Finally, after over a year of waiting, I am happy to present Facehook: a short film from myself and three cohorts -- Ben Wilton, Joe Beesley and Max Newall. It wasn't easy, but after a long process Facehook was marked 50/50 from the exam board leader in Media Studies (GCSE Level) and won a Best Editing award at the school ceremony.
That don't make it a masterpiece, of course. It is instead a patchy first attempt that gives a somewhat visionary experience of what's inside the web, doing what it can with the limitations of iMovie (ours had probably the most fancy effects/editing in the school's mix). Also, very liberal with award-winning movie scores... See for yourself:
Feel free to Like, Comment and Subscribe
Clunky yet charming, right? Yeah kinda dark too. And congrats if you managed to keep up with those horrendous subtitles; you're a fast reader!
I will note that all my work was specifically behind camera (writing, directing, editing), although not exclusively down to me. Collaborative efforts and all that. However, the upload of this video marks the first project of DudeMeisterFilms, which will endeavour to bring more original content over the time (this time mostly down to me).
So stay sharp, and keep an eye out for any devious Stranger 116s out there...
So here's a little web-series I found floating around YouTube, created by those devishly clever fellows, The Fine Bros. On face value, MyMusic seems like a quirky new mocumetary-type show taking a tongue-in-cheek look at today's music genres and trends. These are personified by the larger than life cast, named simply after the genre they represent; there's the boss, Indie (Adam Busch), sticking out like a sore thumb with his odd fashions and even odder sayings ("that's culkin!"), mainstream girly-girl Idol, the hot-headed Metal, electro-hyped buddies Techno and Dubstep (and yes, he does talk in bass drops), typical gangsta Hip-Hop and of course the two interns, extremely excitable Scene and the dullness that is Intern 2.
Now throw that group together, all working at the MyMusic office and getting up to a bunch of hijinks and you've got a funny show. A very funny show, at times, even when you don't think it could work there's always some sort of random happening that un-jams the ludicrously zany plots. But as I've said, this is just on face value; this web-sitcom is but one portion of the MyMusicEmpire...
While you can catch up with their wacky exploits every Sunday with a new 8(ish) minute episode, there's also 3 other shows they run through the week; all using the same characters to host and present them. On Wednesday it's all the latest Music News hosted by Scene, on Friday an array of the cast take fan questions in The Mosh, and on Monday you've got a Live-Streamed variety show with proper artists and comedians coming on to chat and play.
So now you don't just have a web-show, you've got a living, breathing product that is set up to engage us in its presence, going beyond the scripts to actually physically include us and the real world. The character's jobs that are comedically documented in the sitcom actually happen and are available for us to experience too. Which brings us to the heart of the MyMusic ideal; it's an experience. An experience that works in and out of itself as a transmedia, converging beast of a production, proving just what's capable with the revolution of using the internet for original content.
MyMusic is not just a YouTube channel -- it's the first step into the future of entertainment.
Here's the first 6 episodes bundled for your viewing pleasure, and keep your eyes peeled for some special guests:
When the internet started way back in the 90s, they had one goal in mind: to connect people. Plain and simple. Now, fast forward almost 20 years, and that goal has been surpassed in every way possible. I need not remind you all the ways in which this happens, because we live it everyday, nearly every moment of our lives, thanks to the implications of Internet technology.
And every so often, it evolves, absorbing elements of physical being and rebooting them with far greater capabilities. Radio Shows became Podcasts, allowing anyone with a mic and PC to make their own, Journals and Articles became Blogs, enabling an easy way to get writing and get your name heard (believe me, I know), and now our good friend TV, having served for 8 decades, is slowly succumbing to the ways of the Web.
The Guild's even moved on to it's very own line of comic books
But I'm not talking about streaming sites like Hulu, iPlayer or Netflix, although they do dabble in the creative aspect of which this is focused. For my point here is that this year just may well see a real overhaul in terms of the way shows get made, produced and distributed among the masses (that's us!). Sure, plenty of web series' have been made and released up until this point, such as The Guild(which I'll be coming back to) and animated comedy/sadistic slaughter show,Happy Tree Friends, to name but a mere ounce of their slice in the internet market
Because what's really happening now is individual platforms are being created for the sole purpose of providing original web content - like networks and studios in their own, un-messed-with right. Basically, it's what every creative type dreams of, finally coming to a reality near you.
