I want to start off this post with a few warnings: 1) it is very long. 2) I am in no way speaking for Tubefilter as a whole but in my own words in an attempt to offer a fair and balanced critique of all that occurred at the 2nd Annual Streamy Awards. I just have the unique benefit of being able to do it as a member of the Tubefilter staff as well as a member of the IAWTV, as someone who has attended both iterations of the Streamy Awards thus far, and as someone who is a creator, producer, and just general fan of all things New Media. For official comments from Streamy executive producer and Tubefilter CEO Brady Brim-Deforest, please read Liz Miller’s comprehensive piece at NewTeeVee.
Knowing I needed to cover the Awards ceremony, I struggled with a fair way to put a voice to so many of the concerns, disappointments, confusion, wonderment, and all the other array of emotions a lot of us were feeling, whether we watched the ceremony live or from various places across the world via the livestream or iPhone application. So I came to the decision that the best thing to do would be for the community to speak for itself. And so I reached out and invited people via e-mail and Twitter to provide me with feedback as well as researching blogs that were commenting on the evening’s events.
The response was immediate and varied but in general, the concerns seemed to sum up to four key issues: 1) Technical issues 2) Content issues 3) The level of self-deprecation presented and 4) Concerns about effects on New Media as a whole. I’ll begin by sharing a few words from the personal blog of Barrett Garese, Founder of Spytap Industries: “This will be a hard entry to write, as I’m friends or friendly with many of those involved with The Streamy Awards. I feel that in light of last night, it’s important enough to not pull any punches for the sake of nicety though. Our community is built on dialogue, integrity, and honesty, so with that in mind I apologize in advance to those whose feelings I’m about to singe.”
Technical Issues
The Fine Brothers had produced an original video piece for the Awards, much like they had last year. Unfortunately, in the middle of playing their video, it crashed. And while host Paul Scheer, a seasoned improviser, did a good job of vamping in the silence that followed, it seemed to be the beginning of a steady decline in the pacing of the show.
“Technical glitches happen. While a tech rehearsal might have been wise, I also understand that there’s a monetary concern”, said Nina Bargiel, creator of the Streamy-winning Valemont ARG. “I thought Paul Scheer was a virtual hero, and handled himself impeccably. I walked in a Paul Scheer fan, but people who didn’t know him all remarked on the amazing job he did.”
“An awards show for web shows should make it’s online presence a top priority. Chatrooms were not moderated and overrun with YouTubers”, commented Anthony DeLosa, a content creator that was watching from home. “While that in and of itself is a reminder of how to create a fan base that few web shows have someone clearly misrepresented to them what the Streamys are.”
In general, the feeling in the community was that the technical issues themselves weren’t as much of an issue as what they lead to. “Before we hit that curve in the road we had a great monologue, some impressive entertainment pieces, and most importantly, we recognized some truly wonderful talent in the digital space,” shared Derek Housman, web content creator and IAWTV member. “The technical issues would have been forgiven had the show not derailed as far as it did.”
(The full version of The Fine Brothers Streamy video is posted above)
Content Issues
There was quite a bit of discussion on just how many times the word “vulgar” came up in Twitter posts in response to the Streamys. In his blog, Blake Calhoun (Creator of Streamy-winning PINK) commented: “I was … very surprised at the amounts of sex references, sex jokes and just plain vulgarity throughout the entire production (and I’m not even talking about the two streakers – which was, um, yeah…). And trust me, I’m not a prude.”
“The most common complaint I’ve heard is the raunchy, inappropriate humor”, said Michelle Dunlap (Issue: The Series). “For an awards show that had not only the creators, but their families and friends (including children) in attendance, I feel that this was an enormous mistake on their part. The awards were billed as a celebration of the creators and artists who made them possible, but I’m rather ashamed to point to the awards after this year’s show. I see this medium as being much more than cheap sex jokes.”
“Don’t you think that the venue and the weather were almost a metaphor for this and last year’s events?”, mused Taryn O’Neill (Compulsions, After Judgement). “Last year- gorgeous sunny weather- lush surroundings and a ramshackled yet quaint theatre – the 09′s Streamys may have been disorganized but the ceremony was full of bright moments and outsurpassed everyone’s expectations. This year, red carpet set up in a downtown back alley and a parking lot, seedy, dirty, rain threatening, theatre ornate and a bit gaudy. The ceremony encompassed both the seedy and the gaudy.”
