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 Tells Us About “Setting Web Series Goals”

goalsAdventures in Digital Series Land – Chapter 100
by Leesa Dean

So I’m deep in production on the new series. Last week I recorded and edited all the voiceovers. Actually did ’em twice.  First time around, something just wasn’t clicking. I raised the mike height, which gave me more room to physically act out while I was recording.  It made all the difference in the world.

This week I started lip-syncing. In case you don’t know what that is: it’s the process syncing the lip/head/jaw movements of an animated character so they correspond with a recorded vocal track.  Ever see really cheap Hong Kong movies from the 60’s and 70’s where the voice comes after or before the lip movements?  That’s cause the voiceover track wasn’t synced properly.

It is REALLY tedious and tough work that ultimately is incredibly  rewarding. At the end of the day, you get to see a character come to life. Which is very cool. But mostly, it just takes a long time to do. Yes, I’m back doing 14 hour days. Six days a week. read article

Leesa Dean: Levitation Trick

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Adventures in Digital Series Land #99
by Leesa Dean

The past two weeks have been intense–writing, writing, writing and more writing. I’m a few days away from finally starting production and I. Am. PSYCHED! I completed 20 episodes of the new series, the trailer, plus an additional 30 episodes of a tiny mini-series I’m launching around the same time.  Not to mention working on a new 30 minute pilot/series and short. Now, I just have to animate them all. And once that’s done, the hard part starts: promo.

I’m hoping I can finish animating everything related to the new show in a couple of months. It’s not heavy-duty animation (otherwise it might take me till infinity to finish!) And before I launch, I’m planning on starting up new social media accounts that are related to the new show–Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Just keeping up with social media will be insane so I’m not starting ’til all the animation’s in the can.

Meanwhile, on top of everything I’m researching and starting to design the website relaunch. Luckily, I have a friend who recently launched a site for her business. She hired someone to design hers and there have been a lot of issues with it. I stopped by her place for a couple of hours and looked through it and gave her some small suggestions.  While I’m not a big coding pro, I’m installing a WordPress theme myself for the first time and learning as much as I can about it and found that helping her, even in the minor way I did, was incredibly helpful to me cause I started to see my own project through someone else’s eyes.  And that reminded me of something a businessman told me when I was starting out: The Levitation Trick. read article

Leesa Dean: Making Some Ch-Ch-Changes

tipsAdventures in Digital Series Land #98
by Leesa Dean

A few changes:

First, as you can see, I’ve changed the name of this blog from Adventures of a Web Series Newbie to Adventures in Digital Series Land.  Not only to reflect a new way to describe web series, but also because, let’s face it, I’m no longer a newbie. I’ve been doing this for two years.

Plus, since I’m designing the new website, I wanted this blog to reflect that change.  New times, new site, new series, new blog name. read article

Leesa Dean: The Death of ‘Web Series?’

Adventures of a Web Series Newbie – Chapter 97
by Leesa Dean

rip-spokeo-info-bubble-copyShort post this week cause I’m totally swamped prepping for production, which will officially start in a few weeks. Plus, doing research and outlining two new pilots for two new series.

This week, there was an article in Filmmaker Magazine about the term “Web Series” and how it, generally, has a negative connotation. Most people seem to equate it with people who are either emerging (which is true) or haven’t made it in Hollywood (partially true). The article suggests changing it to something better/hipper/less damning.

It’s true that people tend to roll their eyes when you say you do a web series. But, in my experience, industry people don’t (especially if you’ve made a little noise).  Cause they know how much comes from online.  I mean, just this week Brent Weinstein who started the digital media department at powerhouse agency UTA (and reps a number of web series creators including Felicia Day) made partner.  A first.  And a statement. read article

Leesa Dean: Build It & They Might Come

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Adventures of a Web Series Newbie – Chapter 96
by Leesa Dean

Last week there was a much talked about article in Deadline about the new WGA study that confirmed what most of us already know: That most tv writing jobs go to white guys in their 40’s.  And that women and minorities have “actually lost ground as compared to their white male counterparts.”

Great.

Yes, we need people out there advocating and changing things from within tv networks and shows.  Networks need an overhaul.  Not just in terms of the content they’re showing but in terms of staff.  People of color and women need to not only have their voices heard creatively but need to be able to pitch to more people of color and woman who understand where they’re coming from (it’s already been established the audience exists–look at Empire) and help shepherd diverse authentic through the development and production process. read article