"Isn't it Bromantic?" with Jacob A. Ware

I've been thinking about bromances a lot lately. I've been broing it up with PBR and shots between shows and rehearsals with my guys at Collaboraction's Sketchbook 13 (I directed a piece called "Shuffle Off." See it: it's keen.) Then there was that one time earlier this year when I collaborated on Route 66 Theatre's Next Stop where I wrote a piece with Diana Lawrence about brahs in Wrigleyville working out their bromance angst through Call of Duty in epic three part harmony. If it weren't for my work on Asian American theatre this season, dramaturgical types might say my central artistic theme is "the bromance."

Probably the most epic bromance I've ever had was with one Jacob A. Ware , fellow theatre type and bon vivant. We met doing a show we never talk about anymore. In fact, if you've heard of the crazy rituals us theatre types MUST perform if we say Macbeth in a theatre, then you have a clue of what happens if either one of us mention that show's name. Except there's more ball kicking. We put up a show together once. People said some nice things about it. We lived together in a non-gay way. Once, we thought an intruder was hiding in our bushes, so he grabbed a machete for protection and I grabbed a bowl of plastic fruit. There might've been Jameson involved. His last night in Chicago, he asked me to keep him company as he did last minute packing. I decided the best way to do so was to read Abundance by Beth Henley aloud. In its entirety. All of these things are true.

Now my buddy lives in Brooklyn and we maintain a long-distance bromance. Well, as much as two busy artist types cans. Whenever I'm in the city, he comes up and we meet for drinks and shenanigans. He's doing pretty awesome and he even started a production company. He's also doing a pretty high profile gig with that one guy from that one thing you've seen who's now on the thing that Jacob just shot. He can't officially talk about it yet, but seriously, follow him on Twitter and catch the announcement when he can talk about it. Anyway, as my liver and I got nostalgic for one of the best bromances I've ever had, both off and on stage, I caught up with him.

Hey dude .

Yo!

What's up with you?

Well, I'm not eating 7-11 taquitos anymore. I've grown-up. I go to farmer's markets now and buy Stafford dress shirts. Also, I'll be in over like 12 million short films that may or may not be released in 2013/2014, shooting some stuff for HBO, and I'm creating a bunch of web awesomeness with Steel Drum in Space!

Right. Steel Drum in Space. Sup with that?

Hold on one sec- just pouring myself a cup of Sanka. That's another adult thing I do now. So. Steel Drum in Space is the company that I created with Trish Harnetiaux and Tony Arkin which started out as a dry erase board cartoon series, expanded into short films, and then settled into its current incarnation...video sketch comedy. It's insane!

Keen. Neko Roboto Kitty is my favorite one.

Yeah, Roboto Neko Amigo was one of the most fun to shoot. We got to use a fog machine and no one reported being critically hurt while filming! Then again, no one really followed up with the one PA who went missing. But more importantly, if I learned anything, working with robot cats should be up there with working with live animals. They just don't listen.

Right. You wrote that for me, huh? Cuz of the different language and that one Asian guy.

We're really interested in working with diverse cats and casts. It just doesn't make sense to say always work with Calico cats, we want to work with Siamese, Irish, etc too. Same goes for language. Come on! We live in a world that demands we stretch the boundaries of storytelling and whether we decide to do our next sketch in Armenian, Vulcan or Binary Code, Danny, I can promise you this much: if you get your ass to NYC we'll make sure there's a role for you.

Right. You totes wrote that for me.

I hate how transparent I can be. But I'm glad you figured that out.

Whatever. This new one... sup with that?

Oh just your run of the mill vintage Porn-o. It's actually the first porn ever made (a precursor of The Birth of a Nation and Amy Schumer's silent masterpiece). Tony shot this one in stop motion and that's really all I can say. It's no Crying Game, but I don't want to ruin the porn-twist at the end for new viewers... .

Neat. And College Humor picked it up?

Yes! They picked up our This Guy sketch too from our Brooklyn series. Love me some College Humor. Which reminds me, I should send them an Edible Arrangement.

Aces. So, like, what have you got planned for the future or whatever?

Well definitely more space exploration. We're currently pitching a new series to some internet suits, but in the meantime we have a couple things in pre-production and will be releasing some new shorts in the coming months!

Oh so you think you're better than me now?

How is the month of June better than the month of July? How are cats better than dogs? How is Jameson better than Makers? Only the history books will tell.

Whatever dude. Everyone knows Jameson is better.

Would you say the same of July?

I'm Jameson.

Whatever let's you sleep at night.

If people wanna find you and your company, how can they do that?

Bing it! Hm...it's even weirder when you type it. www.steeldruminspace.com where you can find all our info, all our short sketches. Or click here . Dear God in Heaven, click HERE !



Killer. I'll probably be back in a couple months. Let's grab beers or whatever.

Let's go to the top of the Empire State Building and drink 40s out of Big Gulps like jerks.

It's like you know me.

You complete me.

Arite, virtual hug it out .

And make me put down my Sanka! Ugh. You're always so demanding.

Say hi to your mother for me.

Oh, I actually DID say hi to my mom for you and she told me to tell you to "_____ in her __________." She was in a tunnel so it was bad reception.

Ha. Tunnel. I get it. You're funny.