“I just felt we didn’t focus on the Success of Web Television so that the Mainstream Media and Hollywood Studios see the VALUE of the space, instead of low brow college humor of four years ago”, stated Mark Gantt (multiple Streamy Award-winner, The Bannen Way).
Overuse of Self-Deprecation
Many people felt the show seemed to rely heavily on humor that would be more appropriate at a roast than an awards show. “The Streamy organizers need to remember that it is a celebration, not a roast”, confirmed Mathieas, a long-time web community member and contributor to the popular blog Web Series Today (formally LG15Today). “The people who are going to watch are people who watch web series and as such, don’t want to listen to a bunch of people telling them how obscure or stupid it is. Imagine going to the CMA’s only to have the host act like country music doesn’t exist or that the only thing that matters is rock.”
“The one real criticism I have of the show was the generally negative tone about Web Television”, said Chris McCaleb (Big Fantastic). “For an event ostensibly honoring the best and brightest in our industry, there seemed to be a consensus among the writers that Web TV is irrelevant, a dead end, a desperate attempt to gain celebrity or that elusive “big break.” As a filmmaker who has been creating New Media professionally for nearly four years (and counting), as well as an inaugural member of the IAWTV, I was taken aback by the overwhelming condescension. Now, it would have been careless NOT to poke fun at our nascent industry – after all, this is still very new, and to ignore the growing pains would be dishonest. But the show seemed to have concluded that Web TV is DOA, and that opinion was simply not representative of the thousands of professionals in attendance, or the hundreds of millions of viewers they represent.”
Effects on New Media
Continued McCaleb: “I can’t imagine how incredibly difficult it is to build an awards show, from the ground up. Rather than idly complaining about the shortcomings of the event, this community should rise up to help bring the Streamys to their full potential. That is the key – the Streamys and the IAWTV aren’t some huge corporation (despite the fancy appearances and army of publicists) – they are ordinary people like us, trying to make a difference. They’re people who love the medium, and want to see everyone succeed. Because this is the online community, we can actually have a huge impact – we can make a difference. So I hope the Producers reach out to this thriving, creative community for next year – we’re ready to help.”
There seemed to be a general consensus that while this might have short-term, damaging effects in the eyes of traditional media, it in no way prevents the web community from banding together an improving the situation. “I sort of equate last night to the second night of the opening of a play,” said Brian Rodda (StrikeTV) “Opening night (last year) is always a blast, but you have to fight the Second Night slump (last night). I’m looking forward to the third act or rather, the third nights performance.”
“It felt like because last year’s Awards were a success and most importantly celebrated so much, the powers that be behind the Streamys just went for bigger is better. And it’s not,” continued O’Neill. “Bite sized entertainment, know your audience, find your niche, innovative storytelling, interactivity…NONE of these key components of success on the web were applied to last night’s awards show. So, if there is a next year, hire writers who are talented and to the point. Hire a host who likes web series or is even involved in one! Show a highlight reel at the beginning of the awards show like you did last year celebrating this years achievements. The one from last year gave me the chills, the one this year made me feel nothing as it was 2/3 through the show and I was already numb with shock.”
All in all, the dialogue needs to continue and the community needs to feel they are a part of the process. “Show us you’ve listened to what people say about this year’s ceremony. Not the rants but the fair criticism,” said web community guru and popular blogger WorldofHiglet. “It won’t be easy but the passion you see shows that people care. It will make it all the sweeter when the same people praise you next year.”
Burnie from Rooster Teeth (Red vs. Blue summed up the night in a comment on Inside LG15: “If you read the Twitter search feed for “streamys”, you may get a different perspective on the evening. I realize it must have been tough to sit in that theater, in the midst of all that mayhem — and the majority of the Streamy Tweets would back up that sentiment. There’s a full account of bad jokes, technical miscues and even nude guys stealing the spotlight. However, if you can get through all that, you will see a sprinkling of posts that express disappointment with the event, but also clearly mention the discovery of new shows. These are people who were seeing The Bannen Way for the first time, people who were just realizing how talented the Gregory Bros are, even people who were finally figuring out why everyone is fascinated by Felicia Day. Amidst all that noise of bad jokes, all that chaos of failing technology and all that mayhem of anonymous party crashers, people were still able to discover new voices and find something that spoke to them. Sounds like the internet to me.”
