Category: Web Series

Leesa Dean Tells Us About “Team Frederator”

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Adventures in Digital Series Land – Chapter 101
by Leesa Dean

So, the big news this week is: I signed with Channel Frederator Network.  I’m met Fred Seibert. He’s been at a number of NYC  animation and web events and we’ve had a chance to chat.  Been up to their offices (the old YouTube workshops were held there).  He authentically is really passionate about animation.  Which is a good thing. Before Frederator, he was at MTV and Hanna Barbera.

They reached out to me a while back and because I’ve been, in general, reluctant to sign with an MCN (multi-channel network for those of you not familiar with this digital series centric term), I took some time to really think it over.

The truth:  Their contract was way more artist-friendly than the other ones I’ve received (and I’ve been approached by a number of them, big and small), which essentially asked you to give up the right to show your youtube content on TV and other paid platforms in exchange for the exhilarating experience of saying you’re a member of that MCN (Translation: nothing, nadda, no money. Which is CRAZY!!!) read article

Web Series: HERLOCK

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It’s just like the logo for this enjoyable Sherlock Holmes pastiche says: “The Greatest Detective is a Woman.” And we can say without a doubt that this, “Works for us!”

Veterinary student Jonny Watts has her life planned out — until she meets mysterious detective Sheridan Hume and is drawn into a relationship that challenges her beliefs about justice, personal freedom, and gender roles…

HERLOCK was created and written by Lee Shackleford, author and star of the off-Broadway hit play HOLMES & WATSON and the writer responsible for getting Data back into a deerstalker on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. The pilot was produced and directed byDavid E. Duncan (SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, IRON MAN 1 & 2, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, CHRONICLES OF NARNIA). The Director of Photography was Christopher Popp, whose DP credits include the Emmy-nominated FIVE, and the critically-acclaimed Bollywood feature LAKSHYA. The pilot stars Gia Mora (CASTLE, TRUE DETECTIVE, QUALITY TIME),Alana Jordan (THE BLIND SIDE, MISSING PIECES), andVince Cusimano (BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES, MONSTERS IN THE WOODS).

From YouTube Success to TV Deal

We love a good interweb success story, especially this one cuz it involves one of our favorite web series, VENUS VS MARS…a wonderful example of TV/interweb diversity:

Letitia-Hector-in-Venus-v-007by Stuart Dredge

There’s been a vigorous debate about the opportunities – or the lack of them – for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) producers, writers and actors on British [ED.NOTE: And US!] TV.

In 2014, actor and comedian Lenny Henry called for new legislation to reverse a trend that has seen the number of BAME people working in the British television industry fall by 30.9% between 2006 and 2012. read article

Hank Isaac: It Takes a Village to Make a TV Series

still-more-LILAC

Another Note from the World of Underfunded Overachievers
by Hank Isaac

We’re still in the midst of fleshing out “Lilac” for the remaining twelve episodes of Season One. As was mentioned elsewhere on the site, writing can be a lonely endeavor. Is a lonely endeavor.

That’s why I’ve assembled a varied and talented group of folks to help take the series into the future. Though I prefer to actually write alone, I feel the energy from weekly brainstorming sessions is essential, especially when dealing with an ensemble cast of ten characters and their numerous interwoven subplots.

Our group includes a pediatrician, an industrial designer, a newspaper publisher, a retired elementary school teacher, a former assistant to the executive producer of a couple of well-known TV series, and a fantasy writer. Oh, and I’m there, too. read article

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