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.

Dig "The West Side" web series

By nature, I am competitive. Very, very competitive.  I also like to think that I have some sensibilities and taste when it comes to what I listen to, read, watch, or hang on my wall.  That said, I know a good thing when I see it and the web series "The West Side" is such a thing. 

Dieter Baum (DP for DOJ and real life guru) looped me in on this beautifully shot and nuanced web series after he read about the creators in FilmMaker magazine.  These cats also won the Webby this year for best drama series.  

Anywho, it seems that the lads are in dire straights and without adequate funding to complete the series, which is unfortunate because the show is very nicely executed and definitely hooks viewers.  The urban/western combo alone is an edgy and original concept.  

Here's the link.  Check it> http://thewestside.tv/.

Trial and Lots of Error

Web video is not a new medium, but it is new enough to not yet be refined.  There is no template or formula that is a standard as of yet (maybe there never will be).  While in the process of editing Season 1 of DOJ (and re-editing and screening and re-editing again and again...and trimming and paring...) I've learned a couple of things about elements that may work and elements that definitely do not.

Here are a couple of things I've learned thus far>>>

~Keep it short, punchy, and moving.

After screening an episode of DOJ featuring a fairly long conversation scene (not "My Dinner with Andre'" long ((a favorite of mine)) but long, nonetheless)  recently to big laughs and a few kind words, on the big screen, I screened it on the smallest screen for a select group.  The reactions were markedly different. 

While the dialogue worked when the characters loomed over the audience and the speakers boomed, it felt a touch long when the viewers loomed over my laptop and the speakers chirped.

I must admit that when I began producing web based video content, applying lessons learned working on films and in TV seemed the natural route.

This was presumptive at best and dead wrong at worst.

Not to say that story or production quality should be sacrificed, but running lean is clutch.

When a video is contending with whatever else may be bouncing, blinking or bleeping on one's browser or desktop, that video better be damn interesting and fast enough to allow the user to return to work duties or Perez Hilton before they lose interest. 

There is most definitely a learned psychological pigeonholing of web video.  People hear "webisode" and they think "This here cat running around a toilet bowl better make me chortle in less than two minutes or back to FaceBook-stalking my ex-girlfriend I go." 

When someone straps in to watch a sitcom on Hulu or a film on their machine, however, they are in for the long haul.  Until the semantics change, it seems like original web based video content will have to run lean.

Postcards Printing. Trailer on the Web.

Life has been a bit crazed of late with getting the Gene postcards made.  Had a little photo session Friday last where Senor Joiner donned his mustache and headband for a little Gucci style shoot.  Once he relaxed and worked the camera, all was right.  

Also threw together a packet for this year's ITV festival.  Hopefully we are worthy for consideration in the web series comp this year...went the tongue-in-cheek Bruckheimer route with the trailer, though it doesn't provide the most in-depth sense of the show, it should hopefully peak interest and coax a giggle or two.

Over and out. ~C

Indio Bravo Screening of DOJ Episode 2

My friend Janice held a send-off screening of her short film "Sabongero (Cockfighter)" on Monday to celebrate her trip to Cannes and invited us to screen an episode from DOJ as part of the program. 

Before I talk about how Gene fared, I want to take a moment to thank Janice and everyone affiliated with the Indio Bravo Film Festival for giving us the opportunity.  I also want to encourage anyone who might be reading this here blog to check out "Sabongero." It is an excellent film.  I'd also like to encourage all New Yorkers to check out the Indio Bravo Film Festival being held June 11-14 at the MoMA (http://www.indiobravo.org/).  

Friend pimping is complete.

And so, we screened Episode 2 of Season 1 of "Days of Joy!" at KGB Bar (the original screening location was rendered obsolete by a busted bulb in the projector...and I just happened to know KGB had the facilities and equipment we needed).  The screening went very well and DOJ received very positive feedback from several people.  The fact that a seven minute webisode was able to hold its own screening with short films was heartening to say the least. But, I'll let you, kind reader, be the judge.  

