The original Star Trek television show aired its last episode over 46 years ago on June 3, 1969. But thanks to a lifelong fan named James Cawley, the Trek nostalgia lives on in a fan-created and now fan-funded digital series called Star Trek: New Voyages, a long-term project which began back in April 2003.

Cawley, who serves as New Voyages executive producer, grew up watching Star Trek syndicated re-runs and told The New York Times he knew the original show lines “forward and backward.” Cawley started New Voyages (also known as Star Trek: Phase II) as a continuation of the original series. The web version centers around the crew of the starship Enterprise in the final year of its five-year assigned mission. Soon after Cawley launched his New Voyages project, Jack Marshall joined as a producer and suggested the show be made into a free-to-view web series, to avoid legal conflicts with Star Trek franchise owner CBS. With consulting producer Eugene Roddenberry Jr. (the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry) on board, the first episode of New Voyages was released in January 2004.

According to a blog post on the project’s official site, the majority (97%) of New Voyages’ production costs have been funded by cast and crew (in no small part thanks to Cawley’s career as an Elvis impersonator). Cawley and his crew only recently started running Kickstarter campaigns in 2014 to help fund new episodes, which are produced and released about once a year, so the entire series boasts only nine total installments (plus some behind-the-scenes extras and vignettes). One more New Voyages episode arrives in December 2015 and an eleventh episode is planned for release in 2016.

The first few episodes of Star Trek: New Voyages starred Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk; Cawley was later succeeded by Brian Gross. Brandon Stacy plays the role of Spock, and John Kelley is Dr. McCoy. Supporting roles are filled by global Star Trek fans who volunteer their time freely to take part in the series’ filming. New Voyages has also attracted guest appearances from the original series such as George Takei (Sulu) and Walter Koenig (Chekov).

“People come from all over the world to take part in this — Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and every state in the union,” said Cawley to The New York Times. “That’s the magic of Star Trek. It’s spawned this whole generation of fans who went on to professional careers — doctors, lawyers, engineers — who are now participating in that shared love here.”

Star Trek: New Voyages initially filmed in an old car dealership in Port Henry, New York, before moving to a shuttered Dollar General in Cawley’s hometown of Ticonderoga. There, the New Voyages crew has set up a near-perfect replica of the original series’ Enterprise bridge, medical bay, and transporter room. Cawley even gave 300 fans the chance to tour the studio at the first-ever Trekonderoga convention from September 4-6, 2015.

“Having the sets in a small town keeps them away from casual curiosity-seekers and gives the production crew the privacy necessary to film an episode,” said contributing writer and producer David Gerrold, who wrote the popular Star Trek episode “The Trouble With Tribbles.” “I am most impressed by the enthusiasm, the commitment, and the spirit of everyone who volunteers just for the fun of working their butt off. That’s what makes it special.”

The New Voyages team is currently working on its fall 2015 fundraising campaign, which encourages fans to become monthly supporters. If you’re a Trekkie, or just think what Cawley and the New Voyages crew are doing is awesome, you can visit the series’ site to donate.

Filed under: Articles, News, Web Series by Bree Brouwer
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In June 2015, Facebook gave marketers the ability to run full-screen mobile advertisements. The ad format starts as a plain, regular old Facebook ad on a user’s feed, but expands to fill the screen when the user clicks. So far, only a few brands have started experimenting with the new addition to the social network’s advertising portfolio.

Wendy’s is one of these companies. The food chain has capitalized on the new Facebook format to create a Snapchat-style (in that it takes up the entire mobile screen a la Snapchat ad) mobile campaign dubbed “Take It From the Top.” The ads include GIFs and videos to show how the restaurant’s burgers are made layer-by-layer. The interactive ads ask mobile users to tilt their phones to create a digital experience where a new layer slides up from the bottom of the screen to “build” a burger.

For example, the Wendy’s “Take It From the Top” campaign includes a GIF of ketchup as it’s squirted into a “w” shape, which then moves on to a “Fixins” screen boasting a rotating carousel of pictures such as pickles, onions, and tomatoes. The Wendy’s Facebook ads finish up with an image of lettuce, a GIF of flapping cheese, and a video of a cooking beef patty.

