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August 28 2010
Let’s Make a Web Series
Remember waiting forever to watch a video on your computer, with a 56k modem? Those days sucked. Now you can instantly view a cornucopia of high quality Internet content on a massive television. Inside your living room, a web series made for less than a $100 can compete for your eyeballs against a TV show produced for over 10,000 x the budget (Lost). Think about this: years ago independent producers could only use a cable access channel to get their shows on TV to reach a local audience. Now a small crew can shoot a comedy series for fans living everywhere from Texas to Turkey.
In my opinion, web series are one of the best ways discover talent and incubate projects. In this post you will be introduced to individuals who are doing interesting things on the web:
Mike Rotman is an Emmy nominated writer for his work on “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher”-now he is taking over the interweb with such shows as “Stupid for Movies”.
Michael Ferrell, with only a tiny budget and a local coffee company sponsor he co-created/co-produced the hilarious web series “Stoop Sale” with his girlfriend Devin Sanchez.
Describe your background and what inspired you to make a web series?
I’m Italian/Irish by way of Northern New Jersey and Devin thought that she was Mexican up until she was a young woman, when she found out she was actually of Spanish descent. True story. Doesn’t stop her from loving Mexican food, however. She puts jalapenos on everything. To be fair, I put garlic on everything and cook it in beer. We have amazing burritos.
We were inspired to make a web series while still in college, in the late 90’s, right after people started “e-mailing” each other. I found this “e-mail” that I sent Devin with my POP mail account:
“Dear Devin,
This e-mail thing is crazy, huh? Do you get this right away or does it take awhile? Call me when you get this and let me know. Anyhoo-I hear you’re studying theatre in Wyoming. We should get together one day and work on a play that I wrote. Or even a film. Who knows, with the way technology seems to be going, we could even get some friends together and use somebody’s small digital camera, film a few episodes of a show, put it in our computers to edit, then put it on the World Wide Web. Maybe I’m thinking crazy. But not half as crazy as my ideas for “websites” I want to create, such as Mybook,Facepage, Ourtube, and Twiddle. I’ll e-mail you about those things in a letter to follow. I’m gonna go smoke outta this dope new bong my boy got!!! Hope you get this soon!
Sincerely,
Michael”
How did you get the word out about your show?
Our show is not yet released, so the fact that we’re being interviewed is a great step in getting the word out. We submitted to festivals and got into an awesome one – the Independent Television Festival in L.A. I think submitting to festivals is the way to go if you’re an independent web series producer. We had one informal screening for the cast at a bar, which went horribly because the manager of the bar was an idiot and assured us the DVD player would work fine, but instead, it worked the opposite of fine. We will also screen “Stoop Sale” on AUGUST 24th AT “THE CREEK” IN QUEENS AS PART OF THE “WATCHDOWN” SERIES http://www.watchdown.com/ and we screened the episodes in Brooklyn for a group of filmmakers. So we definitely believe in doing some fun, live, actual-real-people-talking-to-each-other promotional events, as long as you take pictures and videos so that you can post them on facepage, mybook, and twiddle.
What have been your most interesting interactions with fans?
Well, Devin made the mistake of saying “Stoop Sale” was more popular than “Jesus: The Web Series,” and then people started uploading videos of them deleting their subscription to our youtube page and unfollowing us on twitter. It was hard to swallow, but we’re artists, so fuck it.
No, really, when we do launch the series, hopefully we will get some fans. And then we’ll have some interesting interactions with them, for instance, them sending me bottles of Macallan 12.
What mistakes did you learn from when you started creating your first web series?
I did a web series called “Hard Times,” which I’m very proud of. Through that process though, I learned that the amount of time in pre-production and post-production should far outweigh the time actually shooting and doing all the fun stuff, unfortunately. We shot “Stoop Sale” in one weekend, maybe 16 hours total. And we’ve been working on the project for almost a year. It’s not ideal for actors and writers like us, but its paid off so far. You do all the other work so that one day you won’t have to. It’s kinda like when you form a club, someone’s gotta be the secretary and someone’s gotta be the treasurer, not everyone can be the prostitute.
What is your prediction for the future of creating a web series?
I am wondering when someone is going to pull their dick out in a web series. I know it sounds like I’m joking, but the thing about the internet is that there’s no censorship. So how come some crazy college kid hasn’t made a web series where he’s doing a scene in a coffee shop or something and then he just says, “You know what?” and pulls his dick out and lays it on the table. I mean, it couldn’t be on youtube, but it can be online. The show could be called “This Guy’s Gonna Pull His Dick Out.” You’re welcome, for the idea.
Besides that, I think that the problem with most web series is the writing. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer but I’m saying this objectively, most web series are comedy and most comedy web series don’t have good writing. Some funny bits, for sure, but even if it’s sketch, I mean, real, deep, sketch writing – I feel like it’s missing in a lot of cases. And that’s one thing I’d like to see, more good writing. In the acting world, we say “theatre is an actor’s medium, film is a director’s medium, and TV is a writer’s medium.” It seems like the internet is most like TV, so it’d be nice to see better writing in the future. Of course, I may be wrong and the internet might be the kind of medium where a guy pulls his dick out in a coffee shop and it’s the most viewed web series ever.
