2009 in Review: September

Darn, back to 10 photos for September 2009's review. That's okay, a few of you have asked for more photos, so you are definitely accommodated in this entry. I bit off more than I could chew for September. Take a closer look.......

So, I know I have a month long gig in Dallas ahead of me, so we decide to renovate our home. Most of the renovations happen while I am out of town, but packing in this mess wasn't easy.

So while the renovations are driving everyone at home nuts, I spend my days on an outdoor entertainment stage with a JumboTron at the State Fair of Texas. Turns out to be the wettest fair they have ever had.

Before I left though, we had to shoot The Web Files episodes. In fact, we had to stockpile the episodes in order to get through 6 weeks due to my travel schedule. Here is the cast and crew of one of 2009's most anticipated web series, Compulsions. Episode: Compulsions.

Ah, Tim Street. We freaked people out when he took his glasses off for the interview. This episode remains one of the most informative for the web community that we have ever shot for The Web Files. If you missed the episode, check it out here: Tim Street.

I really enjoyed shooting this episode with Dirty Bomb Diaries in a utility closet at an emergency supply company. Seriously, have you ever shot an episode in a closet? Sandra did a great job with set dressing this one. Rumor has it that there is a Season 2 coming your way in 2010. Episode: Dirty Bomb Diaries.

Showbizzle creators, Charles and Lindsey Rosin. A father/daughter team in the web space, but I have to admit, I was a bit excited to hear the 90210 gossip from the Brenda years. Charles kindly answered my questions off-camera and he delivered with some juicy stories. Episode: Showbizzle.

Somewhere in between all of this madness of Dallas and The Web Files, I found time to fly to Atlanta and work with one of my regular corporate clients, LG Electronics, at the CEDIA convention.

Two NYU alums get into a room to discuss Web TV! Go Violets! Marc Ostrick of eGuiders and I had a good time reminiscing about the old days in the Village when NY was truly dirty and delicious. Episode: eGuiders.

Another one of the most anticipated shows of 2009, The Cabonauts. With a cast including Nichelle Nichols and Hayden Black, I must carryover my anticipation to 2010. Episode: The Cabonauts.

On the set with Asa Shumskas-Tait and Rick Castañeda for the show Coma, Period. We had a blast running through the halls on their little go-karts and a rematch is set for 2010. Episode: Coma,Period.
So, there you go, September in 10 photos. October will be filled with lots of rain, mud, and some more rain and a side of mud. See you tomorrow!

Weekend Web Watch Contest with Dirty Bomb Diaries!

Okay, we have some fantastic Dirty Bomb Diaries survival supplies to give away and we want to give them away to you! Here's how it works:

1. Watch our episode of The Web Files featuring Dirty Bomb Diaries here: Dirty Bomb Diaries.

2. Answer this question:

a. What was my note to Sean Hinchey for Season 2?

3. Answers can go in the comments below or email us at: talktothewebfiles@gmail.com

4. Contest ends Monday, November 9th at Noon PST. Winner be selected randomly and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 10th.

Thanks for watching and good luck!

**UPDATE** Congratulations to our winner PJOwens75! He correctly answered the question. Answer: Add locks on the doors for Season 2. PJOwens75 wins a fun survival kit perfect for any Dirty Bomb Diaries fan. Thanks for all of your entries.

Behind the Scenes of Dirty Bomb Diaries

This shoot was a challenge for all of us and knowing all of the work that went into this episode, I am thrilled to say that it is one of my personal favorites so far. First, I was traveling non-stop the week before this shoot and I had little time to help my EP, Sandra, prepare for the interview. With all the work I was doing in Atlanta and Vegas, I had to focus on watching the Dirty Bomb Diaries episodes and doing my research on creators, Sean Hinchey and Eric Tozzi. I watched all 16 episodes of DBD in the Atlanta airport and on the day of the interview, I landed at LAX from Vegas only to roll right into hair and makeup. Needless to say, I was tired. This should also answer the question I get a lot from our Web Files featured guests, "You watched our show?" Yes, I watch every season, every episode, every bonus video. I do research on the creators, actors, music, and I even read other articles written about the show. The only thing I don't do is watch other on-camera interviews. I find that it colors my interpretation of the show too much. I want to come in with a fresh perspective and outlook.
Now, Sandra had all of the hard work securing the location and fine-tuning all of the details for Dirty Bomb Diaries. I have to say that Sandra is one of the most creative location scouts I have ever met. When she told me we were shooting in the City of Industry at Emergency Disaster Systems, I thought it was a perfect companion location to the premise of DBD. When we arrived, I found out we were shooting in a utility closet. Say what? A utility closet! It was a mess and piled high with boxes, shelves, and it hadn't been swept in days. In a matter of minutes though, this bland closet transformed into a colorful set filled with hard hats, emergency vests, and caution tape. It was fantastic! It gives you a glimpse as to how Sandra's amazing, creative brain works. I couldn't see a thing in that closet, and she saw a shooting location!
Now let me tell you why this is one of my favorite episodes. It isn't a flashy episode by any means, but it is one of the most informative and content rich episodes for web series creators. I think Eric and Sean gave some of the most insightful and straightforward answers on how to draw the viewers to your web series. They have a very specific idea on how to accomplish this, and I know many of you won't agree, but it was very successful for them. If you had 2 million views for your first season, you would be preaching the same thing. So, it definitely brings up the question of exclusivity versus availability. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Finally, new to The Web Files team is our DP, Jillian Arnold! She is pictured below working her DP magic. I love that we have so many talented people helping us create new episodes from week to week. They deserve all of the praise because I only know how to host, without them, The Web Files would not have the incredible production values each episode. My next mission is to get a picture of our PA extraordinaire, Jenn Bobiwash! She's always the one snapping the photos. It's her turn to shine in the limelight, so stay tuned!
If you missed Episode 12 with Dirty Bomb Diaries, why here it is: Dirty Bomb Diaries.