“The Wendy’s quality story carries a lot of equity with our fans and we wanted to invite them into that story, literally layer by layer,” said Mike Bueno, Director of Digital Marketing at Wendy’s, as reported by Adweek. “We’re always looking for new ways to have fun with digital, and Facebook is a great partner in helping us do that.”

Here’s a video of the Wendy’s “Take It From the Top” Facebook ads, courtesy of Adweek. Expect to see more of its like while looking at Facebook on your mobile, internet-connected device soon. 

Filed under: Articles, Branded Entertainment, Facebook, News by Bree Brouwer
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In recent months, Hulu has released several original series that have the potential to raise its profile in the digital video industry. First there was Difficult People, a catty comedy that drew good reviews and a fair bit of media attention. Then, in October, viewers met Casual, a Jason Reitman comedy that has plenty of praise of its own.

Having released these two attention-grabbers, Hulu is looking to drum up even more support for its original programming plans. On October 18th, it debuted a TV commercial that places its originals front and center.

The commercial, created by ad agency twofifteenmccann, is directed by Tom Kuntz, who also directed Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” spot. Here, Kuntz employs a similar style, as a charming host walks through Hulu’s office while monologuing. There are a lot of celebrity cameos, but what most caught my eye was the references to two Hulu originals: Casual, and the upcoming 11/22/63, which will be produced by J.J. Abrams and adapted from a  Stephen King novel.

It’s not Hulu’s first TV commercial–you may remember this one from the Super Bowl a couple years back–but it shows an interesting shift in the video platform’s strategy. Netflix has credited a lot of its growth the the success of its originals; has the same trend held true for Hulu?

If Hulu wants to advertise its original programming, it could help itself with some more significant pickups, and according to Variety, it is doing just that. It is reportedly close to a series order for Shut Eye, which will be set in the world of storefront psychics and will include “darkly comic” elements. The first season of that series is expected to run for ten episodes.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, Hulu, News by Sam Gutelle
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[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a new weekly and monthly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given timeframe. You can check out all of our Tubefilter Charts – with new installments every week – here.] 

Scroll down for the Tubefilter Chart.

It’s time for another installment of our monthly Tubefilter Top 100 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Chart and Turkish music is apparently very popular around the globe.

Chart Toppers

The WWE lost its worldwide title belt this month. The home of all things World Wrestling Entertainment slammed down more than 365.7 million views in the short month of September, but that was a few million views below an international music conglomerate. Netd müzik‘s collection of Turkish-language music videos claimed the #1 spot, collecting nearly 371.7 million views from Turkish music fans around the world.

Baby Big Mouth is next up in third place. The channel dedicated to the little toy whatnots one finds after opening a Kinder Surprise Egg cracked 362.4 million views. In the #4 spot is LittleBabyBum. The repository of classic Western songs for your English-speaking preschoolers brought in almost 355.1 million views in the 30 days of the month.

And rounding out the Top 5 is Taylor Swift. The international pop star who inspires #SquadGoals around the world shop up 10% in views and ended the month with nearly 339.9 million of them.

Top Gainers

The honor of one our Top Gainers this month goes to Justin Bieber.

The first music video release from the 21-year-old popstar in more than seven months had a huge effect on his YouTube channel’s numbers. What Do You Mean? hit the internet on August 30, and quickly racked up a nine-figure view count, helping to give the Biebs’ channel a solid 148% month-over-month increase in views, almost 233.1 million views on the month, and the #16 spot on the worldwide chart.

