by Jonathan Hludzinski on May 31st, 2009
Charm. Michael Friedman, the creator, producer, writer and lead (Mikey) of The Super Man has infused it into this imperfect, but very likeable new web series. And why wouldn’t he? He’s from Philly, just like me.
With a genuine accent that fits somewhere between New York and Philly that you can’t help but love, Friedman plays a superintendent of an apartment building in Los Angeles, with dreams of becoming a pro boxer. Drawing from real life, the show was inspired by Friedman’s stint as a Super in New York with his high school best friend, Gregory Konow who is also a writer on the show and plays his best friend, Joey, in the series.
by Heather J. Taylor on May 29th, 2009
You know when you’re sleeping next to someone and that someone wakes you up in the middle of the night and starts telling you a dream? And then you’re like, “Uggghhh…but I’m sleeping!” but he or she tells you the dream anyway? And his or her subconscious story is a little vague, far-fetched and confusing, [...]
by Lindsay Stidham on May 29th, 2009
Graphic novelist Dash Shaw is taking his first animated series to IFC.com. Shaw’s ventures will IFC will be a 5-episode web series based his upcoming graphic novel, The Unclothed Man, set to launch in mid November of 2009. The series will tell the story of a man involved with an anti-droid organization and will accompany the published novel with the same story line and characters.
The wonder boy artist (Shaw is just 26) is probably best known for his graphic novel Bottomless Belly Button, which scored Publishers Weekly best graphic novel of 2008. The pairing of Shaw and IFC seems to fit IFC’s mantra perfectly–”to create genre-bending content that indulges the alternative culture obsessions of our influential audience.” Reading a bit more about the plot line for The Unclothed Man, both comic book nerds and the graphic novel curious can rejoice. The series will feature a hero by the name of Rebel X-6.
by Lesley Goldberg on May 29th, 2009
Looking to “stand out in the fierce competition for tourist dollars,” the Visit Pennsylvania Tourism Department has turned to the web to attract visitors via its new original web series, Peter Arthur Stories.
Featuring a cast made up of all Pennsylvania residents, the series revolves around Peter Arthur and his quest through the state via an orange scooter to find Meg, a waitress who served him a perfect slice of pie during a family road trip years ago that he treasures as one of his favorite moments in life.
by Marc Hustvedt on May 28th, 2009
So what are the secrets to a successful web series? A new research report out from London-based Futurescape sets out to answer just that. As everyone from advertising execs, studios, digital agencies and of course content creators try to figure out what why some web series have become break out hits, while others languish in obscurity.
The researchers framed their findings with a four “step” model based on their analysis of top web series.
Several in-depth case studies center the research, including US web series Diggnation and The Guild along with international hits Sofia’s Diary and The Gap Year. The case studies broke down each series’ advertising effectiveness, innovative use of social media and other online community engagement and underlying business models.
by Michael Shaw on May 28th, 2009
Border Stories dubs itself “a Mosaic Documentary,” and, not unlike mosaics, this collection of 22 shorts has an elevated, canonical, yet still modest air. The short, five-minute-or-less film vignettes successfully bring each side of the U.S.-Mexican border closer together in our minds by drawing attention to our shared universality and humanity.
by Jonathan Hludzinski on May 28th, 2009
So I’m watching the show and I’m ready to rip it apart, nicely, respectfully. A buddy cop comedy that isn’t funny. A show that needs serious development, maybe new actors, maybe a new director even. I mean, I’m all about Duck ‘N Cover hanging it up.
I wanted to like it, I was primed to like it. The website, duckncover.com, is simple, slick and cool. Nice design. Even the credit sequences are cool. They set you up for an action-packed, funny buddy cop show and the graphics are pretty special too. Creators Brian Lerner (writer) and Sergio Pinheiro (director) seem to know what they want and create an expectation that left me salivating.
by Marc Hustvedt on May 27th, 2009
Oh Crackle. It’s really no secret that you’re after that coveted young male demo, and the latest two additions to the summer web series roster should score some points in that game: Mommy XXX and All Stars.
Mommy XXX, a new reality series goes after one of the only unclaimed plots on the reality landscape, porn stars mommies. The show centers around a typical real-life family who’s matriarch, Demi Delia, happens to be a Playboy model turned adult film star. The single mom raises her 14 year-old daughter — a straight-A student — and her aspiring punk rocker son.
Next up is All Stars, starring Crackle-regular Owen Benjamin (Owen Benjamin Presents, Heckle U, Gaytown) as the ringleader of the Nifty Rubber Band company’s failing office softball league. The series is written by Benjamin along with fellow Owen Benjamin Presents writer Jesse Shapiro who also stars in the show. Their usual gang of comedians star as well, including Chris Wylde (Heckle U) and Brody Stevens (Gaytown).
