Here's a preview of the report on D&T's website. The key highlights will be officially released on January 7th 2008 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
28 December, 2007
The State of the Media Democracy: Are You Ready for the Future of Media?
Reuters is reporting today that according to a study done by Deloitte & Touche, more and more Americans are creating content on-line (hello!) with 32% calling themselves broadcasters. Close to 40 percent (38%) of Americans are watching TV shows online, 36 percent use their cell phones for entertainment and 45 percent are creating Web sites, music, videos and blogs.
Here's a preview of the report on D&T's website. The key highlights will be officially released on January 7th 2008 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Here's a preview of the report on D&T's website. The key highlights will be officially released on January 7th 2008 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The AMPTP Strikes Back
This is the first video produced by the AMPTP since the strike began. It was published on the alliance’s Web site just after 10 a.m. this morning, at the moment when, according to the studios, “WGA members have lost more in salary and benefits than they ever hoped to gain by striking.”
The WGAE and the WGAW have issued the following statement regarding Contract 2007 negotiations:
"Big media walked away from the table and refuses to negotiate. The media conglomerates know that the core issue in these negotiations is new media. Their current proposals would cause writers even more economic harm in the future than they claim this strike has caused. To sidestep this fact, they erroneously claim we are focused on other issues. The conglomerates are responsible for creating the economic havoc. They should put their energies into making a fair deal with writers rather than issuing misleading statements."
Step Up to the Genius Bar
I recently submitted this blog to the "Blog Readability Test" in which it was evaluated as to what level of education is required to comprehend it. Whereas some fellow bloggers have ranked "Junior high school", "College undergrad", and "College postgrad", the Writers' Strike Chronicles is indistinguishable between genius and insanity. Perhaps this is why the AMPTP can't grok the issues surrounding New Media and the Internet as the future of television. I mean, they just don't have a clue!WSC Show #51 - Scene of the Crime: Interview with Bill Prady
This episode features continued coverage of the "Scene of the Crime" picketing rally held at the AMPTP-HQ in Encino, California. Here, I speak to Bill Prady, the executive producer and co-creator of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Recorded Tuesday, 18 December 2008.
Mentioned in this episode: StopBigMedia.com. Our democracy needs more independent voices in the media, not fewer. Congress must reverse the Federal Communications Commission decision allowing more corporate media consolidation. Please Sign a petition from MoveOn.org urging your Senators and Representatives to ask Congress to stop media consolidation.
27 December, 2007
Film Commissioner of Cleveland: Ivan Schwarz
At a time of year where most news stories and blogs are featuring year-in-review retrospectives and predictions for 2008, I was surprised to find this clip from last summer about the "Future of Film" in which Ivan Schwarz, the Film Commissioner of Cleveland, weighs in on film, the Internet, mobile technology, gaming and global television.
Radiohead To Promote Album With New Year’s Eve Concert on Current TV
Radiohead will be broadcasting a commercial free, taped, private performance of In Rainbows in its entirety on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day on the Current TV network (hello Al Gore and thank you!). Current TV is a peer-to-peer, interactive network and independent media company that won an Emmy Award for its groundbreaking interactive programming.
Broadcast times for the concert are:Last October, Radiohead released their seventh album "In Rainbows" as a digital download in in which buyers could name their price. To me, this signaled that the days were numbered for the record industry.
- December 31, 2007: 9 p.m. PST / 12 a.m. EST , 10 p.m. PST / 1 a.m. EST
- January 1, 2008: 5 a.m. PST / 8 a.m. EST, 6 p.m. PST / 9 p.m. EST
David Byrne interviewed Thom Yorke, Radiohead's lead singer, for Wired magazine. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye and it was a fab read.
However, Byrne did another article for Wired, a companion piece to his interview with Yorke entitled "Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars" that I find to be more compelling. So did the NY Times citing that:
"By Mr. Byrne’s count, there are six major options for musicians, ranging from letting labels and industry pros take care of their business functions to going off the grid “where the artist does nearly everything.” The “totally D.I.Y. model is certainly not for everyone,” he wrote, “but that’s the point. Now there’s choice.”
WSC Show #50 - Scene of the Crime: Interviews with James Hurley, Mark Goffman & Rob Morrow
In today’s episode we continue our coverage of the "Scene of the Crime" picketing event held at the AMPTP-HQ in Encino, California. Featured in this podcast: James Hurley, a WGA staffer; Law & Order SVU supervising producer Mark Goffman; Numb3rs director/producer John Behring and actor Rob Morrow. Recorded Tuesday, 18 December 2008.
Rob Morrow and John Behring / Photo by Damon D'Amato
Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
Photo: Damon D'Amato
26 December, 2007
Bye, Bye Miss American Pie
BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES documents the pathetic state of the music industry -- so y'all in the entertainment industry could learn something here. Narrated by Forrest Whitaker and features interviews and performances by Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, and Branford Marsalis.
Last year, BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen walked away from traditional Hollywood distribution to instead pursue a large-scale grassroots release.
WSC Show #49 - Scene of the Crime: The Indictment
In today’s episode writers from over 35 crime dramas and police television series came together for contract justice with the “Scene of the Crime” rally that took place in front of the AMPTP-HQ in Encino, California. Featured are fans Heather Griffith and her sister Monique Darling. Also in this podcast: Rene Balcer (creator of Law and Order: Criminal Intent) and Marg Helgenberger (star of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation). Together they serve a three-count Bill of Indictment against the AMPTP and eight unnamed co-conspirators. Recorded Tuesday, 18 December 2008.