Final Wknd of Shooting

Hitting the home stretch with principal filming of Season 1 of "Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather."

Amongst other places, we'll be spending some time at Gunt's apartment, Om Skool studio and the always festive streets of Williamsburg Bklyn.

Irony is we are really just hitting our stride and getting the rhythm down.  Such is mango, I guess.

While I will be mired in ye ol edit bay for the next few weeks, my colleagues will be revamping our site and taking www.GeneMoonfeather.com LIVE.  We'll also be branching out to the social networking arena, with some FaceBook action and a little MySpace (which, I have been told by web marketing guru Vicky Ayala, is still relevant).  And watch out Twitter.  You're next on the hit list...though I'm not sure how people actually have enough time in their respective days to "twitter."

Karma. Karma. Karma.

I have several gems in the realm of karmic tales from my life and this weekend I added a couple of new gems to my bodice.

First, the unfortunate karma. While shooting the reiki scene (re-shooting, actually) an ambulance pulled up right in front of the location where we shot. About half an hour later, an elderly man was wheeled out. He seemed to be cogent and I'm not sure exactly what happened, but thankfully there were no white sheets. We lost an hour of daylight, but considering the nature of the situation, I wasn't discouraged or upset in the least.

On Sunday, as we shot a crucial scene requiring a town car, a town car pulled up and into the exact spot where we needed it. I had not called to order a town car yet because we were still shooting the portions leading up to it. Perfect karmic timing.

And so, balance was restored and all was right. Good times.

Death to Mr. Softie!

Overall, the best three consecutive days of shooting yet for DOJ. We gathered on a rooftop in Williamsburg at the crack of dawn on Friday and shot Evan (Gene) working on some Tai Chi. Considering the delicate nature of the location, we shot guerrilla style. I manned the boom and Dieter tried out the SteadyCam. Nice, relaxed morning garnering some (hopefully) great shots.

After a lil breakfast stopover, we three met up with AD Vicky and producer/pa Maria, as well as Jen (Summer) at the waterfront park in the Burg (which apparently is going to serve as the new location for summer concerts, since McCarren Pool is refurbished to serve as an actual pool) to shoot the falafel date scene.

Things were moving along smoothly until a local park "ranger" (or someone playing dress up) asked about our permit. "Permit? What permit?" was not the right answer and we were forced to break down and head to McCarren and shoot the scene.

McCarren proved to be a bit nosier than the waterfront and despite my deep breathing exercises, I experienced an overwhelming urge to throttle Mr. Softie, who felt it necessary to circle the park about sixty times while we shot. The jingle is still in my head and he's still out there, soft serving kiddies.

"Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather" the production blog

All the kids are doing it and being that I am part lemming decided "what the hay?" I'll whip up a lil production blog for the masses (all five of you).

This is the production blog for the web series I have been working on for the past 7 months called "Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather."  

Here's our logline: A yoga teacher with a repressed rage issue

Here's our website: www.GeneMoonfeather.com

Here's our budget: ***see Chris' Visa bills and collection notices

We are actually two thirds through shooting season one of the show and all things considered, it has been a great experience.  At times grueling, but a true learning experience and, I think, something special.

"Why a web series?" you may ask.  Well, everybody and their grandma is picking up the old Super Eight and recording squirrels humping cats, looping it and calling it a series.  So, I figured, why not make my own series?  Being that I know more actors than cats and squirrels, I resorted to a narrative driven, comedic model.

Truth be told, I think we are at a crossroads with new media and despite the confluence of crap on YouTube, Blip, Veoh, etc, there is some good stuff and talented people putting that stuff together.   Unfortunately, rising above the din ain't the easiest thing to do and we all want to rise above that gosh darn din.   Hopefully, there will be some standard of excellence applied to web video at some point, and viewers won't have to sift and search.  I mean, the porn channels do it.  At least, that's what my, uh, cousin told me.   

More to come...details about on set exploits....show release dates...screenings...how to win the bendable Gene Moonfeather action figure, with interchangeable headbands, etc.  Until then.

~C$