Everyone’s two least favorite Monopoly properties finally get the attention government administrators always wished they would in the Channel 101 crime drama, Water and Power.
You can’t possibly imagine the highpressure situations and shocking service calls the mid-level management at these utilityplants face in their everyday work, and those are the very conditions this satirical series attempts to illuminate.
Created by Ryan Ridley and Dan Harmon (both long-time Channel 101 veterans – Harmon’s a co-founder), Water and Power is your typical Channel 101 blend of low-budget cinematography mixed with ironic dramatization. But don’t let the production quality or characteristic acting cause you to click away. This one’s something special.
Following up on the news that MTV New Media had greenlit Craig Brewer’s new Memphis-based project, $5 Cover, the musician-centric web series wrapped shooting this week.
On set it sounds like Brewer and his crew are letting the cast of real Memphis musicians do their thing without stepping in too much. “Funny story about when we were shooting at Java Cabana,” show blogger Tommy writes, “we were filming Kate doing coffeehouse stuff. During shooting, the phone rang (Java Cabana was closed that day) and Kate ended up answering it. It was a telemarketer and Kate, in character, told them she wasn’t interested and hung up. Imagine a lot of laughing after Craig yelled, Cut!”
These are artists most of us haven’t heard of, but probably would go check out if we were in Memphis for a few nights. Yes, there’s a whole interactive gauntlet of features coming with the series – a virtual tour of the local music scene, video blogs and exclusive audio tracks. But maybe we shouldn’t forget that there’s the cast itself, all talented aspiring musicians and all with active MySpace pages and growing followings. So much for creating fake character pages on MySpace, these are the real deal. There could even be a breakout amongst this cast, given the caliber of the storyteller behind it. Amy LaVere, Al Kapone, Muck Sticky, Lucero, Valerie June, Two-Way Radio, Snowglobe – they’re all still out there working the Memphis scene. Things could change once the series drops later this year, so probably a good idea to check them out now.
What’s great about Cover is how much MTV is just letting Brewer tell his story without trying to Real World: Memphis the project. As Brewer put it back in July, “MTV is giving us a small chunk of change and complete control to highlight the artists of our community in a fun, sexy new way, and on our own terms.”
Kutcher and Goldberg recently gave Michael Arrington a preview of said “interactive web content,” and the TechCrunch founder was no more descriptive than declaring “this is clearly going to be really entertaining stuff.”
We still don’t know what that “entertaining stuff” is, but at least part of it now has a name and a release date. The Blah Girls (which – based on the title and the presumed age and attitude of its characters – will draw plenty of comparisons to Teen Girl Squad) make their debut at the Techcrunch50 in early September.
Here are Kutcher and Goldber expressing their NSFW discontent at the confidentiality requirements Arrington demands surrounding the premiere:
It goes without saying, I suppose: the purpose and promise of democratized media is the multitude of perspectives that emerge. Until recently, we relied on the big guys to tell the story of national politics. And with this Democratic National Convention, as with all those that have preceded it, established media has plastered the same, staid convention imagery before our eyes: politicking, pundits, color-schemes, false promises, pomposity. Political parties and their conventions are ostensibly devoted to exploring solutions to our nation’s problems, but who has time for issues when ostentatious facades are being erected all about.
When the conversations becomes about the shiny event and the tactics intended for it’s entranced beholders, the real issues are relegated to the passions of the unknown and unloved protesters. Alas, we all know unattractive people without salivary control aren’t newsworthy. Fortunately, however, they are Gnoozeworthy.
The Gnooze, which we covered once earlier, was created by two seasoned news professionals that realized they were just too smart and ironic to cover local news with a straight face. Their sardonic take on the issues not tackled by real news is refreshing, to say the least, and they’re coverage behind the fence of the Democratic National Convention provides more context and insight into the national dialogue than any coverage I’ve seen elsewhere.
Distribution rights for new series, Do You Believe Me have just been acquired by UK-based I-Rights, part of Digital Rights Group (DRG). The series is coupled with an online reality game, and comes from Portugal’s beActive, known for distributing Sofia’s Diary, and Canada-based The Nightingale Company.