Specifically, this comes on the news that two giant geek personalities, made famous largely thanks to the web, are launching such platforms. Felicia Day, creator and star of The Guild as well as tons of other internetty stuff, has lifted the veil on the much anticipatedGeek & Sundry, which will play host to a number of indie-geek-culture shows, ranging from Felicia and her buds doing awesome things in "The Flog", to the one and only Wil Wheaton doing his own show where he and special guests play classic board and card games in "TableTop", and there's even kids ad libbing their own stories to get brought to life by a slew of directors in "Written by a Kid". Here's a trailerific overview:
Meanwhile, stand-up comedian and founder of The Nerdist site and podcast-network, Chris Hardwick, has announced The Nerdist Channel - taking his nerd-branded sensibilities to the next level with the proposed menagerie of crazawesome shows on offer. Want Chris bowling with famous people? Check. Want an entire Weird Al show? Check. Want Neil Patrick Harris playing with puppets? Check. Whatever your unearthly desire, it's sure to be addressed in what these guys have in store:
But this is not just a bunch of new shows coming. This is not just an exercise in the entertainment business "branching out". And although awesome, this is not just Nerd culture being fully realised and implemented. Because this is more. This an opportunity. And this, my friends, is the future.
Imagine it; a world where the majority of the things we love to watch exist purely on the web - made exclusively for the web with platforms like this to get it out there. Originality levels are going to sky-rocket, as we get to see things just as the creators intended, as well as tsunami of newbies emerging who've never had the big-budget chances of network and production institutes.
A Brand New Day for Dr Horrible
And even those who have made it big realise the potential, and I mean REALLY BIG. Take Joss Whedon, who's work on Dr Horrible 2 begins tantalisingly soon, with a possible release of this Summer. Would you ever see a Superhero musical, with the villain as protagonist, featuring stars like Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion AND Felicia Day on traditional network schedules? And further more, would you see a sequel of that there? Plus remember that Joss is literally going to be fresh off The Avengers; possibly the biggest superhero movie to date, and yet he goes straight back into a humbling, low budget web project.
Or how about a show about Gay Marriage Equality in Brad Bell and Jane Espenson'sHusbands, also heading toward a second outing for a season 2 later this year. I need not remind how I've supported the show before, and now they even have their own KickStarter to help fund the new episodes, which in itself is extraordinary seeing how they've reached the $50,000 goal in merely a week. You can still donate yourself here (regardless of location) and walk away with some nifty incentive rewards and the feeling that you've just contributed to the world of tomorrow (and we may even see some of these come to fruition) . Because the world is ready for this stuff, even laying down money for external web-content to feed their needs of innovation and revitalisation.
In years to come we could see that the greatest actors/writers/directors of that future generation did in fact have a breakthrough via the web, a la Neill Blomkamp of District 9 fame. What does this mean? More deserving talents coming forward, previously unheard and unnoticed stars getting an opportunity to break in and become something amazing. And it all starts here, 2012, where the web-ground will be pushed to new heights and be recognised as being just as big a market for entertainment as TV and Film.
Qwertee.com is a fresh new take on a traditional T-Shirt web-store, combining community choice with shirts designed by the community itself. It's simple. First, people can submit a T-Shirt design (based on Pop-Culture and Geekdom, generally) using the on-site creator, with a 4-colour limit in mind. Next these get approved and put on the site, for the whole world to see. People with a free-account can then vote on shirts, and the ones with the most will get printed. However, it's not always the shirt with the highest votes that get printed, but instead they are chosen by a team who make sure to mix it up in terms of what's on the shirts. One day it could be Dr Who related, the next a Game of Thrones reference, and the next a Star Wars icon.
