TV
This Close (Sundance Now 2018, Shoshannah Stern, Josh Feldman)
This Close, a groundbreaking Sundance Now original dramedy created by, written by, and starring Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman, both of whom are deaf, is the streaming service’s first ever straight-to-series order. Based on a series of shorts featured at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival’s Short Form Episodic Showcase, this honest, funny and endearing show explores the relationship between best friends Kate (Stern), who is newly engaged, and Michael (Feldman), who is attempting to move on from his ex-fiancé.
Comprised of six, 30-minute episodes, This Close touches on universal and relatable themes and, in addition to Stern and Feldman, features a talented ensemble cast including Zach Gilford who plays Danny, Kate’s (Stern) fiancé; Cheryl Hines as Stella, a PR maven and Kate’s boss; Colt Prattes as Ryan, Michael’s (Feldman) ex; and Marlee Matlin as Michael’s mother, Annie, a recovering alcoholic trying to reconnect with her son.
From SundanceTV’s press release, April 2018… Sundance Now, AMC Networks’ premium video streaming service, today announced the greenlight of season two of its original relationship dramedy, “This Close.” The groundbreaking series, hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “this close to perfect,” is created, written and stars Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman — two real life best friends, both of whom are deaf. “This Close” will begin production on its eight-episode second season in summer 2018 in Los Angeles. “We are immensely proud of ‘This Close’ and could not have asked for a better reception to the series’ first season from both the press and our Sundance Now members,” commented Jan Diedrichsen, General Manager of SundanceTV and Sundance Now. “Greenlighting the show’s second season was the easiest decision we’ve ever made, and we cannot wait to see where Josh and Shoshannah take Michael and Kate’s stories.”
production details
USA / Sundance Now – Killer Films – Super Deluxe/ 14×25 minutes / 2018
Christine Vachon as Executive Producer
David Hinojosa as Executive Producer
Josh Feldman as Creator and Executive Producer
Mary Pat Bentel as Executive Producer
Paul Young as Executive Producer
Shoshannah Stern as Creator and Executive Producer
cast
Shoshannah Stern as Kate
Josh Feldman as Michael
Marlee Matlin as Annie
Zach Gilford as Danny
Cheryl Hines as Stella
Colt Prattes as Ryan