Describe your background and what is ITV Fest?
After graduating from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and a Theatre major, AJ stayed in Chicago, forming the small web production company Goldingeye Productions. After producing hours of content for a number of now defunct websites, AJ relocated to New York City where he worked as a New Media Analyst for d2 Capital. By day AJ would pour over notes and records in search of new entertainment channels, while at night AJ was a hilariously mediocre stand up comedian. Anxious for more, Tesler moved again, this time to Los Angeles where he immediately found success as an actor, appearing on television shows such as It’s All Relative and The Gilmore Girls. As much as he enjoys acting, AJ has always been drawn to produce and in the summer of 2002, he produced the first of almost 50 installations of the New and Improv-Ed Stand Up Show, an official selection of the Chicago Improv Festival as well as the 2004 and 2005 Los Angeles Improv Festivals. In 2004, AJ began producing television , independently, on spec, and with production company support. In 2005, AJ formed what is now widely recognized as the premier festival in the world for TV and New Media, The Independent Television Festival Corporation, a non profit, public benefit corporation. In 2008, AJ was hired to be the Manager of Development for Lion Television, a UK based development and production company. Since leaving Lion in 2009, AJ has produced shows for MTV, Babelgum, Atom.com, and Fox TV Studios. He is currently freelance producing under his recently set up production company, Apostrophy Productions.
What are your favorite success stories from your fest?
I just love the stories of people getting jumpstarts to heir careers. People getting represented, people making connections, those are the types of success stories that make me proud. On top of that, however, are shows like Urban Wolf which got licensed by Sony, Johnny B Homeless which got licensed by Atom.com, the script deal at NBC for This is My Friend and the development deal at Starz for a show called Partners…those are great stories that we can hang our hat on as well.
Are there any trends you see when it comes to submissions?
Every year we see different trends in submissions. This year over 70% of all of our submissions came in as webseries which would certainly be a trend…the rise of the webseries. In terms of the specific content, though, we got a lot of ghost hunters parodies and a lot of lesbian content as well this year. I’d say we got too many submissions shot in the mockumentary/Office style. We’re looking for innovation so it becomes very difficult to program things when we see so many people trying the same concept.
Do you have any advice for new web series creators?
Know that you don’t know it all. The one man band is the path of least resistance, but people specialize in cinematography, editing, directing, writing for a reason. Use people who are good at their jobs and your project will be significantly better for it. Other than that, make sure you have a plan for what you want to do with your show. Making something and hoping it attracts the attention of the professional world is not the smartest endeavor, but if you go in with a plan, you can deliberately attract the audience you’re seeking.
Transmedia Talk Podcast – Episode 1
Welcome to the first episode of Transmedia Talk a new podcast covering all things story. Transmedia Talk is co-hosted by Nick Braccia and Robert Pratten and looks to shed light on the topic of transmedia storytelling with commentary, interviews and tips on how storytelling is moving into the 21st century.
download the podcast running time 51:22
This edition of Transmedia Talk covers the following.
Topics:
The Web is Dead
Facebook Places
Transmedia Panels at the 2011 SXSW
Scvngr
foursquare
Gowalla
Hosts:
Nick Braccia
Robert Pratten
Guests
Lance Weiler
Dee Cook
Haley Moore
August 26 2010
Cross-Pollination the Strength of a Community
“What’s amazing about where we sit now in a society, we’re global we’re more connected than we’ve ever been before, and we have more devices than we’ve ever had before. This is an amazing time to be a storyteller. I think that inherently, what you’ll start to see is that the next generation of social networking will push more story and entertainment will become more social. Some of that will yield different types of experiences and formats, or a marrying of existing formats. That’s all very exciting but audiences need to know the work exists. ” – Lance Weiler, founder of the WorkBook Project
A few weeks ago, The WorkBook Project announced the winner of our first installment of the Discovery and Distribution Award. The award is intended to be multi-faceted, honoring those who have demonstrated achievement and creativity in fields such as film, gaming, music, design, and software, to name a few. This is the first time the award is being given, and this time, it’s for film. According to Lance Weiler, founder of the WorkBook Project, over 100 independent films were considered for this award, and a jury of three prominent figures in the film community (Ted Hope, producer of 21 Grams, In the Bedroom, Adventureland, and founder of TrulyFreeFilms.com; Scott Macaulay producer of Gummo, Raising Victor Vargas and editor of of Filmmaker Magazine. Anne Thompson former film columnist at Variety, the Hollywood Reporter – currently writing for Thompson on Hollywood a part of IndieWire network) settled on a winner: One Hundred Mornings, an Irish film directed by Conor Horgan and produced by Katie Holly. The award gives its winners opportunities for distribution. The winning film is given a theatrical run in Los Angeles at the Downtown Independent Theater and provided with PR, social media and street team support. The top 20 finalist also receive a digital distribution package made possible by IndieFlix which will place them on Hulu, iTunes and other distribution outlets. All with no cost to the filmmaker whatsoever.
