Ah, technology...

So, as some may have noticed, DOJ Ep 3 did not premiere on Wednesday this week, but instead on Friday.  And though I have not been inundated with emails and texts (actually received 2 total) regarding the whereabouts of Ep 3, I feel it necessary to explain the tardiness.

In a word, Vimeo.

Our launch plan for the show is to premiere a new episode every Wednesday this summer at noon.  For some reason, it took Vimeo literally 2 days to process and convert our video.

I have never experienced this problem with the handful of other video hosting sites I've used in the past and am deeply disappointed with having had to endure it with Vimeo.

I dig what Vimeo is about, which is why they were selected as the host site for this show.  However, I'm growing increasingly more skeptical about them, considering they are one of the few video sites that suggest you sign up for premium service to avoid waiting in line for processing and conversion.  

If this decrease in service is a marketing ploy aimed at increasing site revenues, wouldn't it be better to simply condense and only offer the paid service, rather than providing half-assed, slow processing and conversion for the masses?

At some point, web video and most popular apps will have to evolve and monetize.  Its the only way to survive in a free market.  But it should be one way or the other.  Either you eat the costs and provide something free to the public, relying upon ad dollars for revenue.  Or, you charge everyone.  Providing sub-par service as a means of prompting people to pay will just send users packing and heading off to alternative sites.  Sites that provide quality service and are free.

Episode 2 UP and AWAY!

Episode 2 premiers today (which you probably already know because you are accessing this blog through the site).  Already receiving some very positive feedback, despite the viewership being sparse.  

I also felt this the appropriate forum to include a little insight into why Gunther hates his nickname so much.  

From UrbanDictionary.com> 

gunt
	1). noun.  A protruding sack of fat which extends from the lower abdomen to the upper genital area (gut+cunt=gunt).  2. Bulging area found on large older women between the waist and the genital area. Not quite a gut, not quite a cunt... The Gunt.

I believe the adjective you are searching for is "highbrow."

Wrap Party / Screening

Had our wrap party/screening of the first few episodes of DOJ Wednesday evening and the reaction in general was very positive. Granted, most of the folks in the house were cast and crew and slightly biased, but there were a few unrelated audience members who seemed to enjoy the show. At least, they didn’t get up and leave, which is good in my book. Now, onto polishing Episode 2 for its premiere next Weds…..

Thank You

I'd like to take this opportunity and use this unique forum to thank the entire cast and crew of "Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather."

This was truly a concerted team effort and this web series is the product of many people's time, effort and talent.  

Thank you!

~Chris

Launch Imminent

T-minus four days until the world premiere of Season 1 of "Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather" and in between an internship and some contract editing work, I've been burning the candle tweaking, color correcting and mixing the first two episodes.

Episode 1 has been pared down to a lean five and a half minutes, which seems to suit the material and Ep 2 is coming along nicely. 

Vimeo viewer numbers are not what I would hope for at this point, but hopefully we'll get some strong numbers come Wednesday.

So, if you're reading this here blog, please implore friends, family and muttering strangers with internet access to check out the show.  Its free, people. Free. You like free, don't you???

 

Grassroots Marketing - Postcards Pt. 2

The most humorous encounter of the day involved my walking into the middle of a class at a very conservative spiritual center, where a female guru was seated lotus style at the far end of the room on a dais while the class seemed in some state of rapture, performing very advanced postures.  I smiled awkwardly, clutching my kicks in one hand and a stack of postcards in the other.  The guru smiled back, asking if I was there to see Jane.  I obviously couldn't run my sales pitch in the studio, so I replied "Yes.  I am.  Is Jane here?"  The guru responded "She is in the breathing room.  To your left."  I wasn't sure what the breathing room was, but figured it was the lesser of two evils.  

The breathing room ended up being a simple space with couches and a massage table.  Jane was a very sweet woman who instructed clients on best meditation practices.  She also laughed uproariously at my description of the show (I almost told her to bring her expectations down a notch or two, but refrained).  I handed her a stack of cards and ambled into the hallway to put my sneakers on and head to the next location. 

Rejection and Almost Rejection Quotes of the Day:

"Yeah.  I can't letcha put dose out here.  I'd havta let everybody do it then. You know?  Sorry pal" (pause and glance at postcard) "Are you Gene?" ~ Guy from a certain vegan pizza place

Studio Gestapo, I mean, Employee: "Are you a student here?"

Me: "No." (pause to formulate lie) "I'm a student at another one of your studios"

Gestapo (looking at card, referring to Gene):  "Does he teach (insert specific form of yoga here) at another studio?"

Me: "Uh. No.  He's a student at one of the other studios though."

Gestapo: (long pause) "Ok.  You can put out a couple. But not too many."

Me: "I extend the gratitude and warmth of one thousand suns upon you and your family!"

Gestapo: "Just put out your cards and please get the fuck out of here."

(the last two lines of dialogue were added for dramatic effect)

Grassroots Marketing - Postcards Pt. 1

Anticipating the release of DOJ Ep 1 (and possibly 2) Wednesday next, my producing partners and I have embarked on a small scale marketing campaign, one facet of which being postcard distribution.

Our first target market is yoga studios in NYC.  I spent a fair portion of my day traversing the East Village and surrounding areas, stopping by each studio scrawled in my notebook.  I originally thought that studios would be generally receptive and easily accessible.  I no longer harbor that misconception.  

There were a couple of fairly receptive establishments, but most were less than cordial (I shant mention any names). One in particular was very receptive...and then they informed me of a $20 fee for two weeks on their "message board" (a plastic rack that was unceremoniously situated behind a rolling ladder in the front corner of the store/studio).  Capitalism is still king in this great country of ours.  "You can find harmony. But its gonna cost you."  Being on less than a shoestring budget, I decided to skip advertising Herr Moonfeather at this location and moved on to the next.

The other hurdle I ran into was gaining access to certain buildings while classes were being held.  I piggybacked more than three delivery men today to enter various buildings and reach the sweet, sweet honey I sought.