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19 articles
‘MacAwesome’: A Semi-Random Love Story
20 hours ago
Armed with a coffee cup painted with cherries, fresh-faced Josh Dove sends out a heart-felt vlog to his mom who is in the hospital due to a freak moped accident that left her with a broken hip. He describes his excitement at having met a new friend, a foreign exchange student who mysteriously appears in his room ("it's how foreign people say hello"). Oh, and he wishes his dad wasn't dead...but at least he's found his old video camera. And within that first thirty-second vlog, you are off and running on the quirky comedy series that is MacAwesome. Created by Graham Bowlin (American Heart) and Waffle Feast Media's Cameron Strittmatter, the series comes out of North Carolina where the two, along with partners Daniel John Lerch and director Andy Mitchell met while at Uncsa film school. The series thrives on its randomness...a visit to the shows Facebook page »
- Jenni Powell
‘Dr. Horrible’ Comic Goes For Origin Story
6 November 2009 5:46 PM, PST
The almost winner of my Coolest Cross-Media Promotion of a Web Series award goes to Dr. Horrible, which just released some sneak peak shots to Splash Page of its upcoming, highly-anticipated, paper and ink comic book. Published by Dark Horse and written by Zack Whedon, the one-shot issue "establishes how a young, impressionable, but brilliant Dr. Horrible was drawn into a world of crime" and recounts the first encounter with his soon-to-be archnemesis, Captain Hammer. Whedonesque readers know that this isn't the first Dr. Horrible prequel, nor the first Dr. Horrible comic, nor the first Dr. Horrible comic written by Zack Whedon, nor the first Dr. Horrible comic and Dark Horse collaboration, it's just the first one you'll be able to physically hold in your hands. In the past 18 months, Zack Whedon wrote three digital comics for MySpace's Dark Horse Presents, including Captain Hammer: Be Like Me!, Moist: Humidity Rising, »
- Joshua Cohen
Friday Rewind: Tubefilter News of the Week – November 6, 2009
6 November 2009 4:47 PM, PST
Comedy Central's Atom.com isn't the cable network's only source for web series to snatch up, as this week it announced it was calling up one of The Onion's hit online shows, Onion Sports Network for a test run. And east coast hipster favorite The Burg returned to the internet this week with its first full-length episode since 2007(!). Indie web shop Dinosaur Diorama is also busy cranking out more All's Faire, which prances out 15 new episodes later this month. Bro-tastic Break.com had its own sports web series debut this week with Social Sportz Net, with lead sponsor Southern Comfort on board. And speaking of guys, the issue of male circumcision is apparently a landmine for new parents, and Deca's new Parents Ask series entered the game this week adding fuel to the fire. Yesterday came another update on the Fred web-series-turned-movie, with more casting notices coming out. Speculation »
- Tubefilter News
RPG Gaming Series ‘Gold’ Rolls Its Own Game
6 November 2009 11:56 AM, PST
From the moment table-top RPG comedy series Gold launched, we knew they were sitting on the ultimate interactive merch play—its own custom tabletop game, perhaps even the very same game that its heroes play throughout the series. We already thought their t-shirts were cool, but this is the release we've been waiting on. This week they released the Gold Character Card Game (Ccg), a relatively easy to pick up team battle style card game for two to four players. "Initially there was some talk about a standalone 'Goblins & Gold' RPG," wrote creator David Nett, "but since there are already so many tremendous old and new-school RPG systems out there that we love to play, and since we’re novices at game design, we quickly discarded that idea." The indie series continues to push forward after wrapping its praised first season. Following the mantra that you can't stop seeking out new fans, »
- Marc Hustvedt
Ti West’s ‘Dead & Lonely’, Vampire Hotties Try Online Dating
6 November 2009 10:17 AM, PST
It can clearly be argued that this world is not left wanting for more vampire love stories. I don't know if all of this modern day blood lust and sexual ambiguity got started with Anne Rice or not but it certainly didn't end there. The past few years especially have brought us an increased amount of vampire laced content. I'm specifically thinking of HBO's successful, blood slurping and breast exposing True Blood, the Swedish coming of age vamp flick Let the Right One In (which is great by the way if you aren't afraid of subtitles, mediocre English dubbing, or Sweden), and of course the ever hyped chick lit Twilight movie based on the bestselling novel (although admittedly I haven't familiarized myself with that last one - some kind of self preserving aversion to all things Mormon prevents me from going there). So do we need another vampire romance story? »
- Jake Weaver
Comedy Central Picks Up More Web Series, ‘Onion Sports Network’
5 November 2009 11:28 PM, PST
Irreverent, sports-related comedy programs don't exist, at least not on television. While series like Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period or Espn's Pardon the Interruption can definitely be comical, they make quips about and poke fun at the wide world of sports with a measured amount of deference. The shows operate under the assumption that the subject is significant, that sports - and the people that play, coach, and watch them - are important. Yes, you could try point to something like the Sklar Brothers' defunct Cheap Seats as an exception, but nothing shows professional athletics less respect than the Onion Sports Network. It's just the kind of program that television could use to bring some balance to the medium's for-the-love-of-the-game love fest. That's why I'm all jazz hands over the recent announcement from Comedy Central. The cable network has ordered a pilot from popular satirical newspaper The Onion for a 30-minute, »
- Joshua Cohen
‘Fred’ Movie Update: Which ‘Cameo Name’ is Playing Dad?