(Downtown Independent Theater – LA)
We caught up with Lance and Katie last week to discuss the film, the award, and the future of DIY filmmaking and independent distribution.
We’re all aware that technology is changing and becoming more accessible to everyday people. As a result, according to Lance, more films are being made with much lower budgets, which can be a good thing, but on the flip side, fewer are being seen by wide audiences. So what does this mean for the future of distribution and production, and is this necessarily all bad? According to both Lance and Katie, this is actually a very exciting thing, and something that they are embracing and anticipating with enthusiasm.
(Katie Holly, Kelly Campbell, Conor Horgan)
When Katie began her career as a producer she was working on three films that, by today’s standards, were very high-budget. Now, she says, there is no way that any first-time filmmaker anywhere in the world would be able to access those kinds of funds anymore. But she believes this to be an exciting challenge. For One Hundred Mornings, she fell in love with the story itself, and the strong visuals that jumped off the pages and into her imagination, that did not rely on a huge budget to achieve. Lance adds that, while the future of filmmaking as whole is up in the air, and likely without one definite direction, he anticipates a shift to emphasizing the importance of storytelling and the way that stories are told, and that, to him, and to Katie, is very exciting.
Also at the start of Katie’s career, generally once post-production on a film was complete, the producer would put the project in the hands of a distributor, and the producer’s job would be largely done. But now, since it’s much more difficult to find a distributor, the producer’s role is greatly expanded, and the entire process from start to finish is a lot more DIY. This is something that Katie never expected, but she’s stepping up to the challenge and eager to learn all the new things that the position as “producer” would not have previously allowed.
(making of One Hundred Mornings)
They both hope that this award will stem a pattern of cross-pollination around the globe. In other words, this film, for example, was made in Ireland, and it is being awarded a theatrical release in Los Angeles and a community of filmmakers, organizations and the indie film community are supporting it. So perhaps if things similar to this award catch on, Lance hopes, that lots of niche communities of likeminded people around the world will begin communicating and sharing with one another.
Both Katie and Lance discussed the importance of passion and love of filmmaking that contributes to the success of this award. According to Lance, those who contributed their time to make this award possible don’t have any investment in One Hundred Mornings itself, but were very inspired by the idea and philosophy behind the award, and were very eager to help out. According to Katie, especially now since filmmaking, namely independent filmmaking, doesn’t necessarily reel in the money the way it used to, those who dedicate their lives to it really do it because they’re passionate about it. It’s all about the love of it.
(scene from One Hundred Mornings)
From firsthand experience, Katie advises first time filmmakers in this world of evolving media and technology to just go out and make a film. “The most important thing is action,” she explains. “It’s actually doing it. It’s making a film, with whatever means you have available. The act of making a film, the process, going through all of production’s difficulties and challenges, is the best way to learn.” Her company has been struggling to figure out how to produce a film of theirs that calls for a budget much greater than what they have, and instead of giving up on the project, they decided to accommodate the film and the story to fit the means that they have. The result, Katie says, is very rewarding and challenging, and something that is invaluable. Especially now with communities working together to create and sustain new means of distribution, and since means of production are cheaper and more accessible than ever, there is no excuse not to go for it.
One Hundred Mornings Trailer
RADAR NYC 8.26.10
WBP Discovery & Distribution Winner – One Hundred Mornings
One Hundred Mornings, written and directed by Conor Horgan, is the winner of the WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award. The WBP Discovery and Distribution Award gives a filmmaker an amazing prize consisting of a week long theatrical run in LA with social media, street team and PR support. On top of that, the filmmaker gets to keep the box office and we help to pull together the independent community in an effort to drive awareness around the film. One Hundred Mornings places the audience in a grim future where creature comforts such as electricity, hot water, and supermarkets have ceased to exist. In a wake of a world crisis, two couples head up in a lakeside cabin while the events of the outside world blow over. In a time where the word “recession” is blazoned across thousands of headlines, and the term “Third World America” seems more like a grim reality rather than the subject of a fictional work, One Hundred Mornings resounds with its take on a future where there is very few resources to be had or shared by the human race. Relying heavily on storytelling and character development rather than special effects or ornate love stories, One Hundred Mornings is one behemoth of a film. It’s dystopians roots show with the interpersonal relations in the story and the way they erode as the film goes on. Though eerie, One Hundred Mornings has a definite base on the very real possibility that this might be where the world is in a few decades or years. Be sure to check this film out if you’re in LA. The theatrical release will kick off Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater. Event info here.
Noveller
Noveller is the solo project of Sarah Lipstate. Her music is soothing, but it is charged with a dramatic quality that rises from the electric distortions and peeps. The tracks are understated, but the intricate layering of audio creates drama within her musical pieces. It is amazing to hear electric guitar distortions being turned into organic sounds and musical aspects of nature. Currently, Noveller and unFact are touring (TOUR INFO) the United States of America and Canada, and will be coming to Brooklyn in September. Her latest album, Desert Fires, is available on CD via Lipstate’s own Saffron Recordings. On top of Sarah being an incredible musician and a RADAR favorite, she is also an incredible avant-garde filmmaker, with two short films that have screened at SXSW.
