Rostered On is an Australian comedy web series directed and written by Ryan Chamley and produced by Robot Army. The series was launched with a pilot episode on 4 April 2016 and a full series began exactly a year later on 4 April 2017. Episodes will be made available weekly on a Tuesday through Facebook and YouTube.
The show looks at the problems and issues that retail workers face at work, from sales targets, rude customers and difficult managers. In early 2017 the show was heavily promoted through Facebook and YouTube, including the release of an extended trailer.
Shot in a mockumentary style, the series comes from the point of view of Shaun (Paul Moore), a worker who is frustrated by the rules of the faceless corporation Electroworld and the demanding customers. In addition to Shaun, the main cast includes Doug Lyons as Adam, Ronn Kurtz as Winston, Diana Brumen as Beeanka, Susie Kazda as Sarah, Jack Garnett as Darren, Stephen Francis as Gary, Lliam Murphy as Brett and Tara Vagg as Tess. It was filmed at a Betta Home Living store in Geelong, Victoria and features mostly local actors.
Links to the Rostered On YouTube channel
and Facebook page.
Tropes seen in the series:
- Alpha Bitch: The Regional Manager, who clearly believes she is above the 'minimum wage plebs' who work in the store, Gary included.
- Bittersweet Ending: Shaun quits from Electroworld after being led to believe he was getting a promotion when in reality he was never in the running, but finds that the work he was promised has now been given to another photographer.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Darren. Though he'll tell you off for 'stealing' his bread and returning an item that is lacking packaging, he would be more than willing to side with Shaun over his view of giving an upset ex-wife a TV for a cheaper price.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Allison is arguably this; despite expecting a certain standard with workers, she hated the idea of Shaun attending his son's birthday party. Granted, it took place on stock take, but it's really hard to side with her.
- Negated Moment of Awesome: Shaun delivers a profanity-laden "The Reason You Suck" Speech to his staff and in front of Allison after learning that he has been passed up for a chance of a promotion, and - after quitting - intends to start with the photography job. This is negated by the photograph agency, who went with a different photographer due to Shaun being too late to reply.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: After the Regional Manager's decision to promote someone from another place to their store instead of him, like he was led to believe all season, Shaun delivers one to the RM, complete with Cluster F-Bomb.
- Shoplift and Die: The fifth episode, where Adam, Brett and Vish attempt to stop a shoplifter. They failed due to lack of co-operation between Adam and Brett, while Vish - due to both people running - struck down the person attempting to get the bus on time instead of the shoplifter.
- Tranquil Fury: Shaun in the second episode, where he has two visions where he impolitely insults both customers; maintaining his cool in the real world, he calmly told the guy asking for an expensive replacement for a toaster to have a bath, while he allows an eleventh-hour customer to get something.
- Unsatisfiable Customer: This show has at least a handful of them.