But, of course, there's a catch. The selected shirt will only be available for 48 hours, after which it will be gone... Forever! But at only £8 a tee, you really can't complain with this time limit, and it gives a certain level of exclusivity to the proud owners, such as moi, in my very suave "Infant Mutant Ninja Turtles" tee from Qwertee:
Yep, I've got arms. Just.
The best part though, is that Qwertee is primarily a UK store, providing a handy alternative for the humourous pop-cult shirts seen on US store, thinkgeek.com. If you're quick enough, that is. There's also tons of chances to win free tees through their newsletter and Facebook, and once in a while they'll do a bundle sale for all the unsold shirts, where for £6 you'll get a random one from the weeks before. So next time you're looking for that killer, yet subtle tee of geekery, look no further than qwertee.com, and if you're creative enough, why not try designing some for yourself.
The writer and executive producer of the hit new web series, Husbands(along with numerous other TV credits spanning from Torchwood: Miracle Day to Firefly),Jane Espenson, recently held a Twitter Q&A to discuss Husbands and anything else from her successful career. I took the opportunity to get a few questions in, and to my delight they were swiftly replied. Here's what went down, with a few interjections from Husbands star, Cheeks:
Me: Who came up with the theme music for Husbands? JE: A composer named Stephen Main composed the music. Great, isn't it? Swingy!
Me: Any future plans to work within the Whedonverse, or with the man himself in the near future?
Espenson
JE: Yes. I'll be doing something for the season 9 Buffy comic books!
(Jane was a producer and writer for dozens of Buffy episodes)
Me: Can we expect any more special guest like [Nathan Fillion] in the upcoming [Husbands] eps? JE: I want you to keep watching, so I don't think I'll say. But if we do more seasons, then expect big names!
(So was that a no?)
Me: Could there be the slightest possibility of a Husbands and The Guild crossover? Web-series gotta stick together you know! JE: We would totally be open to a crossover with The Guild! Love them! Love [Felicia Day]! Cheeks:Ha! Those worlds colliding would be hilarious! :D
Me: I can totally imagine John Barrowman appearing in a future season of Husbands! Causing trouble perhaps? Make it happen! JE: We'd love to have John on Husbands! That would be amazing! Cheeks: Omg, he endlessly flirts with both of them and causes drama! (Comedic drama, obvi)
(This got a lot of RT's and replies in agreement, so if it happens, I'm claiming it!)
Me: Which Firefly character did you enjoy writing for the most? JE: Kaylee, I think. Kaylee or Mal. Or Janye. I can't decide!
Me:If I were to feature Husbands on my blog (and I will), any chance of an RT for it? Sorry, I'm a pretty shameless plugger.;)
Cheeks: That ain't shameless, that's quid pro quo! I like yer style! :D I'll plug it! And he did: Cheeks: The amazing reviews just keep rolling in![http://dudemeisterblogs.blogspot.com/2011/09/recommend-husbands.html] "Some of the internet's finest serial content." :D Thank you!!
Me: Been great chatting to you guys in this Q&A session, can we expect more? JE: Sure! I'm not always avail on weekdays, b.c of Once Upon A Time, but I'd love to do more! Me: Awesome, thanks! This evening (UK Time) has been delightfully informative and fun. Can't wait for more Husbands!
I was pretty happy with how that turned out, and if the suggestions I threw into the mix turn into reality, I'd like to think I had a part in that. Also, my RE:Commend of Husbandsgot a lot of views from the plugs, and wound up on the official Husbands Press page! Looks like I'm going up in the world!
Because I'm a true believer in structure, I've decided to break Supdates up into relevant sections. Nothing major, just helps with the flow of transitioning into new topics and what not. So dive in!
Worst Summer Ever?
As school begins to leer its head once more, further devouring the fading light that was the Summer break, you can't help but reflect on what you've done these past 6 weeks. Maybe you went on holiday, somewhere grand and beautiful and relaxing, maybe you did an amazing thing or met amazing people, doing things you wanted and needed to do, or maybe you just spent 3 fortnights sitting on your arse doing naff all.
