Check the Latest from Cheerleader Karate School!

Checking in from our latest shoot for the pilot. For more information on our Denton, Texas made supernatural, martial arts indie series.

From the mind of Bj Lewis and with the help of a ton of talented Texan cast and crew, we are working to get CKS off the ground. In a nutshell, it's a series that features a group of young girls using magic and martial arts skill to save the world from evil.

The pilot is coming very very soon!

For more information on the series, check out www.facebook.com/CheerleaderKarateSchool!

Follow us on Twitter / Instagram @taurianfilms @CheerleaderKarateSchool

SWEET DEAL! How To Get 20% Off This AMAZING Pre-Production Product

Today I'm sharing an offer generously provided by Production Minds which gives you 20% off any of their pre production subscription packages. How to get the deal: Just go to this page, and click the “Try for Free!” button to get an account. Then you can upgrade your account to get all the juicy, premium features, and save 20% on a monthly basis by entering promo code “PMPSPIDVID” at checkout.


See how the Production Minds Platform takes care of pre-production!

What is Production Minds? It’s a creative collaboration platform and pre-production management system that gives film and web series industry professionals (and semi-pros) a cutting edge tool to take care of every task from script development right up to the Director yelling “ACTION!”

Film Production Blogs That You Should Read and Subscribe To

This article was published by Jeremy Campbell who's Founder and President of the collaborative freelancing website built specifically for video and film projects, Spidvid.

There are 5 incredible film content blogs that I subscribe to and read every day, via the Feedly Reader. Their logos are displayed below, click to check out the ones that interest you. Happy learning!

 

Contribute To The Bi-Monthly Filmmaking Conversation #FilmCurious On Twitter

This article was published by Jeremy Campbell who's Founder and President of the collaborative freelancing website specifically built for video and film projects, Spidvid.

Seed&Spark is an up and coming crowdfunding platform specifically built and used for raising money and gaining assets to develop film projects. They are doing some amazing things for filmmakers!

For a few months now, their company's founder Emily Best has been hosting Twitter chats with the hashtag #filmcurious to discuss filmmaking, film content and distribution, film resources, problems in the industry and solutions to those problems, and other related topics of interest.

I have been part of these discussions many times already, and have actually won a Seed&Spark t-shirt. They have 4 questions/topics per discussion that lasts roughly an hour each time, and they are typically being put on twice per month on Tuesdays.

If you're a filmmaker who has questions, answers, and wants to be part of an intelligent film discussion, then I highly recommend you join in.

I also recommend that you follow Seed&Spark on Twitter, and keep an eye out for information about the next #filmcurious discussion. Hope to see you there, it's a fun time, and the individuals involved are quality filmmakers who are very friendly and want to help others succeed!

4 Important Things You Must Know About Before Shooting a Web Series

This article was published by Jeremy Campbell who's Founder and President of the video production collaboration and freelancing site Spidvid.

Shooting a web series is a lot like playing a carnival game. It seems easy enough on it’s face, but once you actually try it you realize there is way more going on behind the scenes than you first realized.

Awhile ago I spoke to a web series creator (Richard Boehmcke of Twentease), and learned a few things I want to share here, coming from his perspective in his words.

There are four things you must know about before writing a script for, or shooting a web series:

1. Write to Shoot - I wrote and shot my first episode within a short time span, but then I had many months to write the next 7 episodes before we shot any of them. While this was great for saving time, it also allowed my imagination to run wild. I was focused more on the story and the arc of the characters, than the actual implementation of the project. I wrote scenes that took place in a museum, on a bus, in a nightclub, and in a taxi without ever considering how hard they might be to shoot. In the end we had to rewrite most of the scenes because it just wasn't practical to shoot in a dozen different locations. Make sure the scene in the script is a place you can shoot in with minimal effort.

2. If You Have No Sound You Have No Web Series - The first episode we shot we paid very little attention to the microphone. Now, it’s one of the most important elements of our setup. People will forgive low film quality before they will forgive poor sound. We are used to watching things that are moderately entertaining in low resolution. However if you can't understand what the actors are saying, nobody is going to pretend they are watching a silent film. Make sure you get your sound right the first time. Double-check the sound IMMEDIATELY after you shoot the scene. Finding out you didn't get it right while still on set is way better than figuring that out during the editing process.