Listen to Noveller’s music: http://www.myspace.com/noveller
Watch Noveller’s films: http://sarahlipstate.com/wordpress/index.php/films/
Fashion Geek – Diana Eng
Fashion Geek written by Diana Eng shines a light on the point where style and technology converge. If Diana Eng is a recognizable name, that is because her collection was featured in our RADAR episode Fairytale Fashion (RADAR – Ep 31). Others might remember her for her Project Runway fame a few years ago where she gained recognition for being a “nerdy” fashion designer. She did not win her season, but the show put her on the map as a fashion designer that chooses to infuse whimsical fashion with cutting edge technology. Her book is a direct reflection of her combined love of LED lights and bright fabrics, but instead of simply showcasing her fashion aesthetic she uses the book to show how to add technological flares to common scarfs, hoodies, and other girlie articles of clothing. The guides are simple because of the step by step directions accompanied by full color photos to see how the project is supposed to turn out. Diana Eng places emphasis on the need for girls to learn math, science, and electronics, and she does a great job infusing the art of designing with the practicalities of technology.
Take a look inside the book or buy it here
NYCResistor Craft Night
The good people at Dr. Sketchy’s are throwing one of those new fangled flash mobs! Guess what! You’re invited! For those of you out of the loop Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a premier underground art movement fueled by alternative stage performers and alcohol. Dr. Sketchy’s was started by Molly Crabapple in 2005, and has been a force to reckon with ever since, spreading from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to a true international sensation. As for the upcoming event, to get to go to the flash mob event you have to RSVP on Facebook (link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144927295538627&ref=mf), and wait for Molly herself (twitter: http://twitter.com/mollycrabapple ) to tweet the address the day of! Off the cuff and spontaneous, but totally in vein of the types of events hosted by Dr. Sketchy’s. This event specifically will feature Kiki Valentine in infamous mermaid suit. This is sure to be one heck of a time down by the water. Be sure to RSVP!
August 28th: 6pm – 8pm
TBA
Event Info
@alliebrosh
At first glance Hyperbole and a Half looks like the brainchild of a elementary school kid with a penchant for Microsoft Paint. But after reading the latest post, always accompanied by one of Allie Brosh’s hilariously disfigured drawings, the blog’s tone becomes more than apparent. Allie Brosh is a devastatingly honest and silly blogger with ability to put into words and drawings the most awkward experiences and take the severity out of them. In her FAQs she admits that she draws cruddy drawings because they are funny, and she is totally right. Her distorted figures have the voice of the common man, who has to suffer with insecurities dancing and a severe fear of horror movies. It’s hard not to smirk when scrolling down this genuinely sincere blog.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
August 25 2010
FCKD Mag – RADAR S3 Ep 32 [vid]
Ryan Watkins-Hughes, founder of the FCKD Mag project, is a deconstructionist through and through. In this latest project, Ryan is making a social commentary on advertisements by purchasing the flashiest, advert filled magazines and altering the covers as well as the ads inside of the magazine. By adding his artwork to the already printed magazine Ryan is replacing the “junk food for the brain” with his own work. Once he hacks the magazines he then “shopdrops” them back on the shelf, to be picked up by an unsuspecting consumer.
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Alex Johnson
DP Jeremy Saulnier
EDITOR Jawad Metni
SERIES PRODUCER Josh Cramer
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
TITLE SEQUENCE Jordan Gray
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
ADDITIONAL MUSIC by:
Small Black “Despicable Dogs” Washed Out RMX
Tall Firs “Hairdo”
MossyRock “I Want to Eat Your Eyes Out”
August 19 2010
Ted Hope and Katie Holly discuss the changing role of the producer
TCIBR returns with a special podcast featuring Ted Hope (21 Grams, Adventureland) and Katie Holly (producer of One Hundred Mornings ). Topics covered include creative producing, community curation, making films you’re passionate about as well as what it takes to sustain as a filmmaker in today’s changing landscape.
The WorkBook Project is proud to present One Hundred Mornings the winner of the WBP Discovery and Distribution Award. One Hundred Mornings opens Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater in LA and will run for a week. Special thanks to our partners IndieFlix, Slamdance, The Downtown Independent Theater, Cinema Speakeasy, and CineFist.
RADAR NYC 8.19.10
Jay Shells – “Clean Up After Your Dog”
If we asked what some of you hate most about walking around in the city, chances are stepping in dog excrement would be at the top of most lists. There’s nothing worse than the sight and smell of ruined shoes, especially when they’re new or you’re far away from home. Thankfully, Jay Shells, of Subway Etiquette fame (RADAR 25 – Subway Etiquette), knows your pain. That’s why he’s put up this handy “Clean Up After Your Dog!” poster. While it’s not as clever as his MTA service-change silkscreens, the latest installation is well worth a look (especially for anyone who thinks they can get away with such a devious crime).
