Archive for the ‘Site News’ Category
If you ever need to reach Zero Untitled, feel free to reach out to us on our social media platforms (Facebook, Tik Tok, YouTube, Instagram, etc), but the fastest way is through our email, which is checked daily: zero_untitled_films@yahoo.com
We hope to hear from you!
Sorry for the delay in content here on the main page. We have had a TON of shows in June and more coming in July. Let’s review some of the happenings thus far:
– Back on June 10th, we had our first ever “Backroom Karaoke” show featuring the voices of Andrea Lorin and Katherine Orozco-Verderber. They sang 90s and 2000s pop hits live on Facebook Live (a medium we hadn’t tried yet).
– Yesterday, June 16th, we celebrated Premature Punchline’s 10 year BIRTHDAY by doing a mini-show for a small crowd on Zoom. We performed a brand new game called “Art Show” in which PPers must quickly draw fantastic art pieces while the audience votes on the winners.
– Episodes of “Sonic Sway” will be released on YouTube. These five episodes will break up the show into the five different improvised techno songs. The first is viewable here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ2vk68gRmI&t=167s
– “Groucho Max” is going on a seasonal hiatus until more episodes become developed. All previous episodes are still viewable on Youtube.
– Also, this site has been fickle so we are strongly considering being rid of zerountitled(dot)com and jump onto another website. So this may be one of the final posts until we push for the new website (where ever that may be at)
So, perhaps you will see more posts here or we may just stick with our social media outlets to get the word out about our shows.
In addition to new music exclusives (see article below), both the Zero Untitled and the Premature Punchline Facebook pages will be uploading tons of new and original memes (in addition to sharing some of our favorites found on the internet).
Primarily, the content will be targeting and making fun of US, so if you have seen our shows, you can certainly relate to the jokes. Check out both Facebook pages for daily updates.
Whew! Sorry for the delay in updating the website! We are back so expect to see several new updates in the next several weeks. What you’ve missed since November (our last post). We’ve spent a lot of time updating the Facebook page, so do check that out! Here’s what you’ve missed:
Zero Untitled has so many assorted ideas and bits, that we often run out of places to do/perform them. Thus, the brainchild project of Katherine Orozco-Verderber, #ZeroLife was born. Essentially, #ZeroLife (our 101st production) is the culmination of several of our bits, clips, outtakes, songs, and other assorted goodies that don’t quite fit in our lineup. Although the releases are still coming, here is what has been released thus far. All of these can been seen on the Zero Untitled Facebook page. So far, this is a summer project, but more projects will be released in the next few months.
Check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/Zero.Untitled/
ZERO-101.1 – Hamilton “Satisfied” cover (recreational cover song)
ZERO-101.2 – ZU Blooper reel
ZERO-101.3 – “Poodle Insults Verderber” (behind the scenes)
ZERO-101.4 – “I Wanna Try That!” (short film)
ZERO-101.5 – “Tonight, You Belong To Me” (live cover at Textual Overture)
ZERO-101.6 – “Middle School Dating Game” (live performance by PrePunch)
Our 99th, that’s right ninety ninth production is out! We are one show shy of our 100th. That, of course, does not include the myriad one acts we’ve done before which actually puts our show total to somewhere in the mid 160s.
But enough bragging, please enjoy the book trailer for co-Mainstage Director Katherine Orozco-Verderber’s “Gumball Badges” available now on Amazon.
Here is a link to the Facebook page that the film is currently viewable on: https://www.facebook.com/Zero.Untitled/
Or here: https://youtu.be/P5fIUgp9k5k
Creative Director Michael Verderber’s short essay “There is No Hobby: A Defense of Theatre” was published three months ago and was only recently discovered! The essay easily summarizes ZU’s mentality towards production and professionalism.
Read it here on “The Ghost Light” magazine’s website:
http://stlfringeghostlight.tumblr.com/post/103591680128/there-is-no-hobby-a-defense-of-theatre-by-Michael
We just added a new tab to our website! The “Playwright’s Connection” page is a resource page for our in-house playwrights and collaborators. So, if you loved a play we produced recently, this resource might help you find the playwright in the event that you want to know more about it or even produce it yourself!
To link is brand new, so keep checking for constant updates!
Guerra with Trujillo in “From Inside”, their first production with ZU.
How long have you been involved with Zero Untitled and what was your first production?
I started Zero Untitled in the fall semester of 2014. I have currently been in ZU for about six months.
What is your best memory of any ZU production?
I would say my best memory of ZU would be the auditions for the One Acts during the fall semester. I sat there alone quietly, not saying anything or volunteering for any auditions. I remember mostly looking at the people and seeing how honestly weird they were. However, I would have never predicted how accepting ZU and its crew are of people. I would have never assumed how close I would become to these people. Although, my favorite “production” memory would have to be [playing] the White Rabbit for the Dark Tour [in] “The Wonderland Massacre” written by the wonderful Katherine Orozco.