If you’re interested in getting further views and discussion on the issues surrounding the Streamy Awards, here is a compilation of blog entries from creators, vloggers, viewers, and fans:
iJustine: http://tastyblogsnack.com/2010/04/12/2010-streamy-awards/
The Last Geek Bus Home (WorldofHiglet): http://worldofhiglet.blogspot.com/2010/04/streamys-2010-oh-what-nightbut-not-in.html
Horrible Turn (Chance McClain): http://horribleturn.tumblr.com/post/516621948/a-horrible-turn-at-the-streamy-awards
Jace Hall: http://www.jacehall.net/blog/the-2010-streamys-award-show-disaster/
Blake Calhoun: http://loudpictures.blogspot.com/2010/04/kevin-smith-and-2nd-annual-streamy.html
Brian Lerner: http://brianlerner.tumblr.com/post/516252335/since-you-didnt-ask-my-thoughts-on-the-streamys
Inside LG15 (Miles Beckett): http://inside.lg15.com/2010/04/12/the-streamys-let-us-all-down/
Efficient Creativity (Angelique Toschi): http://efficientcreativity.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/streamy-disaster/
Barrett Garese: http://www.barrettgarese.com/post/516372282/season-one-episode-17
Web Series Today (Mathieas): http://www.webseriestoday.com/2010/04/streamys-this-was-celebration-of-web.html
Nicholas j. Robinson: http://www.nicholasjrobinson.com/blog/general/success-failure-lightsabers-awards-moving-on-from-the-2010-streamys
Twitchy Unreliable-Looking (TheOneTrueB!x): http://www.twitchyunreliablelooking.com/2010/04/12/the-trainwreck-awards/
G.A.McConnell: http://www.austinmcconnell.com/2010/04/2010-streamys-or-how-i-learned-to-stop.html
Feel free to add to the discussion in the comments below or on any of the other sites and blogs covering the event. The only way for things to improve is to continue an open, honest, and constructive dialogue.
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Comments
On my blog I called it a ‘Sophomore Slump’ here’s hoping 2011 is a return to glory – I look forward to helping things improve over the years where I can.
RIP streamys!
Does anyone know if there is a statement coming from the IAWTV Board of Directors?
Something not mentioned above (but still a great, thoughtful post Jenni) is what kind of effect this will have on future brand sponsors who are deciding whether or not to get involved? I know Liz at Newteevee is trying to find out if Trident Gum is actually asking for its $100k back, but also every other brand (Ikea, Kodak, etc.) daring enough to be involved was in attendance and/or watching last night. What does that mean for the space overall? Is anyone else concerned about this?
One really needs to wonder who thought this would go over well?
We have long called for more transparency in terms of how the @IAWTV is run and how it makes decisions. The IAWTV needs to engage in an active dialogue moving forward. The organization needs to open itself up to a frank discussion with the entire web series community.
The @IAWTV cannot or should not continue to act as a closed “society” because in the end it is accountable to the entire web series community and we have just seen what happens if we just let those in power “run with the ball”. Like it? No? Then we need to see a total change in the way the @IAWTV is run.
I think we can be pretty sure that the majority of the members and possibly even some on the Board of Directors of the IAWTV had little knowledge of what was going to happen. That does not make them any less accountable.
Those who did not like what happened need to step forward and work with the community at large to foster the change that is needed. We can move forward and we can make things better but only if there are substantial changes in how the IAWTV is set up and operates.
An apology is only as good as how well the person making it understands and articulates exactly what they did wrong. So far there has been little more than lip service. We need accountability and that begins with those responsible stepping forward and telling us how things went SO far wrong.
Then there needs to be changes. BIG changes. The day of brushing things under the IAWTV carpet is over. We are a world wide community and we need to take our genre back and make sure that this organization aligns itself with the entire community… not just an insider faction.
