New Mediacracy

We're back with a lengthy year-end wrap-up! This time around, new media veteran Kathleen Grace (The Burg, The All-For-Nots, and now Manager of Production and Programming at YouTube Space LA) joins GigaOm writer and Attack of the Show staff writer Liz Shannon Miller, IAWTV Award winner and writer/director Brett Register, and Lizzie Bennet Diaries co-creator and showrunner Bernie Su. Joining them are the founders of New Mediacracy, Zadi Diaz (Head of Content Development at Disney Interactive Entertainment) and Steve Woolf (President of Blip Studios, SVP of Content at Blip), once again anchored by writer/director Chris McCaleb.

In this freewheeling discussion, we explore the ongoing problem of discovery, YouTube's funded channel initiative, the newly-founded Blip Studios, the opening of YouTube Space LA, Hannah Hart's incredible tour fundraising campaign, the high profile departure of Ray William Johnson from Maker Studios, the mysterious industry blog "Working With Webseries Producers," our hopes for the year 2013, and so much more!

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In April 2011, Hank Green (VlogBrothers, VidCon, Project for Awesome) approached Bernie Su (Compulsions, co-host of this very podcast) to discuss the possibility of bringing "Pride and Prejudice" to life for the YouTube generation. Less than a year later, they launched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and within days the show had already attracted a dedicated fan base and the attention of international media. On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with stars Ashley Clements and Mary Kate Wiles (also of Squaresville), producer Jenni Powell (Video Game Reunion, VidCon), and co-creator/writer/director Bernie Su.

Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we discuss the meteoric rise of this independent series, the highs and lows of interacting with fans (in and out of character), adapting a beloved novel for the digital age, interactive storytelling, their epic VidCon experiences, Tumblr feelz and so much more!

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Heroes. Gossip Girl. The Vampire Diaries. House. Nikita. Fringe. All of these television shows have had successful companion web series, and the common thread between them is Retrofit Films, the upstart production company founded by filmmakers Chris Hanada and Tanner Kling.

Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we discuss making web series based on properties with rabid fan bases (and high expectations), navigating the world of branded content with some of the largest brands in the business, the irritating new media buzzwords that have worn out their welcome, the challenges of making cross-platform content to exist on both the web and television simultaneously, and their latest projects with Disney/Marvel, "The Fury Files" and "Marvel Mashups."

We recorded this podcast in May 2012, and in the many months it has taken us to post the episode, Retrofit has hired former guest Ryan Copple as their VP of Digital Development. Congratulations all around!

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Making an independent web series is always challenging, whether you're working with three million dollars, or three hundred dollars. On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with veteran director Scott Brown (Larry King Now, Blue Movies, Asylum), multi-hyphenate Kristen Nedopak (Geek Girls Create) and producer/consultant Brian Rodda, to discuss their work in new media, as well as their two new series, Stockholm and Skyrim Parodies.

Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we talk about making porn funny, crafting your own wardrobe (and the surprising cost of fake fur), creating high-quality work on a tight budget, working with the actual Larry King, shooting in a basement, finding inspiration in video games, and spending special time with Denise Richards.

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Still basking in the glow of VidCon 2012, here's a trip in the wayback machine to VidCon 2011, and a panel entitled "The Battle for Narrative & Relevance: Long-form serial storytelling and the search for an audience on YouTube"

Join the group of adventurous convention-goers who managed to find our panel, moderated by frequent NM guest Liz Shannon Miller (Attack of the Show, GigaOM Video), featuring David Nett (Gold: The Series), former NM guest Ryan Copple (Riese: The Series, Halo: Forward Unto Dawn ), Kaleena Kiff (Riese: The Series), Celebrate the Web 6 winner Terence Krey (Oh, Inverted World) and NM regular Chris McCaleb.

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What is it like to actually live the life of a professional YouTuber, an often all-consuming, 24/7 job that regularly blurs the line between entertainment and private reality? On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with three prolific YouTube personalities - Olga Kay, Exotic Jess and Joe Nation - who have been living in the YouTube trenches (and for a while, under the same roof) for years, and survived to tell the tale.

Join NM regulars Chris McCaleb and Bernie Su ("The Lizzie Bennet Diaries") as they discuss building and maintaining an audience, the importance of quantity vs quality, working in the circus, raising a teenage daughter, and the scary, crazy, exciting and wonderful life of a professional YouTuber.

In 2006, a group of young San Francisco filmmakers banded together to make the independent web series Break A Leg. Six years and countless struggles later, they're more successful than ever. On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with most of the members of creative powerhouse Happy Little Guillotine - Yuri Baranovsky, Justin Morrison and Dashiell Reinhardt - the award-winning team behind Leap Year, 7-Eleven Road Trip Rally, Slurpee Unity Tour, and much more.

Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as they discuss working with brands and celebrities, maximizing your resources, how to avoid getting arrested while making a web series, the old-timey importance of being featured on the YouTube homepage, and how their little series might have toppled a government (seriously).

So you made an independent series that is 100% true to your voice, your vision, and your passion... now what?  On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with writer/director Matt Enlow (Squaresville, Mountain Man), writer/producer Tai Fauci (Whole Day Down, Palisades Pool Party) and producer/consultant Brian Rodda (Songs From Series).

Join NM regular Chris McCaleb and Bernie Su as they discuss the challenges of remaining independent, the importance of a great marketing strategy, finding your voice amongst the noise of modern culture, and the very nature of art.

Part 2 of our 2011 year-end roundup! Most of this episode is about the IAWTV Awards happening this week! With GigaOm writer and Attack of the Show staff writer Liz Miller, writer/producer Bernie Su, IAWTV Award nominee and writer/director Brett Register, and What's Trending CEO (also an IAWTV Award nominee) Damon Berger. Joining them is producer and Disney creative exec Zadi Diaz, and producer and Blip VP of Content Steve Woolf, all anchored by two-time Emmy nominee, writer/director Chris McCaleb.

