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Friday, January 4, 2013

Little Drummer Boy Hard Rock Version

Pedro Cunha DIRECTOR SHOWREEL 2013

My Story...Build It They Will Come!

By: Chrissy Piccolo
RHeart♥Network

For months I've been telling soap fans about a new little web series called My Story.  The show was created by Heather DiPietro, who some might recognize as Associate Producer of the Soap Life Documentary.  My Story is about a group of college friends obsessive about their favorite soap opera, 'Moments of Our Time' and in a twist, the audience will see their soap unfold as the season continues. 

Being a soap fan herself, Heather has truly captured how fanatic we are, how dedicated, how much we anticipate each coupling and schedule our lives around them because she lives it too!  When I spoke with her last month, one of the things she wanted of those involved in the project was their commitment to really pay homage to the soap genre.  She was adamant that all be respectful and anyone making fun of soaps or soap fans would be immediately out!  Most everyone on the project are soap fans themselves and it clearly shows through their enthusiasm.

After 3 episodes it is clear soap fans agree this web series depicts our soap love!  How many times have you reeled in another sucker who becomes addicted to your favorite soap or tried to explain the crazy storylines to an interested friend?  How many of us have fantasized about our hot hunks, wishing we could play out those hot sex scenes ourselves?  My Story has shown it all and it's only the beginning! 

 Last week our soap friend Suzanne imagined herself with all of the men on 'Moments of Our Time' and had a little, shall we say, 'moment' of her own!  They've had over 80K viewers since then and tomorrow another episode will be released!  What happens when your boyfriends finds you crying over a death...on your soap??  We've all been there so it'll be interesting to see how Amber's boyfriend reacts. 

I've been sworn to secrecy about what is coming up for My Story, but I will tell you that all the crazy things we've gone through with our soaps in recent years will come up!  This truly is the fan's voice and if you want to be a part of it, be sure to follow Heather on twitter, 'like their facebook page and post your stories on their website.  Heather will incorporate your soap stories into this web series!

There is a video contest going on right now for Maurice Benard's 50th Birthday, so if you want to get involved be sure to check it out!  Details: Maurice Benard Video Contest.

Tell us what you think about this new web series and post your stories: Post Your Soap Story.

Watch My Story: My Story

Follow Heather on Twitter: Heather
Follow My Story on Twitter: My Story
Like My Story on Facebook: My Story Facebook Page













Thursday, January 3, 2013

Film Portfólio Pedro Cunha

Do we still need the term "Web series"?

Recently a member of the Web Series Network asked the question that since TV and Web series now appear side by side on the Hulu platform does it make sense to call your show a Web series?

Below you will find my response:

"Hulu is a distribution platform.  When you go to a grocery store (another distribution platform) you find apples, oranges and a zillion other variants of the types of food consumers want.  Distribution platforms play the role of allowing products with certain common features to reach the consumer via a common venue.  So, to say that because a Web series uses the same distribution platform as a TV series means they should both be called TV is like saying a can of coke and a loaf of bread should be called the same thing because they are both sold in a grocery store.

Perhaps you should spend a little time reading up on the history of Web series and their evolution. Ask your self, where does their competitive advantage lie?  What makes them different?  What makes them powerful. What allows them to organically grow an audience without the huge marketing budgets that TV shows have?  What allows them to engage more deeply with their audience? If you answer these questions, you will understand how Web series are different from TV. Many of these topics have already been extensively discussed here on WSN, and elsewhere, so take advantage of the resources available to you.

On Web Series Today we needed a category system to aid in the  discovery of content that would appeal to specific audiences.  To accomplish this we broke the space down into 4 subcategories: Web Series (serialized scripted narrative: think Video Game High School, etc.), Web Shows (episodic series such as scripted comedy shows: think Shane Dawson, Annoying Orange, Kids React), Web News (current events, technology news, entertainment news series etc.: think Philip DeFranco, The Young Turks), Community video (life streaming, vlogs, short films, music video etc. from members of the community: think Shay Carl, Charles Trippy, Vlogbrothers, Lindsey Stirling, etc.). All of these can be considered Web series in the larger context but the breakdown into subcategories has been useful.  These are not intended to be definitions because it is best not to limit the potential of any video series but the categories allowed us to create story streams of content that had some features in common. One could of course lnclude other categories such as transmedia or alternate reality games to meet specific needs. The point is that the entire space is wide and deep and is currently packed with creative potential that has yet to be unleashed.

If you want to make TV content that is your prerogative.  Go do it! Just remember that the viewer has certain expectations of what TV content "feels like."  Look at the fashion sensibility of Gossip Girl. Look at the power of the action sequences on Arrow.  Look at the quality of the story arcs and acting on Supernatural. The Carrie Diaries builds on the epic Sex and the City brand. Vampire Diaries expands on a well known book brand with its own TV-friendly eye candy (just look at their popularity on Pinterest if you doubt it). Any less and the content will probably fail to compete in the TV playing field, even on the Web. In other words content that made it to TV has been built to take full advantage of the TV medium.