Small Black
written by: Alex Holmes
At a time when chill-wave is drifting out of every window in Brooklyn, it can be difficult to set your sound apart. Small Black is one of the bands that has managed to do just that. Their newest album, New Chain, on Jagjaguwar Records is due to hit Oct 26th. We came across Small Black a little while ago and knew we had to get their music into one of our episodes (you can look forward to that later in Season 3). Small Black, though, have been getting into a lot more than just the episode. In fact, we were happy to see that on May 25th Small Black played a show with another of our favorite RADAR contributors, reverb-y duo Javelin (featured in Ep 27, Auto-Tune the News). We recently got to see Small Black’s most recent music video, Bad Lover, and it’s a beautiful, carefully composed video (directed by friend Nick Bentgen), well worth your attention. Check out Bad Lover on Small Black’s website, and then set aside September 17th in your calendar, because the boys of Small Black are coming back to Brooklyn. In the dingy rock and roll hideaway that is Monster Island Basement, Small Black take to the stage with DOM, Total Slacker, and Oberhofer at 8PM. We’ll see you there.
Listen to Small Black’s newest single “Photojournalist” via Pitchfork
Interview with Dan Goldman
In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re pretty big fans of Dan Goldman, featuring him in a RADAR episode (RADAR Ep22 – Red Light Properties) and on the blog. Good news for everyone else who digs Goldman’s and his unique art stylings: The Daily Crosshatch has released an interview with the author/writer that picks his brain and dives into his creativity and influences. A must read, for sure. Also, next Red Light Properties chapter out August 24th with only 2 more chapters – last chapter on Sept 7th! It’s been a fun ride.
Interview Part 1
Interview Part 2
NYCResistor Craft Night
Prepare to clear your nighttime schedule every Thursday because NYC Resistor’s Craft Night is kicking off August 26th. The event is like a creative open mic night for any kind of artist – a night of collaboration where anyone can bring their current art project to work on it in a space of others. According to NYC Resistor, people have worked on knitting, mending, clothing reconstruction, web design, and even robots, so what is and isn’t a craft is totally up to you. If you’re a fan of Makerbot (RADAR Ep19) or Diana Eng’s Fairytale Fashion (RADAR Ep31) – this is where you’ll find them hanging out!
Every Thursday Night – 6pm
NYCResistor Labs
87 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217
Event Info
note: if door is locked please call so we can let you in: 917-402-9737
@exitartnyc
While we love featuring the accounts of people we’ve showcased on RADAR before, sometimes it’s just best to post a Twitter feed that delivers the goods: links to some awesome sites. So, in the spirit of cool, we recommend you check out ExitArtNYC, the Twitter of the contemporary art non-profit.
August 18 2010
Fairytale Fashion – RADAR S3 Ep 31 [vid]
Diana Eng is at the cutting edge of two prominent fields that rarely intersect. Fusing Technology and Fashion in her series Fairy Tale Fashion, she is not only able to combine two worlds that she enjoys, but is also able to show a younger demographic that math, science, and engineering can be applied to fashion in a fun and creative way. We follow Diana through her process, starting at engineering collective NYC Resistor as she designs custom housings for her electronics, builds prototypes for sound and motion based LED lights which she threads into dresses, coats, and necklaces as she joins technology and fashion in a unique way.
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Alex Johnson
DP Charlie Beyer
EDITOR Jawad Metni
SERIES PRODUCER Josh Cramer
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
TITLE SEQUENCE Jordan Gray
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
ADDITIONAL MUSIC by:
I Am Robot and Proud “401 Circuit”
Clark Able “Hot Jack Remix’”
TCIBR: Ted Hope and Katie Holly on creative producing [audio]
TCIBR returns with a special podcast featuring Ted Hope (21 Grams, Adventureland) and Katie Holly (producer of One Hundred Mornings ). Topics covered include creative producing, community curation, making films you’re passionate about as well as what it takes to sustain as a filmmaker in today’s changing landscape.
The WorkBook Project is proud to present One Hundred Mornings the winner of the WBP Discovery and Distribution Award. One Hundred Mornings opens Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater in LA and will run for a week. Special thanks to our partners IndieFlix, Slamdance, The Downtown Independent Theater, Cinema Speakeasy, and CineFist.
August 13 2010
RADAR NYC 8.13.10
Story Pirates – Tickle Monsters Are Robots
Check out the “Tickle Monsters Are Robots!!!!,” video from Story Pirates, who were featured in our latest RADAR episode (RADAR 30 – Story Pirates). There are many children’s entertainers out there, but none are quite like these guys, who actually draw their material from the children themselves. They go to schools, have children write creative stories, then the Story Pirates turn the stories into songs, and make a show out of it. The Story Pirates’ goal is to show kids what wonderful things can come from their very own unique ideas, which they hope will motivate kids to write more and to be more creative. This, along with their all-inclusive approach, which is aimed at focusing more on those who are not necessarily the best writers and are not always in the spotlight, makes Story Pirates not only creative and pretty hilarious, but also inspiration and respectable. Check out the video for their song “Tickle Monsters Are Robots!!!!” This is not only interesting and entertaining for all of us to watch from a creative perspective, but if you have kids (or maybe you’re a babysitter?) chances are they’ll be totally into this as well.
