Wellington agency launches comedy web series

WELLINGTON, Today: Wrestler Studios, the original content arm of creative agency Wrestler, has made a new eight-part web series that comically explores the world of self help and the idea of beings being better beings.

Self Help follows main character Nikau as he struggles to find healing, growth and self-acceptance in the wake of a devastating breakup. Each mini-episode delves into a new practice or programme in Nikau’s sometimes-reluctant journey of personal, spiritual, physical and psychological self-improvement.

Wrestler founders and Self Help executive producers Kat Lintott and Ben Forman said: “The world of Self Help is full of humour and pathos, warmth and humanity, surrealism and ennui — expertly crafted by writers and co-creators Kris Hermansson and Grace Palmer, and co-directed by Malaysian Kiwi Michelle Ang and Rawiri Jobe (Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Huia, Ngāti Raukawa).

“We never got into this game to make just ads. We got into it to be creative, tell stories and hopefully use that creativity to do some good.”

“From float tanks to exercise, hallucinogenic to pottery, Self Help reflects the hardwired need in all of us to believe in some kind of magic and wonder, even in our technologically connected world.

Self Help was funded by NZ On Air.

Lintott and Forman said: “We never got into this game to make just ads. We got into it to be creative, tell stories and hopefully use that creativity to do some good.

“Creating Self Help was an opportunity to further explore and push our creativity and satisfy our curious minds, and reinforces what Wrestler is all about for our clients and team – making content that impacts the real world.”

CREDITS

Creative Agency: Wrestler
Created and written by: Grace Palmer & Kris Hermansson
Directors: Michelle Ang & Rawiri Jobe
Executive Producers: Paul Yates, Kat Lintott, Ben Forman
Producers: Kate Goodwin, Kat Lintott
Associate Producers: Hannah McOwan, Michelle Ang
Director of Photography: Matt Henley and Aline Tran
Production Designer: Kate Logan
Editor & Colourist: Paul Wedel
Edit Assist: Ben Cushman
Sound Design: Trent Williams
Title Design: Michelle Nordal Santos
Costume Designer: Daisy Marcuzzi
Casting Director: R and R casting

• View the trailer below