23 January, 2008
RSS in Plain English
In my recent interview with Alan Kirschenbaum, I asked him to define what a breakthrough show on the Internet would look like.
His response is "It's written, scripted programming...where the content is so compelling that next week a thousand people come, and the next week two thousand people come and reaches a critical mass."
I then asked him if he watched "Ask A Ninja" as an example of an Internet breakthrough programming and though he found it entertaining and clever, he said "When I remember to watch it, I watch it. That's not exactly the same and unless you're arguing with me that are like when Seinfeld was on and people stayed home on Thursday nights because they wanted to see Seinfeld because they wanted on Friday morning to be able to have the conversation with the other people they worked with to say "'Did you see what happened?'" and you don't want to say "'No don't talk about that because I didn't see it yet.'" You want to be part of the conversation so you watched it the first chance that it was on."
I respectfully think the issue with Alan's Internet viewing habits is that he's failing to use the technology to his advantage.
"When I remember to watch" he said.
I still contend that "Ask A Ninja" is a perfect example of an Internet breakthrough new media product. The difference between Ninja and Seinfeld (format notwithstanding) is that viewers subscribe to the show (rather than tuning in or programming their VCRs or Tivos) by making use of RSS readers.
I believe in the brave new world of new media and the consumption of new media products, audiences will rush to be the first to click on a show and will constantly refresh their RSS readers to be the first (and perhaps the hippest and coolest) to catch programming as soon as it goes live on the Web.
My two cents. YMMV.
(Oh, and BTW...I got your RSS feed for Ninja right here.)
WSC Show #75 - Conversation with Damon D'Amato
In today’s episode I have a conversation in front of NBC Studios with Damon D'Amato who works below the line as a teleprompter operator. Recorded Monday, 20 January 2008.
Tanja Barnes, originally uploaded by NoHoDamon.
It's official: Damon D'Amato is the official staff photographer for the Strike Chronicles. Thanks, Damon!
WSC Show #74 - Interviews with Alan Kirschenbaum and Elizabeth Reynolds
In today’s episode I talk with writer Alan Kirschenbaum followed by SAG member Elizabeth Reynolds at the picket line in front of NBC studios. Recorded Monday, 20 January 2008.
22 January, 2008
Open TV Network
From Burbank, California, the Open Television Network launches this week. This startup offers a tool called klickTab that allows content owners to charge micropayments for downloads. From their website:
The Open Television Network is open to any content owner who wants to sell content to viewers and for any viewer who wants to choose their own programming. It is built on technology we developed and called klickTab. klickTab is the technology that makes the Open Television Network possible: the Open Television Network is the marketplace that makes it fair.
WSC Show #73 - Interviews with Phyllis Strong and John Zinman
In today’s episode we speak with writers Phyllis Strong and John Zinman as we wrap up a series of recordings made last week at the picket line at Fox Studios. It’s worth noting that these interviews were conducted prior to announcement of the DGA’s tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Recorded Wednesday, 16 January 2008.
Live Journal's WGA_Supporters Call To Action: Call the AMPTP
From the LiveJournal WGA_supporters USA Network Law & Order Criminal Intent Forum as posted by Susan Olson:
There's a new action item for today: Call the AMPTP.
The DGA (might) have reached a deal with the AMPTP (the DGA members vote on it on January 26th, 2008), and the WGA and the AMPTP have started informal conversations again.
This is a good start.
However, until the AMPTP and WGA start *officially* talking and negotiating, Fans For the WGA (FFWGA) is asking its members to call the AMPTP office in Encino, California between the hours of 9am to 5pm California time (noon and 8pm Eastern time) directly. Remind the AMPTP that it walked out of the negotiations 45 days ago and that the WGA has remained willing and waiting to bargain for this entire time period.
