Behind the Scenes of The Web Files Buzz, Episode 5

Another episode of The Web Files Buzz is here and I think I have the biggest hair ever in this episode.  I'm not kidding.  I think it was the perfect element to battle ghosts and zombies on our set visits to Bumps in the Night and Night of the Zombie King from the Gold crew.  There was enough hairspray to ward off any paranormal activity.

                             Melissa Anchondo making my hair as BIG as possible for the shoot that day.

Our first visit that day was to the Bumps in the Night set with Emmett Furey, John Reha, and Greg Benevent We have talked about a shoot with them since the A Good Knight's Quest premiere back in February.  It took a long time to schedule, but we managed to get them in and get the guys in character for a fantastic Ghostfacers versus Bumps in the Night throw down.  Who do you think would win the face-off?  Also, I love that the blue couch that we were sitting on is from Craigslist and plays a hilarious role in the series:  is it haunted or just a reminder that Craigslist can be creepy?  One thing I wish I had mentioned during the interview was that they are using a variety of guest directors this season.  I think it adds an interesting element to the series by showcasing different director' takes on the show.  The week we were there, it was Rudy Jahchan's turn.  You may recognize the name from the Streamy-nominated and Web Files featured show, A Comicbook Orange. (In fact, their episode remains our highest viewed show for 2010.)  Rumor has it that Rudy may direct another episode in the near future, so be on the lookout for his shows and check out another episode of Bumps in the Night directed by After Judgment's Taryn O'Neill and guest starring The Crew's, Ariel Lazarus.  Bumps is definitely a smaller web series deserving more eyeballs, so go show your support and check out their show.

From ghosts to zombies, we headed just down the street on this prolific web series weekend to the set of Night of the Zombie King from Gold creator, David Nett.  These mini-episodes featuring the character Jaz from season 1 of Gold, are going to help tide the fans over until Season 2 is shot and released.  Joining James Lane (Jaz) are a few familiar faces including Stephanie Thorpe of After Judgment as Jaz's high school sweetheart and Maxwell Glick of lonelygirl15.  Adding to the excitement of the series, is the release of the Season 1 DVD of Gold. Sales of the DVD will go toward producing a Season 2, so get out there and support the show.  I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the DVD which features extras like commentary on each episode from the cast and crew, an interview with Cricket Lee of GirlGamer.com, and a mini-episode not seen before.  I think it's just enough to excite fans for the upcoming second season.  

And one final note, I will give a prize to the first person who correctly answers this question:  My shirt seen in the photo above was also worn by another actress in a 2009 interview on The Web Files.  What show were we interviewing?  First correct answer in the comment will win some fantastic prize from my collection of goodies.  Ready, set, go.........

If you missed our Web Files Buzz episode, watch it below.  We will see you tomorrow with an interview with the new Backyard FX host, Zack Finfrock.  

  

PS  I received amazing PR materials from Jenni Powell of Bumps in the Night and David Nett of Gold before my set visit.  It really is an important component to any show, make sure to read my tips on Publicity and Web Series or ask your fellow content creators for some help.  This type of professionalism creates a stronger foundation within the web community and beyond.  Thank you both!  It made my job easier that day.  (And if you want to see a spot-on interview, watch David.  He mastered the art of the interview, promoted his show, and his section needed very little editing in post.  Woo hoo!)

Photo 1:  Courtesy of Jenni Powell

Photos 2-4: Courtesy of Jenn Bobiwash

Web TV Week: A Comicbook Orange

The week is moving by so quickly with only two days left before the 2nd Annual Streamy Awards.  So, we've touched upon some great categories, but it's time to feature one of the Best Hosted Web Series nominees, A Comicbook Orange.  The Web Files sat down with Rudy Jahchan and Casey McKinnon earlier in the year.  Like Epic Fu, the creators of A Comicbook Orange have had a unique and ambitious journey and it is fantastic to see where they have landed in Season 5.  So, go back to our Web Files interview with A Comicbook Orange, and let's see what happens on Sunday, Clicker gave them some pretty good odds in their category:

Episode: A Comicbook Orange

Behind the Scenes Blog: A Comicbook Orange

Behind the Scenes of Legend of Neil

Okay, all of you Legend of Neil fans have me baffled. Never in the 29 episode history of The Web Files have I received such interesting and rather, uh...odd feedback. Many of you are obsessed with the decor of Sandeep Parikh's apartment. From the oranges on the table to the decorations on the wall to the lack of decorations on the wall, you all had something to say. I think a lot of you want to help Sandeep out or maybe there are some ladies out there looking to add a woman's touch to the place. Regardless, Sandra did add the oranges to the table, a bit of color for the interview. I have no idea if Sandeep is looking for decorating tips, but hopefully, he will check out my blog and add his 2 cents.

**UPDATE** I have a clarification and a turn of events.......Sandra DID NOT add the bowl of oranges, Sandeep DID! So, he is the one who added a bit of color to his coffee table and I think that is a lovely decorating idea. So, maybe the naysayers should be taking tips from Sandeep? I am calling this on DecoratorGate 2010!

On to more important things, the interview! I think Sandeep was very clear that while his show is higher profile than some of the other web series out there, it is not a huge money maker. He sells merchandise to supplement the production costs for the show. While we didn't see all of that during the episode, you will notice a pile of shirts to my right during the show and the t-shirt I wear during the opening. Another question that wound up on the editing room floor that I think is really important to ponder: "Would their show been as successful today on YouTube as it was back in 2007 when they first launched?" Tony Janning responded with an honest, "I don't know." It is a huge challenge to launch a web series on YouTube because the site is so saturated with content. It is tough to stand out amongst the crowd. Now, Legend of Neil was going to be successful, regardless of YouTube, but it may have taken more time to find an audience had they launched it in 2010.

I had to watch this episode several times to refresh my memory about the behind the scenes action. I looked back at the calendar and realized that we shot the show on December 14th, 2009, so it was almost two months ago. It isn't often that we bank shows that far in advance, but we sometimes we have to work with shows that have deadlines like series premieres or finales. That is why you saw episodes with The Bannen Way and A Comicbook Orange before you ever saw Legend of Neil. Both episodes were shot in January well after Legend of Neil shoot, but they aired before the Sandeep/Tony episode in order to accommodate their season premieres.

And yes, I did get a chance to wear Link's hat and check out all of The Legend of Neil props. I know there are a few jealous fans out there. So, that was a really fun treat for me. If you haven't seen the episode, check it out here: Legend of Neil.

Wednesday brings our first episode of The Web Files Buzz featuring "the buzz about the biz....the web series biz". Highlights include the red carpet of the IAWTV screening of Fall of Kaden and Blue Movies, checking out Brittney Powell's Safety Geek:SVI calendar, and a set visit to the upcoming web series, SOLO the Series by Jonathan Nail.

Finally, a shout out to Casey McKinnon for kicking all of the boys' butts in January. We had a male heavy slate with Dorm Life, The Fine Brothers, and The Bannen Way in the month of January. Little Casey's episode of A Comicbook Orange not only exceeded our expectations, but the views on that episode are HUGE. I like seeing a female whooping some ass in the industry. Congratulations, Casey and Rudy!

Behind the Scenes of A Comicbook Orange

Cupcakes, yes, more cupcakes. I think it is starting to become a theme here at The Web Files. I'm going to blame this one on Casey McKinnon though. She agreed to an interview in exchange for a double chocolate cupcake. How could I say "no" to that? You ask for cupcakes, you will get cupcakes. So, now we have a Web Files cupcake trilogy with Tay Zonday, MERRIme.com, and A Comicbook Orange.

This was our very first shoot in 2010 and we headed on over to their apartment which doubles as a studio for A Comicbook Orange. Rudy and Casey's story is a fascinating one since they did not follow a traditional route into new media and film. Casey worked for a "dicklomat" (you must watch the episode until the end to understand this.) when they came up with some grand ideas for starting their own online network. Yes, I said NETWORK. I find that so darn ambitious and impressive, don't you? In the interview, you will see how that worked out for them, but it inspired the beginnings of Galacticast and A Comicbook Orange. It is also interesting to note that Casey was not the original host. Find out in the interview who was the face of the show first.

