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

wildstyleChapter 33 – The Pep Talk Part 1
by Leesa Dean

So, one evening a few weeks ago, freshly back from ATL, I found myself walking throughBellevue Hospital. If you’ve never been to Bellevue, and this was my first time, here’s the visual: It’s HUGE. There’s a big relatively new glass structure that takes up a full city block in front of the old building and you have to walk for, what feels like, miles through bleak linoleum hallways that have piped in smooth jazz playing to just get where you’re going. Kinda like Vegas. Without the carpeting and fake boobs.

No, I wasn’t admitting myself, though, sometimes the process of putting out/promoting aweb series has made feel like I was going crazy. Johnny, the brother of one of my oldest friends had been riding his bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge, got in an accident and was/is in a coma in the Neuro ICU. Yes, avid bikers, he was wearing a helmet and riding in the pedestrian lane and yes, I am officially crossing riding a bike off my list of things I’m planning on ever doing.

I was there to visit him, the family and lend some support. Is he gonna make it? I sure hope so! And hope he makes a complete recovery. But it’s too soon to tell.  One thing it’s done is definitely put things in perspective. Which brings me to Rollo. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

fearisaliarChapter 22 – Fear is a Liar
by Leesa Dean

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during the process of teaching myself how to animate, getting Chilltown off the ground and promoting it has been: Fear is a Liar.

I was so worried, initially, that nothing would turn out right. That everything would be a fiasco, it literally kept me up at night, at times. But, ultimately, the believe that people would respond to what I did prevailed. And, people did. As they say in the Lottery, “Gotta be in it, to win it.”

I know a lot of people who are writers or, even, wannabe writers who are wracked with fear of failure. And it prevents them from ever completing anything. I used to be friendly with someone who ran around telling everyone he was a writer. The truth is, he never really wrote anything. He was too scared of being judged and failing. So he’s wasted years of his life in a type of limbo. Too scared to fail and too scared to try. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

Chapter 31 – A3C Hip Hop Recap
by Leesa Dean

atlanta-festival-tvwriter.comI’ll cut to the chase. I had a GREAT time in Atlanta!

My plane arrived right on time and I called Lyn Adler as we had pre-arranged. She and her fiance Mark were already en route to the venue. We both got there early and it was so cool to finally meet her and Mark in person. Lyn and I have known each other for a few years, but only online (we had a friend in common.) It was wonderful to finally meet in person. They are absolutely lovely people.

We took a short walk, checked out the the block party (which was just setting up/starting a few blocks away) and came back just in time to meet Charles Judson, the artistic director of the Film Festival (and the Atlanta Film Festival) and Kristan Woolford, his assistant. Both great guys. We started chatting as people started arriving and really hit it off. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

a3c_laurelsChapter 30: A3 C!!!!!
by Leesa Dean

Sunday morning, 10am I fly down to Atlanta for the Chilltown screening at A3C and I am officially THRILLED! And yes, that means I have to be up at 5am so I can get dressed/to the airport on time. As an official late night person, the fact that I have to be up that early and it doesn’t even phase me let’s you know exactly how excited I am about this.

I reformatted Chilltown so it’s now HD (perfect for a big screen) and strung the episodes together. They wanted to show all of Season One. Since it’s a semi-serialized show, the story arcs extend through the Season so it lends itself naturally to being seen that way. The guy who’s running the film part of the festival, Charles Judson, is also the artistic director of the Atlanta Film Festival and A3C is affiliated with it. It really feels great that somebody of his stature loves the show.

A few nights ago, I did an interview with Jah Prince who has a hip-hop radio show in Atlanta and has been promoting the festival a bit. It was my second time on the show. He’s a big Chilltown fan. After the interview, we chatted and he’s coming to the screening and will bring some people. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

Chapter 29 – Bottom of the Barrel. Rollo Returns
by Leesa Dean

bottom-of-barrelSo, as promised, the Rollo story.

We hadn’t spoken in months. I, occasionally, thought about him but frankly not too often. Being insanely busy with a web series will do that to you. You tend to prioritize what you focus on. I thought he was just gonna be another one of these cottage industry guys who entered my life with a bullshit story and then evaporated. Well, maybe?

A few weeks back he calls. Wants to meet for drinks. Admittedly my first thought: Is this dude selling Amway? But he caught me on a day when I was feeling crappy–a little blocked with writing; a little frustrated with calls not returned; a little worried about the usual: am I making the right decisions with the relaunch, etc. In short, a perfect needy storm whose grande finale was: yeah, I met him for drinks. read article