Au Revoir Simone
Are you a fan of Au Revoir Simone? Or do you not know who they are but loved the song from our Before I Die episode? Well, that’s them! And if you’re like us and can’t get enough of this Brooklyn-based trio, you’re in luck, because they’re about to release a new remix album of their 2009 album, Night Light. The remastered will feature mixes by Neon Indian, Jens Lekman, The Dirty Projectors’ Angel Deradoorian, Tanlines, and more. Check out Sentimentalist for more info on the album, and dates for their upcoming tour.
Listen / Purchase – Au Revoir Simone’s music
Nofilmschool – DIY Filmmaking blog
Interested in independent filmmaking, or in D.I.Y. art in general? Check out http://nofilmschool.com/, where Ryan Koo blogs about various tools, strategies, events and equipment that could come in handy for talented creative people who opt not to take the film school route. He talks about being rejected by the studio system despite his obvious talent, and explains why this model is outdated, and often a dead end, for filmmakers trying to break in nowadays. In his NoFilmSchoolManifesto, he writes, “I’m sure some people are going to think, ‘you’re only going the DIY route because you can’t make it in Hollywood!’ My goal with NoFilmSchool is to prove them wrong.” This site is in many ways similar, if not complimentary, to last week’s post about Brian Newman’s talk about reinventing innovation. The site specifically focuses on filmmakers, but it can definitely be of use to any creative person looking to build a career out of independent work.
Side note: Ryan Koo & Zack Lieberman also directed two RADAR episodes, Google Maps Road Trip and Undetermined Measurements.
SLAM theater – PLAYS
Remember our Season 1 episode on Slam Theater (RADAR 05)? If you need a refresher, this innovative group uses the model of a poetry slam and translates it to playwriting. Think of it as a workshop meets a cold read audition meets a total adrenaline rush for anyone brave enough to endure it. As Stephania Vanin, one of the producers, puts it, SLAMS are, “evenings of theater in creation, where everyone who comes through the door becomes a participant.” In other words, the actors, the playwrights, and even the audience members, play a vital role in the evolution and overall experience of the pieces. The purpose of the SLAM is not only for entertainment, but to foster community, and to ultimately make everyone better at the work that they’re passionate about. Interested in finding out more or even attending a SLAM? Check out their Facebook page for updates on new SLAMS, and also on the progress of playwrights whose plays have been previously Slammed.
SLAM winner play currently showing:
The Former Waitress by Ryan Britt
August 12, 13, 14 9:30 – 10:30p
Upstairs at The Tank
354 West 45th Street
Event Info
@autotunethenews
Chances are you’ve heard of these guys by now. They’re getting pretty huge. Some of their newest work, Double Rainbow and Bed Intruder, have gone to the top of the charts on iTunes. For more on what they’re all about and what their latest Autotune the News projects will entail, be sure to follow them on Twitter! Also, make sure to check out our episode featuring this talented bunch (RADAR 27 – ATTN)
http://twitter.com/autotunethenews
August 11 2010
Story Pirates – RADAR S3 ep 30 [vid]
The Story Pirates are a Theater Troupe like none other. Their stage is birthday parties, Public Schools and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Story Pirates combine education, writing, music and performance to excite kids about creative writing. By bringing the kids into the writing of the performance, they are able to stimulate creativity through storytelling, as well as build the confidence a child needs to continue to be creative. The kids are able to see the fruits of their labor live on stage, as the Story Pirates compose original music and a full script, performing the very words the children wrote themselves.
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Josh Cramer
DP Tom Quinn
EDITOR Jawad Metni
SERIES PRODUCER Josh Cramer
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
TITLE SEQUENCE Jordan Gray
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
ADDITIONAL MUSIC by:
The Notwist “Boneless”
Mossyrock “I Know I’m Not Wrong”
Inside Voices “How is You Was”
August 09 2010
New Breed LA: Screening the Cut [vid]
For the community of working-class filmmakers at New Breed a constantly evolving creative process of telling our stories is the one thing we can count on in these changing times. Embarking on journeys through deeper methods of collaboration & engaging with fans across various platforms is certainly exciting – but one thing is for certain, the creative needs to be the driving force behind any and all approaches in order to preserve the integrity of the story (and the core reason we make our art).
In this series we begin at the beginning and explore what perhaps drew us all into making movies in the first place: the mystery of the creative process. What follows are short documentaries with creative tips, techniques, learning lessons & personal experiences from a handful of artists we encountered at the Los Angeles Film Festival 2010.
Episode Seven is titled: “Screening the Cut.” Featured in this episode are Jeff Malmberg and Ted Hope.
August 05 2010
RADAR NYC 8.5.10
Brian Newman – Reinventing Innovation
A few months ago, Brian Newman (former CEO of Tribecca Film Institute and founder of SpringBoard Media) gave a talk on innovation within the media space. We featured the video of the talk in DIY Days on April 25, 2010. In this hilarious and extremely insightful speech, Brian talks about the future of media and what we as artists can do to shape it. He laments the fact that at every single panel about film and new media that he’s attended, all people seem to talk about is distribution. “Where’s the innovation?” He asks, “Why isn’t anyone talking about true innovation?” He discusses new forms of storytelling, and explains that it makes no sense for us to take these new world technologies we have and trying to fit them into this old world way of thinking. He proposes strategies for innovation by going back historically and looking at where the arts have found it in the past when new technology has come along, and outlines what has worked. He meniones Monet’s impressionism (made possible by new paint technology – I know, sounds funny, right?), and the invention of the typewriter, which led to surrealism, and then applies it to today. Quoting Alan Kay (“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”), Brian gives no concrete formula for creating the future; just suggests that we apply what’s worked in the past to today, to our work, to our innovation. He provides extremely useful insight, and this video is definitely work taking a look at for anyone who is an artist and is looking to be legitimately inspired.