The Nightingale Company’s website describes the story as such, “Do You Believe Me? follows Maya McCarthy, a normal 17 year-old girl who finds herself intertwined in the world of mystery and deceit. After a series of strange nightmares, Maya believes her younger brother is in danger from an unknown threat… with the help of her neighbor Gord, she starts investigating her dead mother’s past. What she finds makes her a reluctant hero, as the fate of the entire world depends on her.”
Interactive elements revealed so far include talking to characters via SMS, keeping up with the show via a blog, and interacting with characters via social networking sites. Additionally, each episode of the show will be accompanied by games and puzzles. These gaming elements of the show are being billed as an alternate reality game (ARG), as players can actively change the reality of the game while it is going on.
The buyers sure seem excited about the web series and ARG combo. I-Rights chief Justin Judd called the two-year distribution deal “groundbreaking.” “By providing multiple layers of content and interaction,” he added, “Do You Believe Me? moves the (web series) form on and provides an immersive and engaging experience for the target audience as well as a range of integrated marketing opportunities for brands and advertisers.” The show site is up, but pending a full release at: doyoubelieveme.com.
The Upright Citizens Brigade has been consistently growing a religious following of improv disciples and comedy nerds since opening a theatre in New York City eleven years ago. In 2005, the Brigade expanded opening a location in Los Angeles. Recently, the theatre compiled videos from many of their best performers and launched UCBcomedy.com. The site was debuted with little fanfare, or hoopla, except amongst their fans and followers.
There are some gems on the site, not always appearing elsewhere in the web landscape. For those not already a part of the growing cult of UCB followers, we thought we would take note of some of funniest series here.
The Jeannie Tate Show (above)
Jeannie Tate is an annoying soccer mom with the amazing ability to book celebrity guests to do her web show from her mini-van. In the first episode, she interviews SNL star Bill Hader, also star of The Line. Created by Liz Cackowski (SNL writer), and Maggie Carey.
Another Kind of Monster
Chronicles the life of a “sexy” and “prolific” college professor who preaches the gospel of Metallica. Directed by Matt Bellino, and starring one of UCB’s founders Matt Walsh.
Be a Celebutante
Danielle Schneider (Crossballs) and Dannah Feinglass (MADTV) teach the commoners how to live like a celebrity. The show chronicles the girls’ misadventures as they create sex tapes, and faux realities ala Third Base, where the duo visits third world countries and seduces the locals.
A first look at the work of Adam Pesapane, aka PES, brings to mind the films of Jan Svankmajer, the 73 year-old Czech surrealist whose food-related stop-motion animations can be seen as an influence in the University of Virginia alum’s playful and unusual uses of chow for all sorts of anarchic configurations and stories.
“I learned a lot by watching [Svankmajer’s] films,” said PES in an exclusive interview with Tilzy.TV. “I liked what he was doing with objects, using them as ideas and textures.”
But PES’ particular brand of stop motion carries his own distinct touch, one that is resolutely American and of late 20th Century/early 21st popular culture.
U.K.-based online graphic novelThe Many Worlds of Jonas Moore has been optioned by MGM Domestic Television Distribution for development as a TV series. Word is that the Sci-Fi Channel may be the destination of choice for the series according to sources. “It’s more likely to be a cable series here in the U.S.,” Chris Ottinger, exec VP of worldwide TV for MGM said. “But it has a real shot to be on terrestrial TV in the U.K.”
The Webby-honoree trilogy series, which first hit the web last winter, is an impressive mash-up of 3D gaming, dark comics and live-action sci-fi. Also nominated at MIPCOM 2007’s Mobile and Internet TV Awards in the Best Short Form Mobile and Internet Drama category, the online version is a trilogy of second-generation graphic novels. The whole thing is set in a world where the British Empire never ended and America is just a virtual world hosted within a vast global game network. The title character, Jonas Moore, is personally created by the network’s founder, and thrown into the simulated world where all the colorful characters, creatures and monsters are all slaves to the gamers from the real world. Of course just like The Matrix, when Moore becomes self-aware of what’s happened, he’s tagged as a virus.