I think the other important thing to note about A Comicbook Orange is how much it has grown. If you look back at the first episode compared to the season premiere of Season 5, you will see the production values go up, the tighter editing and writing, and the strong show flow. A Comicbook Orange has found a good rhythm. In order to be a long running show, you have to change, adapt, and develop with the space and the viewers. I think Casey and Rudy are amazing examples of that. On the cutting room floor for this episode was a greater discussion on what it is like to have representation in this field. George Ruiz of ICM represents the duo and the show, but I think it is important for web content creators to understand how the relationship works in new media. For an actor, it is a more simple process: an agent represents you, you go on an audition that they secure for you, you either book it or don't book it, and then you might get some feedback from the casting director. In new media, it is about finding the right sponsors, distributors, partners, for each person and show. I think it is a more delicate balance and ongoing developing partnership in new media.

Finally, the cupcakes! Valley-dwellers, this is a new place to check out at the mall in Sherman Oaks. Fashion Square Mall has opened a cupcake extravaganza with Swirls Cupcakes. It is not to be missed. A plethora of choices, rich, moist cake, and the right amount of sweet frosting. As a cupcake connoisseur, they're delicious.

Coming later today on The Web Files, The Legend of Neil. If you missed our A Comicbook Orange episode (one of our hottest episodes to date), check it out here: A Comicbook Orange.

Behind the Scenes of The Fine Brothers

I often get asked about how we arrange interviews and I will write an entry soon on how that process happens. This particular interview was probably our most unconventional. I think I received a note via our Facebook profile that said, "When is it our turn?". I didn't even know The Fine Brothers knew our show existed, so I was completely flattered to receive the note. We happened to have an open production date, so I wrote back, "How about next week?" and we were off and running. We also shot this episode in mid-November 2009, so it has been on our back burner because we had premieres or finales to coincide with on other shows. I am happy we were able to finally bring this episode to you since The Fine Brothers offered the most brutally honest take on what is happening in the web space. You have to remember that they were early adopters to the web arena even before YouTube existed. It's hard to imagine that YouTube didn't exist until February 2005. It has become a part of our daily internet landscape and The Fine Brothers have found great success on the site.

I hope you all take in the advice that Benny and Rafi are offering. It may not always apply to your show, but you can adapt it to fit your production. They were open enough to offer up some of the things they have done wrong and where they need to diversify. Listen to their words carefully, it might help you avoid some of the missteps they made on their way to success. I am also interested in watching how this all plays out for everyone in the next few years. I hope many of you can be supported solely by new media and that there is a greater understanding from the studios with how to utilize and promote internet content.

Now to some things that wound up on the cutting room floor: one more serious, and one more fun. First, I questioned them quite intensely on the issues that YouTube has with their view counter. Why does it freeze in the 300 view range? I understand that YouTube wants to make sure that they are qualified views and not some auto-generated program to bump up the hit count, but The Web Files has experienced view counts frozen for up to 3 months. You never get those views that you missed counted again. It is one of the main reasons we switched over to Blip because we are getting a more accurate read of what our views are, what everyone is enjoying, and what type of content drives them to our site. They defended YouTube and I would expect them too as their success has been driven by the YouTube viewer and as a partner, they have access to customer service representatives. This venue has worked for them, but it may not work for everyone as YouTube becomes saturated with content.

On to the fun! I wore a shirt that quotes an Oscar winning film that I received when I worked the 2007 Academy Award exhibit, Meet the Oscars. I wore it in honor of their hit, Movie Spoilers: Oscar Edition. Many of you know I am a huge Oscar geek because I used to do media work over at the Kodak Theatre, so I am a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. I thought I might try and stump them with my t-shirt. "Well, la-dee-da!" What Best Picture film is that from? The Oscar geek in me was happy to stump them. Do you know what movie it is from? First correct guess wins an NAIAS souvenir gift pack. Comment below and check out the episode if you missed it. Wednesday brings a new episode with Casey McKinnon and Rudy Jahchan of A Comicbook Orange.