Yes, I am talking about the dreaded FOR YOUR CONISDERATION CAMPAIGN.

Instead of reiterating comments made by people I admire and love and who are much more eloquent with words than I, I thought I’d share the comment I made on Ms. Casey McKinnon’s blog…I think it’s going to wrap this entire issue up in a nice little kidding-around package with a fucking-with-you bow…

I have the ultimate solution to this problem: each web series nominated should select a representative who will fight in a battle royale. Last one left alive wins.

Of course, this is ultimately a flawed solution in itself and will then spawn a series of blog debates such as “how should series select their representative? If they send their strongest and they die, what does that mean for the next session of the show? If they send their most expendable crew member, they’re just shooting themselves in the foot. Or wait, will there be guns?”

But beyond my sick sense of humor: there is some really fantastic discussion going on here. I think it really boils down to this: we are a web-based community predominately made up of indie-spirited creators who enjoy the thrill of being able to do things our own way because the conventions of other forms of media have not satisfied us. So hopefully we can channel that energy into new and creative ways to showcase the fruit of our labors. And maybe that don’t have to involve bloody murder.

That is my challenge to you all: get your shows out there creatively. I’m thinking of maybe organizing an online live screening where the characters of the show are in the room interacting with the viewers as they watch.”

Smile everyone.

There is nothing quite like a sexually suggestive title, is there? I assure you, for the most part, this entry with stay PG…or at the most PG-13.

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of picking up producing duties on the web series Bumps in the Night, which on our Facebook Page is listed as a “Supernatural Procedural Comedy”. What’s not to love about that?

The series started out on StrikeTV but we’re going to brave it on our own and go independent this time around. I met the guys who created it; Emmett Furey, John Reha, and Greg Benevent; a while back through my old roommate Adam Daroff, who went to Drexel University with them (though he didn’t know Emmett until they were both in LA). It seemed like a natural fit to take my web experience as well as being a fan of the show and have me jump on board for the new season. Story of my life: “hey, I like your show…can I work on it?” “Sure!” As my buddy Sam Proof pointed out recently…it never hurts to just ask.

Incidentally, Sam will be directing our first full episode of the season, which is going to be released on February 17th. Because…he asked.

In the meantime, check out the first of our Live Tips. They will be airing on the Wednesdays between our main episodes. Also check out our kickass blog and subscribe to our Twitter feed.

Happy Haunting!

Those who know me well know how I got started working in web video. For those who don’t know me that well, here is the Cliff’s Notes edition so you can now say you do know me well!

Back in 2006, a friend of mine had seen some videos on YouTube that were causing him some concern. There was a young home-schooled girl that had gotten a camera and started to video blog. He didn’t think much of it except for the fact that she was apparently preparing for some kind of ritual associated with the religion she was a part of. She didn’t talk about it specifically, but on further inspection he noticed she had something resembling an alter in the background of her videos containing a picture that looked like it could be Aleister Crowley.

The girl was Bree and her YouTube account handle was lonelygirl15.

“This a show, right,” I asked. He wasn’t convinced until several weeks later when The Creators (as they are called in the lg15 community) let the cat out of the bag that this was a scripted show trying to take advantage of YouTube as a form of storytelling.

By that point, I was already hooked. I spent the next several years getting to know Bree and her cast of friends, enemies, love interests, siblings…but I also was getting to know people that were going to mean so much more to me and who would change the course of my life forever.

They were: The Community.

It started when I went from heavily participating in the OpAphid ARG that formed around the lonelygirl mythology to producing a fan parody series of lonelygirl15 called LonelyJew15 (”What if Anne Frank had a webcam?”). Besides walking a very thin line where I was afraid I’d be struck by lightning by a higher power at any moment, something completely opposite of that began happening: fans of both lg15 and my fan-created project began reaching out to me wanting to be a part of the show. I found parts for as many of them as I could and ended up producing over 60 episodes of the parody over a span of a little over a year. And then Amanda Goodfried, one of the C’s, asked me if SHE could have a role on the show.

And the rest is history. Amanda ended up inviting me to join the crew of lonelygirl15 as a production assistant (which they had been working without up until this point, with Amanda pretty much holding 75 percent of the crew roles herself). It had it’s ups and downs, producing content at a rate of 5 videos a week on an extremely tight budget and a crew of four (the director, the director of photography, Amanda producing and myself PAing) was often nervewrackingly exhausting. But in the end, I probably learned more about production (and I mean ALL production…I’ve worked in film and television as well over the years) than any other project I’ve worked on before or since.

Okay, so that Cliff’s Notes version got a little long…so here is The Point:

The lonelygirl15 Universe is about to embark on it’s newest journey. Helmed by an extremely talented filmmaker and member of the Community, Austin McConnell, Outbreak is the winner of The Show is Yours 2: a contest created by the original Creators of lg15 where they ask a fan to continue the mythology of their world by giving them the opportunity to produce and run an 8-week series.

So The Point my friends is I AM PUMPED. Knowing Austin personally and having witnessed his talent and tenacity, I think he’ll be a perfect match for tackling the not-so-easy task of pleasing a not-so-easy-to-please audience who have shared going on 4 years (!) worth of story together. And here is what I think can be so special about Outbreak: I think it can stand alone and bring in a whole new audience that could revitalize the brand that began with just a lonely girl with her web cam.