Bear Hands – “What a Drag”
Check out “What a Drag” music video by Bear Hands, which we used in an upcoming season 4 episode. It sounds slightly reminiscent of Float On my Modest Mouse, but updated, and with higher, more echo-y vocals. And the music video is great for anyone who’s a fan of Fiddler on the Roof/ Heidi/ anything by Michel Gondry. Confused? See for yourself!
Listen / Purchase – Bear Hand’s music
Get Storied – Branding Yourself
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you think you have a unique voice that nobody else can replicate? Do you have no idea what to do with it? In his blog, “Get Storied,” Michael Margolis talks about brand storytelling and branding yourself, with blog posts and podcasts. Worth checking out for anyone interested in branding, social media, and storytelling (and chances are, if you’re already reading this, you are!)
Cut and Paste – Competition Registration
Are you a designer? Check out http://cutandpaste.com/tours/forms/competitors/ and register to compete in Cut&Paste’s annual design competition. Think Iron Chef, but for design and much more “street”. Watch our RADAR episode on Cut and Paste to see what this competition is all about. Hurry! The deadline for submissions is September 10th.
Register here by Sept 10th
@kevinbracken
Into flash mobs? So are we! Check out Kevin Bracken, creator of Newmindspace (RADAR 10 – Newmindspace), which has put on several flash mob events around the city, including bubble battles, LED light saber battles, blanket fort parties, and pillow fights (http://www.newmindspace.com/pillowfightnyc.php). Follow him on Twitter to see what he’s up to next.
http://twitter.com/kevinbracken
New Breed LA: The Integrity of Story [vid]
For the community of working-class filmmakers at New Breed a constantly evolving creative process of telling our stories is the one thing we can count on in these changing times. Embarking on journeys through deeper methods of collaboration & engaging with fans across various platforms is certainly exciting – but one thing is for certain, the creative needs to be the driving force behind any and all approaches in order to preserve the integrity of the story (and the core reason we make our art).
In this series we begin at the beginning and explore what perhaps drew us all into making movies in the first place: the mystery of the creative process. What follows are short documentaries with creative tips, techniques, learning lessons & personal experiences from a handful of artists we encountered at the Los Angeles Film Festival 2010.
Episode Five is titled: “The Integrity of Story.” Featured in this episode are Julius Onah, Jeff Malmberg,Trieste Kelly Dunn & Brett Haley and Ted Hope. Check back on Monday for the remainder of the series.
August 04 2010
Radiology Art – RADAR S3 ep 29 [vid]
Technology and art frequently intersect, but artist-turned-medical-student Satre Stuelke’s radiology art crosses a new threshold of experimentation. Using high tech CT-scan imagery, he creates stunning three-dimensional depictions of the world outside the emergency room. From the charming to the unsettling, Stuelke’s focuses on Barbie dolls, Big Macs, and other unmistakable objects from everyday life. It’s an enlightening process that begs us to see the relationship between previously unexplored perspectives, and a visual investigation that leaves beautiful artifacts in its wake.
Relevant sites:
Credits:
CREATED by Lance Weiler & Alex Johnson
DIRECTOR Danielle Lurie
DP Tim Naylor
EDITOR Jawad Metni
SERIES PRODUCER Josh Cramer
SEGMENT PRODUCER Janine Saunders
TITLE SEQUENCE Jordan Gray
POST PRODUCTION House of Trim
ADDITIONAL MUSIC by:
Caleb Burhans “Early Music (For a Saturday)”
The Sea that Dried Up and Become a Parking Lot “If Beethoven Were A Painter”
August 02 2010
New Breed LA: Making People Notice [vid]
For the community of working-class filmmakers at New Breed a constantly evolving creative process of telling our stories is the one thing we can count on in these changing times. Embarking on journeys through deeper methods of collaboration & engaging with fans across various platforms is certainly exciting – but one thing is for certain, the creative needs to be the driving force behind any and all approaches in order to preserve the integrity of the story (and the core reason we make our art).
In this series we begin at the beginning and explore what perhaps drew us all into making movies in the first place: the mystery of the creative process. What follows are short documentaries with creative tips, techniques, learning lessons & personal experiences from a handful of artists we encountered at the Los Angeles Film Festival 2010.
Episode Five is titled: “Elements of Casting.” Featured in this episode are Jeff Malmberg and Brett Haley. Check back on every Monday and Thursday for the remainder of the series.