Channel Distribution
The Top 100 Most Viewed YouTube channels this month amassed in aggregate a total of 16,182,967,872 views. Here’s a look at the distribution of those channels broken down by the most-represented YouTube Multi-Channel Networks on the chart:

• VEVO: 19 channels in the Top 100. Taylor Swift is the network’s highest ranking channel at #5.
• Maker Studios: 10 channels in the Top 100, with PewDiePie at #10.
• BroadbandTV: 4 channels in the Top 100, with Major Lazer at #47.
• Fullscreen, XMediaDigital: 3 channels each in the Top 100, with Fullscreen’s FamilyFunPack at #11 and XMediaDigital’s mashamedvedtv at #7.
• BuzzFeed, Machinima, Movieclips, WMG: 2 channels each in the Top 100, with BuzzFeed’s BuzzFeed video at #9, Machinima’s VanossGaming at #31, MovieClips’ Movieclips Trailers at #34, and WMG’s Ed Sheeran at #83.

And here’s a look into the distribution of the this month’s Top 100 by country of origin:

• The United States: 44 channels in the Top 100.
• Great Britain: 8 channels in the Top 100.
• India: 7 channels in the Top 100.
• Spain: 5 channels in the Top 100.
• Brazil, Canada: 4 channels each in the Top 100.
• Japan, Russia, Thailand Korea: 3 channels each in the Top 100.
• Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Sweden: 2 channels each in the Top 100.
• Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine: 1 channel each in the Top 100.

As always, keep up to speed with the latest Tubefilter Charts and all of our news at Tubefilter by following us on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook, and watching our videos on YouTube.

OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 220,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.

Filed under: Articles, News, statistics, Statistics, YouTube, Youtube Chart by Joshua Cohen
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One of the key elements to success on digital platforms like YouTube is engagement with audiences. Without a strong connection to fans, creators can’t expect to efficiently grow their reach, message, or even quality of content. And no one knows that better than Maker Studios‘ Chief Audience Officer Chris Williams.

At Maker, Williams’ job is to grow the network’s audience across the globe through strategies like partnerships and network development. With over 55,000 creators, Maker routinely pulls in ten billion video views per month. While Williams can claim some responsibility for helping Maker achieve those numbers, a lot of the credit can also go to Maker talent partners who work tirelessly to create content worthy of their fans’ support, trust, and continued attention.

Along with several members of this Maker talent (including Bart Baker and Timothy DeLaGhetto), Williams will host a panel called “Your Audience Is Listening… And Talking” at Stream Con NYC on October 30 to discuss audience engagement. Here’s a sneak peek of what Williams and the Maker talent will cover:

Tubefilter: Why is it so important for digital creators to understand and connect with their audiences? What’s at stake here?

Chris Williams: The relationship between an online creator and their audience is so interesting to observe because it’s truly unique to this space. There’s a level of access that really doesn’t exist outside of the digital realm. There is a two-way conversation taking place—and when a creator successfully connects with an audience, many times that community genuinely feels they have a “stake” in the success of that talent which can lead to even more engagement and connection, and ultimately more success.

TF: What are some things creators can do to get to know their fans’ wants, preferences, quirks, etc.?

CW: I think one of the best ways to build a relationship is to keep the lines of communication open. Each creator is unique in terms of their personality and the kind of content they create, and so is their audience. It’s important to be an active listener during interactions with viewers.

TF: How about interacting with them? What are some of the most efficient yet rewarding ways for creators to connect with audiences?

CW: Being present, especially in the wake of a new content upload. Comment sections are one of the easiest and most meaningful ways for a creator to connect instantly and directly with their audience. Other social media touch points (likes, follows, favorites, re-tweets) are also impactful. Nothing compares to face-to-face interactions though that fans can experience at events like StreamCon or VidCon or even independent meet-ups – those exchanges are hugely rewarding.

TF: How can an audience steer the direction of a creator’s goals and content? When (if ever) can this turn into a problem for the creator?

CW: The reason why digital is such a dynamic place to create is in many ways because of the instant feedback that can come from a video upload. You frequently see creators reaching out to ask what their next video or theme should cover and what topics their audience wants to discuss. They ask direct questions of their viewers in an effort to engage and open a dialogue. For formats that make sense, you should be actively soliciting responses from the audience that influence the content.

For example, every episode of Epic Rap Battles of History, one of the most viewed formats in digital, ends every episode with the question “Who won, whose next” which inspires hundreds of thousands of fans responding in the comments every episode. Ultimately, as a creator, it’s up to you what kind of content you produce and put on your channel. I think it’s important to also always honor your own voice and stand behind the kind of content you’re distributing on your channels.