Timeline!

0:00 First IAWTV Awards are happening
1:15 Disclaimers about everyone's current and former relationships to the IAWTV
2:30 Reference to the post-Streamys New Mediacracy episode
3:20 Some talk about the IAWTV LA annual member meeting
5:00 Bernie asks Zadi and Chris why they didn't run for re-election as IAWTV board members
8:00 Bernie talks about why he doesn't run for the board
10:00 Damon talks about his views on the IAWTV
12:30 Zadi talks a bit about the structure of the organization
15:40 Steve talks about how little YouTube representation exists within the IAWTV
16:30 Liz was surprised that the IAWTV Awards didn't have more YouTube creator nominations
17:30 Damon doesn't understand how YouTube isn't nominated for best platform
18:30 Chris was disappointed in the nomination process; discussion ensues
26:45 Bernie points out that anyone unhappy with the process can join the awards committee for next year
28:20 Damon talks about the What's Trending road show at the Venetian
29:30 Bernie talks about the producer and writer's group exhibitions at CES
31:00 Cody (the dog) needs to go to the bathroom
31:30 Liz asks each person to talk about what they want to see happen in web video in 2012
31:50 Bernie wants to see online storytelling go mass market
32:55 Brett wants to see more studios release pre-theatrical VOD releases; a discussion of story structure for the web ensues
36:30 Talking about analogous examples of works in tv, film, and online
40:45 Zadi tells a story about mainstream media's view of what's happening online
44:15 Steve wants to see storytelling tools advance in 2012
46:20 Liz wants to see The Solution to lean-back web content
48:15 Chris wants to see the new BlackBoxTV channel on YouTube become a huge success
53:20 Damon wants to see the web video marketplace gain some coherence and step up the quality levels
59:00 Steve makes the argument that one of the reasons some web shows have taken off is exactly because they're different from TV and movies
1:01:00 Liz talks about two ShayCarl videos she saw at VidCon 2010 and VidCon 2011
1:03:30 Damon feels the emotional connection to story isn't happening enough in web video
1:06:00 On the importance of owning your content
1:09:25 Steve asks Zadi what it's like going from independent production to working at a major media company
1:14:20 Zadi wants to see legislation unfriendly to the web defeated in 2012
1:16:00 Brett wants to know more about the 8-track soapbox is composed
1:16:30 Where to find everyone on the show and what's next

Check out Part 1!

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A feisty year-end wrap up doubleheader! This is Part 1 of 2 with GigaOm writer and Attack of the Show staff writer Liz Miller, writer/producer Bernie Su, IAWTV Award nominee and writer/director Brett Register, and What's Trending CEO (also an IAWTV Award nominee) Damon Berger. Joining them is producer and Disney creative exec Zadi Diaz, and producer and Blip VP of Content Steve Woolf, all anchored by two-time Emmy nominee, writer/director Chris McCaleb.

Timeline!

0:00 Intros! Shout outs to Cindy Register
14:00 Shout out to Steve Garfield, part of the old school New Mediacracy from '06-'07
15:30 First mention of The Process, a web video podcast that never was
17:00 Can you cancel your own show?
21:00 The rise of the 7-figure web series
22:00 The inevitable discussion about the term "web series"
23:45 Opening the door on "independent television"
25:00 LouisCK's self-distributed success
25:35 Chris tries to table the LouisCK discussion
29:30 Chris officially gives up trying to table the LouisCK discussion
30:40 Damon opens the conversation about the difference between people with audiences from mainstream media, and true independent web success stories
33:00 Zadi talks about cycles of relevancy
34:00 Liz wonders whether you now have to have more than a webcam to blow up; a Jenna Marbles discussion ensues
39:00 Talk moves to the demographics of web viewers and identifying a niche for success
42:20 Mass-media qualities in web video, and Bernie brings up the Zooey/JGL viral New Years video
43:50 Steve interrupts to get at the pizza and gets yelled at
47:00 First mention of Tim Street
47:40 Damon justifiably attacks Steve for his pop culture ignorance
49:15 Chris asks if YouTube can manufacture their own stars as part of their channels initiative
52:00 The Annoying Orange phenomenon
53:45 Liz tells a story from the set of iCarly about Fred from YouTube, and the conversation goes to the Fred phenomenon
55:45 Brett speaks for the first time since his intro
56:30 YouTube channel initiative and cosmic panda: will it work?
58:00 Chris tangents to Marc Zuckerberg killing animals
58:25 Chris gets back on track
1:02:50 Bernie feels that the new YouTube makes for a more genuine discovery experience
1:05:20 Chris wonders whether future YouTube stars will rise up the same way this generation has
1:06:00 Zadi is a fan of discovery through cultural value delivery
1:07:30 Will YouTube's investment in content affect their promotional choices?
1:12:00 Bernie talks about the risks about putting all your eggs in one basket
1:13:45 Liz worries about the future of the "nut shot" video
1:15:20 Weekends are now the biggest web video viewing days
1:16:30 Talking over-the-top TV set top boxes
1:18:25 Liz's Dad is a nerd
1:20:00 Damon tells a story about Google's struggles to market GoogleTV and attract studios and network content
1:23:00 Bernie wonders how many YouTube premium channels will get renewed
1:26:00 The inevitable discussion about ratings, or the lack thereof
1:29:00 Bernie tells a personal Nielsen story
1:34:00 Correlating music, movie, and TV industries in the digital age
1:37:00 Web series with billboards and bus ads
1:40:00 Do people who buy internet-connected TV's ever connect?

Check out Part 2!

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