5 November 2009 7:17 PM, PST
A little off topic, but the concept of a whole 90-minute feature of Fred Figglehorn in the works is still sinking in. That, and apparently it was quite the hot topic lately. For those that missed it, we broke the news last month that there is in fact a Fred movie in the works starring none other than Lucas Cruikshank as the titular high-pitched YouTube star. According to the latest casting notices, Cruikshank is indeed attached, though the rest of the roles appear to be wide open. With shooting beginning November 20, they are looking to lock these up soon. For some reason they are looking for "cameo names only" to play Fred's father. We're thinking Jim Carrey. [Fred's Dad] Fred's father, he's a wildly eccentric character who encourages his son to follow his bliss and go after the girl of his dreams. Seemingly unfazed by his nightmarish marriage to a real mess of a woman, »
- Marc Hustvedt
Mad Men Parody ‘Milk Men’ Knocks Up Atom
5 November 2009 3:20 PM, PST
Technically this one isn't a full-on web series yet, but it's too good to pass up. Just in time for the season finale of AMC's Mad Men this weekend comes a spot-on parody of the hit cable series. Created by the guys (Matt Fisher, Alden Ford and Justin Tyler) at Sidecar Comedy for Atom.com, this four minute wonder dubbed Milk Men takes all the drama, double-crossing and fornication of the 60's ad agency and takes in into the world of milk delivery. Oh, and there's and smoking, lots of smoking—even babies smoking. There's even the lipstick on a pig ad man orations over the joy that is fresh milk. We've had our eye on the Brooklyn-based Sidecar guys every since Nytvf where they snagged "Best Writing" honors for their pilot Homeschooled (below). Related News:Atom TV Back For 4 More Weeks of Comedy Central’s Web FlirtingAtom’s ‘My Profile »
- Marc Hustvedt
Fantasy Football Series Are Everywhere Now, ‘Rules of the League’ Reviewed
5 November 2009 12:49 PM, PST
Talk about bad timing. Just as my colleague recently noted the wide open field for fantasy football-themed programming to be explored, a couple of identically-named series have come along to narrow the window considerably. Perhaps for fantasy football addicts, the more content covering their passion the better, but for the rest of us, Rules of The League appears to be an early casualty. A casualty by whom, you ask? Two words: The League. First, there’s the TV show The League, which recently debuted on FX. It seems that one of the main hurdles for web video to flourish and make it onto a wider [mainstream?] radar is that it keeps up with, if not transcends, some of the latest offerings from corporate entertainment, i.e. The Man. But with programming like The League - whose debut episode I caught a good chunk of over the weekend, and which looks to »
- Michael Shaw
‘Seth & Avi’ Debuts, Despite iKlipz Folding
5 November 2009 11:22 AM, PST
Indie film and video site iKlipz quietly went under this summer, though one of its original web series commissions has managed to find some daylight on Funny or Die this week. The company folded while the show was in production on future episodes, so as of now Seth & Avi Show is just three episodes. The bro-comedy is created by writing duo Seth Menachem and Avi Rothman, with each episode the pair playing themselves "Avi is continuously pulling his best friend Seth into sticky situations," said Menachem when describing the setup. Incidentally, the series itself is a little preview of the pair's in development series Partners which they recently sold to Starz. Rothman is a familiar face around here as the star of Atom.com's underrated gem Modern Day Jesus, which popped out last winter. Word is that they are pitching that series to Comedy Central for a possible half-hour TV pickup. »
- Marc Hustvedt
‘The Office: Subtle Sexuality’ Music Video Is Here
4 November 2009 6:34 PM, PST