TF: What are some guidelines for creators looking to connect with their audiences while also keeping their communities a safe place to interact?

CW: It’s always a good idea to try and be as inclusive as possible – you want the members of your community to feel like they belong, so they can in turn welcome others.

TF: How do you and Maker help to facilitate a healthy and positive creator/fan interaction and environment?

CW: Maker encourages our creator partners to honor their creative impulses, supporting them in their efforts to create engaging, fun and innovative content every single day.

You can hear from Chris Williams and other online video and streaming leaders at Stream Con NYC. Tickets start at $97.50 for fan weekend tickets; you can purchase them here.

Filed under: Articles, Maker Studios, News, Stream Con NYC by Bree Brouwer
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Michelle Obama has a new plan to emphasize the importance of education after high school, and she’s pulled in some big digital media companies to help spread the word. The First Lady tapped platforms like Vine and digital hyphenates like AwesomenessTV to make public service announcements for her Reach Higher initiative’s “Better Make Room” campaign.

According to a White House press release, the “Better Make Room” campaign will “celebrate student stories in the same way that we often celebrate celebrities and athletes.” While the overall goal with the Reach Higher initiative is to encourage teenagers to seek higher education, “Better Make Room” specifically seeks to show young Gen Z adults aged 14-19 the importance of continuing their educations, either at a vocational/trade, community, or four-year college. The PSA campaign will also help teach students about the steps and tools they’ll need to apply to higher education establishments, such as filling out the FAFSA aid form and visiting college campuses.

The goal is presumably to make this Key & Peele sketch as much of a reality as possible, except with students instead of teachers (though I’m sure FLOTUS wouldn’t mind a future where teachers were treated this way, too).

More than 20 traditional entertainment and new media entities are on board alongside Vine and AwesomenessTV, including CollegeHumor, Mashable, Funny or Die, the CW, NBCUniversal, A+E, Seventeen, and Pearson. These companies have pledged to produce public service announcements and original content supporting the “Better Make Room” message. Campaign partners will tap their own talent to participate in the effort.

The White House said students looking to get “higher education deserve equal praise and adoration” normally reserved for celebrities and sports stars. “Through an integration of celebrities, peers, influencers, and partners who step outside their own accomplishments to lift up those of another, the campaign gives achievement, smarts, conquest and reaching higher the spotlight they deserve,” the White House noted. “Better Make Room highlights the possibility of a better education, a better career, and a better future.”

This is not the first time Michelle Obama has tapped digital talent and brands to help her promote higher education. In September 2014, the First Lady chatted with YouTube star Tyler Oakley about the importance of college as part of her Reach Higher initiative. Obama also partnered with Michelle Phan in Tokyo to promote the White House’s “Let Girls Learn” campaign, which sought to promote education for young women in third world countries.

You can learn more about Obama’s new educational campaign at bettermakeroom.org.

Filed under: Articles, Celebrity, Industry, News by Bree Brouwer
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Camera company GoPro has emerged as one of the Internet’s biggest branded content success stories, and it has more growth on its mind. According to Variety, GoPro has hired Bill McCullough, formerly of HBO Sports, as a programming executive.

McCullough’s official title is executive producer for GoPro’s extreme sports and team sports videos. The company’s YouTube channel is replete with sports videos, many of which provide first-person viewpoints for major events. A recent offering, for example, gives viewers a first-person look at a winning run from a recent motorsports event hosted by another big-time branded video producer, Red Bull.

McCullough plans to continue GoPro’s innovative approach to video. The short-form content produced on his watch will give viewers access to angles and viewpoints they would otherwise not have. “The camera itself really breaks down so many barriers,” he told Variety, referring to GoPro’s well-known line of action cameras.