All I have to say about last night show was that the technical difficulties were unfortunate, but foreseeable. I don’t think that people should be to disappointed. This was only the second streamys.
Here is the Hollywood Reporter’s piece on last night:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.c.....021b1a0831
Thanks for the article and the links to blogs covering last night’s Streamy Awards. I also suggest—
Nightmare on Web Street: The 2010 Streamy Awards
http://mindschmootz.net/2010/0.....my-awards/
great and well done review and survey of opinions.
i only caught the end of the show, when everyone was wailing about the trainwreck, and thus found it immensely watchable for that reason. sometimes something good can come out of something horrible. think of the joke fodder this will provide for next year!!
Here is my post about my thoughts on last night http://andrewseely.com/blog/if.....oesnt-fit/
I love how there is a comment that the live chat was “over run with YouTubers”. As if they were pests. We have the pleasant problem of having to deal with the good and the bad that comes with an excited and growing audience that completely over-shadows 99% of studio backed projects.
While it is easy to mock the fact that a sponsor of the event had tons of nominations, that not until 2 hours into the show did you think to drop the screen down in time to play video clips, or that to honor the web that consists of mainly short form video you held a 4 hour live event. My favorite thing of the night was the lack of security. That the 2 streakers that crashed the event were so surprised no one tried to stop them, they actually ran back across the stage and grabbed the mic, and only then did I realize it wasn’t scripted bc it wasn’t long winded and borish.
I walked into the Streamys excited. That whether you were embracing or pandering to the YouTube crowd that we were invited. Granted we were all slammed into the same categories as to not arouse too much noise when we lost to people who no one cheered for when they were announced as nominees. But I hoped that it would inspire and give the spotlight to the single person studios that win the eyes of the web. That we bust our asses off every day, just to be looked down upon and overlooked by people who can’t buy their way into something we have yet.
To TubeFilter thank you for trying. I know there are only a few of you guys and you tried, but holy god that was a train wreck that crashed into a church filled with old people, and then a kitten making factory, and finally into a group of singing french children licking lolipops and so on and cuter…..
I hope that this doesn’t mean the end of the Streamys, and that the whole Trident walking out on the event thing doesn’t give you too much bad press. Though the trident problem will reconfirm most advertisers fears about online entertainment and hurt the smaller guys.
Wish you the best,
Philip DeFranco
PS. How many people did George Ruiz have to f*ck to get that many clients nominated? And seriously Epic Fu?
Phil Defranco have you not seen your audience? They’re the typical dumb obnoxious teenagers that were no doubt directed there by yourself and Dawson, since that’s your fan base.
Better luck to you next year. I’m sure you’ll be a lock for a Streamy when they add a category for “Most gamed thumbnail pics taken off a Google search without compensation or credit given to the copyright owner of the photo used in a video”.
This show was crap. It was vulgar and offensive. Im sure 95% watched because of the youtubers, so did i. I wouldnt have watched the whole 4 hours without them…it was pure torture. The last years Streamys were entertaining and good, go back to the roots. Trying to be the Oscars will not work.
gorillamist have you not seen who makes up the majority of internet users? It’s those same typical, dumb, obnoxious teenagers. Do you really think that the audience of the non-youtube shows is any better?
Doug Luberts also wrote a post on the 2010 Streamy Awards: http://dougluberts.com/2010/04.....all-sacks/
I think most people are on the same page on this one. I realize humor is subjective, but it came to a point where pretty much everyone in the audience wanted to scream “STOP!”.
I’m sure there were some politics going on that I’ll admit I don’t know about. So I don’t want to assume things beyond my knowledge, but I don’t know why youtubers weren’t nominated in more categories. There is so much talent provided by youtube that extends far beyong “vlogging”. I mean seriously, besides Michael Buckley nominated for best host, youtube only got ONE category? that’s ridiculous, and we all know it. However, the fact that some people are bashing youtube viewers for expressing their opinions (and frankly being the primary and therefore largest audience) is even worse. I feel as though there was the “webshow” community and then the “youtube” community. Instead of a simple community including both.