Yup, I said it: I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH THIS!

If you’ve stuck with me up until this point and you’d like a little more convincing, I’d like to send you over to a place I spend a great deal of time. It’s a blog called LG15Today and it’s a real testament to what a community of viewers can do if given the opportunity to do so. It’s not always pretty and sometimes the discussion can get downright cruel…but in the end, opinions are respected for the most part and it gives a group of individuals who have been through a lot together a place to relive past experiences and plan for what comes next.

Oh and Modelmotion, the bot behind it’s creation, is one smart fella.

So check out his Open Letter to the Web Series Community and please check out the premiere of lg15: Outbreak tomorrow, January 11, 2010. And come back here and let me know what you think!

-Elevator for Best Comedy Web Series
-The Vetala for Best Drama Web Series
-Mommy XXX for Best Reality or Documentary Web Series
-Epic Fu for Best News or Politics Web Series
-The RadNerd Show for Best New Web Series
-Homestarrunner for Best Animated Web Series
-iFanboy for Best Hosted Web Series
-I <3 Vampires for Best Experimental Web Series
-HTSAAAR for Best Foreign Web Series
-The Crew for Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series
-The Real Cool Club for Best Live Production in a Web Series
-Fury of Solace for Best Interactive Experience in a Web Series
-Sean Michael Beyer for Best Directing for a Comedy Web Series (Poor Paul)
-Kaleena Kiff for Best Directing for a Dramatic Web Series (Riese)
-Felicia Day for Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series (The Guild)
-Ryan Copple, Miguel Valdez Lopez, and Kaleena Kiff for Best Writing for a Dramatic Web Series (Riese)
-Michael Hart for Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series (The Crew)
-Angie Cole for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series (Craig and the Werewolf)
-Seth Caskey for Best Male Actor in a Dramatic Web Series (Compulsions)
-Christine Chatelian for Best Female Actor in a Drama Web Series (Riese)
-Brendan Bradley for Best Guest Star in a Web Series (The Legend of Neil)
-Sam Proof for Best Vlogger

I need to come back and do some more of the technical awards in the next few days. My post-holiday brain needs some re-charging. As always, your thoughts are welcome and just leave them in the comments!

It’s Saturday morning, I’m down in San Diego for my High School Drama Club Reunion (I didn’t go to my 10 year reunion because I didn’t know a lot of people in my class…this is a group that is going to span about 8 years…the four years I was there and then the four years my younger sister was there). I just ate some delicious homemade pancakes that my Mom made, I’m sippin’ on a pipping hot cup of coffee brewed by my Dad…it’s time to get down to business.

Here is my second round of Streamys nominations:

-The Crew for Best Comedy Web Series
-Valemont for Best Drama Web Series
-O-Cast for Best New Web Series
-Its A Sperms World for Best Animated Web Series
-Back on Topps for Best Branded Entertainment Web Series
-Can I Nail It? for Best Hosted Web Series
-Fear Net for Best News or Politics Web Series
-Level 26 for Best Experimental Web Series
-Riese for Best Foreign Web Series
-Rainbow Bridge for Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series
-Maddison Atkins for Best Interactive Experience in a Web Series
-Woke Up Dead for Best Product Integration in a Web Series
-Sandeep Parikh for Best Directing for a Comedy Web Series (The Legend of Neil)
-Nathan Atkinson for Best Directing for a Dramatic Web Series (Compulsions)
-Thom Woodley and Bob McClure for Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series (Alls Faire)
-Bernie Su for Best Writing for a Dramatic Web Series (Compulsions)
-Tony Janning for Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series (The Legend of Neil)
- Jessica Rose for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series (Poor Paul)
-Daniel Browning Smith for Best Male Actor in a Dramatic Web Series (Level 26)
- Annemarie Pazmino for Best Female Actor in a Drama Web Series (Compulsions)
-Taryn Southern for Best Guest Star in a Web Series (The Temp Life)
-Robert Welkner for Best Web Series Host (Coin-Op TV)
-Brigitte Dale for Best Vlogger
-Sean Becker for Best Editing in a Web Series (The Guild)
-John Guleserian for Best Cinematography in a Web Series (I <3 Vampires)
-Chad Krowchuk for Best Art Direction in a Web Series (Riese)

You probably notice I don’t submit for all categories. I don’t want to do nominations I’m not educated in and I don’t know a lot of details about things like sound design and visual effects. I try to learn more and I’ve been watching things lately and trying to focus on those more technical details, so I made me adding some noms in these categories in later rounds.

I also realize that my education on web series is very comedy heavy. In categories like Best Drama, Best Reality or Documentary, and Best News and Politics, I don’t have as many favorites. If you have suggestions in these areas, I would love to check them out: just leave them in the comments for me.

The second annual Streamy Awards are coming up on April 11, 2010…that may sound far, far away but Tubefilter and NewTeeVee are already hard at work putting the show together, which from what little I know as a freelance writer for Tubefilter, is going to be the shindig to end all shindigs.