Created and directed by Howard Webster and his team at Factory Publishing Ltd, the trilogy stars British film actor Colin Salmon (Resident Evil; Die Another Day) as Jonas. Triumph Motorcycles is also involved from the start as a lead sponsor with Moore favoring his Triumph as his ride of choice while constantly on the run from the network.
“MGM is a great place for The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore,” said Webster. “There has never been a black British action hero before and what appealed to me was that MGM understood this from the outset. Moore is sophisticated, educated, tough and uber-cool. He represents the next generation of intelligent action heroes of international sci-fi drama,” he added.
For those hoping for more online Moore installments, it looks like this may be it for a while. You’ll still be able to download the trilogy here. It’s a little sad to see Moore packing up and heading for traditional TV so soon. In fact, before the MGM deal, Webster said in the original press release for the show how strongly he felt about the web as the next great outlet for branded content. “The global media agencies are simply trying to copy what teenagers and web-heads are already doing in their millions with content on the web and are attempting to charge brand directors huge sums of money to do it. The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore is a wake up call to the global community of content generators mashing up video, music and imagery. Jonas Moore calls for web-heads and garage content creators to take back the content on the web – The average Mac has everything pre-loaded on it for you to go for it.”
Update: The original article incorrectly called Jonas Moore a Webby-nominated series, when in fact it was a Webby honoree. The correction has been made above. Thanks to Howard Webster for the correction.
It’s a concept with a lot of potential, but unfortunately, that’s actually not what the show is about. Instead of trying to meet the young mayor, the 10-part series is an excuse to showcase Van Note’s comedic sensibilities, which are a couple Absolut on the rocks shy of absurd comic genius, and linger in a realm of kinda-but-not-really that funny.
The obvious question is, why doesn’t Van Note actually try to meet Newsom?
If you’re an eco-friendly, do-it-yourself fashionista (or Coroy Doctorow) you’re probably so engrossed with Threadbanger‘s Steampunk Week that you missed the news.
The announcement’s worth noting because (I think – correct me in the comments if I’m wrong) it’s the first time a web show has turned a sponsorship deal into a full-fledged, branded endorsement of a physical product. This is not a “presented by _______,” GoDaddy 10% off coupon, girl blatantly driving around in a Ford, character funded by Neutrogena, or book, but an actual commercial item. An advertising strategy that’s been alive and well in 4th Generation iPods, basketball shoes, and Happy Meals for decades, but new to new media.
Other web shows could capitalize by putting their name on similarly relevant products. Indy Mogulcould sell inexpensive, video production starter kits. Fast Lane Daily could design some rims. Gary Vaynerchuck of Wine Library TV could endorse a Caribbean cruise. Oh, he’s already doing that. Of course he is.
Sign up now for your spot on “the most over-the-top, spectacular Wine Cruise ever produced” – the Thunder Cruise! It doesn’t leave until April 2009, but spots are “selling like crazy,” probably becasue the dude knows how to party.
TheWB.com moved into public beta today, and the internets responded with a collective yawn. The new site features WB television favorites like Firefly, Friends and Buffy, but it also sports a host of made-for-web video content. It seems that not much has changed since Reed criticized the interface after the initial closed beta launch, but its worth a second spin anyhow.
In 1982, Stephen King’s anthology horror movieCreepshow made over $21 million (a lot of money at the time) and fathered several sequels over the past two decades. Horror bloggers are buzzing about the pending series tentatively titled Creepshow: RAW, being produced by HD Films. The show stars Michael Madsen(Reservoir Dogs) and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911!) with That 70s Show’s ‘Fez’, Wilmer Valderama directing. More details to come.
Jace Hall got a behind the scenes looks at the show with Wendi McLendon-Covey.
Everyone’s two least favorite Monopoly properties finally get the attention government administrators always wished they would in the Channel 101 crime drama, Water and Power.![](https://tubefilter.com.s49015.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bradpostlethwaite5dollarcover1.jpg "\\"Brad\\" played by Brad Postlethwaite of Snowglobe")
Following up on the news that MTV New Media had 
U.K.-based online graphic novel 