And gorillamist, Phil and Shane are both talented, and most of their viewers aren’t idiots. And even if they are all dumb obnoxious idiots, at least they provide views, and provided an audience for the Streamys. Without youtube, I doubt more than 10 people would have watched. Because honestly, half of the things nominated are unknown to most people. Im sure some people love those shows, but bottom line, most don’t get the views that youtube does. Not that web content should be all about views, but let’s be honest views=sponsors=money to create better content. Well it used to, hopefully sponsors aren’t terrified to back web-based programs anymore.
So basically one of my biggest worries is when people say things like “Chatrooms were not moderated and overrun with YouTubers” and “Phil Defranco have you not seen your audience? They’re the typical dumb obnoxious teenagers” it just seperates youtube from the rest. It’s so angering that it was not respected in the same way as everything was. (Though to be honest, respect is not a word I’d use in describing the streamys)
I could’ve complained about a lot more, but most of it has already been said. I think everyone should really pay more respect to Youtube, because before you know it, the rest of the web will be begging to be a part of it (I realize that sounds bias, but It’s growing incredibly fast) So let’s all try and be friends, and respect one another? Hopefully respect will come next year at the Streamys, provided there’s some security…i.e no streakers :)
Thanks to Jenni and Liz for beginning a respectful conversation about what went wrong… Hopefully we will be getting more news from the IAWTV, sponsors and a much needed “healing session” somewhere out in the desert.
Below is my conversation with Andrew Kippen and Rob Spectre from Boxee, one of the sponsors, regarding The Streamys:
eGudiers LIVE episode 07
http://eGuiders.com/studio
The segment on the Streamys starts about 20 minutes into the program.
So here is yet another issue with the Streamys that is coming out in the comments but wasn’t addressed in the article that may prove a problem for next year’s Streamys…I call it the ‘Team’ bias problem for want of a better phrase
Something that some of you may not be aware of is the tone problem in discussing the fans of the ‘YouTube’ or more user-generated not corporate sponsored/branded shows. I watched via Ustream, I was in the Ustream chat and while I didn’t have a lot to say, the ‘Youtubers’ certainly did. Now as with all Internet shows there was a certain level of crudity in the unmoderated Ustream chat room (which is why moderation is sometimes employed especially if you might have financial backers to worry about offending potentially seeing the chat), but the fans of ‘Youtube’ shows rightly or wrongly felt slighted by the ceremony. Perhaps there aren’t enough categories honoring user-generated shows or perhaps the yardstick by which UGC should be judged should be a different one than for the shows put on by professional union ‘old media’ talent…I honestly don’t have the answers to these questions, but they are questions I think should be raised & open to discussion in this community including the fans & audience in the dialogue.
Since I’ve framed this as a ‘team’ problem I want to address the other side: Team ‘Professional’ (which is something of a misnomer because this medium of expression is also in it’s infancy, think how television was in the 1940s and you’ll have a good frame of reference for discussing where web content is right now). Frankly the crudity wasn’t just the fault of ‘YouTubers’ or of people who out of desperation and lack of something better to do to save the show from technical fails resorted to streaking or other crudities, it was also inherent in some of the scripted bits in the ceremony. You can’t tell me that whole presentation David Faustino made (and for all awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Web Series?!?!) was a total improvisation and frankly I’m glad that my top 2 choices to receive that award didn’t win because winning would have meant that either Illeana Douglas (who brought the right mix of self-respect & genuine pleasure in having won an award to her acceptance speech for Best Cast) or Justine Bateman (who probably would not have been as aghast at the insensitivity of the mysogynistic ‘comedy’ of being hugged by a guy in his underpants in order to collect an award statuette and just went with it) would have had to be subjected to what poor Felicia Day was. Did anybody run this scripted bit past women not working in webseries before deciding it would be a good idea to put it in the ceremony show? As a woman in the online audience I was aghast at how creepy and unprofessional it was and I’m sure this is one of the things the sponsors are concerned about too. And this in an industry that needs capital to grow & further realize its potential…not the wisest of directions to go comedically speaking.
This kind of tone-deaf comedy isn’t just a Streamys thing though…in the Indie Spirit awards ceremonies the ‘fuck yeah we’re indies’ confrontational tone in that show’s humor often comes through in the uncensored version of that awards show on IFC and it’s jarring to an audience (especially an audience that hasn’t seen the nominated films but might do so based on the awards show) and also to sponsors of that show. I sometimes wonder after watching that ceremony too just who really is the audience for that awards show and if they really want to broaden the audience for the films nominated or they just want to amuse themselves (Eddie Izzard felt less like that this year save for the fake porn stars reading the best film nominees at the Spirits very end which was also painful to watch and made the celebrity presenter look like a jerk, but the Rainn Wilson ceremony a year earlier sure did all throughout)
I think the biggest problem you’re not seeing besides pitting fans whose tastes lean more towards unsponsored UGC against those whose tastes run to the professional and more conventionally sponsored content (I count myself in the latter camp but I respect the passion and dedication of fans of the former) is really what is it you all want to accomplish with the awards ceremony show? Do you want to build audiences? Because if you do, first of all they need to know more about the shows nominated…like say maybe more behind the scenes content on the Streamys website (think like what we get in DVD extras) better explaining what your shows are about (the comments in Ustream were blunt, what the hell are they talking about, I’ve never heard of this show, and more often than not they were ignorant of the branded ‘professional’ shows not the vloggers (about which I freely admit I’m clueless save Bridget)). There are a lot of webseries nominated this year I really know nothing about & still am ignorant because well the ceremony & the website didn’t clue me in very effectively. This could be changed in the future, quite easily I think, with the right care & effort put forth.
Also if you want to build more audiences, can you afford to disrespect the core you already have by calling them ‘Youtubers’ rather than letting them be evangelists for your shows or doing ‘humorous’ bits in the awards show that turn out to not be humorous at all but just plain offputting, sometimes to specific groups of people (women, kids, the gay & lesbian community…here I’m thinking of the Chatroulette skit that seemed interminable and just dumb, corporate sponsors) and sometimes to everyone (did anyone think the pop-up schtick was funny)?
I guess what I’m advocating for is that everyone involved puts a lot of thought and effort into their individual shows, so why should the awards ceremony be treated like an afterthought that frankly felt like maybe wider audiences weren’t intended to be a part of the ceremony show? I’m hoping that you all really think this through before you invite us in the audience to next year’s ceremony. And no you can’t afford to skip a tech rehearsal (I was disappointed that Sparhusen’s performance was so marred by bad sound, mic levels, etc…don’t let something like that happen again please). You all deserve better than what you were represented by and I’m so sorry that it was this awful. But it doesn’t kill my enthusiasm for your series, just this awards ceremony show.
We can work this out but the conversations need to start happening now and in earnest.
After all the vlogs and blogs about the Streamys i decided to cut back on youtube. UGC is awesome but not if the UGC creators think UGC is the only true content. Maybe an inferiority complex. Who knows.
Great blog Jenni :)
I want to make it clear that it was never my intention to gloss over a “YouTube vs. scripted content” debate. I may suffer by being naive but I honestly never saw that as being one of the issues here. I was looking at the show itself and how it effected the entire web space as a whole. If there is such a rift forming because of this, I am all for talking it out because it would be a shame to continue to let that rift form. The web community, in my mind, includes everyone who puts up content in every form, from scripted to UGC to ARGs to flash animation, etc. etc.
As a fan of youtube, i was really disappointed with the setup of the show. the show i believe show be a celebration of media, but instead has become a viper with an ugly head. Now i am a fan of Phillip de Franco, =3 (ray William Johnson, and Rhett and Link. i actually turned the show off, again due to the fact that the show was poorly planned. the musical acts were horrible, and as the usual as awards shows go you want to see your favs win… but mine didn’t. I can appriecate talent, and doesn’t matter who wins but man it was horrible. jokes were empty… music sucked… for the sake of the show… HIRE SOMEONE TO DO A GREAT JOB. A award show should be for the event not the winners… but for the fans… just my 2 cents
Hi guys!
I tweeted when I got home like 10 thoughts and thought I made peace with it :-)
But I guess I have a few more thoughts.
I will just say, it was a long night.
I was very embarrassed sitting there watching.
I was more embarrassed that I had talked it up and told so many people online and in real life to watch. That was the worst part. Knowing I had told so many people and they were so exciting to see it.
Halfway thru, I leaned over to my husband and said “I hope my father stopped watching”.
It was perhaps more disappointing that my husband and I flew at our expense from Connecticut to be part of something that was embarrassing to be part of.
People always talk about the gap between the web and TV.
Blah blah blah.
All the put downs. Right away too.
I cringed.
I had a feeling right away.
SIDE NOTE:
I love making internet videos.
GOD I LOVE IT!
I am very successful too.
Why all the put downs?
Like this is not as good as TV.
F*ck that attitude.
I wouldn’t trade my life with anyone on TV.
Also, YES, there is a big gap between all these WebTV folks and us YouTubers.
Very different process/needs/results.
I understand what I do is very different than these budgeted web series.
The WebTV folks need these awards to get funding and more attention.
While it was nice to be included…….
I think looking back – it looks like you nominated Shane, Phil, Me etc not to show respect for our work but because we have very large subscriber bases/twitter followers. Maybe that is not true, but sitting there in the crowd, it felt that way.
I knew when I looked at the list of the voting committee, I had no chance of winning. Which is fine. I don’t know how you would compare what I do VS, Alex VS Zadi VS Kevin so no worries on that :-)
It really does feel that way. We didn’t fit in with the evening. They were more interested in the “celeb” folks who next year will be harder to get there after this? (I hope not).
Regarding the content, I am no prude. Lord knows I enjoy swearing – but this is an Awards Show- not some 5 minute video you could turn off. I kept sitting there thinking -FAST FORWARD! STOP! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Everyone has said enough about the content. You know how it was.
My other big complaint was – no food?
I went to some party the night before. Big room. Cash bar. No food?
I just thought – They have pages of sponsors? No Food?
Went to the after party- no food??? We sat for three hours?
I flew from CT- no food????
Now i am just complaining. Sorry for that.
It was just a long strange trip :-)
And I guess I was too excited.
It was great to see many of you though!!!!!
Love,
Buck
PS: I read The Secret. I hate to complain. But you asked :-)
Not to divert too much from the topic at hand, but I’d also like to echo some of the sentiments of modelmotion above, regarding the need for openness and transparency within the IAWTV, including, but not limited to, the Streamys nomination and voting process.
I joined the IAWTV this spring, after a membership screening process where communications were, at best, minimal. After being accepted, and paying the membership fee, I have received literally no follow-up communication regarding the organization, who the leadership is, what the rights/benefits/responsibilities of membership are, and who, and where, I can contact the IAWTV if I have any questions.
Communication has largely been limited to the nomination and voting process, another area where there is an enormous amount of improvement to be made.
On all rounds in the process, I was given ridiculously short (in some cases only a few days) to watch, literally, hundreds of web videos to rank and rate. It was an onerous process that I took seriously, but can not be the model for how this business is conducted going forward.
There is a lot of work ahead for the IAWTV leaders and membership, as moving forward towards 2011 is going to be a make-or-break period for the organization, and I fear that, after Sunday night, we are already behind the eight ball.
PS. How many people did George Ruiz have to f*ck to get that many clients nominated? And seriously Epic Fu?
Well said! Want to win have George Ruiz as your agent.
Can you add mine??
http://kiddsock.com/?p=124
Also, treating the craft nominees like they are not part of the show. Not cool. No clips shown from our shows after asking for them. When 40 minutes of padding would have fit the entire craft show right in the “important show” instead of an unrelated “dance number or bit” Not cool.
Not very nice. Not being in the retrospective of the year when the nominees were supposed to be the best of the year makes you wonder why you came to this. No carpet, no clip? Makes you feel like if you got craft you weren’t anything.
We were told even as craft nominees we weren’t supposed to walk the Red Carpet. How does that make you feel when the only level higher than nominee is winner of the awards? Isn’t that the only “bone” we get thrown is the chance to talk about out show to press for once as nominees?
Finally. being put up in the top of the balcony away from the nominees instead on ensuring nominated people got to sit together whether they were craft or “real” would go a long way to the shabby “general public” feeling you gave us as nominees. No after party tickets because after all we were just craft nominees was the final insult to a pointless appearance by our cast, friends and celebrity guests.
They show made me ashamed. How could you go up after that abortion and say it meant anything to you or anyone when you were in a vulgar roast of what you do? We went into a business meeting before the Sunday show and said we are a Streamy nominated series and got a pitch meeting. We had a meeting Monday after and when we mentioned we were a Streamy nominee the conversation turned to “oh my god you are part of that??” which went on to a 30 minute dissection of errors and embarrassment and then no real meeting for us.
Next time I guess it will be best if we omit the part about our show being Streamy nominated if we want to have a sponsors meeting for the next season. How upside down is that?
I became so pissed that I wrote something: http://misnomer.newsvine.com/_.....n-industry
Ok well if anyone makes it down here, my quote seems to have touched a nerve for a few so I’d like to elaborate. I didn’t create the term YouTubers, this is how they were referring to themselves in chat and as you can see, Buck himself uses it so I’m not quite sure what the issue is there.
I think there are other award shows where you would expect a larger contingent of YouTube personalities to be represented. In fact, today in NY is the Digital Viral Video awards where they’ll present such categories as most watched, most commented and most posted videos. Furthermore, YouTube is a sponsor. There were 2 categories at the Streamys that were not WebTV-centric., so if there was an expectation that there would be a more YouTuber/UGC presence then as I said someone greatly misrepresented what the show is. I’m unsure why so many thought there would be a larger YouTube presence at the Streamys then there was. Clearly in chat that expectation was not being met.
IMO, it was completely out of respect those categories in which prominent YouTubers can be nominated were created and their presence does belong. If you want to make the argument that the Streamys should be more inclusive and include a bigger variety of web video, you certainly can.
Suggestions for next year:
1. Keep the show PG. Assume it’s on television. It maintains the prestige of the event as well as allowing friends and family to watch it. I would not invite my little sisters or grandparents to watch the show if that level of obscenity were to be on display.
2. Keep it short. Cut out 60% of the unfunny jokes. Take a page out of the Craft Awards ceremony. Brisk and to the point.
3. On that note – combine the Craft awards with the main awards. I know a lot of Craft Award nominees and winners feel shafted with their treatment. So on that note:
4. Invite the Craft Award winners to the photo call, invite them on stage or at least have the highlight reel working. All Streamys are made equally!
5. Finally please have a tech rehearsal.
Yes, it was a strange show. No denying that. But I hope there will be a 2011 Streamys because the people that make good web content need to be appreciated and celebrated. I think if organizers keep that in mind – we’re here to honor those who put their own time and effort to make web entertainment, some for good money or endorsements, some with little to money made at all, but all equally important in the future of entertainment – then I think we will be starting in a good place.
http://www.blacknerdcomedy.com.....seriously/
I wrote a blog highlighting the best parts of the awards show. Figure you’d need some positive reinforcement. And hopefully to remind all of us why we are here to celebrate in the first place. Love, Luck & Lollipops!
Thanks so much for all the commenters, and partly the writer of the article, who pointed out how much this year’s Streamy’s laid bare the blatant misrepresentation: when shows that “no one has heard of” but have vast corporate sponsorship ‘win’ in categories, and YT shows with enormous followings get ignored; when the tone of the show was aimed at marginalizing and demeaning webshows; you have to begin to notice the not-at-all-subtle hand of Old Media struggling against it’s own obsolescence.
This might not be true,
but I heard that there might not even be a Streamys next year.
The people who run the whole thing keep saying “if” there is one next year, they will do things differently.
hmm…
I have been bothered by Felicia Day winning awards while sitting on the IAWTV board, also she was shown with a huge picture with a streamy on the main streamy page almost everyday during audience voting. That’s not fair to the other shows that are competing against her show. Still think someone (Whoever was in charge of the awards either Brady, Drew, Jamison, Joshua or Marc) should step down from the Streamy awards and take responsibility for the 2010 disaster so we can move on.
FWIW, my late suggestion.
http://www.twitchyunreliablelo.....my-awards/
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