Behind the Scenes of The Web Files Buzz, Episode 7

I think this has to our most unique Buzz episode of The Web Files because it was our first tech Buzz.  It was really important for us to feature some of the new technologies that are not only emerging on film, but they are happening in the web series world.   The crew at Safety Geeks:SVI and Yabazam.com have lead the way with the first 3D web series while Tyler Malin and Matthew Forrest at Social Animal are pioneering new technology by partnering up with Psychic Bunny for their new web series, Qualia.  Now, let's dig into this episode.

Dave Beeler and Tom Konkle saw the new Acer 3D laptop and knew that this technology would be a good fit for their series, Safety Geeks:SVI.  This forward-thinking duo ultimately created the first 3D web series on the market, something the studios have not even done yet.  It is truly impressive when you think of it on that grand scale.  The way they shoot their series already leant itself to making the 3D possibility happen easier than most shows.  Since everything is done in layers on green screen, the foundation was already there.  In fact, we talked at length about this in our original Web Files interview with them last summer.  Guiding the way to make this happen is Dynamic Digital Depth (DDD) and their website Yabazam.com.  Jay Wiskerchen, VP of Technical Operations, talked about a "shortage of content" for 3D and how they would love the opportunity to work with other web series creators.  Do you hear that?  A great opportunity for those looking to step outside the box of web series content.

You might also notice that Jay is tall, like super tall.  They actually had to have me stand on an apple box to even remotely match eye lines for the shot.  Be sure to watch the episode to the very end where you catch a glimpse at the height difference.  In true Red Carpet Closet form, we also have some exclusive footage from the episode.  What is the cast's favorite scene in 3D?  Tom and Dave give some great technical scenes to look at while Brittney Powell goes right for the dirty.  I mean, the word is funny!

After our turn at DDD, we headed over to Social Animal to check out this wild 360 degree camera we had seen at the Streamy Awards red carpet.  The footage from the awards show was never released, so we decided to check it out for ourselves.  Tyler Malin, CEO of Social Animal, and Matthew Forrest, COO, gave us a great rundown of how the camera works and the new possibilities in storytelling the camera offers.  Matthew talked about the nine cameras giving you the "ultimate point of view" because you can pick and choose where you want the story to go.  So the viewer ultimately has control over their own experience and they wind up spending more time with your content.  This model has been used primarily in advertising with companies like Scion and Zipfizz, but they announced on The Web Files that they have partnered up with Psychic Bunny to use this in a new narrative web series, Qualia.  You might be familiar with Psychic Bunny's work from their unique comedy, Coma, Period and our Web Files interview with them.  While this technology is expensive, this is another groundbreaking look at the future of filmmaking.

I hope all of the creators out there seize these amazing opportunities that are on the horizon.  These are great ways to stand out amongst a crowded field and help take web series to another level.  Pass this episode along to your friends and fellow artists.  I think it is the strongest Buzz episode we have created to date.  I hope you enjoy as much as I did covering the story:

I'm going to leave you with the talented puppy of Social Animal's Matthew Forrest.  Howwe wowed us with his tricks and it is a great excuse to upload a video to YouTube with a "cute puppy" tag.  May I present, the scene stealer of the day, Howwe:

PS If you want more Brittney, go buy the Safety Geeks:SVI calendar: 

Friday Wrap-Up

Even though I spent half of the week sick in bed, here's what happened this week.  Oh, and you do have some fun homework for this blistering hot weekend:

Sunday:  Chicago: Women's Health Magazine: Are You Game?:  

I kicked off my second year as host at Women's Health Magazine's annual fitness extravaganza.  It was a perfect day on North Avenue Beach in Chicago filled with fitness, fashion, food, and free stuff!  My favorite part of the day was introducing Sarina Jain, creator of the Masala Bhangra workout.  It was incredible to watch everyone dance in the sand with their scarves to this upbeat, enthusiastic interpretation of Indian dance straight from Bollywood.  Hey,NYC, you will have your chance to experience this on September 18th, don't miss it!