The Office crew proves they still have their web series juice with their latest online offshoot Subtle Sexuality, which first popped up two weeks ago before premiering October 29. Now the entire three-episode web series is now online including the finale (above), a tribute video "Male Prima Donna" about Kelly Kapoor's on-again/off-againg boyfriend Ryan. And with musicals so hot right now, it's not exactly a shocker that they went that route. Also up now is a fully loaded site around the all-girl pop group formed by Kelley (Mindy Kaling) and Erin (Ellie Kemper). The band satisfies at least two of nutcase Kelly's obsessions—pop celebrities and Ryan (B.J. Novak). And Andy (Ed Helms) gets to rock some more of his Cornell acapella skills. And just like any good web series music video—The Guild's megapop "Do You Wanna Date My Avatar" and Sparhüsen's "Apples & Fish"—you can actually buy the video and track on iTunes. »
- Marc Hustvedt
Uh, What Happened to ‘Camera Obscura’?
4 November 2009 1:10 PM, PST
We often lament about how web series rarely master the art of building buzz before its launch. Maybe it's because web series marketing is sadly an afterthought on many of the lower budget projects. Some series are masters of the black art of buzz building—like say, The Guild and their 4 surprises at Comic-Con. So when the PR folks behind Mwg Entertainment's Camera Obscura started their buzz campaign for the upcoming horror series, we took notice and went along for the ride. And we weren't the only ones, major horror blogs DreadCentral, Fangoria, Monstorous and FEARnet all played along too, posting clips and exclusive photos in what appeared to be one of the freakiest looking online series to date. The reported October 12th launch date turned into "late October" and then nothing. The show's web site now lists a "coming fall 2009" slug below the trailer. While Mwg, the same web »
- Marc Hustvedt
Anthony Bourdain Overseasons His ‘Alternate Universe’
4 November 2009 9:53 AM, PST
Alternate Universe seems like a not-so-subtle attempt for Bourdain to reaffirm his crazy, hip, bad-ass image while pushing it to new limits. The marketing materials and the trailer bill the show as an invitation inside Tony's head to see "his twisted imagination, mocking himself and others along the way," the animation style screams Adult Swim, and the "I'm a rebel because I call out other chefs on their $@#%" motif runs rampant (at least in the preview). Mix all that together and the series is just a newfangled attempt for Bourdain to get in with the in-crowd. To me, it smells too contrived. On the other hand, the fact that Bourdain has played host to two popular shows on cable television (A Cook's Tour by Food Network and the aforementioned No Reservations on the Travel Channel) says that my tastes are in the minority. Come 2010, there will plenty of people who »
- Joshua Cohen
Break Pours SoCo Into ‘Social Sportz Net’, More On Tap
3 November 2009 11:04 PM, PST
Break Media rolled out its latest branded original web series today, Social Sportz Net, with Southern Comfort signing on for the party. The whiskey maker—technically its a whiskey flavored liqueur—has been one of the most bullish in the digital space lately since announcing this summer it was moving its entire $10 million advertising budget online. While the show's branded page is pretty sparse and could use some design help, the show itself is a passable sendup of Epsn's Sportscenter, with a running ticker of frat scores of beer pong and kick ball rolling by. It's not quite the pitch-perfect lampoon of 24-hour cable news that is the Onion News Network, but Ssn has some laughable moments. It follows two twentysomething males—smack dab in the middle of Break's heavily male 18-34 demo—competing in an eight episode arc to throw the most "killer house party." Southern Comfort gets worked in of course, »
- Marc Hustvedt
Steampunk Hunt Begins As ‘Riese’ Hits KoldCast
3 November 2009 3:19 PM, PST
The Sect has been here for over a month now, creeping its way into our Arg begotten lives, but the first episode of Riese the series premiered late Sunday night on Koldcast TV. That’s right, when the rest of us were busy attending parties dressed as favorite childhood storybook characters turned bloated Hollywood movie franchise and Od-ing on fun size versions of our favorite candy treats, Koldcast’s CEO David Samuels was “[closing] on distribution for Riese”, according to an email from who was definitely excited for the team-up, closing out the email with a simple yet telling exclamation, “What a series!" While “the [distribution] deal is non-exclusive” according to series co-creator and executive producer Ryan Copple. He says isn’t ruling out other distribution for his Steampunk opus, “We're very happy to have teamed up with Koldcast, and hope that it'll end up being a mutually beneficial joining.” In the opening episode, »