The Streamy Award nomination process is open to the public for 35 of the show’s awards. You can nominate once a day until January 15th. I personally have so many web favorites in every category that I could probably nominate someone different every single day. In fact, I’m going to try to do as many nominations as possible but unfortunately, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to take the amount of time I want to take when considering my nominations.

It is also important to me that my nominations be public. I want the fantastic creators/actors/writers/etc to get the chance to see the recognition I think they deserve from their peers. There is an option on the Streamys website that links to your Twitter account so you can send out a Tweet with each of your nominations…this system caused a bit of a stir, especially when I used it for my first set of nominations and basically flooded my followers accounts (SORRY!). So from now on, I’ll make a post to correspond with my rounds of nominations.

I submitted the following nominations on December 17th:

-MacAwesome for Best Comedy Web Series
-Compulsions for Best Drama Web Series
-Days of the Living Dead for Best Reality or Documentary Web Series
-Auto-Tune the News for Best News or Politics Web Series
-The Gloomers for Best Animated Web Series
-Fury of Solace for Best Experimental Web Series
-Valemont for Best Interactive Experience in a Web Series
-OzGirl for Best Foreign Web Series
-The Guild for Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series
-Easy to Assemble for Best Product Integration in a Web Series
-Coin-Op TV for Best Live Production in a Web Series
-Sean Becker for Best Directing for a Comedy Web Series (The Guild)
-Nick Carlton for Best Directing for a Dramatic Web Series (OzGirl)
-Brett Register for Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series (The Crew)
-Nina Bargiel for Best Writing for a Dramatic Web Series (Valemont ARG)
-Ben Pace for Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series (Elevator)
-Craig Frank for Best Male Actor in a Dramatic Web Series (Compulsions)
-Amy Kline for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series (The Crew)
-Shanrah Wakefield for Best Female Actor in a Drama Web Series (OzGirl)
-Jackson Davis for Best Guest Star in a Web Series (Poor Paul)
-Kristyn Burtt for Best Web Series Host (The Web Files)
-Shane Dawson for Best Vlogger
-Pi Ware for Best Editing in a Web Series (I <3 Vampires)
-Timothy Riese for Best Cinematography (The Crew)
-Leah Mann for Best Art Direction (The Legend of Neil)

Have any questions about any of my nominations? What to share yours with me? Feel free to post in the comments!

At this very moment, I am sitting in a production meeting for this weekend’s shoot of Simply Simon. Here are the types of things that have been said:

“You have a teenager, you must have white bread!”

“We’ll just find two Olivia Newton-John looking girls.”

“An Eggo would be funny.”

“This is happening on that day after Saturday.” “You mean Sunday?” “Yes! Sunday!”

“I swallow bees motherfucker.”

I think six weeks of shooting may be getting to us. But if there is one things I’ve definitely learned is that a strong team gets through the insane moments and comes out stronger for it.

Now excuse me while I keep the bees away from our associate producer…

After almost a month of debating what the heck to do with the blog attached to the front of my website, I know of at least one thing I definitely want to do more of. I have a lot of fun writing reviews of shows for Tubefilter and I always try to get in touch with the creators of the shows with follow-up questions before I go to publication. Oftentimes, I end up asking way more questions then I can cover and get answers way more through than I need for the one or two quotes I try to include. So there is a lot of fun stuff that doesn’t make it beyond my inbox or digital voice recorder.

I’ve decided to start sharing some of the particularly juicy nuggets here. Whether I think they impart some wisdom about an aspect of web series production, or a philosophy to the space I respect, or something just plain funny that doesn’t quite fit into the tone I try to keep with my pieces, I want a place where I can give them a home. Consider them homeless no more!

To begin, I have a quote from Bracken J. Batson, producer of the delightful web series Normally This Weird, that kind of encompasses all the aspects of what I hope to share here with you.

“Wanna know a secret? It is all a trick. This whole new exciting idea of “web series” is really a big trick…Before the web series was the thing, when did any of us ever have time to organize a weekly/by-monthly/monthly production of anything? If someone told me I was going to produce a short film every month for a year I’d laugh at him or her on my way out of YC’s Mongolian barbeque (that’s where we first decided to do NTW). But hey: lets do a “web series” and I start nodding my head like it is no big deal – I was tricked! And I trick people all day long using the same approach. For instance, it has always been a challenge to find a full crew to volunteer on a short film, but I have no problem finding free crew for a web series! It is like a new magic word. And it works on viewers also…people are instantly enchanted when they hear you have a web series, it is no longer a short film but rather an epic event, a grand destination online! We’ve all been tricked. I often wonder what the actual difference is between a television show released on hulu.com and a “web series.” So-what if one was made intended for the web, and the other just found its way there by necessity, they are both essentially episodes connecting characters and story arcs. How can an independent production like ours really compete with the complete first season of Arrested Development online at hulu.com? …Because of those magic words, we’re a “web series”. Level playing field? Well, until more people realize it is a trick, I’m going to keep tricking them. (So can you keep a secret?)” –Bracken J. Batson, Normally This Weird

Me websiteo es tu websiteo…

–Jenni