Wednesday:  The Web Files Buzz, Episode 7:

Our 7th Buzz episode launched on Wednesday and it features the latest in technology for web series:  3D with Safety Geeks:SVI and a 360 degree camera by Social Animal.  Just like the film industry, these techniques are going to be game changers for the web series industry.  Check out the episode:

Wednesday:  MoreWireLess brought to you by Broadcom:

This introduction to Bluetooth continues with Episode 5 and gives advice on wireless tethering to your PC.  It may seem a little basic to my fellow tech nerds, but my mom is learning a lot about the technology.  Oh, and I finally change my shirt--out with the hot pink, in with the baby pink!

Thursday:  Stupid for Movies: Try This at Home:

Okay, here's your homework assignment:  On Thursday, July 22nd, I will be appearing on Stupid for Movies:  Try This at Home segment.  I picked a movie this week and I will be on their show next week at 8PM PST to discuss it with LA Film Critics Association gurus, Mark Keizer and Wade Major.  We featured them on The Web Files in May and their film knowledge never ceases to amaze me.  It's also a fun, interactive show, so watch my pick, and then Skype in or join the chat room to discuss the film.  Here's the announcement at the 1:00:30 mark.  If you're too lazy to watch, click on the comments button below where I will write it in for you. So, please watch because my pick has it all: music, dance, sex, nudity, and a hot orgy!  That's right, even though it is a musical, I still took care of the men out there with my pick.  

Friday:  Something Exciting is Coming!:
Earlier in the week, I announced that "Something Exciting is Coming" to Red Carpet Closet.  I can't announce the details until August 10th, but to get on the inside track and find out first, register here to be eligible to win a prize.  I will have a lot coming your way soon from hair, makeup, shoes, accessories, fashions, movies--everything you would expect in Red Carpet Closet.  That's just a little clue for you to tide you over.  Have a great weekend, stay cool, watch the flick, and we will see you on Monday at Red Carpet Closet.

Behind the Scenes of SOLO the Series Red Carpet Premiere

As the days dwindle before my vacation, I want to make sure I capture all of the excitement surrounding the SOLO the Series premiere:  a packed house, lots of giveaways, and a long awaited series screening. We were back at Cinespace which has become one of the "go-to" locations for web series premieres.  You might even recognize the background from the Compulsions episode.  We were able to grab the cast right before they headed into the screening room to give us their thoughts on the series and what item they would like to have with them if they were stranded in space.  SOLO the Series, created by Jonathan Nail, follows the journey of man stranded in space after his reality show is cancelled and that is when the hilarity really begins.

We were able to interview some familiar faces to the web series landscape from Michele Boyd of The Guild to Brittney Powell and Tom Konkle of Safety Geeks: SVI.  What?  You don't remember seeing a full interview with Brittney and Tom in our episode?  I joke that they are on The Web Files every week, so I don't want to disappoint you.  Find out about their participation in SOLO the Series in this Red Carpet Closet extra:

The one person I was really excited to interview was Jay Caputo who plays Jack Spratt, the reality show producer whose behind the scenes shenanigans with the Japanese mafia get them all into trouble.  If you are a frequent reader here, you know I am an uber-gymnastics geek.  Well, Jay was on the National team as an elite gymnast, a successful NCAA athlete, and he participated in the 1992 Olympic Trials. Impressive, right?  Well, Jay was not so impressed with my excitement.  Watch my awkwardness unfold onscreen:  

As for creator, Jonathan Nail, it was exciting to watch his big night.  This show has been a long time in coming and he did a great job with the premiere.  He built on the momentum with a packed house of supporters, he offered up fantastic prizes for a raffle to help raise money for the rest of shooting season (And boy, were there some excited winners--Hello, A Good Knight's Quest table.) and belief in the project permeated the room.  I think we all felt that we want Jonathan, the cast, and the show to succeed.  This truly was Jonathan's night and his pet project.  He had a lot of support behind the scenes too with web series power couple (Okay, I just termed that, but I like it.), Allison Vanore and Rob Gokee.  I finally met Allison after months of communicating on Twitter.  After meeting her in person, I understand why she is in demand as a producer:  confident, smart, and really sharp.  So, book her now if you want to work with her, I have a feeling it is onwards and upwards with her career. Rob is familiar to many of you from our Web Files Buzz episode back in March.  He scored a majority of SOLO the Series and he is a great example of utilizing social media to market and gain new clients.  