- Stuart Davis
Yahoo’s GroupM Deal Could Mean Their First Scripted Comedy
3 November 2009 12:17 PM, PST
With the news that Wpp's GroupM agency and Yahoo are teaming up to create some new brand-backed original web series, we were intrigued and wanted to find out a little more about the deal. GroupM after all is the parent of Mindshare Entertainment which produced the noted comedy web series turned TV pickup by ABC, In The Motherhood. That series itself was a brand-backed from the onset, with Sprint and Unilever's Suave on board even before ABC came calling. Could this signal the start of Yahoo getting into scripted web series? The deal itself is an ongoing one, where GroupM and Yahoo will jointly take series proposals, often just in rough synopsis form, and pitch those directly to brands to see if there's a fit. Some of the early ideas being throw around include a 50-state reality series looking at job hunting across the country (Now Hiring: The Great American »
- Marc Hustvedt
‘NFL Writers Room’, Espn Scripts a Web Gem
2 November 2009 3:54 PM, PST
Sometimes in sports, an event occurs that seems to be straight of a movie. A buzzer beater to win the championships, a walk off homerun for the series, or an impossible catch to keep a drive alive all qualify in this case. Espn The Magazine has seized on the human and sometimes amazing drama of sports for their web series: NFL Writers Room. Right from the kickoff, you must realize that this is a web series for football Fans, not just people who like one team, but people who are familiar with every game, player, coach, and throwback uniform design. You know the type: four different fantasy teams going at once, obsessively tracking player data to predict game winners, and knowing detailed data on every single major player. This is a web series for them. Created by NY-based production team 12 Angry Mascots, the series is a behind the scenes look »
- Tim Goessling
‘Vinyl Addiction’ Interview: Designer Toys Are the Next Art Movement
2 November 2009 11:12 AM, PST
In Vinyl Addiction, Jesse Hernandez interviews designers toy artists and enthusiasts. In one episode, Hernandez spends time with Joe Hahn of Linkin Park to see his art and toy collection and tour Hahn's store Suru. Hernandez's work as an artist and animator helps make Vinyl Addiction a very slick insider's look at the vinyl toy phenomenon. Each episode features bold graphics and great images of vinyl toys, art, street-wear and more. Tubefilter talked to Hernandez to learn more about the seriously fun world of designer toy art, the making of Vinyl Addiction episodes, and how the world of art toys embraces the show. Tubefilter: Your art and toy designs combine traditional indigenous styles with urban street themes. How did you develop your style? Jesse Hernandez: My style is always evolving. The themes have stayed the same, but as an artist you must always continue to learn. Tubefilter: Who are some of your favorite toy artists? »
- Julie Wolfson
Circumcision Debate Hot on ‘Parents Ask’, Deca’s Newest Series
2 November 2009 7:00 AM, PST
Who knew that the debate of circumcision was so hot right now? Seriously, this is apparently a hot button issue amongst new parents and parents-to-be. So what better topic to tackle in the launch of Deca's newest original web series, Parents Ask (above). Deca is fast becoming to parenting what Revision3 is to gamers and techies, building up a stable of original web series around an super-focused audience. Their Target-sponsored hit Momversation recently rolled out its 100th episode and Daphne Brogdon's Cool Mom is still going strong. Sure, they also rock World of Warcraft slugfest Project Lore and Boing Boing, but in terms of new properties it's all about the parents. "We know that parents are looking online for answers to the tough questions about raising their kids, so we set out to bring together a panel of the top experts in the country," said Deca's CEO Michael Wayne. »
- Marc Hustvedt
19 articles
