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 #85

YouTube Creative Strategy
by Leesa Dean

10fundaWhat an intense few weeks! Between Thanksgiving, which is always kind of complex for me (I have no immediate family) and the overwhelmingly horrifying grand jury non-indictment in the Eric Garner case which just made my world stop (yes, I was one of those people in NYC who took to the streets in quiet protest) plus just…work/life, I’ve been pretty caught up. Actually spent part of the time ideating. Structuring the game plan for the Season Two Lele Show launch which is going to be dramatically different than it was last season. I’m prepping five solid months of episodes–over 40–half of them semi-serialized, so it’s a lot. While I don’t have a firm release date yet, I’m getting my ducks in row. So it was perfect timing to attend a YouTube workshop on creative promotion strategy.

It was my first time in the new facility and it’s really nice. It’s in Chelsea Market in NYC and if you’ve never been there, there are tons of places to eat, buy stuff. Kinda like high-ish end mall.

The room the workshop was in had seating for about 75-100 people. Super modern. You could see some of the shooting facilities beyond a door. Unfortunately, you have to have a certain amount of subscribers to use the shooting facilities there for free. I don’t have enough. Yet. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie #84

Back to the Drawing Board
by Leesa Dean

So, heard back from the extremely long-shot opportunity for one of my projects and…it was a long-shot.  They didn’t buy it.  Le sigh. becoming-a-writer-01  Luckily, I’m one of those types who moves on from rejection pretty quickly, i.e., spent a night with friends drinking, grousing, complaining, occasionally weeping and moved on by the next day.  Ok, maybe not weeping.

My first inclination whenever I get rejected/turned down/kicked to the curb is to put together a plan b and/or c.  So I did.  And, truthfully, I actually am pretty excited about the prospects.   Because it’s the end of the year, going back into meetings is pretty much out, which is fine.  It gives me time to refine, rewrite, strategize about relaunch/promo and work on the three other projects I’m doing.

My grandmother always used to say, “One door closes, another one opens.”  And I’ve found that’s always been the case.  Or maybe that’s just my perspective. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie #82

politically_incorrect

The Politically Correct Police or…The Death of Comedy?
by Leesa Dean

I originally posted this last week, was really busy, and realized today…it didn’t post.  So here it is:

As a writer, I’m pretty politically incorrect.  It’s all about the jokes. The comedy. And yeah, the narrative. My biggest comedic influences are Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Patrice O’Neal, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Joan Rivers and even Howard Stern (though, at times, his politics and attitude drive me nuts/piss me off). read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie #81

Pay to Play?
by Leesa Dean

moneybag1So I was all set to go to the WGA East web series screening/networking event when…last minute they cancelled it. It’s supposed to be rescheduled but we’ll see when/if that happens.

So instead, I met up for cappuccino with Anne Flournoy, who had invited me to the event in the first place and we ended up chatting about our experiences as indie web producers and all that entails.

Anne has been in this game for a long time.  Her series, The Louise Log, jumped off in 2007 (which was right when I started learning how to animate!)  She’s now in Season 3.  The series is based on a film she wrote/directed that was in Sundance and has gotten critical acclaim, plus she was able to crowd fund Season 3, which is impressive (especially in today’s climate).  We don’t know each other very well, had met at a few web series networking events when Chilltown launched, she’s a big fan and we had been planning to get together to talk shop for about a year. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

disruption

Chapter 80 Disruption
by Leesa Dean

The conception of disruption with regards to the internet is relatively new.  What it means is, something, let’s say broadcast television exists and something else, let’s say, streaming digital media, comes in and replaces it as a preferred mode of viewing.

There’s been a lot of talk about disruption lately, mainly because of the huge game-changing news that both HBO and CBS will have independent streaming models in 2015.  Meaning, if you’re a huge Game of Thrones fanatic and subscribe to HBO in a cable tv package from a provider, you no longer will need the cable tv package.  It’s a cord-cutters delight.

Michael Wolff has a different take on it.  Wolff is a long-time writer about tech and media and even had one of the first start-ups years ago and wrote about it in a pretty juicy book.  Wolff says that versus the internet disrupting TV, TV is really disrupting the internet. read article