bowling match. |
13 |
110 |
What’s Nyquil, Mamaw? |
June 12, 2011 |
In the conclusion of the finale, Tapioca and “Mary Lou”/Guadalupe comfort Chrystal at the hospital as she awaits news on Cletus’ hernia surgery. Mamaw is forced to admit Prudence’s help after an accident at the hospital. Loretta makes good on her threat to repossess everyone’s air conditioners. [Crossover with How I Seize It - Stalkers] |
Awards
Won
- Best Writing (Comedy), Jason Vitteri-Lewis, 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards
Nominations
- Best Ensemble Cast (Comedy), 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards
- Best Web Series (Comedy), 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards
- Best Supporting Actress (Comedy), Laura L. Thomas, 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards
- Best Supporting Actress (Comedy), Patricia Rulon, 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards