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

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Chapter 79 – YouTube News! I’m Excited!
by Leesa Dean

Wow.  So YouTube finally is close to opening their brand new New York studios and I am officially excited.

The production facilities are supposed to be much bigger/better than the previous ones. Before, there were two small green screen studios and, truthfully, I took a few classes in those studios and they were big enough for my purposes.  In fact, I thought they were great.  I’m hearing the stages in the new place will be bigger, including three enclosed sound stages (!!) and state-of-the-art post facilities.  Just.  Wow. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

Chapter 78: Juggling Less
by Leesa Dean

I’m not a huge circus fan but I seem to spend a lot of time juggling.  And it’s kinda driving me nuts.juggling

I’m simultaneously working on three projects (including a writing/developing brand new one), taking meetings, prepping to (gasp) start pitching and trying to maintain everything in, well, life.  Did I mention I’m also thinking about filming a couple of mini-shorts?

Something’s gotta give. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

Chapter 77 – A Guide To Waiting
by Leesa Dean

waiting-room-signBeen working like a psycho putting in 12-15 hour days prepping a teeny tiny sizzle reel for a seriously long shot meeting I finally had this week.  What are the chances of anything happening with this?  Probably non-existent. So why’d I put all this work into something that most likely won’t materialize?  Cause one, it’s still a shot, two, if it doesn’t work out I can still use it and three, hey, I created a new show idea and really love it.

So while I await my fate (and plunge back into my usually scheduled work), here are some tips I’ve figured out to help get through the sheer hellish agony of awaiting your fate after an all-important meeting.  These not only apply to pitching tv writing/shows, but really, any type of job interview:

1) Stock up on sugar.  Yeah, you’ll be hyped up and, probably, destroying your body and teeth, but now is not the time to worry about minor stuff like that. The big picture: sugar’ll make you feel GREAT! plus it’s, generally, a better choice than substances that might be considered, say, a federal offense in some places. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie 76

THE WEB SERIES IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE WEB SERIES
by Leesa Dean

rip-spokeo-info-bubble-copyRecently there was an article in The Guardian about the future of web series that’s been causing a bit of an uproar in the indie web series community.

It says that web series are in decline because Hollywood has stepped in and indie creators can’t compete with the big guns: Netflix and Amazon.  It goes as far as saying that aside from a few established talents/series that have managed to sustain themselves, everyone else seems to have “packed their bags and gone home.”

Wow.  Harsh!  I agree.  And disagree. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie 75

R.I.P. Joan
by Leesa Dean

joan_riversI’ve been working towards a deadline and it’s been nuts (pulling 12-15 hour days) so this week will be short.  I was going to postpone but instead decided to write a few words about Joan Rivers, who, unless you’ve been living under a rock and didn’t hear, recently died.

I don’t think there’s a female comedian today who’s not indebted to her.  And while I’m not a stand-up, I do write comedy and her influence and the kind of material she did had a huge impact on me. The political incorrectness. The great snappy one-liners. The I give zero f*cks of it all. When she was on, as Chris Rock said, nobody could follow her.

I think the moment I really started paying attention was when she began doing red carpet (which, I guess, is a reflection of my age.) read article