Trujillo as the White Rabbit.
What project or projects are you currently working on with the company?
I am currently working on rehearsing for an Improv group known as Premature Punchline. I am also currently working on a couple of productions for our next event Causa Mortis.
What kind of future project would you like to dabble in?
I would love to do miming and also do a short film of some sort. I would love to also perform in what is known as a Happening.
If you can play any role in any show for ZU, what would it be?
I would love to play some sort of creepy psychotic part. People in ZU see me as such a nice, lovable person, but I want to play a human role that would creep them out in a cringe-worthy type of way. I would also like to be given a chance at a romantic role. Finally, I would also like to be given the opportunity to direct some production for experience.
How do you prepare for a role once you are cast?
My main and most entertaining method for me to prepare for a role is to go out late at night and rehearse my lines out loud in a secluded place.
Trujillo being punished by audience members in “Penalty Hat” in a recent Premature Punchline performance.
What do you expect from the audiences of ZU shows?
Well first I expect them to show up. Although, what I truly expect from the audiences is for them to let us entertain with our creative, original ideas for plays, immersive theatre, poems, and events. I hope that they realize that not all theatrical productions have to be comedic or “happy” to be entertaining. Also, for them to like us on Facebook!
Trujillo (center) after being penalized in the Christmas Textual Overture.
There are a lot of new people in the productions. What would you tell people that are new to ZU?
Do not be afraid to be yourself. ZU is filled with weird people that have a variety of personalities and interests. I am positive you will find someone to talk to since we are such a diverse group.
Any final statements?
Zero Untitled is the best college-based decision I have made so far. I am truly honored to be a member and I cannot wait to produce my own ideas for ZU. My advice to anyone that is reading this is to give us a try. We may be different when it comes to entertainment, but we entertain to please in our own original ways. And I promise you will make many friends here in this giant family. BE YOU WITH ZU!!
Zero Untitled’s 2014 was full of firsts and visits from the recent past. From travelling to St. Louis to performing at the largest Shakespeare festival in the country to reopening the Wonderland Ward, Zero Untitled had a busy year:
January to February – The beginning of the year was the season of Premature Punchline, with performances ranging from Kingsville to Corpus Christi. February brought the annual gaming and otaku convention GATO-Con, where Premature Punchline fills the house. February also introduced the first Textual Overture of 2014, including Zero Untitled’s first ever jazz musician.
March to April – Premature Punchline was still going strong in March, performing multiple times at the comedy club Chuckles in downtown Corpus Christi. Zero Untitled’s fifth Dark Tour, “The Factory,” sent sickeningly sweet shivers down the spines of many while certain members of Zero were preparing feverishly for the performance of “The Rape of Lucrece” in April at Shake38, the largest Shakespeare festival in the United States. But before the crew could race off to Missouri, Textual Overture had one more performance.
May to June – May was the month of the Happenings, where Creative Director Michael Verderber introduced a class to teach the members of Zero Untitled exactly what a Happening was and how to perform one. After planning the rest of the 2014 year, Zero Untitled embarked on the journey of the Happening, beginning first with an online show where the virtual audience called the shots, called “Mindless Men,” and wrapping up June with another Textual Overture performance.
July to August – July was the season of Corpus Christi 7-Day Film Project, and “Catchweight” was born, production lasting into the middle of the month while “Dual Sex,” another Happening about rape culture, was performed twice. August brought two Los Angeles premieres of Zero Untitled shows, “From Inside,” and “GPS: Gender’s Problematic Situation.” Zero also went behind the camera for poetry videos, where “Café Triste,” and “Mal de Ojo” were born. At the tail end of the month, “’Twas the Flop Before Christmas” (staged a few years ago) was published.
September to October – September brought a short film festival, where short films such as “Mal de Ojo,” “Café Triste,” and “Catchweight” premiered. In October, Zero Untitled produced its New Foundations Theatre Festival, a collection of one act plays that centered almost exclusively around new actors to the company. “Consequences,” previously performed at Textual Overture, was published online on Dialogual’s website, and another Textual Overture was performed.
November to December – November brought back that which was only temporarily gone: Wonderland Ward. First, “The Secrets of Wonderland Ward” reminded audiences exactly what the previous Wonderland shows brought: madness and bedlam, and the whole Dark Tour, “The Wonderland Massacre” premiered only shortly after that. December introduced a first for Textual Overture: the first holiday-themed performance. “Unconditional” and “Ghosts,” two previous Textual Overture pieces, were published and Zero wrapped the year with Octavio Quintanilla’s third poetry video, “Messages” going into production. See that video below in the previous post.
(Photos: TOP, ZU Christmas Party; MID, “The Mindless Men” performance in Corpus Christi; Bottom, back stage antics during the New Foundations Festival)
