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    Sunday
    Jul042010

    Byron Winery Almanac

     

    I've been working with the people at Byron Winery for the past several months now, and I'm really proud of the stuff we've put together. When they first approached me with the idea of creating an educational video podcast series, a little red flag when up. Usually when people say "educational" they mean "excruciating snoozefest" and don't know it. To their credit, the brand management team at Byron has an excellent grasp on the balancing act between education and entertainment. They gave me a ton of freedom to have fun with these videos, and I think we pulled off something pretty nice.

    Check out more of the podcast series, or visit Byron's facebook page to find out more.

    Friday
    Jan012010

    Trailer - Townies: Season 1

    I've been dreaming about this series for a couple of years now. A little over a year ago, I finally decided to write it. By March 2009, I was casting and crewing up for the show with my co-director, Ryan Johnson. And now, with the new year ahead, we have wrapped production on the first 10 episodes and are gearing up to shoot our season finale in just two short weeks. I couldn't be prouder of the work that the cast and crew of "Townies" have done. And I'm especially proud to be releasing this preview of what's to come.

    If you enjoy it, please check out our official Townies website, fan us facebook, find us on YouTube...you know the drill. We've got lots of great stuff coming out over the coming months, and we'd love to share it with you. Let me know what you think!

     

    Wednesday
    Dec232009

    Jon Anderson & the Zamran Experience

    Far and away the longest lasting and the most successful of the '70s progressive rock groups, Yes proved to be one of the lingering success stories...Jon Anderson would grow up to become one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock.

    In early 2009, Jon Anderson began to develop his "Zamran Experience"--a multimedia experience revolving around his newest musical compositions. To date, Carl Richetti and the falling deer: story manufactory have produced three music videos as part of the Zamran Experience. The first of these videos, "Never Ever," is currently available on iTunes; two additional music videos and much more will be released in 2010.

    If you'd like to find out more about Jon and the Zamran Experience, you can visit his official website or find him on facebook.

    Saturday
    Oct312009

    Wanted: Thoughts from Indie Web Series Creators

    On set for "Townies"I have a few questions for fellow web series creators out there. Here's the set up:

    In my experience, the biggest challenge facing a web series creator is the sheer number of roles one has to fill. Over the past year, I've found myself alternately producing, designing and catering when my time would probably be best spent re-writing and working with my actors. The fact is, even though I have an awesome team of designers, crew people, and production support surrounding me, all the little things just wouldn't get done if I didn't step in sometimes and take the reins. It seems to be the nature of the medium: if films get made within a highly-organized, corporate studio hierarchy, it seems that a web series is more akin to a small business, with the series creator playing the frantic entrepreneur. 

    I'm curious to know how other web series writers and directors out there deal with the demands of the medium.  Do you get as much time to review dailies as you'd like? Rehearse with your actors? Spend time re-writing? How well do you feel you balance your creative duties with the nuts and bolts of getting your series shot? What techniques have you developed to achieve this balance?

    All this being said, I love the challenges of bringing a fictional web series to life. Even in the midst of the most insane moments, I wouldn't have it any other way. So how do you deal with the craziness? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    Sunday
    Oct042009

    Leo Laporte on Digitial Media

    I recently gave a presentation to a group of businesspeople on new media. Not an easy thing to do. Trying to explain why newspapers are dying, TV is soon to follow, and how YouTube and Facebook are supplanting them, all to an audience that doesn't understand YouTube or Facebook--it's tough. And of course, nobody really knows where the evolution of media is headed, so I was really just standing up there blowing smoke. Anyway, I've embedded a presentation by Leo Laporte because after seeing it, I think it was the presentation I was trying to give. It has some great insights into the future of media and journalism.

    And if by some bizarre twist you're a nerd and aren't aware of Leo Laporte, check the guy out at TWiT.tv