Now, we viewers and fans want both sides to return to the table without any funny business. We want them to settle the dispute, before it's too late for pilot season, and before the Oscars. The first number:
1-818-382-1706 [The Ambiguous Answering Message]
It will go directly to an answering message, so you don't have to worry about "talking" to someone or getting nervous. When you call please state:
- Which show(s) you regularly watch
- Your city and state
- Your closest NBC affiliate (if you watch on DISH TV or DirectTV, you can say so)
- Your gender
- Whether you are currently working
- Your age range(s) (i.e. under 18, 18-49, 25-44, 50+),
- If you are comfortable saying so, your approximate household income per year (example HHI $75,000+ per year...that is the most desired audience for advertisers so if your family/household earns that much money please say so...if not, that's okay too)
- You want the AMPTP to start negotiating with the WGA immediately.
- You want the AMPTP to bargain in "good faith".
As an example I'll give you my talking points:I regularly watch and enjoy 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and 'Burn Notice' on USA Network, (an NBC company) and 'Mad Men' on AMC. I live in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia, and because I subscribe to DISH TV, my closest NBC affiliates are in Harrisonburg, VA, Hagerstown, MD and Washington DC. I am a working female in the 18-49 and 25-44 demographics and my household income is $75,000+ per year. I would like the AMPTP to start negotiating with the WGA immediately and to bargain in good faith so that production on my favorite shows can resume as soon as possible. Thank you.
Remember to be polite, firm, and brief.
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help make a phone call!
(original post here)
--
S.E. (Susan) Olson
Moderator & Law & Order: Criminal Intent Fan Liason
http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/
21 January, 2008
Martin Luther King III on Blogging, the Media and the Jena 6 Protests
Martin Luther King III talks about the role that African American bloggers and media outlets, particularly urban radio stations, played in raising the profile of the Jena 6 defendants, leading to the massive protests that took place last September in Jena, LA.
This item is part of the collection: blip.tv
WSC Show #72 - Interview with Monique N. Matthews
Here we speak to screen writer Monique Matthews at the picket line in front of Fox Studios. Recorded Wednesday, 16 January 2008.
Credits
Hosts: Tanja Barnes, Bill Funt
Music: "Breakdown FM: Martin Luther King vs. the Radio" mashup by DaveyD (featured) and "Cure vs. Martin Luther King" mashup by DJ Lord Grocon (intro and outro)
Hosts: Tanja Barnes, Bill Funt
Music: "Breakdown FM: Martin Luther King vs. the Radio" mashup by DaveyD (featured) and "Cure vs. Martin Luther King" mashup by DJ Lord Grocon (intro and outro)
20 January, 2008
WSC Show #71 - Interview with Andrew Goldberg
In this episode, we speak with strike captain Andrew Goldberg at the picket line in front of Fox Studios. Recorded Wednesday, 16 January 2008.
Fans4Writers.com Picketing Event - MLK Day
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 21), fans are invited to join the picketing writers at NBC Burbank. All fans in the Los Angeles area (and beyond) are urged to join in on the picket.
NBC BURBANK
Picketing Shifts: 2:30pm-5:30pm
3000 W Alameda Ave, Burbank, CA
Meeting Point: Check-in table is located on Bob Hope Dr. (Johnny Carson park)
Parking Option: Street parking on Bob Hope and Riverside
More information on the picket location and schedule can be found on the WGA website as well as at the Fans4Writers website.
Yours in solidarity,
Jen Cummings
Community Outreach
Fans4Writers.com
19 January, 2008
WSC Show #70 - Fans4Writers: Amy Norman and Kristin Pewitt
Today’s guests are Amy Norman and Kristin Pewitt from the "Food for Thought" meal delivery team of Fans4Writers.com. Recorded Monday, 14 January 2008.
For more information about
Fans4Writers click on image:
Fans4Writers click on image:
18 January, 2008
What does it cost to make a webisode?
NewTeeVee breaks down what it costs to make a webisode. According to Chris Albrecht, " A good starting point to create a web series, according to a number of producers we asked, is about $1,000 dollar per finished minute."
This doesn't add up to the terms of the deal between the AMPTP and the DGA (which was featured on the DGA's website): "All original content above $15,000/minute or $300,000/program or $500,000/series, whichever is lowest. Original content below the threshold will be covered when a DGA member is employed in the production." Just sayin'.
