Back Stabber is an American TV series which premiered June 24, 2016 on Amazon Instant Video. The drama series was written, co-produced, edited and starred American actor, director and singer Ryan Zamo.
Contents
Production
The original script was developed 7 years prior to its release on Amazon. After writing episodes 1 and 2 of Back Stabber as a final project in film school, Ryan Zamo spent 6 years pitching the show to networks and producers in Hollywood. With no interest in the series, Zamo finally produced the series himself, and premiered the show with a final budget of less than $2,000.
The show became the #1 project for Amazon overnight, after it was announced on the Amazon Studios Development Page. Production for the pilot episode began in June 2015, and despite its continued growth on Amazon's Development Page, the series was later passed on being produced by Amazon Studios. Creator Ryan Zamo and co-producer/director Jordan Fraser headed the production of the series as an independently produced series, using Kinonation as a distributor which allowed them to still have the series air on Amazon.
In August 2016, the show was officially announced to be in the running for the 2017 Golden Globe Awards, for best limited series, including; leading actors Alex Alsina and Jimmy Flint-Smith for Best Actor, Zasha Shary for Best Actress, Ryan Zamo for Best Supporting Actor and Angela Tesch for Best Supporting Actress.
With the shows success and its low budget, Back Stabber beat out the previous low budget project Paranormal Activity, for its record of highest first quarter sales for a low budget project.
Back Stabber was produced by co-directors Ryan Zamo and Jordan Fraser, and stars; Zasha Shary, Zack Kozlow, Angela Tesch, Jimmy Flint-Smith, Alex Alsina, Ashlyn McCormick, Ryan Zamo, Ashly Williston and Karl Schott.
Awards
Back Stabber was in consideration for multiple Golden Globe Awards in 2016, though it did not make the final list of nominees.
Back Stabber was nominated for 'Best Ensemble' in 2017 by the Indie Series Awards.