2009 in Review: November

I am giving up on 5 photos. Here's 10 photos for you!

MERRIme.com shoot with Kaily Smith and David Weidoff. I will always have a kinship with Kaily since we went to the same summer camp. Yes, another musical theatre geek! Episode: MERRIme.com.

If you are following me on Twitter, you know about my obsession with Five Guys burgers. It's a tasty treat!

The Fine Brothers! This episode is coming your way in January 2010, but this was a heated interview. They are very passionate about the web space and they were excited to share their thoughts. Stay tuned......

I don't know how this snapshot came about, but it was a fun night at the Compulsions premiere! Episode: Compulsions.

My favorite snapshot of the year all thanks to Adam Bouska and the NOH8 Campaign. I can't say this enough.......Equality for ALL!

Me and Daphne Brogdon on the teeny-tiny set. I was thrilled we were able to cover a mommy vlogger for The Web Files this year. Daphne is open, honest, and her story is fascinating. Episode: Daphne Brogdon.

I love Shira and Lon. Good people and a great show, This Week in YouTube. Episode: TWIYT.

Definitely the longest title of any show we have covered, Hurtling Through Space at an Alarming Rate. Tons of great green screen shots and familiar web celebs in this episode! Episode: HTSAAAR.

The 2009-2010 Toyota Live official portrait.

My favorite picture of The Web Files crew ever! At the Compulsions premiere, all behind the scenes....

Yep, there was no way to handle this month in 5 photos. It was a great experiment that I failed in a fantastic way. One more month to go!

Weekend Web Watch Crew Pick: Dusty Peacock

Our Weekend Web Watch is being brought to you this weekend by The Web Files crew. I thought it might be fun to have one of our crew members select their favorite episode that you might have missed. This week, Jenn Bobiwash, our PA and all-around Renaissance woman, picked Dusty Peacock with Gary Valentine. I thought this was fitting since Daphne Brogdon used to co-host a show with Gary and she is our current guest on The Web Files. We interviewed Gary back in July when our show was only a few weeks old on the web. Gary came from a different perspective than many of our guests in that he has an established career and a fully-funded web series. He didn't have the challenges that many of us are facing, so it was an interesting and funny interview. I also think the episode is worth seeing for the location alone. Another Sandra Payne genius idea!

Check out the episode and our behind the scenes look at filming with Gary Valentine. I really think this is an episode that is worth revisiting if you missed it the first time. Enjoy your Weekend Web Watch!

PS Don't forget that voting is still open:

Clicker.com awards: Best Original Non-Fiction Web Show
And for the Streamys: Best Hosted Web Series
Thanks for your support and votes!

Behind the Scenes of Daphne Brogdon of CoolMom.com

This interview was a rather exciting one for me. First, it was inspired by some controversy after we shot the Mommy XXX episode and a particular Mommy Blogger got upset over the Crackle.com show. As a result, one of the Mommy XXX advertisers pulled out of the show due to the pressure from the article and the author's readers. It made me realize how powerful the Mommy Blogger has become in our society. Now in order for it to fit within The Web Files framework, we would need someone who videos their work versus writing about it. So, off I went, scouring the Internet for the best Mommy Vlogger out there. I looked at many sites, but no one was as funny, irreverent, or as truthful as Daphne Brogdon.

I personally was thrilled to do this interview because I used to watch Daphne when she hosted a show on FX called The X Show. Not only did I watch, but I was a paid audience member who helped fill the seats if the tickets were not sold out. It was my first job in LA when I moved here in 2000. I did it for 2 months as it helped pay the bills while I got myself settled on the West Coast. I loved the show with its hodgepodge of hosts including Gillian Barberie, Craig Jackson, Justin Walker, and Gary Valentine, who I also interviewed this summer for his web series, Dusty Peacock.. I told Daphne our connection at the beginning of the interview and I wish it had made the episode because it was a fun moment, but it wound up on the cutting room floor.

What makes Daphne truly likable as a Mommy Vlogger is that she is real. She proves that while motherhood is rewarding, it also brings its own set of challenges. It isn't a perfect world, but it can be a funny, heartbreaking, sad, and joyous world. Daphne is married to Mark Peel, the chef of the famed restaurant, Campanile and La Brea Bakery. You may think her life is charmed, but they have endured challenges like the rest of us in this economic downturn and that is what CoolMom.com brings to the table.

We shot in her home at the kids' table where everything was perfectly tiny and cute including the tea set. Since we were not allowed to wear shoes in her house, Sandra made sure I had the most colorful socks for the shoot. They are actually Easter socks with bunnies at the top, making them perfect for the episode. I truly appreciated Daphne's candidness and I think this episode fits in well with the holiday season.

Episode 24 is our last show for 2009, so I want to take the time to thank you for your views, support, feedback, and appreciation for what we are doing on The Web Files. We managed to bring you 24 episodes this year featuring the best in web series, web celebs, and new media creators. We look forward to 2010 as our show grows along with the Web TV industry. Come back and see us in January when we launch new interviews featuring The Legend of Neil, Dorm Life, The Fine Brothers, and Casey McKinnon of A Comicbook Orange. Happy Holidays!