DCTV Interview: Whole Day Down’s Tai Fauci

Some people just know how to do web tv. Tai Fauci is one of them. She co-created the hit teen web series Palisades Pool Party in 2009. Her second series Whole Day Down brings together the acting talents of three people we chicks love: Sex and the City’s Willie Garson, Patrick Breen whom you’ve seen in everything, and Clueless’s Elisa Donovan. It’s not surprising Tai knows how to get the job done — she’s the daughter of Dan Fauci, who spent twelve years as the head of comedy development at Paramount.

DARYN: Since you were raised in a film family, how would you say that upbringing influenced you?

TAI: I would say it was more of a TV Family, though my father WAS in the cult film, Bloodsucking Freaks. He hates when I talk about that. It’s a Troma title — everyone should watch it. Actually, having parents that worked in the industry made me want to have little to do with it. From a young age I planned on becoming a lawyer, but when I interned at a firm that was nothing like David E. Kelly had promised, I hurried back to Hollywood.

DARYN: You’ve created two web series now. Online video is evolving constantly, especially lately. What did you learn from Palisades Pool Party that you took into your new series Whole Day Down?

Palisades Pool Party

TAI: You can make anything you want on the web, which is liberating. With Palisades Pool Party, my producing partner Jack Monroe and I decided to make a teen drama but we had no real sense of the web space. We pitched it around with good feedback but when we couldn’t find a studio to finance it, we shelved it. Our experience in film and TV, lead us to believe that meant that the show was dead. No one was using terms like crowdfunding at the time. Twitter hadn’t taken off yet. We were still on MySpace. We didn’t know any better. When we made Whole Day Down, I was fully immersed in the space, watching a lot of web series, even writing about them occasionally on my blog, webtowatch.tv. Whole Day Down was made specifically for the web, with friends, for fun and for anyone who wants to watch it.

DARYN: Whole Day Down mixes art with the apocalypse, and not in a metaphorical way. It’s hilarious, odd and completely unique! How did you and Patrick [Breen, co-creator] come up with this idea?

TAI: Hilarious? Thank you. Whole Day Down stems from our mutual passion for art combined with our completely realistic notions about the end of days. When working on the show, we always have a Bible, a copy of Dante’s Inferno and a sacrificial lamb on hand. Also, our release schedule is on the Mayan Calendar.

Whole Day Down

DARYN: How did you find the galleries? You definitely needed to find people in the art world that have a sense of humor, since the show is pretty satirical.

TAI: Luckily, we know a couple of good-humored gallerists who supported us in our quest to lampoon the art world. They are our friends, Bennett Roberts (Roberts & Tilton Gallery in the Culver City Arts District) and Wayne Blank (Shoshana Wayne Gallery at Bergamot Station). They lent their space to us, free of charge, which was a tremendous gift. Both galleries always have amazing shows going on and people in LA to go see them. In fact, it doesn’t matter where you live, go visit an independent art gallery, you may discover a great new artist or ignite your passion to create.

DARYN: You often work with a female DP. How did you meet her? And do you notice any differences with a female versus a male DP? I was chatting with a female DP recently, and said the only difference was that occasionally she has to stand on an apple box to get the shot.

TAI: I met Laura Beth Love when Jack and I hired her to shoot Palisades Pool Party. She is incredibly smart, talented and easy to work with. I have also worked with some other great female DPs who shoot web series, Alice Brooks (LXD) and Zoe Van Brunt (Vampire Zombie Werewolf). Even if they need to step on an apple box or two, a talented DP is a talented DP, no matter the gender.

DARYN: What other web shows inspire you?

TAI: What inspires me is that creators are making their passion projects on the web. People are drawn to the space to make art more than money. I am a big fan of a web series and will gladly take this opportunity to promote a few… Watch RCVR, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, Bandwagon, Pretty, Meet the Mayfarers, Vampire Mob, Downsized, Songs From, CELL and Beyond the Gallery. There are so many other great shows. After you read this interview, take some time and watch a web series.

DARYN: You have a tremendously talented ensemble involved in Whole Day Down. What are your future plans for the show?

TAI: Thank you. We had to use some incriminating photos to assemble our cast and crew but it was well worth it. Right now, Patrick and I are mapping out a 7 episode Season 2. We’re also in the early stages of developing a Kickstarter campaign for it. We will be offering one-of-a- kind works of art as perks. We may satirize the art world on the show but we love art and want to share it with anyone who will give us money.

Catch up on the show below.