3. Trying To Do It All Is Suicide - I love being a writer/director, but it's dangerous. Even if you are the best writer/director/producer/actor/whatever, it is impossible to be the best at all of them at the same time. Doing two (or three or four) things at once means that something has to suffer. Often, you don't realize what has suffered until it's time to edit. And then you see you missed correcting an actor's mistake because you were too busy trying to get the perfect lighting for the shot. Find talented people to fill the other roles. It will allow you to make a much better product.

4. 720 is Better Than 1080 - The reason? Time. When it comes down to it, yes 1080 is a better quality than 720, but the amount of extra time it takes to move the files, render them during editing, and export a final product are often more trouble than it is worth. Plus most people don't have the patience or the bandwidth to wait for something to load up in 1080. If you are doing a scripted web series, it's OK to have it exist in 720. Nobody is expecting products done on a shoestring budget to look like cinematic masterpieces. It just needs to look good enough to get you to the next step.

It's easy to think that we are capable of anything, and that we want to make the biggest, best, most HD web series ever. But that is often impractical. It is far more beneficial is to break it down into smaller chunks. First, evaluate your end goal. Next, take a look at your resources. Then, figure out how your resources can help you reach that end goal. Finally, go make something incredibly awesome and impossible to ignore.

Do you have another tip that you would like to share? If so, feel free to below with a comment! 

4 Tips For Creating and Marketing Your Web Series

This article was written by Jeremy Campbell who's Founder and President of the video production freelancing site Spidvid. 

For every well created web series, there are hundreds that are poor and find audiences under 100 viewers per episode. Just remember that when creating a web series, you need to showcase your passion through the lens of the camera, and capture your audience's undivided attention.

Below are 4 tips for creating and marketing your web series:

1. Write Engaging Scripts - Many web series creators spend very little time on their scripts, and it clearly shows. These creators are in such a hurry to start filming their project that they neglect what all remarkable films are built upon, and that's engaging writing and storytelling.

Take your time during this phase of the project by thinking out compelling characters that will resonate with your audience, and scenes filled full of interesting situations. If you want your content to stand out, you need to focus on creating something original but at the same time take a look at some of the top viewed and rated videos on YouTube to get a sense of what works and what doesn`t.

Online audiences expect to watch web series that pushes the envelop more than network TV shows do, so don't be afraid to tap into your inner Seth McFarlane and be radically original. I recommend that you write your scripts using Celtx, as the software is free and provides a simple and elegant solution for all your pre-production needs.

2. Production Value Matters - If you saw this year's breakout film "Super 8" then you likely know that production value is key, as the filmmaking kids in the film were constantly out to get as much as they possibly could for free. You don't have to compete with Steven Spielberg, but you need to get the basics right. Simple key things such as quality sound, lighting, and shot selection.

Make sure that the dialog between characters can be easily heard, which means that you need to invest some money into sound equipment. Every web series creator or people on his or her team should have a decent camera, sound equipment, and lighting at the very least.

Once you have got solid acting talent on your team and a tightly written script, then your execution and production values will next determine the success of your project. Don`t forget that online viewers can watch anything they want, so your productions have to stand out from the 99% of crap out there. It's trial and error, so see what concepts stick with your viewers, and then figure out how you can improve everything by 10x to appeal and reach a wider audience.

3. Understand Your Medium - The ideal length for most online videos is five minutes or less. You need to understand that attention spans are short online, so prepare your script and production accordingly. Within your 5 minutes or less you need a beginning, middle, and end.

You need to hook viewers within the first 5-10 seconds or your series will either be turned off, or will be pushed to the background in favor of a text message or tweet. Also remember that many viewers watch video alone while online, but are inclined to share content if it will raise their social status in a positive way. Don't hesitate to ask viewers to share your series with their friends, family, and followers at the end, just remember to do it in a friendly and appreciative way.