From Here to Awesome Film Festival
FROM HERE TO AWESOME IS A NEW DISCOVERY AND DISTRIBUTION FESTIVAL
ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS STARTING JAN 10th.
From their website:
The festival’s goal is to create a direct connection between filmmaker and audience. There are NO submission fees for filmmakers. FHTA attempts to create multiple revenue opportunities for the festival filmmakers by providing a platform that enables distribution across multiple outlets - mobile, online, living rooms and theaters.
Filmmakers retain all their rights and choose how to price their work.In an interesting twist we’ve decided to put the programming of the festival directly in the hands of the audience. By harnessing the power of social tools, audience members will be able to discover, share and assist in programming the festival.
Four Eyed Monsters: from Podcasts to Movie Theaters
Filmmakers Arin Crumley and Susan Buice present a production and distribution case study for their indie movie Four Eyed Monsters which was marketed primarily through video podcasting.
WSC Show #69 - Interview with John Bowman
In today's episode, we head out to the picket line in front of Fox Studios to speak with John Bowman, Chair of the Negotiating Committee for the WGA. Recorded Wednesday 16 January 2008.
Bummer Alert: Equipment malfunction not too long after we began rolling. Edited in such a way as to indicate when it happened and to continue where it made sense to cut back in. I apologize for this…it was a bummer for myself as well.
17 January, 2008
DGA - AMPTP Reach Agreement
As posted on both the DGA's and the AMPTP's websites, both sides have reached an agreement.On the AMPTP’s website, the formal statement read as follows:
The agreement between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Directors Guild of America establishes an important precedent: Our industry’s creative talent will now participate financially in every emerging area of new media. The agreement demonstrates beyond any doubt that our industry’s producers are willing and able to work with the creators of entertainment content to establish fair and flexible rules for this fast-changing marketplace.
We hope that this agreement with DGA will signal the beginning of the end of this extremely difficult period for our industry. Today, we invite the Writers Guild of America to engage with us in a series of informal discussions similar to the productive process that led us to a deal with the DGA to determine whether there is a reasonable basis for returning to formal bargaining. We look forward to these discussions, and to the day when our entire industry gets back to work.
Peter Chernin, Chairman and CEO, the Fox Group
Brad Grey, Chairman & CEO, Paramount Pictures Corp.
Robert A. Iger, President & CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Michael Lynton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Barry M. Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.
Leslie Moonves, President & CEO, CBS Corp.
Harry Sloan, Chairman & CEO, MGM
Jeff Zucker, President & CEO, NBC Universal
And on the DGA’s website highlights of the new agreement were given and features:
• Increases both wages and residual bases for each year of the contract.
• Establishes DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet.
• Establishes new residuals formula for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) that essentially doubles the rate currently paid by employers.
• Establishes residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.
Finally on the WGA website, in response to the DGA-AMPTP tentative agreement, the guild issued the following statement:
Now that the DGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, the terms of the deal will be carefully analyzed and evaluated by the WGA, the WGA's Negotiating Committee, the WGAW Board of Directors, and the WGAE Council. We will work with the full membership of both Guilds to discuss our strategies for our own negotiations and contract goals and how they may be affected by such a deal.For more information from the each guild, click on their respective hyperlinks.
For over a month, we have been urging the conglomerates to return to the table and bargain in good faith. They have chosen to negotiate with the DGA instead. Now that those negotiations are completed, the AMPTP must return to the process of bargaining with the WGA. We hope that the DGA's tentative agreement will be a step forward in our effort to negotiate an agreement that is in the best interests of all writers.
Sequoia Capital’s Mark Kvamme Speaks!
Kara Swisher of All Things Digital got this killer interview with Mark Kvamme from Sequoia Capital (the $$$ behind "Funny or Die").
WSC Show #68 - Walking the Line with Jennifer Glickman, Bennett Tramer and Maria Elena Rodriguez
In this episode I visit the picket line at Warner Bros. Studios and meet up Jennifer Glickman from The Big Bang Theory, Bennett Tramer from Saved By The Bell, and Maria Elena Rodriguez from Kingpin. It's worth noting I've interviewed all these beautiful striking writers in past episodes. Recorded Monday 14 January 2008.
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