Both of our VOD picks of the week happen to skew dramatic, focusing on the importance of relationships, be it with your community or your family. Filmmaker Monika Truet’s coming-of-age story "Of Girls and Horses" hones in on the vital role animals can play in a child’s life, while the arrival of a troubled sister throws a family into chaos in Annette Apitz’s "Fighting Fish."
If you’d rather kick back and laugh after a dramatic day of your own, our webseries selections are sure to make you chortle and cringe. Something of a hybrid between "Broad City" and "High Maintenance," "Made to Order" follows two poor-but-happy New York City transplants as they start a food-delivery service in order to pay the bills. Also new to the web is Andrea Lewis’s "Black Actress," a mockumentary-style show about the trials and tribulations of breaking into show business as a black woman in America.
VOD
Of Girls and Horses – Written and Directed by Monika Treut
“Of Girls and Horses” is described as a coming-of-age story, drawing on the inherent story value of the bonds between girls, horses and the community built around them. It’s from noted LGBT filmmaker Monika Treut and explores the growth and development of one young woman’s sense of self and sexuality against the backdrop of a horse camp.
Fighting Fish – Written and Directed by Annette Apitz
An adventurer at heart, 21-year-old David has long been forced to put his dreams aside in favor of all but raising his younger siblings. But when his estranged sister Alice suddenly charges back into his life, she brings with her a troubled past that may very well jeopardize the stability that David has managed to provide for his siblings. “Fighting Fish” is available now on Amazon, Hulu, and Vimeo on Demand.
Webseries
Made to Order – Created by Katie Hartman and Leah Rudick
"Made to Order" follows down-on-their-luck sisters (and series writers) Katie and Leah as they struggle to pay the bills after an all-too-familiar bout of unemployment. Luckily for us, the duo decides to pair up and start a food delivery service. Their reasoning? "People will buy anything if it’s delivered by a short girl in a pretty skirt." The show’s writing is fresh and the concept is already well-loved ("High Maintenance" comparisons have been drawn, of course), but the dynamic between comedians Katie Hartman and Leah Rudick is the true draw of the show. With only seven episodes to catch up on and more on the way soon, it’s the perfect time to hop on the "Made to Order" bandwagon.
Black Actress – Created by Andrea Lewis
"Black Actress" centers around Kori Bailey (Andrea Lewis) as she — you guessed it — attempts to break into the world of entertainment. We’ve all seen programming about how hard it is to break into Hollywood as an actress, but especially for performers of color. So what makes this show different from every other? Not only is "Black Actress" hilarious and charming, but it’s informative in a way most shows aren’t. "Every episode of ‘Black Actress’ features a candid documentary-style interview with a celebrity black actress, discussing the authenticity and truth of what it’s like to be a ‘Black Actress,’" reads the show’s site. Though only at the beginning of its second season, the show has garnered praise from viewers and critics alike (the series was honored at the American Black Film Festival earlier this month).