Unfortunately, I fall into this latter category. Yep, almost 42 days and nothing to show for it. In fact, I could probably teach a crash course in procrastinating and laziness after this. I wanted to blog a lot this Summer, but instead only pushed a mere 3 pieces in August, a laughable amount considered to the previous month. Distractions take over and before you know, I'm here. Oh and a tip: don't make big "To-Do" lists, it just makes you more depressed when you look back and see NOTHING crossed off. But I digress. Besides that wasn't the only reason that this has been a somewhat lacklustre Summer, because as usual the Great British weather decided to be a douche and treat us like a soggy slice of towel roll... It's not a perfect simile...
Writer's Block and A Little Inspiration
Thanks Felicia!
Like I've said, articles (and my writing in general) have become... constipated, to put it into context. They just don't want to shift out of my head and onto the page/screen. So after 5-ish weeks of that I read this: http://feliciaday.com/blog/how-i-started-writing - a great piece from The Guild (an awesome webshow) creator, Felicia Day. Turns out, she too used to just sit on her bum and think about writing things, rather than getting up and doing them. She even used to be a World Of Warcraft addict, spending hours of her time a day on the game (which actually gave her inspiration for The Guild). Anyway, the short article gives her tips on how she embraced her creativity and took hold of her writing prospects, through various books, websites and exercises. Definitely check it out if your having trouble with any creative projects, because it really inspired me and gave a lot of hope to a shrivelled dream. Also try ZenHabits.net, another great blog full of helpful hints on how to prioritize, organize and get through life that little bit better. It really is shame I didn't discover all this cool stuff at the start of the holidays.
The Awesomeness of The Guild So while we're still on the topic of Felicia here, I'd like to talk to y'all about her aforementioned web series, The Guild: focusing around a group of MMO players as they try to juggle their totally unimportant real lives around their much loved (and addictive) RPG. Funny as hell, and littered with awesome references to video game culture, The Guild's an incredibly satisfying series, chock-full of laugh out loud moments and a rich, varied cast of hilarious characters.
You can catch up with it from the very beginning now, for free, over at watchtheguild.com, or on their YouTube channel! Also, if you happen to have Xbox Live you can find seasons 3-5 all in great quality on the Zune marketplace for free too, and episodes appear there first exclusively, every Tuesday (the latest was insane, due a very awesome special guest cameo). So long live The Guild: The show about gamers, for gamers, by gamers! Here's the crazy-hilarious Bollywood style music video from the "Guildies" themselves:
Yes, after 8 months of on/off blogging, we've arrived here at the 100th post. 99 blogs have been leading up to this one moment, the moment whereI shall... give you some stats and stuff? Sorry, that's all I've got, so here's Dude Meister Blogs: By The Numbers:
Since January 9th 2011, DMb has had 4996 individual views (as of this moment of writing); that's over 1000 more people that inhabit the Falkland Islands.
This List shows the top ten countries that have viewed the site (with map!):
United Kingdom
3,224
United States
846
Australia
96
Lithuania
79
Spain
63
Canada
59
Germany
52
India
31
Singapore
21
Mexico
18
Neat graph of browsers used: (Google Chrome Forever!)
That list really goes to show how far social networking can get you, with the majority being posts that I metaphorically "pimped" on media sites like Twitter and YouTube, not to mention how I link all of them to my Facebook. Which means I should be doing a lot more of it, so here's Twitter: @DMeisterTweets and I look forward to your follow! Also, YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DudeMeisterVlogs
Fun (and slightly worrying) Fact: 7 people have searched the words "camel penis" and wound up on here... My fan base, everybody!
And finally here's a nice graph charting the ups and downs of the last 8 months:
So that's that. Stats.
Anyway, I suppose a 100th Post Party is a good time to thank all you lovely readers and viewers that have kept me going up until this point. Without you, I might have quit at post #3! So cheers everyone, and here's to the (hopefully more interesting and fruitful) future! *Blows party poppers... alone*
