Chasing Mood: A Reality Show About Vancouver's Acting Industry

Vancouver’s Chasing Mood is a new on-line reality show created and directed by Les Birch. The cameras follow Curtis Lum and Brendon Bertolini, who are “trying to make it in a business that refuses to love them back.” These characters decide to create Chasing Mood to document their struggles and pay dues on their own terms.

Within a sarcastic tone, this show reflects the reality of many Vancouver residents, who work dead-end jobs and chase dreams. At moments, the show seems to unintentionally call-out the demographic that the main characters represent. For example, Curtis and Brendon ambitiously decide to take a break from playing video games so they can go to the beach and think of the name for their show. But, their power meeting gets completely de-railed when girls walk by in lululemon. 

VO: How did you come up with the concept of the show?

Curtis: It happened one cold January night, when I went for PHO with Les in Burnaby. He said that he had an epiphany. He wanted to do this show and match the comedy style of Brendon and myself within it. When we thought about the concept of the show we realized that we had never seen anything like it, so we figured we had a standing chance.

VO: Are you going to feature other aspiring/struggling actors on the show?

Curtis: Definitely. Already…just through word of mouth, actors are hearing about the show. Whenever I go into auditions or casting rooms, there are all different sorts of actors asking to get featured in the show. 

VO: Are these characters accurate reflections of your personalities in real life?

Curtis: I would say a good solid 85% of our characters are who we are.

Brendon: I like to bring my sarcasm and social awkwardness into my role. I think that the reactions I have to certain situations in the show are a little bit exaggerated…but a lot of my actual personality comes through.

Les: Most of the scenarios are inflamed versions of their reality. It’s usually based on something that I’ve seen them do in real life, and then we’ll put a little spin on it. Curtis’ character in the show is a lot cockier than he is in real life. He’s actually not that self-absorbed. (laughs)

VO: How did you come up with the name “Chasing Mood”?

Les: A lot of people in the industry are chasing money, fame, or women (in women’s case chasing the men). But we’re not doing that. We’re chasing the feeling of success, completing goals, and the feeling of accomplishment. We’re making this show because we love it. As much as Chasing Mood is the name of our goal, it’s almost like we’ve made our goal into reality, just by putting it into the universe. The feeling that we’re chasing in the show is almost exactly like the feeling we’ve got right now. Making the show creates so many new experiences. It’s so new to us…we’re still overwhelmed by the fact that we’ve finished the first season.

                                        www.chasingmood.com