4. Marketing, marketing, marketing - What many creators and producers do when they first release their videos and web series is get Twitter profiles and Facebook pages, and start yelling and screaming at people to pay attention. Doing this is like yelling into a chasm that's filled with the echoes from thousands of people who simply don`t care. Attention is too valuable and coveted now, so you can't expect to earn it by broadcasting content that only matters to you. Marketing is all about getting people to know, like, and trust you and your content.

The most effective way to build a grassroots marketing campaign is giving for getting. It's a slow process but in order to receive attention, at least in the beginning, you must pay attention to what others are doing and engage with their content. If you come across a web series that is in the same niche is yours then comment on their episodes, blog posts, and jump into the conversation with them on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus. Sharing is caring, so if you come across outstanding video entertainment then please give your followers a break from your content and mix in others too.

These are just some basic tips, but ones that should serve as a starting point for getting your projects off the ground, and hopefully into a successful flight path high above the clouds.

Do you have any tips you'd like to share? If so, feel free to add number 5 below with a comment! 

Interview With Streamy Award Winner Mark Gantt

Awhile back I had the opportunity to interview Mark Gantt who is the executive producer and lead actor of the web series "The Bannen Way". The Bannen Way killed it at the Streamy Awards and went on to win four awards, and has attracted over 14 million views. Mark is now passing down his knowledge of the web series business as a teacher through his workshop, so if you're looking to learn from one of the best in the web series space be sure to check that out.

Enough of kissing Mark's butt, below is our interview.

1. Did you create your web series workshop to pass on the information and knowledge you gained from creating and producing "The Bannen Way" to other aspiring video creators and filmmakers?
Yes. I have met over thirty people for coffee to discuss my experience with The Bannen Way and have done over twenty panels in the last five months and realized that with the limited time available, there was little 'nuts and bolts' being talked about. One attendee of the NATPE panel I was doing called "Anatomy of a Hit Web Series" was very frustrated afterwards and I overheard her saying, "I still don't know how to make a $#&@ web series!" I heard that, I heard that from several people. In the workshops, or on a panel, or at coffee, I explain that creating a web series isn't brain surgery but it feels like that if you don't have all the tools. You don't need to be able to do everything, you just need to be able to work very hard, research like crazy, and build a team to help you with your vision.

2. Do you expect any of your students to go out and create a hit web series like you did?
Absolutely. I want them to create something that will empower them as artists, and give them a little extra leg up in the industry. It's really about giving people a jumping off point. Enough information to get in trouble as I always say.

3. What's the best book you're read, or video you've watched that inspired you to create entertainment at a high level?
LOL. uh... I'm not really a book guy, everything is from experience. I have just worked on a lot of sets, so if people were doing a project I was there listening and learning... for free.

4. What do you think of web series creators and producers turning to crowdsourcing platforms like KickStarter and IndieGoGo to raise funds for their production projects?
I think it's a HUGE resource. It's an interesting model for a couple reasons. I think it allows the investors (ie: mom, dad, uncles, dentists, viewers, etc.) to feel that their money is actually going into a production, and helps force the filmmaker to FIGURE OUT how they are going to make it. It's a great pressure on you to get things made.

5. What advantages do web series creators have over TV producers?
There are about 30 people that have to approve of you doing a TV series, not including agents, managers, and lawyers. To create and distribute a web series... you can be the boss. We worked with Sony (on The Bannen Way) so it wasn't just us, but it was a lot easier than working with a studio AND a Network.

6. How is collaboration benefiting the new media production landscape?
Filmmaking by definition is a collaborative art. I love that you get a chance to work with a group of people with different talents to complete a common goal. People want to create. A director of photography wants to shoot, actors want to act and with technology improving, you can now actually shoot for very cheap. So instead of talented people without the money to shoot on film, they can now shoot on the Cannon 7D or rent the RED camera and end up with a great looking project in the end.

The explosive trailer for Mark's hit web series, The Bannen Way.

 

5 Ways To Attract Talented Collaborators To Your Web Series Project

You can write the most brilliant script for a web series, but without a cast and crew to bring that script to life, the document means very little on paper, or on your computer’s hard drive.

Below I list 5 ways to attract collaborators and partners to your web series projects.

