During the pandemic period, a Texan named Will Angus found himself confined at home, his finance degree from TCU seemingly not as of much use as a basic commodity like toilet paper. To keep himself entertained, he began creating comedic videos and sharing them on the web. ‘I nurtured a dream of being a comedian,’ Angus remarks, ‘though admitting such felt absurdly fanciful.’ Subsequently, he was invited to travel to Los Angeles to produce comedy sketches.
This event propelled Angus into an introspective conversation with his family about his newfound hobby which had been transformed into his profession overnight. He describes the moment, ‘Informing my parents, ‘I’ve been generating TikToks throughout the pandemic and now, I’m off to L.A.’’ Sitting in a Manhattan mezcal bar with his fellow comedy partners, he adds a joke to lighten the memory of the situation, ‘Jerry Seinfeld joked about his comedy career revelation being akin to coming out of the closet; this was even more daunting,’ he says with a straight face, ‘it’s a feeling that gay people might never comprehend.’
In New York, the comedy group gathered over a meal, celebrating their ascent from mere college graduates amusing themselves by uploading comical videos, to being representatives of a nascent digital brand referred to as ‘Almost Friday Media’. Their content, which is primarily disseminated via social platforms and YouTube, has attracted more viewers than most television shows. Almost Friday Media operates from its office in Venice, which resembles a television studio without the cumbersome bureaucratic procedures of the town. They have already begun receiving attention from Hollywood celebrities.
Almost Friday was initiated by 34-year-old Barrett with the assistance of his younger siblings, Max, aged 33, and Sam, who’s 28. While servicing creatively in New York and Los Angeles in 2019, they realized they weren’t crafting the content they desired. Taking matters into their own hands, they started uploading skits on the internet, gaining a small, yet significant following. They held ambitions of leaving a mark on Hollywood, churning out one TV script each month.
Barrett confesses their dreams, ‘We envisaged ourselves as the producers of the next major sensations like ‘Arrested Development’ or ‘South Park,’ or the authors of the new ‘Old School.’ However, it turned out to be their sidetracked endeavour of building a meme account that became unexpectedly popular.
The meme account experienced rapid growth, vaulting from a meagre 5,000 to a whopping 250,000 followers within two months. It didn’t take long for this to get noticed by Andrew Kenward, an agent handling digital media at WME. Furthering their goals, Almost Friday has since inked agreements with numerous studios and streaming platforms to translate their concepts into extended projects.
A couple years back, the company signed a deal with Hulu, selling them the concept for a sitcom called ‘Almost Friday,’ which revolves around the lives of four friends attempting to ward off eviction. They are also currently in the process of producing a pilot episode. The show follows a mockumentary-style format.
Adding to that, Almost Friday has also sold a couple of original unscripted series and a movie script. The creative minds behind the company, including comedians, actors, and writers, consistently pitch larger projects to studios, though none have reached completion thus far. They express a clear distaste for the stagnation they perceive within the Hollywood system, questioning why they would languish in extended development phases when they have the capacity to execute it independently.
Barrett ponders about this, ‘Could we successfully create a project on our own? The response is partly affirmative. The feasibility is directly proportionate to our decisiveness.’ Therefore, if Hollywood chooses to procrastinate and maintain its stand outside their successful venture, they’re perfectly content.
Their message to a fumbling Hollywood is crystal clear and presented with humor: Hold my beer. Their aim is to stay true to their original passion and continue creating content that breaks traditional norms while bringing joy to people. They believe in the power of digital platforms and regard their work as an important contribution to the changing landscape of entertainment.
Although ‘Almost Friday’ is embarking on an uphill journey towards transforming their dreams into reality, they remain zealous in their efforts. They are determined to show what is possible when creative minds are allowed to step outside the norm and bring laughter where it is needed most.
Nothing makes them happier than knowing that their work is appreciated by spectators across the globe. From Texas to Los Angeles, from creating TikToks at home to pitching their ideas to Hollywood studios, they have come a long way.
In conclusion, the story of Almost Friday Media is a testimony of what passion, coupled with resilience, can achieve in today’s digital age. With a clear vision in mind, they are constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional media. The destination may seem far off, but with each passing day, they’re proving that they’ve got what it takes to make their dreams a reality.
The endeavors of the Almost Friday Media crew prove to be a beacon for aspiring content creators, demonstrating the virtues of persistence and a will to redefine the conventional. They, along with others navigating the same path, are the vanguards of a new era in digital media and entertainment, leading the charge to what will surely be an engaging future.