Dr. Horrible Changes Up the Game

Back during the writer's strike, bored TV wonder boy, Joss Whedon (creator of such modern cult classics as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and "Firefly") created a whole new show while he waited for the writers, producers, and studios to get their acts together. The end result is the quirky new property known as Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, a 3-part mini-series musical. See clip below:





While the show starring a singing Neal Patrick Harris (you know the guy from "Dougie Howser, M.D.") as a wacky evil doctor is a matter of taste, what I find most notable about it is the primary means of distribution...online via Hulu.com and iTunes which grew an audience for surprise - A new DVD release!

I said it years ago when I started this blog and wrote my book and I'll say it again...the media landscape is changing. The power is shifting in our (content creators) direction little by little.

The big media companies are still in a little denial, but the gatekeepers of traditional media are slowly (dare I say quickly) loosing their iron grip on distribution. Via web 2.0 sites like Hulu.com, iTunes, and others, everyday filmmaking Joes can find and grow a receptive audience...and sooner than you realize there will be more viable options to actually turn a buck on our own work without any approval or involvement at all from the major media outlets.

As I write this there a number of devices and services in action and being developed that will be able to pipe your content direct to viewers computers an yes, now, even directly to their televisions. (See our previous blog post on the new generation of "black boxes".) Look around you. Pick up a paper. Traditional media dismissed the Internet for a little too long and now they are getting their asses spanked for it.

My strong advice is to start studying and experimenting with these new services and online distribution models and building your own devoted audience now before the majors get their act together and find a way to box you out. (Most of these services are still free, believe it or not.) The old excuses of gatekeepers blocking your project no longer stands up.

Now it's up to us to research, be saavy, and move first to seize these incredible opportunities to skip all the middle men and take our filmmaking careers into our own hands. And God-willing, if we do really start building large audiences and making money, the big media conglomerates will come to us...or better yet the big media conglomerates will BE us. It's already happening, people. It's just gonna take awhile for the mainstream to realize it.

Again, all you need to do for evidence is to look back at the record labels vs. digital downloading, newspapers vs. websites, network tv vs. cable...They all laughed at "the new kid on the block" and now that new kid is eating their supper. It's real simple- get with the new, or go out with the old. This time it's our turn, baby. And you can tell 'em I said it.

Peace, Love and Video
-Ant.

Another Video Black Box

Patrick Ng touched on some of the new generation of "Video Black Boxes" out there in a recent post, but I wanted to quickly revisit the subject to tell you about a new black box product that sounds quite intriguing to me.

The Zee Vee ZV-100 is a new electronic device that will allow you to stream ANYTHING on your computer screen to your tv via a standard cable connection. So this means you could look at YouTube videos, trailers, a Final Cut Pro file, or even just check your email or surf the web all on your big screen HD television. (Yes, it broadcasts in HD!)

At $500, it's still a little pricey for my budget, but this is the first generation of this technology, so that's always most expensive. If I ever get my hands on one, I'll give you a direct report, but for now you'll have to check out the video below and read the NY Times article here for more insight.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again- the digital landscape and the balance of power is shifting- one camera, one device, one technology at a time, but they just keep coming and they keep getting better and cheaper.

I suggest that everyone reading this blog begin to seriously comtemplate exactly how we can take advantage of these new technologies to improve the quality of our filmmaking and do an end run around the gatekeepers of film and tv. (Just last week CVS drugstores in the L.A. area reported a 33% increase in sales of Depends Adult Diapers because every Hollywood gatekeeper who makes their living by picking and choosing what films and shows can be distributed and how is pissing in their pants.)

That's just my two cents...

Short Zee Vee Promo Video:



Read more here:
NY Times Technlogy Article

New Netflix Set Top Box by Roku

The death of DVDs is one step closer. Via manufacturer Roku, Netflix has just released its first set top box for television sets. Joining the ranks of Apple TV and Xbox, Netflix is entering the set top digital distribution arena.

For a one time payment of $99 and a monthly Netflix plan of $8.99 or more, the box brings to your TV unlimited viewing of Netflix’s “instant viewing” online movie and television collection via your household Wifi or Ethernet connection. For more information and specs on the Roku Netflix set top box, click here.

Should the set top box sell like hot cakes (which is possible considering Netlix’s large subscriber base), digital distribution will be one step closer to becoming mainstream. Distributors will no longer have to press DVDs, they will just send the movie as data to Netflix and other companies, who will stream the content directly to television sets.

Although I would wait for the second generation of the Netflix set top box, I am impressed by their efforts in progressing the digital revolution.

-Patrick Ng