We had the pleasure of asking Mark Nunnari a few questions about the web series Lunch Room. Please take the time to check out this series. The first episode is featured at the bottom of this interview.
The Lunch Room is set in the lunchroom of a low-end supermarket, the series follows the antics of staffers just trying to get through the day together. Written, Produced, and Directed by Mark Nunnari and Martin Ponferrada.
Can you tell us about the series Lunch Room?
MN : Lunch Room is a collaborative Web Series that follows the antics of a group of Supermarket Floor Staffers who, despite being at odds with a culture of Corporate Greed and Arrogant Customers, manage to get through the day together.
The Web Series is self-funded by Co-Creators: Mark Nunnari and Martin Ponferrada, and is shot on location at "The Sutherland Pensioner's Centre" and "Network Building Supplies, Revesby".
Where did the idea come for this web series?
MN : The idea for Lunch Room was first conceived by Co-Creator, Mark Nunnari, who has a hand in writing and directing some of the episodes. After spending nearly twenty years of his adult life working in Retail, Mark wanted to channel his firsthand experiences working for a popular Supermarket chain into a Web Series. The series would acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice that Retail Staffers give to their roles on a daily basis, and how it sometimes conflicts with bad decisions made by Corporate Headquarters which can affect the Supermarket Floor Staffers who are on the front line and are the face of their respective stores. But he also wanted to depict the unbreakable friendships made in the Lunch Room and the family-like environment that Supermarket Floor Staffers have with one another.
(Top: Sky Reg'Ina Bottom: Dennis Chombe)
How many episodes are there, and is it still in production?
MN : Season 1 is still in production, though episodes are being released presently. There are 15 episodes in various stages of Production. Covid-19 delayed Principle Photography by a few months, and we are now working towards filming the last few scenes that were meant to be shot prior to Covid. Each episode will be between 4 and 15 minutes in length.
(From Left: Mina Asfour, Michelle Rouady, Sorchia Daley, and Diana Zhang)
Can you tell us about the actors involved?
MN : We have a diverse range of Performers of various Nationalities, Sexual Identities, and Religious Beliefs. Half of which are either currently employed in Retail or Customer Service like roles, or have done so extensively in the past. Each Actor is different in terms of experience and skill. Some have appeared on Television or Online Media in Commercials, Short Films, or Features. While others are fresh out of Acting College and are keen to make their mark on their first acting project. On the Facebook and Instagram pages dedicated to Lunch Room we include the bios of both the Performers and the Characters that they play. Lunch Room is a collaborative process, which means that the Performers are welcome to pitch ideas or submit scripts to the two Co-Creators who are then more than happy to implement them into the series. In addition, each Performer is encouraged to create their own unique personality for their Characters.
(From Left: Sorchia Daley, Diana Zhang, and Jessica James)
Where can our readers watch Lunch Room?
MN : Episodes of Lunch Room can be found at the "Lunch Room Web Series" Facebook or Instagram Page, or on You Tube by typing Lunch Room Web Series into the search bar. Readers can stay up to date by "Liking" the Facebook and Instagram Page or by "Following" the #OzSupermart hashtag.
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