I was also grateful to be asked to moderate the Q&A after the screening. One of the most important ideas that came up was casting in a web series.  It has been a common occurrence to cast your friends in all of the roles.  It is a great idea to band together to create new work, but sometimes you wind up with someone that may be miscast or doesn't have the acting chops of everyone around them.  Well, Jonathan Nail brought in casting director, Laurie Records, to help with SOLO.  It adds another layer of professionalism to the production and by holding auditions, you might find an actor who brings new meaning and layers to the words you have written as a creator.  It's an interesting thought, so if you are able to set aside a budget to hire a casting director, you may see your work take shape on levels you might not have realized otherwise.  I point it out because it's just another little morsel to nibble on while your next web series idea is brewing. 

I know a lot of you are waiting for the big debut of SOLO the Series and that day is coming soon. Be sure to check out Episode 1 on July 6th at WatchSolo.com.  Congratulations to the cast!  It truly was a magical night.  

Enjoy our episode, I think you will hear about a lot of different aspects to the production from shooting on the small set with Dirctor of Photography, PJ Gaynard, to playing a robot, PHAL9000, with actor, Jason Burns.  If you want a tour of the set, see our Web Files Buzz episode with Jonathan from February.  Now, check out all of the action from the red carpet premiere:

Photo #2 Courtesy of Jonathan Nail

Photo #3 Courtesy of Brittney Powell

Albrecht, Diaz, Buckley, Pollak, and Who?

So, the Streamys nominations are out and everyone is gearing up in preparation for the show. At The Web Files, we have some nominee interviews coming your way and of course, we will be covering the red carpet on the big night. I know a lot of the ladies out there are looking for the perfect dress and I will admit, I have hit the gym a bit harder lately. While I am thrilled to be nominated for Best Web Series Host, I have to chuckle because I think at least three nominees said, "Albrecht, Buckley, Diaz, Pollak, and Who?" I am humbled by my fellow nominees because they inspire me to think about the levels The Web Files could reach if we continue to put in the hard work and dedication to the web space like Alex, Zadi (My admiration for Zadi and Steve Woolf can be seen in a prior post.), and Michael. And then there's Pollak, yes, Kevin Pollak. Um, when are you ever going to be nominated against Todd Hockney from The Usual Suspects? That's enough to keep an Oscar Geek like me happy. (The movie won for Screenplay and Best Supporting actor for Kevin Spacey in 1996). Kevin's show has inspired an LA Times article and brought even more attention to the web space. With these four fantastic nominees, I am more than okay with being the "And who?" Congratulations to my fellow nominees!

By the way, I think Michael Buckley needs to know that I am the biggest figure skating and gymnastics geek ever, so I think we should be friends....especially if he wants in on the best (and secret) gymn/figure skating gossip site ever. (Yep, there's a site for everything and it confirms that I am a geek!) So, Michael, I am in NYC before the Streamys, coffee or cocktails are on me if you want to meet up!

**UPDATE** Michael heard my call and he has agreed to meet up with me while I am in New York! I love the power of the internet. I can't wait to dish about figure skating and gymnastics with my new BFF....whom I hear is a pretty decent figure skater himself.

Also, we will be featuring some of our previous Web Files interviews from shows that are up for Streamy Awards as a part of our Weekend Web Watch. Our first weekend showcased Safety Geeks:SVI which is nominated for Best Visual Effects for Tom Konkle, Thor Melsted, and Mike Smith. It is a great episode for the IAWTV members to take a first or second look at since we go on set and check out what it take to build the composites for their show. Check out the episode here: Safety Geeks: SVI

Our next episode for our Weekend Web Watch honors Compulsions in two parts. An interview with creator/writer, Bernie Su, and producer, Michael Tohl. Part two focuses in on the red carpet premiere with the cast, crew, and distributor, Aimee Carlson of Dailymotion. Compulsions garnered 4 Streamy nominations for Best Actor: Craig Frank, Best Writing (Drama): Bernie Su, Best Director (Drama): Nathan Atkinson, and Best Drama Web Series. I first heard about Bernie's idea for a series over Thai food, so it feels like I have been around since the beginning with Compulsions. While it is only Thursday, you can get a head start with our Weekend Web Watch here:
Part One: Compulsions
Part Two: Red Carpet

2009 in Review: July

July arrives and The Web Files officially launches! We had a premiere party, I took off for vacation, and we continued to shoot more episodes all geared for the web space......and I cheated on this entry. I had to do 8 photos to accommodate all of the events surrounding The Web Files:

Kicking off the month with my annual 4th of July trip to the lake. I'm here with my puppy posing for a patriotic photo:

The first official image for The Web Files is launched with our press release and a trailer.