When Strike.TV was formed many experienced TV writers failed miserably on the Web with only a few exceptions. Those exceptions had specific traits that made them Web friendly. The point is that TV is very good at doing what it does and they will continue to do what they do, even on the Web. Web series on the other hand are native to the Web and need to fully embrace what that entails rather than merely mimicking TV.

All this is not to say that "Web series" cannot bridge both Worlds.  We have seen Annoying Orange, and a few others attempt that.  However, note that they did not simply try to port the Web series to TV. They actually attempted to script a show that was appropriate for the medium.

What is interesting is that companies that make traditional TV are now experimenting by making their own Web series (think Talent, or Wendy from Alloy). Their content is solid from a production point of view, but they still have a lot to learn about the Web. However, they are learning fast (very, very fast), so rather than trying to "ape" TV, Web series creators should take advantage of the potential the space offers them, before the competition in Web series increases exponentially from more established studios.

There are probably many who will agree with your position. These same people want to create standards and barriers to entry within the space. They want to become the gate keepers that control access to the space. This would be a tragic future and one we should reject. The Web needs to remain open and we need to allow Web series to continue on their evolutionary path to see what they become. If you produce a Web series you might want to be proud of the brand because it is a brand that is as great as your own creativity.

Many of us want to watch Web series because they offer something different. If we want TV on the Web, there is plenty of very professionally produced TV shows to pick from. Is there room for more? Sure, but they will be judged by the same visor we use to watch TV (script, music, lighting, talent, special effects, etc.). Our expectations are extremely high because that is where the bar has been set by years of tradition and evolution. If you are up to the challenge then go for it.

When it comes to Web series, however, many of us are much more open because we are looking for content that engages in a unique and interesting way. This is something TV would love to do but because of the nature of the TV medium it is doubtful they will ever be able to take full advantage of it.

That is not to say our expectations from Web series are not extremely high, but they are very different and that is the point. That is the opportunity creators need to take advantage of, but first they need to understand what the viewer really wants in the form of engagement. Web series, when sculpted from the right DNA, can provide a level of entertainment that mobilizes entire communities; something that was perhaps best demonstrated by the lonelygirl15 phenomena.

So decide what you actually want to make: a Web series or a TV show; and go for it. But do it right and use each medium to their fullest potential. But if you do want to produce a Web series you should not forget our heritage or take a step back into a history that knew nothing of this great platform we call the World Wide Web which is honored within the Web series brand.

The fact you just read this is one clear demonstration of how radically different from TV the Web series space is. We need to embrace our differences and move forward to develop the type of content that truly feels at home on the Web and feels totally organic to those that participate in the experiences we know as Web series."

So, what do you the community think? Do we still need the term Web series? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.

Spiders, Fairies and Dragons, Oh My! (Spellfury Season 2 Episode 4)

Press Heart To Continue: GAMING NEWZ: 3 Dead Minecraft Lives

freddiew: 2012: Year in Review

Monday, December 31, 2012

ANYONE can shine like a diamond for 2013! #happynewyear from #prisondancer @lovelolap

2013, sees LOLA (aka Ruperto Poblador) starting fresh, new, and filled with hope, ambition and vigour. This dancing prisoner from MMDC isn't going to sit around waiting for something to happen. LOLA makes her luck and this time she wants us all along for the ride.


Sunday, December 30, 2012

Steve Burton Jumps To Y&R....


Last week news broke that Steve Burton has signed with the Young and the Restless and will play Victor's 'partner', according to a tweet by Nancy Lee Grahn.

It has been a little over 2 months since we last saw Steve grace our screens, and when it was announced in late August the popular actor planned to leave, fans were reeling. Initially the actor stated he wanted to move from Los Angeles to Nashville to raise his young family in a rural setting vs. big city.

Upon learning Steve is making the jump to the long-running CBS daytime drama, fans took to twitter in a frenzy, with some feeling it to be a betrayal. Others blame the new regime at General Hospital, Executive Producer Frank Valentini and Head Writer Ron Carlivati, for Steve's decision to leave after 21 years on GH.  I completely disagree with that statement.
As some fans know from Steve's events, he was very vocal about his disdain for the direction of his character over the past several years. In the last couple of years the previous regime continued to desecrate not only Steve's character, but also Maurice Benard's, and fans were screaming to bring back the real Jason Morgan/Sonny Corinthos. 

