Tubefilter News

Still nothing like the big screen when web series look this good. Seriously, at the risk of selling out my 640 pixel comrades, there is something that happens when you sit back and watch some of these web series we all get excited about in their full uncompressed HD glory. And The Bannen Way, the high octane thrill ride shot on the RED One camera, is well worthy of some cinematic screen time. That and sharing the experience with a few hundred fellow vicarious adrenaline junkies.

This Friday evening Sony’s Crackle is hosting a special LA screening of the complete first season of The Bannen Way at the American Cinemateque’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. It’s the latest in a series of screenings at the Egyptian that show the internet some love, with previous screenings including Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, The Guild, Strike.TV and Funny or Die.

On hand for a Q&A after the screening will be Bannen stars Mark Gantt, Robert Forster, Michael Ironside, Michael Lerner and director Jesse Warren. Also on the program for the night is a sneak preview of Shane Felux’s much-awaited sci-fi drama Trenches, which recently signed on with Crackle for release later this year after hanging out in Stage 9 purgatory.

And we were just getting into it! Riese, the steampunk-infused fantasy web series drama that has been unfolding online since its launch back in November, has been pulled down due to request from its new distribution partner Fireworks, the digital distribution arm of UK-based ContentFilm. The series had just begun Chapter 2 this week, releasing its six episode before the takedown occurred earlier today. This is the same firm that had picked up international distribution rights for recent web series like MTV New Media’s college mystery Valemont and Endemol UK’s sci-fi thriller Kirill.

Just trailers are left online on their YouTube channel and on KoldCast TV, which was the primary online network distributing the series. No word at this point when or if the series will return to the internet.

An excerpt from a blog post today by creators Ryan Kopple and Kaleena Kiff explaining the takedown (emphasis added):

We also recently partnered with Fireworks, a digital distribution branch of ContentFilm, based out of the UK. They’re largely responsible for the transition of the webseries Valemont from internet to television, and they handle a number of many other well-known webseries as well.

What does this mean for Riese? It opens up a number of opportunities. For one, it increases the chances that we can keep making this show and letting you become further involved in the world of Riese. Additionally, it boosts the possibility of us being able to distribute the series on other platforms (episode downloads, DVDs, and television).

Now, for the bad news. While Fireworks is negotiating deals on our behalf, we’ve had to remove our episodes from online streaming. We’re not happy about it by any means – we want all of our fans to enjoy Riese whenever they want – but we also understand that it’s a necessary move in order to keep a project like Riese afloat. The few of us that are responsible for producing Riese on a day-to-day basis are realistic that we cannot sustain it without the support of Fireworks and our viewers.

We hope to have everything back up as soon as possible, and we’ll keep everyone posted as we move forward. I know a lot of people will be bummed out, but just know that this slight delay could mean a whole new future for Riese. We don’t want to disappoint you all, but I know you’d be even more disappointed if we left the rest of this epic tale untold.

So far fans seem to be supportive of the move on based on comments on a fan Live Journal community, with most saying they are bummed but wish the best for the creators. One fan wrote: “While I am a bit bummed that the episodes have been taken down, as I was JUST about to rewatch them, I’m also UBER excited about the new opportunities this will open up for this franchise! I will be eagerly awaiting the return of Riese and hopefully you guys will have inked a deal for iTunes distribution, so I can buy a season pass!”

We reached out to KoldCast TV CEO David Samuels, who is a big supporter (and web distributor) of the series:

When KoldCast TV licensed Riese, a top-notch series, only KoldCast and YouTube distributed it and we were thrilled to be working with Ryan Copple. We worked very hard to introduce the series to our international audience which is now in 138 countries. As is the case in our industry, we monetized the series through pre-roll ads which, at this time in our space, does not fully monetize any individual programming, whether at KoldCast TV or any other distribution platform. When Ryan reached out to us to share the basic details of the new opportunity that landed on his plate, we learned that foreign rights were a material component of the opportunity. At this time, KoldCast does not geo block our Network programming, making it impossible for Riese to close their proposed deal. Nonetheless, Ryan gave us the opportunity to complete the remaining term of our two-year licensing agreement. If we had done so, we would have stood in the way of a genuine opportunity for the show to have a shot at generating greater revenues in foreign markets. While legally entitled to do so, we told Ryan that such a decision was contrary to our support of filmmakers around the world and that we would step aside in support of the show. Though painful to give up such a great series, it was the right thing to do for Ryan and all those who have worked so hard to achieve their dream. It goes without saying, we wish them the best of luck and we will still be big fans.

Streamy-winning director Blake Calhoun (Pink) has announced his latest web series project today, a sci-fi drama set in space called Continuum. The series will star Harper’s Globe and loneylgirl15 star Melanie Merkosky (left) as Reagen, a young woman who awakes on a space ship without any memory of what she is doing there. Her only companion on board is the ship’s computer, a female spin on 2001’s “Hal,” voiced by Taryn O’Neill (Compulsions, After Judgment). Also announced for the cast is Brad Hawkins (Pink) as Tipton.

Calhoun and co. are calling the project “a futuristic thriller in the noir-ish tradition of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien.” Loud Pictures, Calhoun’s production company is producing along with Alternative Fuel, a multiplatform company he co-founded with Pink producer Mike Maden. Also producing is CJP Digital Media, with Wilson Cleveland involved on distribution and marketing of the series, as it does for The Fall of Kaden, IKEA-backed Easy to Assemble and Spherion-sponsored The Temp Life.

Similar to Pink’s start, which began as a purely indie production before being picked up by Generate after its successful first season, Contiuum is starting out independently backed. Production will begin on the first ten episodes of the sci-fi project in Dallas and Los Angeles beginning February 22. Calhoun also has Exposed still in development over at Warner Bros. for its online channel TheWB.com, a project on which he is teaming up with director McG and his Wonderland Sound and Vision outfit.

Awards season for web series is in full stride right now, and now that public submissions for the Streamy Awards have closed, attention of show creators has turned to wooing Academy members who will do much of the tough voting for the top honors in web TV. Two independent series teamed up to host an unofficial ‘Academy screening’ in Hollywood last night, with comedy Blue Movies and drama The Fall of Kaden teeing up on the big screen at Cinespace.

Kicking off the evening, Kaden creators Matt Doubler and Adam Leiphart matched up with Blue Movies creator Scott Brown to show a surprise “For Your Consideration” video (above), poking fun at the precarious business of web series. They tapped the omnipresent Shira Lazar to ‘host’ the video which stars a smattering of each series’ lead actors. The screening theater was packed, with scant standing room space in the back.

First on the docket was porn-biz comedy Blue Movies, screening in its entirety while still keeping its episodic form. Each episode opened with its staple trailer for an upcoming Pornamount Studios remake of a well known blockbuster. (My personal favorites: “G.I. Ho” and “Indiana Bones”) The 5-episode series flowed seamlessly, each one coming in around 7-9 minutes, unfurling the story of unassuming new hire Tom (Beck Bennett) coping with the unexpected reality of his new job in the adult film biz, a barking porn director Max Chapan (Jareb Dauplaise) and an ambitious young co-worker (Anna Sascha Alexander,) all trying to make the best adult film ever made.

(For more, see our in-depth review of Blue Movies from this fall).

Between the two series was a trailer for upcoming comedy series Appleseed Elementary, a workplace comedy complete with actual elementary school kids and a cast of misfit educators.

The Fall of Kaden opted to cut one continuous screening together, taking all 10 episodes from the debut season as one 55-minute piece. A dark drama that explores the corruptive animalistic nature of man, the room fell quiet as the story of Kaden (Adam Leiphart), a flawed loan shark lending money to a degenerate gambler (Brian Troyan) unfolded on screen. There really is something about watching drama unfold on a big screen with a professional AV setup of the theater lets the deftly crafted sound design—Jeremy Sohl is up for consideration here—pull the audience into the tension.

I notched a new first for myself on the internet when researching this piece. I’ve never been too old for anything online, but much to my dismay, my birth year couldn’t be found on the registration page for Sweety High. That, and I’m the wrong gender. The tween social site, which officially launched in public beta today, is after all meant for girls age 9-13.

What caught my eye in the first place was the launch of this “social world for girls” comes complete with its own professionally produced web series—Sweety. The trailer (above) sets the tone for this glossy drama from the high school hallways, with a noticeably younger spin than most web fare—think the little sisters of the Prom Queen girls.

Sweety High co-founder Veronica Zelle wrote and directed the interactive web series, herself a producer of music videos for the likes of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears and commercials aimed at tweens. Zelle cast a set of fetching young up-and-comers to play the four “quintessential girlfriends”—My Alibi star Julianna Guill, Kara Crane, Meagan Holder, and Brittany Finamore . In terms of interactivity, for now it means the girls will all participate in character with their own profile pages and regular blog posts.

“The show was playing into our strengths already,” co-founder Frank Simonetti—also a film and TV veteran—told us. “It was someting we knew we could do well—and at a price point that wouldn’t break the bank.” Three other original web series are in the works for Sweety High, including Food Star, with The Clique’s Sophie and Emily Everhard which just began production, Glam Squad with fashonista Scarlett Turner and a forthcoming scripted series, Gadget Girl. “Original content is exciting and it’s sorely lacking in terms of high quality content for this demo,” added Simonetti.

I will be honest. I don’t know what byCHANCE – a new web series from Noah Craigwell, Darrus Sands, Miranda Craigwell, and Miles Craigwell of Beyond Measures Productions – is about. “People,” I guess? It’s the only other option besides completely BSing my way through this review, but I don’t write for Buddyhead.

So, here is what I think I know about byCHANCE: It’s a web series consisting of a variety of random, unconnected stories set in and around Boston that “deal with real people in real situations.” The first story “In Limbo” is about a homeless actor named Mace. The second story “Grey Line” is about a girl who likes a boy, and owns a cell phone.

Now here is what I don’t know about byCHANCE, and may never find out: Why is Mace homeless? Why does Mace have “thanks for a good time last night” written in marker on his chest? Why is the woman in “Grey Line” so head over heels for the man even though he’s distant? Granted, that last one poses a side question about women and relationships that not even the great Elayne Boosler has been able to answer.

As it pertains to “In Limbo,” limbo is the operative word. At its beginning the lead character Mace is talking to a friend in a snow covered park about a two day old party and his last acting audition. It’s a touchy subject. Day turns to night and Mace has no place to stay so he phones a friend to ask if he can crash on his sofa. The friend, too busy watching reruns of Martin, puts Mace on hold to pretend to ask for permission. It’s a tense and shameful scene. The answer is no.

Mace finds another place to sleep, and the next morning receives a phone call from the casting agent about his prior audition. Hooray, it’s a call back. Woops, his phone runs out of minutes in the middle of the call. That is the last mention of it in the story. So Mace hangs out at a bus stop. He asks a woman for a dollar. Eyes her purse. The end.

KASKADE, the music producer/remix artist (neé Ryan Raddon) is profiled in the latest episode of music doc series The Craft which came out today from husband and wife creators duo Trevor Smith and Stephanie Luciano-Smith. [KoldCast]

Vpype launched a public beta of Vpype Live Broadcaster, its live interactive video application on Facebook. Just like many of the live streaming portals (Ustream, LiveStream, Stickam), users can create scheduled or unscheduled interactive live shows, send video notes, store completed broadcasts, etc., though Vpype lives entirely within the Facebook ecosystem. [emailed release]

Yellow Line Studio announced it is premiering its first original web series on Friday, BUMP+, which follows three women facing unintended pregnancies. The thirteen-episode documentary series from creators Christopher Riley and Dominic Iocco aim to show both sides of the hot-button abortion debate. “Each woman has her own reasons for accepting a reality show producer’s invitation to chronicle the very personal journey toward a decision about her pregnancy.” (Trailer below.) [BUMP+]

Yale University released a scripted music video (below) “That’s Why I Chose Yale” from its official YouTube channel this week. The video has already racked up over 160,000 views, though sadly comments and ratings have been disabled, hinting that the Ivy League stalwart might not be ready for YouTube’s huddled masses. 2006 Yale graduate Andrew Johnson, a Yale admissions staffer created the video, which stars more than 200 Yalies singing and dancing. [Washington Post]

Lisa was just left by her husband…for a man. Bree struggles with emotional swings that she attempts to channel into poetry while rejecting the advances of her (much) older boss. Sam hitch hiked into town with her deadbeat boyfriend and doesn’t really care about anything but is still willing to be there for Bree and Lisa. The three women met while seeing the same therapist and have since struck up an unlikely yet rewarding friendship.

These are the three lead characters in the upcoming independent web series Blue Fiddles. Beautifully shot in Portland and Forest Grove Oregon and written by actress Nena Botto, this series skillfully interweaves the lives of three complex, quirky, and ultimately damaged women as they try to support themselves through each of their life changes. Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, they are not.

Says Botto: “The name (Blue Fiddles) is a description of the three women, and how they feel about life. Blue is a melancholy feeling and color. And a fiddle is a fun instrument. If one thinks of themselves as an instrument, then the people that come into their lives are musicians. It’s poetic, left to interpretation.” Though the series isn’t all doom and gloom, an important theme of the series is the ability to laugh through pain and to lean on those around you for support. It’s message is ultimately a hopeful one.

The real magic of the series is its ability to tap in to feelings that not only as women but, more importantly, as humans have all felt at one point or another but to explore them it in a way that is individual to each woman. When Bree turns down an opportunity for a relationship because “it would just end anyway”, we remember a time we let potential love pass us by. When Sam looks up in annoyance and desperation at the large house she is cleaning for some extra cash, we remember back to that soul-sucking job we once had to do just to get by.