Play It By Ear Web Series Review by Jen Bush

Karen Twins Productions presents Play It By Ear.  This web series examines the challenges of a long-distance relationship.  Mila and Lukas are college sweethearts.  Their plans to move in together after graduation are upended when their respective careers take precedence.  They try to make things work from afar before they will be permanently reunited in a year. 

Play It By Ear is a 6-part romantic comedy web series consisting of short episodes no longer than 19 minutes.  The series is shot somewhat out of sequence.  Episode two takes place six months before episode one.   Mila, who is a native Californian, was planning to move to Amsterdam with Lukas who secured a position as a writer for a magazine there.  He was born in Amsterdam but raised in the U.S.  At the last minute before the planned move, Mila was offered a spot in a prestigious screenwriting program based in her hometown for a year.  The couple agreed to try to make it work on separate continents.  This web series was filmed both in California and Amsterdam.  Some scenes have the actors speaking in Dutch with subtitles.

In episode 1 (Mis Je, Mean It) Mila and Lukas have been apart for several months and both have busy work schedules.  They also have healthy libido!  Folks, if you like masturbation and dirty talk, this is the episode for you!  Right out of the gate after the opening credits the two main characters are engaging in bi-continental mutual masturbation over the phone.  Of course they injected plenty of humor into it like when Lukas’s mother calls in the middle of the pleasure fest.  This scene might be a little jarring for the prudes of the world but it’s a realistic way couples keep the drive alive when they’re miles apart.

Episode 2 (College Boyfriend) goes back in time six months.  Friends and family gather to celebrate Mila’s college graduation.  Mila is questioned about moving to Amsterdam which makes for some awkwardness.  Apparently these two can’t keep their hands off each other.  In another scene, they’re kissing and touching heavily in person when Mila tells Lukas about her screenwriting program.

In episode 3 (Crush) there’s trouble in Paradise.  In Amsterdam, sparks fly between Lukas and his co-worker Fenne while in California, Mila is open to exploring her bi-sexual side with Ridley who is crushing hard on her.  The couple agree to date other people, but they don’t want to be told about it.

In Episode 4 (Crushed) Mila and Lukas date and get intimate with Ridley and Fenne.  While they both have fun, they’ve got each other on their minds.

In episode 5 (College Girlfriend) we witness a huge fight between the couple.  Nothing gets resolved.

In episode 6, the finale, (Liefje, Mean It) Lukas has an epiphany and Mila gets a big surprise when she returns home from another date with Ridley.

Play It By Ear is a fun look at aspects of the modern dating world.  Given the plethora of technology that exists today helping people stay connected, long-distance relationships seem more viable now than ever. 

The cinematography was stunning.  There was a delightful merging of artistic vision and technical skill resulting in a flawless visual translation of the script.  Probably the most beautiful visual moment of all was a dream sequence in which Mila and Lukas were on a candlelit boat for two sailing down a canal in Amsterdam.  The lovely, picturesque backdrop of Amsterdam enhanced the ambience of the film.  The production value was so high, it was hard to believe this was an indie film.  It had the look and feel of a generously budgeted studio project.  Producers Brian Reilly and Dillon Bentlage were meticulous in the execution of putting this series together.  Every episode even had a short behind the scenes video where many of the cast and creatives involved discussed the process and experience of making this series. 

Something that came as a huge surprise to me was that the actors playing the leads were not professional actors.  Dillon Bentlage who produced the series and contributed to the writing and editing played Lukas.  Emily Ann Zisko who contributed to the writing and the directing played Mila.  At no point did I feel that the acting was subpar.  Quite the contrary, I thought they both were rock solid, credible and completely competent.  Everybody else in the cast did a fine job of breathing life into these interesting characters. 

The soundtrack was a significant aspect of the film’s identity that complimented the narrative beautifully.

This web series would be appealing to anyone trying to navigate a relationship, long distance or not.  The series deals with themes of monogamy, jealousy, open relationships, sexuality, and bisexuality.  All the hard work everyone involved put into the series is more than evident.  Play It By Ear is AmsterDAMN good!