2015 has been a big year for GoPro, which has continued to expand the size of its content operation since launching a YouTube channel six years ago. In July, the camera company hired Charlotte Koh, a former Hulu content exec, as the head of its features and series. One would think Koh and McCullough would work together on high-quality content that continues to excite adrenaline junkies and sports enthusiasts alike.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, GoPro, News by Sam Gutelle
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Two of most significant projects in YouTube’s pipeline have been linked to one another, and the video site looks as if it will provide information about both of them on October 21st. That’s the date when, according to Recode, YouTube will discuss its new slate of original programs, some of which are likely to be included within the site’s upcoming subscription service.

YouTube will discuss its original programs during an event at its Los Angeles creator space. As far as we know, the programs in question are the ones revealed in an April 2015 blog post. They’ll each be created in partnership with top-level YouTube stars, with the video site providing all necessary funding. The creators working on their own projects as part of the new initiative are Smosh, Prank Vs. Prank, The Fine Bros, and Joey Graceffa.

On Wednesday, we hope to hear more about YouTube’s distribution strategy for its new round of originals. Recode believes at least some of the originals will be released behind paywalls. Users will need to sign up for YouTube’s upcoming subscription service, which is rumored to carry a price tag in the vicinity of $10 per month.

Recode characterizes the new slate of originals as a successor to the YouTube Original Channels Initiative, which launched in 2011 and taught YouTube some important lessons about the content it produces for its own viewers. One of the most important things YouTube learned is that content from its own creative community tends to click with its viewers, especially when compared with content produced by larger media companies. Since the end of the Original Channels Initiative, the rise of YouTube’s Spaces has allowed the video site to allocate more resources to its creative community; with its new originals, it will take that commitment even further.

Some people may remember the poor returns YouTube received the last time it tried to offer a large slate of exclusive, premium content behind a paywall. In general, the video site has struggled to find ways to get viewers to pay for content, but if any programs are able to drive significant subscription revenue, it’s these ones–engineered by beloved online video content creators–that have the best shot. We’ll have a better idea of YouTube’s game plan once the video site’s October 21st event begins.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, News, YouTube by Sam Gutelle
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[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a weekly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given time frame. Check out all of our Tubefilter Charts with new installments every week right here.]

Scroll down for this week’s Tubefilter Chart.

It’s another installment of the weekly Tubefilter Chart of the Top 50 Most Viewed U.S. YouTube Channels and one of America’s most popular sports remained in the top spot.

Chart Toppers

WWE is not letting go of its U.S. YouTube title belt. The online video home of World Wrestling Entertainment held onto the #1 spot on the chart this week, and despite a 4% dip in views still took home nearly 92.8 million of them. In a very distant second is FunToyzCollector (aka the channel previously known as DisneyCollectorBR). The anonymous channel all about videos of adults unboxing and playing with children’s toys was up 4% in the week to end it with almost 86.8 million views.

In third place is BuzzFeedVideo. The main YouTube destination of the popular social website known for its animated GIFs, irreverent quizzes, hard news, and listicles ended the week up 8% and just shy of 84 million views. Up next in the #4 spot is Taylor Swift. The pop star’s massive YouTube viewership saw a 19% uptick to top out at more than 82.3 million views on the week.

And rounding out the Top 5 is FamilyFunPack. The channel dedicated to the familial exploits of Alyssa, David, Zac & Chris, and Michael racked up almost 75.4 million views in the week.

Top Gainers

The honor of one of our Top Gainers in the U.S. this week goes to TheAtlanticCraft.

The YouTube gaming channel powered by a self-described “Penguin and Chicken duo team taking on whatever comes our way” with the help of their trusty Atlanteans (aka the channel’s viewers and fans) had a very good week on YouTube. A steady stream of Minecraft mods and roleplay videos (including this Jaws Movie – Killing The Shark!) helped the channel to an 82% week-over-week increase in views, more than 82.7 million views on the week, and the #33 spot on the U.S. chart.