It's Your Turn!

We just finished a huge round of interviews for The Web Files and I am really excited to share those episodes with you from Dirty Bomb Diaries to Showbizzle to Tim Street to Compulsions to The Cabonauts. There will be a lot of exciting news in the coming months, so keep checking back to hear the latest.

Our next round of interviews begins in mid-October and I decided to open the floor to you, the viewer. Who would you like to see on The Web Files in the coming months? Remember, we are open to anything to do with new media: web celebs, podcasts, web series, vloggers, animated web series, TV festivals, red carpet events, launch parties, etc. The only rule right now is that it has to be Southern California based. Featuring East Coast shows is on our list of things to do, but for now, please keep it on the Left Coast. So, comment below and tell us who needs to be the next featured guest on The Web Files.

**UPDATED** Due to the overwhelming response, we are going to do a "Viewers Choice" episode of The Web Files. So, keep the comments coming. We want to know which show you want to learn more about!

Thanks for watching!

PS If you haven't seen our show yet, you can find The Web Files here: Blip.tv

The Week in Review

To say this week was busy was an understatement. On Sunday, I was in Atlanta with LG Electronics doing presentations on their new LED/LCD screens for CEDIA. This is the second time I have worked for them this year and they truly are an amazing company. Keep your eye on them, they are a force to be reckoned with in the electronics industry.
Monday it was back to LA for an interview for The Web Files with the creators of Showbizzle, Charles and Lindsey Rosin. If you think the name Charles Rosin sounds familiar, you are correct. He was the Executive Producer and Show Runner for the original 90210 during the Brenda years. As a 90210 fan, it really was a treat for me!

Tuesday had me off to Vegas for a super secret event with a major corporation. No photos were allowed to be taken, but it was a fun night at The Venetian and I loved my beautiful suite with the sunken living room and 3 LCD screens.
Wednesday, I was back in LA and on the set with The Web Files crew for a Dirty Bomb Diaries shoot. The location that EP, Sandra Payne, found was genius: Emergency Disaster Systems in the City of Industry for a web series about a dirty bomb going off in the city of Los Angeles. We had a lot of fun with the hard hats, masks, and first aid kits, so you should expect to see me all geared out in the episode.

By the time we hit Thursday, I was running on fumes, but I rallied because our final interview of the week was with the man behind the tinted glasses, Tim Street. We shared a drink and had a chat about the web industry 10 years ago and today. I think this episode will be very beneficial to the web series creators out there, so stay tuned!

After The Web Files shoot, I ran over to the Dance Channel TV studios to film the biweekly "Can't Miss List". This week brought a Patrick Swayze tribute, the typical DWTS PR stunt of the week, Fame, and the rumor that the GAP dance ads are back! Check out Episode 7 below:

Okay, that's the week in review! Next week brings another Web Files interview with the cast of the upcoming web series, Compulsions, and a job in The Lone Star State. Yee Haw!

The Web Files Weekly Update

Hanging with Hayden before the interview......

A very Barbra Walters set-up. Did I make Marc cry? Find out soon.......

Shhh....What's behind the Psychic Bunny door? You'll find out on Wednesday!

The Web Files team was incredibly busy with interviews with some top web movers and shakers. Part of the reason for the craziness is my travel schedule....Atlanta, Vegas, and Dallas all in the next 5 weeks. Phew! We want to make sure we continue to bring new episodes to you each Wednesday, so we are banking a few interviews in The Web Files vault.

The week started out with the Psychic Bunny crew on the eve of their web series launch for Coma, Period on Strike.tv. It was a hot day, but it was even hotter two days later with the cast of The Cabonauts. Hayden Black hosted us in the secret location of Salford Studios where The Cabonauts was filmed. I sat in the cab, so I feel kind of like the cool kid for being allowed to do that. Finally, Friday brought us to the world headquarters of eGuiders with Co-Founder, Marc Ostrick, a fellow NYU grad. Go Violets! We are taking this week off from shooting, but we will come back with a vengeance the following week with Showbizzle, Dirty Bomb Diaries, This Week in YouTube, and Compulsions. Exciting line-up, right?

In other news, we have had a terrific response to this week's episode including write-ups from Mathieas McNaughton over at LG15 Today and Michelle Denise Norton from Lonelypond. Thanks for the feedback, we appreciate it!

Only two more days before we show you a behind the scenes look at the offices of Psychic Bunny, so catch up with The Web Files and Episode 9 and then head on over to MYMHM with Juan, Lee, and me as we discuss one of my favorite Oscar-winning performances, Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce. See their show here: MYMHM. Happy viewing, we will see all of you on Wednesday!

The Web Files interview: Episode 9