Tag: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

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Chapter 18: The Whole Branding Thing (sigh)
by Leesa Dean

This week I was invited to a special YouTube screening. The invite said I was selected to attend, which was pretty cool (I literally couldn’t believe I was invited!) But, unfortunately, I couldn’t make it. I had planned to, even registered to attend, but was so involved working on this TOP SECRET PROJECT, I just didn’t have time. In fact, the night of the screening, I was up till 3am rendering/animating. The screening had top YouTubers discuss best practices for taking with advertisers regarding branding with a panel.

The truth: no advertiser is going to be interested in branding my show. Yet. You really need to have a substantial amount of subscribers/viewer retention for that. I’m doing well but not SMOSH well. I’ve got under 800 subscribers. I think I’d have to have at least 20,000-30,0000 (at least) before those kinds of conversations start to happen. It would have been interesting to hear what they had to say, though… read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie, Chapter 8

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by Leesa Dean

A lot of exciting stuff is going on. The biggie: Chilltown was listed by ABCNews/Univision as Web Series That Should Be On Your Radar!!!!! And we got an incredible review! Ecstatically happy about it. Also, did a ton of fun radio including Geek Soul Brother,Educated Insanity (on ChicagolandsportsRadio), The Bobby Pickles Show and KRYC Rhythm 105.9 FM !! Also released Episode 6 of Chilltown and people are telling me they love it. In spite of all that, there’s still a bit of frustration that always boils down to the same thing: How can I get more people to watch? We’re still a very tiny show in an enormous pool. Have a lot of plans in place for additional shows and specials that (hopefully) will make a little noise. But it’s a tough tough game. Much tougher than I expected. But, in all, a really good week.

And I heard from Rollo. Last Friday, went to another YouTube meeting and it was great! Met some cool people plus got to see the YouTube studios at Next New Networks NYC. Very exciting. They have a couple of green screen studios with pro lights and cameras. Some of the collabs I’m involved with will probably be done there. Part of the meeting involved having a tour and being shown the ropes (a prerequisite to using their space.) Their computers are probably a billion times faster than mine, so can’t wait to do some editing there. A guy name Chris Chan Roberson runs stuff there and he’s great. They had pizza and drinks after and everybody was schmoozing and just like clockwork right towards the end, my phone rings. Guess who? Rollo happens to be in the area and we meet. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie – Chapter 5

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Penny For Your Thoughts?
by Leesa Dean

Things keep moving. Rollo and I talk a couple of times a week, mostly on the phone. He’s working on another project that just sounds huge. Two VERY MAJOR CELEBRITIES are attached. It’s a movie. It’s sci-fi. It involves a franchise. He got in through the back door because of his connects. What’s his participation?  Well, that’s a little nebulous. Yet, it’s thrilling. He’s like Scheherazade, spinning out tales of hope. If things work out like that for him, how incredible is it gonna be for me!

He admits he’s treading water financially. How does he support himself? I don’t even wanna guess. It would pierce my expectations and I know that. He’s not the only iron I have in the fire, in fact, he’s just one teensy one, but his stories and the potential weight they carry are mesmerizing. read article