Channel Distribution

The top 50 most viewed U.S. YouTube channels this week amassed a total of 2,128,777,340 views. Here’s the distribution of a few of those channels by multi-channel network:

• VEVO: 17 channels in the U.S. Top 50, with Taylor Swift the highest-ranked channel of the network at #4.
• Maker Studios: 5 channels in the Top 50, with DisneyCarToys at #7.
• BuzzFeed, Fullscreen, NBCU, OhMyGenius: 2 channels each in the Top 50, with BuzzFeed’s BuzzFeed Video at #3, Fullscreen’s FamilyFunPack at #5, NBCU’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at #22, and OhMyGenius’ Kids Channel at #39.

As always, keep up to speed with the latest Tubefilter Charts and all of our news at Tubefilter by subscribing to our newsletter,following us on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook, and watching our videos on YouTube.

OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 250,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.

Filed under: Articles, News, Statistics, YouTube, Youtube Chart by Joshua Cohen
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[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a weekly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given time frame. Check out all of our Tubefilter Charts with new installments every week right here.]

Scroll down for this week’s Tubefilter Chart.

It’s another installment of the weekly Tubefilter Chart of the Top 50 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Worldwide and an old chart-topper is in the top spot.

Chart Toppers

If YouTube views are any indication, the international market for Turkish music videos is incredibly strong. netd müzik, a kind of YouTube channel and network for Turkish-language music, climbed into the top spot on the worldwide chart this week with more than 101.7 million views. That was more than enough to bump LittleBabyBum down into the #2 spot. The online video destination for all those wanting to hear their favorite songs from their childhoods received more than 93.8 million views in the week.

WWE took a 4% hit in its weekly view count and dropped down to third place. The YouTube home for World Wrestling Entertainment still slammed down almost 92.8 million views during the week. ItsBabyBigMouth is up next in fourth place. The Canadian YouTube channel all about the toys and possible choking hazards inside Kinder Surprise Eggs ended the week just north of 89.9 million views.

And rounding out the Top 5 is mashamedvedtv. The YouTube home of an apparently incredibly popular Russian children’s cartoon shot up 9% in views to end the week with almost 87.5 million views.

Top Gainers

The honor of one of our Top Gainers this week goes to Wiz Khalifa.

The American rapper, songwriter, and actor’s YouTube channel had a great week on YouTube, thanks to the fact one of the most popular YouTube videos of all-time passed a significant milestone. Khalifa’s ode to the late Fast and Furious franchise star Paul Walker – See You Again ft. Charlie Puth – hit YouTube on April 6, 2015, but its viewcount just this past week crossed into the 10 digits. The video became the tenth YouTube video ever to hit a billion views and the press surrounding the achievement gave the upload some added exposure, which translated to a few more views than usual. Khalifa’s channel saw a 24% week-over-week increase in views, almost 39 million views on the week, and the #48 spot on the worldwide chart.

Distribution

All in all, the top 50 most viewed YouTube channels accounted for 2,840,688,496 views last week. Here’s the distribution of a few of those channels by multi-channel network:

• Vevo: 9 channels in the Top 50, with Taylor Swift at #8.
• Maker Studios: 6 channels in the Top 50, with DisneyCarToys at #13.
• AIR, BuzzFeed, Fullscreen, Machinima, XMediaDigital: 2 channels each in the Top 50, with AIR’s Miss Katy at #31, BuzzFeed’s BuzzFeed Video at #7, Fullscreen’s FamilyFunPack,at #11, Machinima’s VanossGaming at #33, and XMediaDigital’s mashamedvedtv at #5.

And here’s the distribution of the this week’s Top 50 YouTube channels by country of origin:

• United States: 24 channels in the Top 50.
• Canada, Great Britain: 4 channels each in the Top 50.
• India, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine: 2 channels each in the Top 50.
• Argentina, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Philippines, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey: 1 channel each in the Top 50.

As always, keep up to speed with the latest Tubefilter Charts and all of our news at Tubefilter by following us on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook, and watching our videos on YouTube.

OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 225,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.

Filed under: Articles, News, statistics, Statistics, YouTube, Youtube Chart by Joshua Cohen
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We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now.  Read previous installments here. 

If you’re going on a Tinder date, and you’re worried about having a bad time, don’t fret; if your date goes poorly enough, it could be acted out by puppets. Tales From Tinder, a web series created by Emma Watts, sources real-life dating nightmares and acts them out with a cast of lovable puppets.