Extra: Interview with Rene Balcer on NPR's Talk of the Nation.
Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music:
"Rockford Files Theme" performed
by Asterios Kokkinos and Melissa Kaplan
Photo:
25 December, 2007
quarterlife deemed a "bomb". Ouch!
Podcasting News reports that quarterlife is a "bomb" claiming that: "Views for the show have plummeted, going from nearly 800,000 YouTube views for the first episode to just a few thousand for some recent episodes."
The more interesting aspects of this article are the comments, with one reviewer saying: "I think the show rocks! I could care less how many people watch it."
Read the article here.
NewTeeVee seems confused by the show as well in this post entitled "quarterlife Stats Draw Multiple Interpretations, Personalities"
The more interesting aspects of this article are the comments, with one reviewer saying: "I think the show rocks! I could care less how many people watch it."
Read the article here.
NewTeeVee seems confused by the show as well in this post entitled "quarterlife Stats Draw Multiple Interpretations, Personalities"
WSC Show #48 - Interview with Tristan Katz
In today’s episode I meet up with up-and-coming new media actor Tristan Katz at the picket lines at the “It’s A Crime” themed picketing event in front of the AMPTP business offices. Recorded Tuesday, 18 December 2007.
24 December, 2007
Today On YouTube
Today on YouTube, commentary from a professional journalist and some UGC by an amateur vlogger.
New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter tries to sort through the causes and effects of the work stoppage but stops short of identifying who is to blame for the heated rhetoric and stalled negotiations.
Word from the street: a television viewer's retrospective and commentary of what passed for news in 2007. Interesting take on the writers' strike, reality television programming and loss of TV viewership: "I watch YouTube videos more than television anyway....courtroom drama and reality TV suck!"
New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter tries to sort through the causes and effects of the work stoppage but stops short of identifying who is to blame for the heated rhetoric and stalled negotiations.
Word from the street: a television viewer's retrospective and commentary of what passed for news in 2007. Interesting take on the writers' strike, reality television programming and loss of TV viewership: "I watch YouTube videos more than television anyway....courtroom drama and reality TV suck!"
WSC Show #47 - Exclusive Interview with Santa Claus
Disclaimer: NSFW
We interrupt our regularly scheduled strike coverage to report that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has began the annual tracking of Santa Claus as he makes his way around the world. This year NORAD is implementing Google Earth to monitor Santa's progress and also began using special Santa Cams to upload videos of his travels to the NORAD Tracks Santa YouTube channel. For ongoing updates on Santa’s location, log on to the NORAD Tracks Santa website .
I recently had an opportunity to talk to Santa himself at SantaCon last weekend. SantaCon began as a Cacophony Society event in 1994 to celebrate the Yule season in a deliberately anti-commercial fashion by incorporating guerrilla street theatre, flash mobs, pranksterism, and public intoxication. It has now devolved into an international public bar crawl taking place in major metropolitan cities worldwide.
You Better Watch Out!
From the NORADSanta.org:
The NORAD Tracks Santa (NTS) program has been around for a long time, since 1955 to be exact! We believe that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people throughout the world.
NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa - radar, satellites, Santa Cams and jet fighter aircraft.
Detecting Santa all starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Santa can also be tracked on Twitter!
WSC Show #46 - Interview with Stephen Davis
In today’s episode we speak to AFI graduate Stephen Davis at the picket lines in front of Sony Studios. Recorded Thursday, 13 December 2007.
23 December, 2007
WSC Show #45 - Interview with Bill Odenkirk
In today’s episode we’ll talk to strike coordinator Bill Odenkirk at the picket lines in front of Fox Studios. Bill has written for such shows as The Simpsons, Futurama and Mr. Show. Recorded Thursday, 13 December 2007.
22 December, 2007
Techno Tuesday
OK, it's Saturday, but a friend in SF just turned me on to this site.
‘Techno Tuesday’ by Andy Rementer began as an exercise in drawing comics and complaining. In fact it still is, after it’s inception in January of 2006. The comic, which is based on technology and the modern world, originally appeared on the Fabrica blog. And has since been published elsewhere online as well as in print.
Turn the beat around: STOP BIG MEDIA!!!!
The Bush-appointed FCC voted last Tuesday to loosen media ownership rules so media titans like Rupert Murdoch can swallow up more local news outlets. They did this despite a huge public outcry--when the FCC asked for public comments, 99% opposed media consolidation!
Congress has the power to step in, and a bipartisan group of 26 Senators already announced they'll try. We need to show the rest of the Senate we want action.
Sign a petition from MoveOn.org urging your Senators and Representatives to ask Congress to stop media consolidation.
WSC Show #44 - Diversity Day: Interview with Monica Macer
In the last episode of this podcast I said it would be the last in a series of interviews from the themed picketing event entitled “Diversity Day” at Paramount Studios. But I was mistaken because this is the final episode in this series. Today I speak to Monica Macer who has written for three hit television shows including "Lost," "24" and "Prison Break." Recorded Wednesday, 12 December 2007.
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