Our most controversial, but one of our most popular episodes with Demi Delia of Mommy XXX. This episode continues to have steady views even 5 months later. Episode: Mommy XXX

The queen of the web space, Felicia Day of The Guild. I guess I didn't need to introduce her, right? She's there with her producer, Kim Evey, on the red carpet of iTVFest. A coming out party for Web TV on the festival circuit. Episode: iTVFest.

One of the most hilarious episodes we have ever shot was with Gary Valentine of Dusty Peacock. We stuck him on a scooter and away we went. He was a great sport and a really nice guy. We are here with one of our makeup artists, Marybeth Bagonghasa. Episode: Dusty Peacock.

We've launched! So it's time to party! A fun night with Ariel Lazarus of The Crew, Stephen Leonard of My Life Plus Animals, and fellow host, Lindsay Caldwell.

In between all of this, I hosted a couple of events for Women's Health Magazine's "Are You Game?" in Chicago and NYC. I took a few minutes off to jump and flip......

Yes, it's Dave and Tom of Safety Geeks: SVI. We had a fun day on set working with the green screen. Check out their episode here: Safety Geeks:SVI
Phew! That's July. I am hoping to stick to the rules and do it in 5 photos or less the rest of the year. Fingers crossed.

Behind the Scenes of Hurtling Through Space At An Alarming Rate

Okay, this is a really late behind the scenes look at Hurtling Through Space At An Alarming Rate, but it's here, it's finally here! I think I have been talking with Stephanie Thorpe and Mike Davies about doing an interview since I saw them on the red carpet for iTVFest in July. Well, here we are in the late fall and we finally got it done, but there was one tricky part to the interview: Mike Davies was in Canada. Duh-Duh!

Well, thank goodness we have Sandra's creative brain to help with all of the logistics to make it seem like Mike himself was hurtling through space. We shot all of the questions for Mike first, then sent the questions to him via email, and he shot the video on his end to answer all of the questions. Sandra also came up with the genius idea of a crowded space highway with a nice little shout out to other web series we have featured like The Crew, The Cabonauts, Safety Geeks:SVI, and Space Hospital. A big thanks to all of the creators for contributing their footage to the show. Since HTSAAAR was shot in Canada, we obviously did not have access to their set, so Sandra's living room doubled as the apartment floating out in the universe. Now, none of this would be possible without the incredible efforts of Gordon Lee who created all of the VFX for us. The truly amazing part of it all is that he turned it all around for us in little over a week. So, Gordon, thank you, this episode would not have been possible without you.

As for Taryn O'Neill, Stuart Paap, and Stephanie Thorpe, it was great to finally sit down with them and get behind the scenes on their show and their collaboration. I love that they have their own little Canadian posse working together on creating stories for the web. Taryn has found her niche here with a huge slate of web series this year....After Judgment, The Crew, Compulsions, and of course, HTSAAAR. Stephanie showed up in one of my favorite shirts from Bebe. How do I know it is from Bebe? I own the same shirt. In fact, you can see it in my host reelon the QVC clip. So, naturally, I am going to like anyone with the same fashion sense. Finally, I was familiar with Stuart's work on Live from the Future because he interviewed a friend of mine, Zen Gray, about her participation in the Bravo TV show, Workout. It truly was fun to have three web celebs all joining us on The Web Files. Wait a minute, I mean four.....you have to count Mike's cameo too! Come back to LA soon, Mike. I hope you find your way home with all of that space traffic. In the words of Mike Davies, it was "DEE-lightful" to have you"awesomness" on our show. Be sure to check out their show on Babelgum, a site that is starting to become a heavy hitter in the Web TV industry.

As always, a big thank you to e.l.f. Cosmetics for helping with each episode and my favorite wardrobe gal, Roni B. (I cannot stop wearing this shirt!)

If you missed this episode, watch it here: