Author: ChilltownTV

I'm primarily a writer. Sold a few series to tv networks and production companies but never had anything get on the air. So I taught myself how to animate and completed 3 digital series, launching two. The first, Chilltown has been named one of "Five Web Series That Should Be on Your Radar" by ABCNews/Univision and a "Show to Watch" by Tubefilter. The second, Lele's Ratchet Advice Show, garnered a fanatic cult following. As a result, I now do Lele's 60 Second Wrap Up, a weekly comedic entertainment report (which I write & perform) that airs on urban radio stations Rhythm 105.9fm and the Just Wake Up Morning Show on WWRNfm.

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

nighttime_marqueeChapter 57 – Connections
by Leesa Dean

Last Friday evening I attended at movie/Q&A at the Tribeca Film Festival. It was a kinda of cool experience.

Initially, I was a little skeptical. The director, Charlie McDowell, is the son of noted actor Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange!!!) and Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard!!!). Ted Danson (yes, that Ted Danson) is his step-dad. The film was produced by indie/mumblecore biggies The Duplass Brothers and stars Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men). Did I mention he’s dating Rooney Mara?

With a pedigree like that, I instantly wanted to hate Charlie (ya know, Hollywood kid with tons of connections skates right in). But I couldn’t. Just because he has those connections doesn’t mean he’s without talent. And he’d be an idiot not to use what he’s got. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

 Chapter 56 – Changes and R.I.P. Net Neutrality
by Leesa Dean

I’ve been working on four projects this year that have been incredibly time-intensive. One is nearly done, two are in the planning (pre-outline) stages and I’m currently writing the fourth (which is Season Two of the Lele Show). It is VERY hard to do all of that, but I feel really strongly about each one.

I had originally thought I’d do 33 episodes of the Lele Show for Season Two which is an enormous amount of work and truthfully, I’ve been a little stuck. Mostly cause it’s a lot to do and my time is fairly limited (the one that’s nearly done, the TOP SECRET PROJECT, is very time intensive).

This week, I decided to bring that episode number down to 20 and also do some ancillary material. It’s still a lot to write, but just cutting the episode number down made me go over my season story arc and tighten it up, which felt great and confirmed the decision. It’s now leaner and juicier. And, more importantly, it takes some pressure off. I’m now looking at October for a relaunch and between finishing writing and production, I’m hoping that’s realistic.rip-net_neutrality read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

cut-the-cordChapter 55 – Cutting the Cord and Shopping
by Leesa Dean

Last week, my friend Janet invited me to a networking event on the Lower East Side. Janet’s a journalist who specializes in writing about advertising (patricianly with respect to tv) and an aspiring screenwriter. She’s currently thinking of putting together her first short. She’s looking for a director/crew. I was having a little writer’s block so figured, why not.

The event was put together by an organization called Big Vision, Empty Wallet that’s pretty cool. They have a ton of resources for indie producers/filmmakers. You can subscribe and get good deals through them (on software, rental equipment, events, etc.) or just join their email list (which I did after attending the event).

I met a lot of people there who were all involved in one way or another with film projects. Some had web series. Essentially it was a big schmooze fest. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

just-say-noChapter 54 – Navigating Hollywood 101: Just Say No
by Leesa Dean

Last week, a print issue of The Hollywood Reporter showed up in my mailbox. I didn’t subscribe, yet somehow got on the list. That’s right. For FREE!! The comedy gods are either smiling at or mocking me.

The first article I noticed really hit home.  It was about the nearly universal way Hollywood executives reject pitches (or you, for that matter).  Versus saying “no” or the old school standby, “Wow. This is great!  We really really love it.  Unfortunately, we’re not doing, uh, anything that involves writing this year”, instead, they just POOF! vanish into thin air.  That’s right.  You never hear from them.  Possibly ever again.  You know, kinda like, “He said (sob), he was going out for a pack of cigarettes and I NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN.”  Only worse, cause it’s your career.  Or, in some cases, “career”.

This applies to phone calls, emails, texts and, most notably, flinging yourself into someone’s office and begging (i.e. pitching.) read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

how-to-be-awesomeChapter 53 – More on the Tween Front
by Leesa Dean

So I met with Kai yesterday. I’ve been SO busy, working till midnight most nights animating and in post, working on THE TOP SECRET project, but had promised him we’d get together to discuss the project we’re doing.

Before we got into it, we discussed the Disney buying Maker for $500 million news and, on the heels of that, AwesomenessTV buying Big Frame for $15 mil. Big Frame has more than 300 creator-run YouTube channels and more than 3.6 billion views to date. And it’s projected that together, AwesomenessTV and Big Frame will deliver 80 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion views a month.

Maker is huge and much bigger than Big Frame, but Big Frame has a couple of hit shows like DeStorm Power and Squaresville. AwesomenessTV, the digital media arm of Dreamworks Animation, was created by Brian Robbins, who’s an actor (among other things, he starred in Head of the Class), director and producer whose focus is mainly, you guessed it, tweens. Did a mention AwesomenessTV is also now a tv show on, where else, Nickelodeon. read article