In my opinion, recent storylines really played a part in Steve's decision. While the buzz that film star James Franco joined the cast as a special guest in 2009 was exciting for fans, the story though initially intriguing, had taken a dark turn by September 2011. Franco sexually assaulted Sam as a helpless Jason watched...on their honeymoon! This was completely opposite what the character was supposed to be and it really did not sit well with fans. Next up- who's child is Sam carrying? Franco's or Jason's? DNA switches, Jason's refusal to accept the baby...seriously? Of course who could forget the tragic storyline of his son Jake's death? It was taxing on the entire cast and fans were in an uproar over that storyline. Then, if some recall this time last year they planned to make Jason the hooker stalker/killer, happening during "blackouts" due to his brain injury.  I've learned that behind the scenes Steve was very upset by this. During a fan event he stated he didn't even recognize his character any more. One of the things Cartini did immediately was drop that storyline, as well as clean up several others in preparation of resetting the show.


On the social media circuit I was dismayed to see fan wars again flare up between Jasam (Jason and Sam) and Liason groups (Liz and Jason).  Most are touting the integration of 3 contract One Life To Live characters added to the GH roster as the reason for Steve's decision.  I disagree with this as well.

Cartini has successfully brought back several popular GH veterans with main storylines focusing on the shows' 50 year history. Our favorite villains have returned effectively bringing past storylines fans loved to the forefront. I could understand the upset if the integrated characters were taking over or if the storylines were all about OLTL, but they're not! Nor have they been! Frank and Ron have turned a show around that was truly on the brink of cancellation, in less than a year and instead of enjoying what we are seeing fans continue to find fault.

Another topic of conversation on the net is how Steve was brought to Y&R. Some believe it was at the expense of other favorites, let go by Jill Farren Phelps. 
Obviously when it was announced Jill Farren Phelps was taking over as Executive Producer for the Young and the Restless I was a bit surprised.  Upon taking the reigns several changes were made immediately.  History repeated itself as voices of fans reached a fevered pitch learning their favorite Cristal Kahlil had been fired.  They rose up and rallied to get her rehired...which they did! Another upset was seeing veterans Genie Francis and Stephen Nichols unceremoniously fired, as well as key staff, which some say was in preparation to bring in Steve Burton.
While this could be true, please remember...THIS IS A BUSINESS!!!  Everyone that is associated with soaps behind the scenes knows this. Things happen and we have to roll with the punches. Soaps are very different in that they continually revamp over the years, as people come and go, the industry changes.  Personally I think it's a smart move by CBS and Sony Pictures since ratings for the Young and the Restless have plummeted. They know Steve has a HUGE fan base and want to capitalize on that.
Ultimately I feel it was time for Steve to make a change and as his fan, I am very happy for him. All of us on RHeart wish him the best of luck in the New Year and we look forward to seeing him on our screens again. Though we miss him on GH, he will never be forgotten! Thanks for the memories, we love you Steve...

*If you missed our Steve Burton tribute, check it out. He did tweet out he listened and enjoyed it! 
 
*Reluctant Heart Fan Board dedicated to General Hospital is up!
Check it out for all the latest news!
*RHeart has been doing a special tribute series to honor General Hospital's 50th Anniversary. We've had amazing special guests, so check them out!
Special Guests: Ian Buchanan, Emma Samms, Sandy Missioni
Special Guest: Constance Towers (aka) Helena Cassadine
Special Guest: Jackie Zeman
Special Guest Lynn Herring
 
*Our next tribute*
Special Guest: Leslie Charleson
*Follow us on Twitter: @RHeartRadio

 

Kids React to Honey Boo Boo

Happy Holidays from Feast of Fiction!

Timewave zero: The Rise Of Nibiru: Zoey 2012




"The Legend of Zoey"... 25 years later: Timewave zero: The Rise Of Nibiru

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOEY!!! 

View the entire series: "The Legend of Zoey"

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD4C112F96D23BD2E&feature=view_all


This is a mashup video using clips from a number of sources:

Taylor Swift: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Lyric Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcMn_Eu-XTE

Verizon Wireless http://www.youtube.com/user/VerizonWireless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHL8HfN1tM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cU7MX1q9lI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOnC5chCag0

Motorola DROID: Stealth commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fXYQjwR0w

Mars Science Laboratory Lifts Off for Red Planet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXoMpmfJcM

The Secret Circle (THEME SONG)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Circle_(TV_series)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibUOgQseB20

Pushing Daisies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_Daisies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXs7b6m9HVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXwwjUc6x8

Pacific Rim Official Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vKz7WnU83E

TEDxSF - Louie Schwartzberg - Gratitude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ

Les Miserables (2012) - Official International Trailer [HD] - 1080p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHHHUk8RCw

Gossip Girl: guerrilla fashion show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vONUYzdIhpk 

THE HOBBIT Trailer HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k3kHtyoqc

"2001: A Space Odyssey" (film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_%28film%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou6JNQwPWE0

Strawberries: original footage.




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