Each episode of Tales From Tinder features a voiceover from a narrator who has suffered an unfortunate experience on Tinder. While we listen to the gory details for each tale of dating horror, puppets act them out on screen. Sesame Street this isn’t–Tales From Tinder’s puppets gleefully engage in sex, heavy drinking, and any other activity they need to perform to make these stories entertaining for viewers.

The most popular Tales From Tinder episode profiles a man named Anton who must negotiate with his “crazy ex-girlfriend.” A light, jazzy soundtrack sets the mood, some crisp edits keep our attention, and the hilarious designs of the puppets drive many of the laughs. I’m particularly fond of the ex-girlfriend puppet, who has a disheveled look and tears pasted beneath her eyes.

The “reenactments of dating horror stories” subgenre is a fun one, and Tales From Tinder is one of the most well-rounded examples. I hope, for your sake, that you never end up as the subject of one of its episodes.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Cocktail Confessions. If you want more dating horror stories, this web series has you covered.
• Horse Mask. For real horror stories, on the other hand, check out this creepy psychological drama.
• Hotel Barclay. American Horror Story is not the only series exploring a terrifying hotel.
• LI Divas. For Real Housewives fans, this parody is set on Long Island.

Got a series you’d like to see featured in the Indie Spotlight? Be sure to contact us here. For best coverage, please include a full episode in your e-mail.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, Indie Spotlight, News by Sam Gutelle
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Ray William Johnson’s studio has just won a very tricky case involving the ever-complicated issue of fair use and copyright in the digital age. A California judge recently sided with Johnson in favor of the digital creator’s Equals Three Studios in a lawsuit against viral video company Jukin Media.

Equals Three initiated the lawsuit last year in November 2014, after Jukin had accused Johnson’s production company of stealing some of its viral videos for inclusion in the =3 comedy clip series. For example, in a November 7, 2014 episode of =3, then-host Robby Motz poked fun of a man from a Jukin-owned clip who tripped and dropped his new bride at an Arizona wedding.

Equals Three sued Jukin (which owns the FailArmy YouTube channel and has built a very good business out of licensing and distributing viral video clips) claiming the studio’s use of viral clips was protected under fair use. Equals Three also accused Jukin of denying the production company ad revenue after Jukin issued YouTube takedown notices against Equals Three videos that contained its owned and licensed clips. On October 13, 2015, Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said Equals Three’s episodes provided commentary on Jukin’s videos and were therefore protected under fair use.

“Equals Three’s use of Jukin’s videos is admittedly commercial,” Wilson wrote, as reported by Variety. “Nevertheless, the commercial nature of the use is outweighed by the episode’s transformativeness.” Wilson admitted “transformativeness” was hard to define and a “nuanced task”. Nevertheless, the judge found that 18 of the 19 =3 episodes in question either parodied, commented on, or criticized Jukin-owned clips to a degree that gave Equals Three Studios protection under fair use. 

The only episode which failed to prove fair usage (September 13, 2014’s “Sheep to the Balls”) used a Jukin clip about the first man from Australia to buy an iPhone 6 and then drop it on live TV. Judge Wilson said in this instance, Equals Three failed to make anything more than “general, broad points” which weren’t commentary on the video itself.

“Whether you’re watching a ‘Let’s Play’ video by PewDiePie, a Pokemon sketch by Smosh, or a song parody by Bart Baker, fair use affects the entire online-video ecosystem,” an Equals Three rep said, adding the ruling was a “significant win” for online video creators.

“We are happy that the court’s decision recognizes that Equals Three’s unauthorized use of Jukin’s videos is not always fair use,” a rep for Jukin stated. “We are, however, carefully reviewing the remainder of the court’s decision and considering the best approach for continuing to enforce the rights of thousands of individuals who find themselves helpless when companies like Equals Three decide not to pay individuals for their intellectual property.”

Filed under: Articles, News, Ray William Johnson, Studios by Bree Brouwer
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