Clicker Awards

Recently, I've talked a bit about what the future plans are for The Web Files in 2011.  Well, I feel really encouraged that we are in a three-way tie currently for the 2010 Clicker Awards for Best Web Non-Fiction Show.  Our tough competitors, Rad Nerd and A Comicbook Orange, are breathing down our neck.  Now, The Web Files won this title in 2009.  I would love for us to retain our title for 2010 to help keep the momentum going with the show.  It would be a nice push for 2011 to get the show sold and back up and running on an entertainment site.  So, I'm asking for your vote.  As Clicker says, "Vote early, vote often."  It is only one click of the mouse, no registration, no emails, nothing.  You can vote as many times as you want between now and Monday, January 3rd.  Thanks for your support!

Vote here:

The Web Files (Scroll down to see our show icon.)

If you have never seen an episode of The Web Files, here is one of my favorite episodes of 2010 with the talented creators of The Bannen Way:

What's Happening With The Web Files?

So, what is happening with The Web Files?  That is the famous question I get asked at every Web TV gathering.  Well, there have been a few false starts and there were two strong possibilities that fell through this fall.  So, the show remains in a holding pattern.  The Web Files team worked so hard for a year producing a weekly show from July 2009-July 2010 and now it is on hiatus.  My dream is to bring the show back for 2011 and to pair it with an appropriate entertainment site.  Also on my wish list is for the show format to be a short, snappy weekly segment, more along the lines of The Web Files Buzz which I think were some of our most effective shows in 2010.  Of course, there are always challenges with selling this concept; from finding the right representation to pitching it to the right people.  Since many of you are a part of this big web community, I am always open to suggestions or hearing your ideas either in the comments section below or feel free to contact me.  Let's get The Web Files back covering the red carpet and hitting the latest web series sets again in 2011!

To keep the momentum going, I was thrilled to find out that The Web Files was nominated for a second year in a row for the Clicker Awards.  It is such an honor to be in the Best Web Non-Fiction category alongside A Comicbook Orange, Epic Fu, and Coin-Op TV.  If you have a moment, please head here and click on the tab next to The Web Files.  You don't need to register, it's just the click of the mouse and as Clicker touts on their site, "Vote Early, Vote Often." Thank you again for your support, it is always appreciated.

Best Web Non-FictionClicker Awards: The Best TV Shows, Movies and Music of 2010

In the meantime, I am going to leave you with a little gift, The Web Files sizzle reel.  It is a fun compilation of the first year of The Web Files and it really showcases what the show is all about.  If you work in Web TV, you will see a lot of familiar faces and fun moments.  Even if you don't work in the community, I promise a famous face or two.  So, enjoy and feel free to pass this link around, maybe it will get in the hands of the right person to find a good home for The Web Files:



Editor for The Web Files sizzle reel:  Natalie Baker
Graphic for The Web Files:  Mike Ledin

Celebrate the Web

Celebrate the Web was created a few days after the 2010 Streamy Awards by Jenni Powell and Kim Evey to give the winners and the web community a supportive environment to honor the work they created.  An even bigger event is happening this weekend in San Diego with panels featuring fantasy/gaming and sci-fi web series.  Some of the series you may recognize from our Web Files episodes, so we have been honoring those participants this week by rerunning some of our favorite shows with them.  Check out the links to their Web Files episodes below.  Now get out there and Celebrate the Web!

The details of the event are here:  Celebrate the Web in San Diego
Please note that tickets are all SOLD OUT, but you can get on the waiting list if you are headed down to Comic Con.  Another great way to participate is to watch the Live Stream on Saturday.

Some of the participants include:
A Comicbook Orange
A Good Knight's Quest
Chick
Gold: Knight of the Zombie King
Vamped Out

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.

We WON!

Well, look at that! What a great way to start off 2010, with an unexpected win for The Web Files for "Best Web Original Non-Fiction Show" as a part of Clicker's Best of 2009. The competition was incredible with shows like A Comicbook Orange, Hungry Nation (who I am dying to interview), and New Media Minute. It's hard to imagine that we started this show only 6 months ago because we have been so welcomed into the web space. We appreciate your votes, views, and all of the support. Thank you!

We look forward to bringing you more in 2010. We kicked off the year with Dorm Life, Hulu's #1 most watched web series and next week brings The Bannen Way, the most anticipated show of the last year on Crackle.com. Please keep that feedback coming, we want to bring you the shows you want to hear more about.

Finally, a shout out to our fellow web winners in other categories: Compulsions, Casual Mafia, The Legend of Neil, and Live from the Future with Stuart Paap! Congratulations on your win, guys!

Articles about the win:

Clicker
NewTeeVee

A Nomination!!

I must say, I am FLOORED by this nomination. What nomination, you ask? For Best Web Original Non-Fiction Series for 2009 by Clicker.com. I didn't think Clicker even knew we existed. We are in fantastic company in our category: A Comicbook Orange, Interview Project by David Lynch, and New Media Minute with Daisy Whitney. Voting is open now. All it takes is a click of a mouse and thankfully, NO registration is required. We would appreciate your vote and thank you for your support.

You can vote everyday until December 31st: The Web Files for Best Web Original Non-Fiction Series.

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!