Tubefilter News

Ok, it’s Friday before the holidays, and this is admittedly an innocuous story we’ve been following, but ever since the news of YouTube star Fred’s first full length feature film—Fred: The Movie—getting made, we’ve been hooked. Like which name actor they are casting to play Fred’s dad. Even the New York Times decided to jump on the Fred movie bandwagon with an in-depth look earlier this month. We did learn that “budding British singer and actress” Pixie Lott co-stars.

And what to our wondering eye did appear on craigslist last night, but news that there’s a yard sale in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood on Sunday for props, set dressing and costumes from the film’s shoot this fall. We’ll probably get up early on Sunday (7 AM start) and attend this, if only to talk to some die hard Fred fans in the flesh. We will try to get some of these fans on the record, perhaps on video, for your enjoyment.

Also for your amusement, we’ve included Fred’s official “Christmas is Creepy” music video (above) which blew past 3 million views this month. The four-track album is available on iTunes and features another popular single “Christmas Cash.”

Fred star Lucas Cruikshank is also attached to star in Emo Boy alongside Jaime King in the movie based on the comic book series from Steve Emond. If you feel like wagering on the success of Fred: The Movie, it’s already trading over at Hollywood Stock Exchange. Today’s quote: $14.22 (up$.13 today), which is off slightly from it $15 “IPO” on November 25th.
And what to our wondering eye did appear on craigslist last night, but news that there’s a yard sale in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood on Sunday for props, set dressing and costumes from the film’s shoot this fall. We’ll probably get up early on Sunday (7 AM start) and attend this, if only to talk to some die hard Fred fans in the flesh. We will try to get some of these fans on the record, perhaps on video, for your enjoyment.

Also for your amusement, we’ve included Fred’s official “Christmas is Creepy” music video (above) which blew past 3 million views this month. The four-track album is available on iTunes and features another popular single “Christmas Cash.”

Fred star Lucas Cruikshank is also attached to star in Emo Boy alongside Jaime King in the movie based on the comic book series from Steve Emond. If you feel like wagering on the success of Fred: The Movie, it’s already trading over at Hollywood Stock Exchange. Today’s quote: $14.22 (up$.13 today), which is off slightly from it $15 “IPO” on November 25th.

A little off topic, but the concept of a whole 90-minute feature of Fred Figglehorn in the works is still sinking in. That, and apparently it was quite the hot topic lately. For those that missed it, we broke the news last month that there is in fact a Fred movie in the works starring none other than Lucas Cruikshank as the titular high-pitched YouTube star.

According to the latest casting notices, Cruikshank is indeed attached, though the rest of the roles appear to be wide open. With shooting beginning November 20, they are looking to lock these up soon. For some reason they are looking for “cameo names only” to play Fred’s father. We’re thinking Jim Carrey.

[FRED'S DAD] Fred’s father, he’s a wildly eccentric character who encourages his son to follow his bliss and go after the girl of his dreams. Seemingly unfazed by his nightmarish marriage to a real mess of a woman, he’s relentlessly upbeat at all times…LEAD (11) Please submit cameo names only.

Halloween mayhem week is upon us and with it comes the infamous Halloween Special. Television has been tackling these for years, going back to 1966’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and now the web series world has jumped on this bandwagon, throwing out their spookiest, creepiest, oftentimes hilarious and even adorable fare of tricks and treats.

So in honor of this seasonal trend, we at Tubefilter decided to put together a list of some that might be worth the clicking…if you dare. Muhahahahaha.

Elevator: Harold the Vampire

Everyone’s favorite janitor has received his 25 years of service award…but how is this possible when he doesn’t look a day over 30ish? He’s a vampire of course. Break.com’s Elevator gives us this four-part epic featuring LG15 alum Jackie Jandrall.

The Guild: Halloween!

The Guildies take to the streets for some real-life looting. Hightlight: one of Clara’s kids in a chicken suit. Prepare to melt from the cuteness. The episode was written by Guild producer Kim Evey and guest directed by her hubby, Mediocre Films’ Greg Benson.

Fresh off of Breakdown Services today is a casting breakdown for what appears to be a feature film version of YouTube’s most viewed web series, Fred. The complete breakdown is below and it looks like they are casting the supporting roles Bertha, Judy and Kevin with the title role of high-pitched teenager Fred Figglehorn presumably going to 16 year-old Lucas Cruikshank.

There’s not much else to go off of here. The production company, Derf Films, seems to have been set up just for this project (Derf is Fred backwards). Director Clay Weiner has his own popular YouTube channel, mittymoo, and this looks like his first feature after a steady resume of branded spots through Biscuit Filmworks. Casting director Sheryl Levine seems a good choice to cast precocious teenagers having cast Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh and Zoey 101.

We recently learned that Fred/Lucas draws in a healthy six-figure income from the YouTube series, but making a feature seems like a no brainer. On a side note, we noticed that Fred is actually no longer the most subscribed channel on YouTube, with comedian Ryan Higa ousting him from the spot.

Last night the excitement in the air was electrifying at the Red Carpet Opening Night Gala for the 4th Annual Independent Television Festival, festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and web series. ITVFest offers opportunities for web television creators like showcasing their work to a live audience and the chance to pitch development executives that can bring their projects to the next level.

On Monday, August 3 Tubefilter is proudly presenting ITVFest Web Television Day, which features screenings of the Official Web Series Selections from the ITVFest,

While online video has been dubbed the “fastest growing medium of all time,” the stark reality remains that there isn’t enough ad money yet to keep everyone in this business fed, clothed and sheltered.

Because even though Internet users watch more than 14 billion videos per month, that doesn’t constitute the all-important “scale” most advertisers want, according to several panels and keynotes at the OMMA Video conference in New York earlier this week.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and one of those is the high-pitched YouTube star Fred. During her keynote, Google’s Eileen Naughton, the company’s director of media platforms, said Lucas Cruikshank who plays “Fred” is making a six-figure income from his YouTube videos. That includes YouTube partner revenue and money from “Fred’s” ongoing ad deal with Zipit Wireless.

Well you can’t blame them for trying. YouTube continues trying to make some order from the chaos of 100+ million videos it has, adding a “Web Originals” category to its new Shows sections. The name isn’t great – aren’t the majority of YouTube videos web originals? Aside from that, it’s sporting a grand total of 14 web series right now. (14?!?)

Granted, this may be an early preview of the new section, but so far the list is anything but compete. The only common thread between the group is they all are YouTube partners, which might be a prerequisite for inclusion. On the list so far: Fred , Smosh, Prom Queen, The Guild (season 1), Roadents, University of Andy, Arby ‘n’ The Chief, Gemini Division, Affirmation Girl, WineLibraryTV.