The Runarounds follow their hit TV series with a Raleigh show.
True to their name, The Runarounds like to do things a little out of order. Case in point—most up-and-coming bands don’t precede their U.S. tour by starring in an Amazon Prime series, but that’s how the story is unfolding for the fivesome.
Inspired by the actual band of the same name, The Runarounds, which premiered late last year, is the brainchild of Jonas Pate. The Winston-Salem native and director took note of the group after searching for a band to perform in his previous hit Netflix show Outer Banks. Now, the indie rock group established just five years ago is the centerpiece in the coming-of-age music drama surrounding love, life and indie rock—all filmed in NC to boot.
To top off their success story, the group is hitting the road on a 45-show trip (aptly named The Minivan Tour), including a stop at The Ritz Feb. 21.
Frontman Axel Ellis says their music isn’t just for road-tripping—it’s for any situation that needs a little light. Think “in the car with your friends on the way to somewhere fun or afterwards, yelling the words out loud if you want,” says Ellis. “But really anytime—hiking, running, vacuuming. Whenever you need to smile and enjoy what you are doing a little more.”
Ellis, who also fronts rock group Ax and the Hatchetmen, told RM the overlap between performing and acting was substantial. “The similarities were astounding to me,” notes Ellis. “Our acting coach saw most of us hadn’t acted before, and so he used whatever inspiration he could to get us into an understanding.”
After playing a song, the group would often dive into shooting a scene that emotionally resounded with the atmosphere they’d created. Plus, many of the songs they wrote for the series were based on prompts relating to scenes Pate would give them—so reading the room when it came to acting out the plot came more naturally.
“The timing is the same,” maintains Ellis. “Listening to your friends and knowing when to say something and when not—it’s the same on an instrument. Finding that groove is definitely easier having already played music.
While The Runarounds were running around Wilmington (where the show was filmed), Ellis notes NC was good to the group—they could often be found at Blue Post playing pool, riding bikes to Wrightsville Beach, sipping coffee at Casa Blanca or bellying up to Eternal Sunshine Cafe.
In short, all the quintessential makings of the final pre-adulthood summer that their TV show highlighted—in real life. Catch the same carefree and beachy spirit via a road trip to The Ritz this February, and until then, keep your fingers crossed for a second season out soon.
Meet the Raleigh-based screenwriter behind the coming-of-age film debuting at The Rialto May 18.
“I would appreciate it if your dialogue and references to popular culture in the script were more in touch with my generation,” NCSU grad and writer Mariana Fabian critiqued of Amazon Prime show TheWilds in a 2021 Technician article. Now, four years later, Fabian is taking bounds toward a more accurate portrayal with her screenwriter debut in coming-of-age film GrowingPains, premiering in Raleigh at The Rialto May 18.
After LA-based director Catherine Argyrople came across the Techniciancritique, she and Fabian connected to capture the “tumultuous transitions” of maturing on film, seen through two childhood best friends whose stories are loosely based on Fabian and Argyrople’s experiences growing up queer in a Hispanic household and the aftermath of surviving cancer, respectively.
And the May 18 premiere is more than just a screening—a moderated panel of Triangle supporters of the LGBTQ+ community—including the LBGT Center of Raleigh, Wake Forest Pride, and Hope for Teens—are slated to lead a discussion on queer advocacy. See how Fabian and Argyrople flip the script on the dialogue of women and queer communities in real time ahead of the premiere and dive into our chat with the filmmakers below.
Tell us about the inspiration behind Growing Pains. Argyrople: As a childhood cancer survivor, I had never really seen representation in the media about the aftermath of surviving a traumatic illness and how it impacts your life, so I wanted to touch on the mental health aspect… I was also passionate about telling authentic stories about women, and that’s what led me to Mari. There are a lot of stories in film and TV about women that feel very inauthentic and are from male perspectives. So my mission with my production company, and as a filmmaker, is to uplift women both in front and behind the camera.
Fabian: I started thinking about female stories when I started my film degree at NC State. I took a class called Women in Film—shoutout NCSU Professor Marsha Gordon—and I really enjoyed thinking about how women are not only represented in film, but how directing, writing and editing affects that. And that goes hand in hand with what the film is trying to do. And in terms of my story and coming out in a traditional Hispanic household, facing racism and homophobia was difficult, but this was kind of the perfect outlet for that.
Tell us more about the panel. F: I’m really just passionate about queer rights and advocacy, especially queer youth, which has been under attack in NC for a long time, like with the Bathroom Bill. I don’t think queer advocacy has to be heavy all the time. There’s so much policy, but having a party instead, that’s epic—just getting the community together and helping people feel seen and heard.
What other films and shows did you draw inspo from and recommend to each other? A: Ladybird, for both of us, was a big one—it’s raw and it doesn’t really shy away maternal relationships.
F: Real Women Have Curves, which has America Ferrera in it. She wants to go to college, but she has to battle against the views of her traditional parents.
How did you tackle creative differences? F: I think one of the most rewarding parts of the process is having to handle moments of creative differences. It just started with open communication, and if I was saying something about a line, Catherine wouldn’t take it very personally. Differences are what make us great artists and who we are. catherineargyrople.com; etix.com
Stand-up comic, writer and director Ellyn Daniels stars in new series filmed in Raleigh.
“I’ve found Raleigh to be a really rejuvenating place—somewhere I could be creative, where I could write or perform stand-up at Goodnights. I just loved being there.” So says Ellyn Daniels, who is neither a native nor current resident of Raleigh… she’s just a big fan (!).
Calling the City of Oaks home for about 18 months during the pandemic, Daniels penned, directed and now stars in a production titled This Little Show of Mine, which originally dropped episode 1 on YouTube before catapulting to Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Filmed in Raleigh, the series follows a “kinda famous but not really” former sitcom star, Hayley Harris, who returns to her hometown in the wake of her mom’s death to attempt to find the artistic inspiration to create a one-woman show.
You’ll be able to recognize local gems and landmarks throughout the series as Daniels’ character strolls down Hillsborough Street past Jubala Coffee, visits the Carolina Ballet (fun fact: Daniels is close friends with Carolina Ballet’s Zalman Raffael), overlooks Boylan Bridge or roams around her house nestled in Cameron Park. … And while Daniels would’ve loved to see Hayley hitting up the DTR nightlife scene and taking the stage at Goodnights or Duke Energy Center, filming during 2020 meant working with a more limited selection of settings (but maybe we can contend to see those spots in a second season?!).
To boot, a handful of the actors featured in the series aren’t TV actors at all. From stand-up comics to local business owners, the show includes myriad cast members who “were available and wanted to do it,” laughs Daniels—and most of the faces you’ll find on camera are locals.
“I hope people find it funny, entertaining and potentially moving—depending on their life experience,” she says. “It’s a funny, small and interesting show.”
After her stint in Raleigh, Daniels moved to London and now resides there with her husband. The duo’s production company, Burn These Words, will be debuting a film titled Reality starring Sydney Sweeney at the Berlin International Film Festival this year. Daniels is also currently working on another series, The Mentor, and expecting her third baby in May.
While her stay in our city was short, Daniels liked Raleigh life so much that she’d planned to make it her home base before meeting her other half and moving across the pond.
“Raleigh life is very digestible—it’s just the right size,” says Daniels. “Time expands there, and there’s an appetite for cool things.”… And speaking of cool things, you’re gonna wanna peep Daniels’ perspective of the City of Oaks by streaming This Little Show of Mine—or just for a good laugh. thislittleshowofmine.com