July 29 2010
New Breed LA: Elements of Casting [vid]
For the community of working-class filmmakers at New Breed a constantly evolving creative process of telling our stories is the one thing we can count on in these changing times. Embarking on journeys through deeper methods of collaboration & engaging with fans across various platforms is certainly exciting – but one thing is for certain, the creative needs to be the driving force behind any and all approaches in order to preserve the integrity of the story (and the core reason we make our art).
In this series we begin at the beginning and explore what perhaps drew us all into making movies in the first place: the mystery of the creative process. What follows are short documentaries with creative tips, techniques, learning lessons & personal experiences from a handful of artists we encountered at the Los Angeles Film Festival 2010.
Episode Four is titled: “Elements of Casting.” Featured in this episode are rare insights from producer Ted Hope. Check back on every Monday and Thursday for the remainder of the series.
RADAR NYC 7.29.10
Before I Die – The Website
Inspired by the pending death of the Polaroid camera, K.S. Rivers and Nicole Kenney (RADAR 028 – Before I Die) sought to discover what people value most in their lives. They traveled the world, met hundreds of people, and snapped a Polaroid of them as they answered one simple question: What do you want to do before you die? The answers ranged everywhere from silly (“Before I die, I want to fly!!!”) to introspective (“Before I die I want to learn to trust myself”), which raises the question of what people value in life, and how they view themselves and their worlds. The website, www.beforeidieiwantto.org, explains the motivation behind this project, which is not just to create visual account of people’s responses, but to actually inspire people to go out and accomplish what they say they want to do before they die. Rivers and Kenney believe that having people write down their goals and be constantly reminded of them on this website will motivate them to take action. All of the responses had their own unique charm, but perhaps the most inspirational and poignant were those from patients currently in the hospital, whose stakes for this question are much higher. But no matter how young, old, healthy or sick we are, and regardless of whether or now Rivers and Kenny actually asked us the question, it’s something worth thinking about in our own lives.
Dragon Turtle – Almanac
Dragon Turtle recently released their debut album, Almanac. Check out their myspace to find out more about them, and to listen to the free MP3: “Island of Broken Glass,” which is featured in an upcoming Radar season 3 episode. Think Panda Bear meets Washed Out meets Toro Y Moi meets a tiny bit of Steely Dan (specifically, “Do It Again”). Or you can just listen and decide for yourself.
Listen / Purchase – Dragon Turtle music
The Transmedia Equation pt2
For anyone interested in learning more about transmedia (and what it even is, exactly), this article is worth reading. Our own Lance Weiler (co-founder of RADAR and founder of WBP), who many consider to be the go-to for new media/ transmedia ideas, is the focus of this article, as he discusses his process, his many current projects, and his plans for the future. Wired magazine named him “One of twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood” and Business Week called him “One of the 18 Who Changed Hollywood.” Yet according to Lance, this was not necessarily his ultimate goal. “A lot of the things I’m involved with are trial and error,” he says. Well, whatever his method is, it’s working. Read the article:
The Transmedia Equation – Part 2
Poetry Brothel Poets and Writers Magazine Summer Party
Remember our Poetry Brothel episode (RADAR 020 – Poetry Brothel)? Well now they’re having a party, and you’re invited! Imagine a poetry reading, but more intimate. Much more intimate. As in, baring your souls one-on-one with a stranger intimate. So is this poetry or a party? Or seven minutes in heaven? According to co-founder Tennessee Pink, the poetry is the party. Intrigued? Come to the Lightship Frying Pan in Chelsea on Monday, August 2, from 6-9 PM to hear readings, mingle with authors and agents, exchange books, win free stuff, and maybe even bare your soul a little.
Monday August 2nd, 6 – 9p
Lightship Frying Pan
Pier 66 Maritime @ W 26th st
Event Info
Vasilios Sfinarolakis – Gulf Oil Spill
Vasilios Sfinarolakis, a colleague and photographer on many of our projects, captures the most important current events with his camera. Check out his beautifully moving (literally and figuratively) photos of events around the country, and be sure to check back for updates of his coverage of the Gulf Oil Spill.
July 28 2010
Before I Die – RADAR S3 ep 28 [vid]
Before I Die is a rare form of Interactive Art, started by K.S. Rives and Nicole Kenney, creating life, out of death. Using a Polaroid camera, Rives and Kenney have traveled far and wide asking people what they would like to do before they die, and snapping their photo as they answer. Rives and Kenny found that asking an age-old question inspired people to reach for a goal they set from themselves. The project soon moved online enabling people from all around the globe to take their own photo, post it and share what they wanted to do before they die.
July 27 2010
PULSE – UnItv.me
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show? According to UnItv, entertaining yourself doesn’t have to be so passive. An adventure in local news broadcasting, UnItv is a live, interactive television broadcast, ripe with viewer submitted content. The anchors spontaneously discuss user proposals in the narrative of news, weather, and pop culture reports to bridge the gap between improv comedy shows, television, and technology. Viewers are encouraged to submit material via text, chat, email, and even over the phone, bridging the gap between the private and public audience space. UnItv emboldens audience members to voice their own concerns, likes, and dislikes in a public forum, to create a platform of viewer expression in television. To participate, click on “submit now” at .
Watch past UnItv.me episodes here
To participate go to “submit now”
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