The web series "Flats" written and directed by Darren Downs takes place in a part of Australia you don't see very often.
Theres no sprawling deserts dense bush land rolling hills or pictureesque beaches.
Instead it takes place in the city of Melbourne specifically in the public housing estates of inner city areas of Collingwood and Fitzroy.
Places like Collingwood and Fitzroy are often synonymous with all the negative things about every major city.
Rampant crime drug use and unemployment Daren doesn't avoid these things quite the opposite it he dives deeper and gives us a glimpse into a world most of seldom know filled with comedy complexity and poignancy.
We follow the story of petty street thug Joey (Will Weatheritt) fresh out of prison and determined to go straight and be a good father to his son who was born while he was incarcerated.
However Joeys road to the straight and narrow is perilous to say the least as he's surrounded by bad influences and temptation of easy money at every turn.
Director Darren Downs tackles a lot of topics in this series.
He also explores how the area is being rapidly gentrified and the disadvantaged and downtrodden are being replaced by the wealthy and privileged.
Comedy and tragedy often go hand in hand as Joey navigates life in the flats.
Will Weatheritt has been working and living in this community for many years and it became a clear in the authenticity he brings to the role.
The supporting cast most are not professional actors who also
live in the area are very rich and well written you could probably make a spin off series about any of the characters in Joeys world and it would be interesting .
In Australia there is this obsession with portraying everyone who doesn't fit in with the mainstream of society as victims.
What's refreshing about Flats is not a single character is a victim.
That's what makes Flats so compelling because it's a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking account of good people doing the best they can with what they have.
