Kiama actress Christina Paterno continues to take on Hollywood, writing and starring in a new web series that's proving a hit on the US festival circuit.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now living in Los Angeles, Paterno has helped launch a new comedy web series.
Paterno co-wrote and stars in Growing Nowhere with collaborator Olivia Baptista.
The series is about "two delusional 20-somethings (who) navigate adulthood and attempt to conquer the job market... all while doing as little work as possible".
The series recently had its world premiere at LA Shorts (an Oscar qualifying film festival) and won 'Best Sitcom' and 'Best Representation Of Women' at a film festival in Minnesota.
Paterno said the series, which took approximately a year to make, had somewhat of "a Schitt's Creek meets New Girl vibe".
The opening credits were animated by Kiama artist Samuel Hall.
"The series follows Olivia and Christina - we play a very heightened version of ourselves - who exist blissfully in a world where they believe they can have their cake and eat it too," Paterno said.
"Two highly delusional 20-something best friends, sisters and soulmates, enabling one another as they are forced to navigate the rocky terrain of adulthood in modern day Los Angeles."
Paterno said the genesis of the series was to be a shorter/condensed proof of concept for a 30-minute sitcom idea, which they are using to pitch to networks and production development companies.
"My co-creator and I are now going into pitching for the project to have it expanded into a full 30-minute format," Paterno said.
"Since we're in the process of pitching and developing, it can currently only be seen on the festival circuit.
"We hope to release to a platform online later this year.
"It's always been my primary dream to be an actor, but the opportunity to be a show runner on my own series would be icing on the cake.
"With role models that are true multi-hyphenates, that is women especially who are doing it all - writing, producing, directing, acting - (such as) Margot Robbie and Charlize Theron, there's so many inspiring women's footsteps to follow in and learn from.
"It's opened my eyes to the level of involvement I can have as a creative."
Paterno has been living in Los Angeles for two years.
Prior to that, she was in New York studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
"It was in New York where I was lucky to book small roles on Vinyl (HBO) and The Knick (Cinemax)," she said.
"While finishing the conservatory at Lee Strasberg, I was cast in a web series called Here We Wait.
"This is where my focus really shifted to following in the footsteps of multi-hyphenates and prompted a move to L.A where I can also write and pitch projects."
In 2016, Paterno was the lead in a short film, Sarah is Not Her Name, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.