TikTok, love, laughs and racism: Recipe for brand new TV comedy with Far North actor Wollie Gela

By On Jul 9, 2021

Wollie Gela thought it was a scam when he received a Facebook message out of nowhere asking him to be on a new TV series.

Important points:

Wollie Gela was searched for a new TV series on social media
His appearances were exactly what the producer wanted
The series was created and written by First Nations creative Enoch Mailangi

“I went around my office asking my co-workers – is this real, is this a real person?” Said Gela.

“I was like, ‘Is this legitimate because I don’t want to sign up for a telemarketing thing or something like all these scams’.”

It was real – it was Kuku Yalanji and Wamba Wamba man Bjorn Stewart who contacted Gela.

Stewart is a renowned actor, writer, and recently director of the new TV series All My Friends are Racist.

“There was an article that featured blak excellence and the Tik Tok influencers making change,” said Stewart.

“Wollie is about being an activist and stirring up racism … supporting blak companies and other blak influencers.

“We thought Wollie was doing exactly what All My Friends are Racist is about.”

Young people to the front

Created by young First Nations creative Enoch Mailangi, All My Friends are Racist is a comedy aimed at deconstructing racism.

It’s a queer, black love story about two best friends who are canceled by all their friends who find a book in which the two list racist friends.

The show sounded great to Gela, who has 25,000+ TikTok followers and says he receives daily racist and confrontational comments on social media platforms, including TikTok.

“I am a proud young person from Darnley Island, Boigu Island, Kaurareg, Butchella and Kubbi Kubbi who lives on Gimuy Walubara Yidindji and Yirrganydji Country,” Gela said.

“My passion are people, culture and community – I express my passion by volunteering at Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good.”

DIYDG is a social enterprise in Cairns founded by young people for young people, facilitating important discussions and events for young people in the community.

Gela said the DIYDG community and the blak TikTok community gave him positive reinforcement.

Wollie Gela volunteers at the Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good NAIDOC Games Night. (

Carli Willis

)

In 2019, Gela’s TikTok account was banned due to repeated racist comments he received, leading to several complaints on TikTok.

“My TikToks are fun and some of them could be educational – pretty much against racism and for indigenous rights,” Gela said.

“I was connected to Sari Ella Thaiday from TikTok … she encouraged me and said, ‘Don’t let her get to you. Do not let yourself be infected by racism ‘. “

It was All my Friends are Racist producer Liliana Munoz who first found Gela via Tik Tok and sent the link to the team.

“There was a video and he was hilarious and I loved his lovely smile and his big, lovely, softly spoken voice – it was just perfect for the one specific role we were looking for – Liam, who plays Wollie,” said Liliana.

“Bjorn said, ‘Oh my god, he’s great’ and we just spoke to him.”

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows to volume. TikTok video leads to an acting appearance (TikTok @bala_wolz belongs to Wollie Gela)

From Tik Tok to TV

Gela said the experience felt a bit like Hollywood to the first-time actor who was flown to Brisbane to rehearse and film.

“There are at least 15 people around you … there is the lighting team … there is the make-up team … the costume team … there are many teams around you … the camera team … the sound team.”

“Oh my god, what’s up, like the makeup … I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I didn’t expect you to come out like this,'” Gela said.

Despite Gela’s inexperience, Stewart said there were times when the team couldn’t take their eyes off Gela.

“It’s a privilege to work with people who are getting into the industry and starting out like Enoch and Wollie,” said Stewart.

“Wollie brings a really raw energy to this show that is untrained but also so warm.”

Gela said the experience took him well out of his comfort zone, but that it was important to do it.

“When you leave your comfort zone, new doors open and new potential could be discovered in you,” said Gela.

“Like a butterfly, a butterfly cannot see its own wings – how beautiful they are.

“It’s like with people like us, we can’t see how beautiful we are, but others can.”

Gela is the only North Queensland talent contributing to the series, an opportunity he thinks doesn’t happen often enough in the area.

Munoz admitted that geographical barriers made it difficult for producers to really engage with creatives outside of the big cities.

“It’s so important to us [producers] Getting out of our comfort zone – what I mean by that is just leaving your front yard and back yard and just looking elsewhere, ”Munoz said.

“Queensland is not just Brisbane and the Gold Coast.”

The show is slated to be released on ABC iview in the coming months.