1. Discovery – You must first search and find the cast and crew members needed. Your pre and post production members can work remotely, but you need your cast and crew to be together on location. Be sure to network in your local film community. Connect with local people online via social networks, and it is key to get out to local events where you can meet people face to face. Spidvid is a useful site where you can connect, collaborate, create web series content with both local and remote members.

2. Sell them – Once you have built up some initial interest you then have to convince individuals why they should invest their time and talent into your web series project. Money always talks but more often than not I’m seeing that money isn’t always the top choice if the individual is a big talent who wants to work on something they believe in, can fully get behind, and are passionate about.

3. Compensation besides cash – As I mentioned above, money isn’t always the most important thing to attract an individual to a web series. Perhaps the most powerful way to really get the best out of someone else is offer them a vested stake in your project. It can be a simple partnership agreement where they will be given credit, content equity, and perhaps financial compensation if the web series brings in revenues through advertising or sponsorship.

4. Interests and topics – If you enjoy making cooking videos then you would likely prefer a video editor on your team that’s big on cooking, versus one that eats out all time and could care less about the art and process of cooking. Find the talent you need, but also be on the lookout for matching interests as well because your end product will be of a higher quality if personal interests align and mesh well together. You will feel the love, and so will your web series!

5. Long term relationships – Once you have collaborated with someone else you get a feel for how they go about the video production process. Everyone manages every aspect of a project differently, so it can be a bit time consuming at first to learn how to move things forward, and manage things to completion. Once an episode gets successfully completed though, then there is a general sense for how the next episode can be done more efficiently and effectively.

Do you have a 6th way to attract valuable collaborators to a web series project? The comments are yours below!

5 More Reasons To Create a Web Series

More and more traditional and newbie filmmakers are jumping into the web series production world, faster than ever before. You may already know why creating a web series is a good idea, but below I list some reasons that you possibly haven’t considered on why creating a web series is definitely a solid idea!

1. You can do a lot with very little – Creating a web series is extremely low cost compared to creating a TV series. With more options than ever before for financing and funding a web series, Kickstarter and other donation sites are becoming (some) filmmakers best friends. Sure, raising hundreds or thousands of dollars is never an easy assignment, but if you have a compelling story to tell and can emotionally connect with funding individuals with money to burn, then crowdfunding may work especially well for your project. If you can’t raise the ideal funding you’re looking for from the outside world, then consider hustling for a few bucks from your friends, family, and out of your own pocket to send things into motion. Be scrappy and creative because entertaining videos can be created for little or no money at all, and have the potential to reach millions of viewers across the world.

2. Cross Promotion – Individuals in the web series space are very open to cross promotional ideas if it means growing their audience. If you create a web series look for other shows in your genre and reach out to the creators/producers to strike up some top level marketing conversations. Don’t go overboard though otherwise your viewers will feel used and abused. Try to come off as offering them value for discovering new entertaining content that may interest them to watch and share. Be authentic, and listen.

3. No gatekeepers –  It seems pretty fun and exciting to think about creating a TV series doesn’t it?! The truth is it’s a tough business to get into, the chances of your show getting picked up are pretty much zero percent, and if it does get picked up the chances of it staying “on air” after just one season are slim to none and slim just left the station. With a web series you have lots of freedom, so put together a tight script, and start building your team with members who can visually execute your story and fulfill your vision. If you need to build a team, then consider posting your project on Spidvid.

4. No rules – You don’t need to worry about securing FCC approvals, or bureaucratic stumbling blocks. As long as you don’t break video sharing website’s terms of agreements, then you’re fine. You may want to read up on them real quick before you film anything to make sure your content will fit within their relatively loose restrictions. There may come a day when more red flags are raised forcing you to tone things down a bit, but that time isn’t happening anytime soon so get creative and push the envelop.

5. You may actually succeed – Let’s be honest here; not many web series see big time success. The ones that do have hundreds of thousands or millions of regular viewers, and manage to secure deals with top consumer brands to bake their products directly into the content. Branded entertainment is a fast growing market, so be sure that your content is “brand safe” and that you can easily accommodate a product in your story without disrupting it.

Have a 6th reason to add on why to create a web series? The comments are all yours below!

- Article published by Jeremy Campbell.