"The Business"

"The Business" is an autobiographical 11 episode web series about being a 30-something disabled female with limited options.  The series focuses on Donna, a prostitute, as she deals with the day to day minutiae of marriage, family, school, and sex work.

 

Episode 1 - "The Catch Up"

An introduction to Donna (Danica Uskert), a disabled, broke sex worker in her 30s in an unhappy marriage to a techie Dean (Caleb Quinn).  In this episode, we find her seeking comfort in the arms of a friend, Jamie (Jamie Sharp), after an argument with her husband.

"The Business" episode 1 "The Catch Up" is an introduction to Donna (Danica Uskert), a disabled, broke sex worker in her 30s suffering through an unhappy marriage to a techie Dean (Caleb Quinn).  In this episode, we find her seeking comfort in the arms of a friend, Jamie (Jamie Sharp), after an argument with her husband.

Episode 2 - "Mañana"

Donna goes out on a typical day of calls all the while dealing with the fact that she has Jamie on her mind.  She tries to reach out but is ignored.  At home, she finds herself further isolated.

While I'm uploading older projects, I figured I would start uploading the unfinished episodes of my semi-autobiographical webseries "The Business," which I shot last summer. This episode picks up after Donna sleeps with her friend in episode one and finds her trying to reconnect with him after a rough day. It was never finished, because since the start of the project, I was kicked out of my apartment (which was used as a primary location), had to deal with financial and personal struggles, lost a lot of my crew (some folks got married, some moved to LA), and a lot of other bullshit. It's foreseeable that I'll finish up these episodes at some point in the next few months, but honestly, this whole endeavor became so painful and such a struggle, that I'm not entirely sure if I have it in me to continue working on it any more. To find out about the project visit: http://filmandfishnet.com/the-business-the-webseries/

Episode 3 - "Back and Forth"

Donna has a rough encounter with a particularly abusive client.  Kathy and Anne attempt to reach out and provide guidance to Donna, but it's a fellow sex-worker who helps Donna exact revenge.

Episode 4 - "Into the Woods"

Another client centered episode, focused on one particularly awful client with a particularly interesting fetish.

Episode 5 - "Emergency Bag"

Donna and Dean argue for what appears to be the final time.  Donna teaches the internet a basic survival strategy.

Another webseries episode shot last summer that remains unfinished. This episode provides some insight into how Donna's turbulent childhood has affected her adult relationships. [The last act still needs to be shot, and there are editing and voice over problems that need to be corrected, but the basic framework of the episode is more or less laid out in this clip.] For more info on the rest of the series, visit: http://filmandfishnet.com/the-business-the-webseries/

Everyone's favorite disabled sex worker housewife returns for more episodes, more drama, and more of that long D. Episodes 2-5 will finally be released spring 2016. Subscribe and never miss out on a new episode! --------- camera, cast, and crew: Brian Chow, Caleb Quinn, J Jha, Cash Standing, AJ Aldridge, Marshall Aden, Adam Millman, Toby Nies, Charles Alvidrez, Danica Uskert, + more. music: "Invitation to the Voyage" Julia Kent live on WMFU with Irene Trudel - Oct. 20, 2015 from freemusicarchive.org

Episode 6 - "Write Me Out"

Kathy and Anne urge Donna out of her post-breakup slump and into attending a writer's meet up to work through her various traumas.  At the meet up, she finds a brash, self-destructive young writer and is immediately drawn to him.

Episode 7 - "Get Free"

Larry returns and stalks Donna at her day job.  He bullies her into seeing him again though she has been trying to break ties with him.

Episode 8 - "Sound & Fury"

Donna and Larry go to a concert after an incredibly rough session.  He abuses and humiliates her in public.  She finds an ally in the most unlikely place.

Episode 9 - "Twinning"

Though she has burned bridges with most of her client list and is utterly broke, Donna finds herself drawn to J, the deadbeat musician who rescued her at the show.  She tries to resist her attraction, but can't seem to stop running into him.

Episode 10 - "Reckoning"

Donna must collect her stuff from Dean's while still dealing with harassment from Larry.  Anne, Kathy, and Reeza are fed up with her freeloading.  Not knowing where to go, she turns to J.

Episode 11 - "New Beginnings"

J and Donna attempt to start a new life together though her old one constantly interferes.  Kathy gets married.  Reeza decides to go back to school.

 

Trailer(s):

Sex work. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Or gets an STD. Donna hits the doctor's office and waits for her results, but you won't be waiting too much longer for the first episodes of "The Business," due out this summer. We're birthing, bitches!

You've been working on this for years.  Where is the series?!

Episodes 2 & 5 are in post, 3 & 4 are in pre-production and 6 - 11 are on hold until I can raise the funds to continue with the rest of the series.  Help by donating at my patreon page.

Major thanks to everyone who has worked on this project.  You gave me a reason to live.

Major thanks also to my viewers.  Your support, feedback, and encouragement keeps me sane.

Additional thanks to VAULT Film Festival for selecting the pilot episode for its festival lineup.