The Web Files Pounds the L.A. Web Series Beat

I think the exact audience for the Web Files is the exact audience for NewTeeVee. Both deal with emerging web video content. Is it that hard to connect the dots? Especially when you’re clearly setting them up as your direct competition? I think you’re idiots. (just kidding.) (not really.)

I make the suggestion that TWF might be conscious of the audience they’re aiming for (which I could not discern from watching several eps, as they seemed to be aiming for both amateur and pro creators), and you resort to namecalling? I might be an idiot, but at least I’m not rude.

Don’t be rude to Liz, Arnold. We can discuss without getting personal here. She may write something I disagree with or rip my web show to tiny little pieces in critical way, as is her right, but having a strong, subjective personal opinion does not make anyone automatically stupid. Liz is not an idiot.

Sandra and Kristyn are amassing one of the only video records of this industry’s show creators at this time at this level, actually. Both women, along with cameraman/editor Perry, are class acts.

As unbelievably simple as the idea of talking to everyone in a quiet interview setting where they are working is, it is actually the elephant in the room in that no other video show is really getting the creators on this level since Sunny Gault did her Viral Videos show for Veoh a few years ago and I dont mean the executive/ corporate/ rich mucky mucks like Beet.tv: bless all their hearts if I ever get on there too, but this is a video document of “up from the ground” foot soldiers who are pioneering the form.

These interviews will become a valuable asset as time goes on and the genre matures if for no other reason than this is a snapshot of this important time. Imagine a real sit down collection of the radio pioneers in the 1920’s and 1930’s not the eventual company stars but the real firsts we don’t know about now, or TV in the 1940’s and 1950’s, who cares if they happened to get the one who went on to be the big mainstream breakout, though it would be a nice bonus, I’d take Ernie Kovacs interviewed then like The Web Files does any day.

Dave Beeler and I enjoyed talking with them about Safety Geeks and Invention with Brian Forbes and being treated as if we mattered without any publicist, financiers, brand managers and the like pushing and scheduling “press” for us with them.

No, they came because they liked our shows and they liked us and had a real curious nature instead of an assignment handed down from the promo media machine. The fact that Safety Geeks: SVI and Invention with Brian Forbes got Sandra and Kristyn’s attention is a testament to the fact that at least for now they level the field by selecting not who has the most resources and loudest PR machine but who Sandra wants to explore and present to an audience.

It is SO hard to get any press now, let alone good press for non-corporate web series, you only get so far when you don’t have dozens of invisible hands, money and companies ensuring it. We know. You get so far then your calls, emails and request go ignored by the big boys in TV, web and print media because they only want the shows THEY as companies have a financial stake in getting covered. It’s not evil, its just smart business to completely shape what the audience is told to care about, namely the shows on the web your production/marketing/distribution company is producing.

Press that isn’t about letting the subject have a chance to present themselves as we did is mostly about maintaining and making “names” and name brands, so that “name” can be the name that is the reason the next thing gets made with…that name. From gossip to editorials thats what’s happening. If they do that for us we would be grateful and if they don’t so be it, we know what’s going on here.

The Web Files is doing just that, seeking us out and asking what we do in a gracious, professional, no “gotcha!” journalistic way that is frankly refreshing. Their interviews are not morning radio mentality nor do they fancy themselves Cahier du Cinema for the web they are an appreciative audience giving us chance to talk about what we love to do whether it made us rich or not.

The lack of editorializing on The Web Fils shows behalf actually lets the artists be judged by the viewer who may or may not be a fan without the pre-filtering of an editorial opinion of what is good for the audience or indeed what is “good” or “worthy” from the show. I applaud The Web Files generosity towards their subjects and the incredible service of documenting this moment in time without holding it to a singular personal criteria.

What Tom said.

When I first learned of the Web Files, I recognized immediately that it was a series to watch for the very fact that it did not present itself as a review or an editorial of content. The show lets the creators talk and explain to the audience why they should watch and lets the audience decide for itself. Honestly, I don’t think there is a need to review web series, for the simple reason that in the time it takes to read a review, one can simply watch an episode or two and decide for oneself.

Also, the Web Files does a good job of balancing inside information with presenting new web series. The episode featuring Camera Obscura, for instance, talked about the challenges of creating short form horror, the Cabonauts episode, included a discussion of special effects and the importance of interactive elements, and the interview with Tim Street was, well, it was an interview with Tim Street. While the show might not delve into the pros and cons of 1st person vs. 3rd person camera perspective, for instance, there is still plenty of inside information for the aspiring creator and the more interested audience member without completely alienating the more casual viewer who is just looking for a new series to watch.

Everyone knows the biggest problem facing web series today is finding a way to get one’s series noticed, to cut through the clutter of online video and find an audience. The Web Files is one of the better ways I have seen of discovering new series.

Kristyn Burtt does very good interviews….. both entertaining and informative.

I think The Web Files is doing an excellent job of developing a voice and perspective as they go deeper into the web series scene. Watching the last two episodes, I found an internal debate starting about whether eventually they would need to move on from how do you get started, what secrets can you tell us, etc. but watching the episodes proved a lesson in the accuracy of their instincts. I think The Web Files will evolve as the audience and the medium does. I look forward to seeing where they go next.

@Mathieas Don’t you write reviews of web series at LG15Today? Also don’t you write up a weekly article on the Web Files? http://lg15today.blogspot.com/search/label/Web%20Files

Hi all!
I wanted to chime in to say how much we appreciated the review of The Web.Files from Liz’s perspective. She made a lot of fair points and we are delighted to hear her thoughts about our show. I’m with @KristynBurtt, though, that we haven’t ever viewed ourselves as the competition to @NewTeeVee or @tubefilter.tv because we are not interested in reviewing web series. We are, as Tom Konkle so eloquently pointed out, and Mathieas expanded upon, an interview/talk show aimed at giving the creators and stars (“Web Celebs”) of this growing medium a place to give all of us some perspective about the struggles and the joys of working on their series.

I love what Tom said about how important this work is right now — getting a chance to talk with and showcase the pioneers in a new medium. After all, as everyone always points out, web series are not little tiny TV shows. It’s a new art form unto itself. The people who have charted a course in New Media, like Dave Beeler and Tom Konkle, Brett Register, Kaily Smith, Hayden Black, Felicia Day, Nick Carlton, etc. etc. have devoted a lot of time, energy and a considerable amount of their own personal budgets into this medium and seem determined to not only carve out a niche in this space, but to set up shop and make a life here. It’s not necessarily a stepping stone to somewhere else. This is where the journey began and potentially ends. And what a fun ride!

Also, because our show launched just 4 1/2 months ago, we are still in a learning curve about what content best serves our audience. We have tried to balance topics that are instructive for people who want to follow in the footsteps of successful creators while also providing information that fans of a particular show may want to know about. It has been fascinating to be able to hear the full interviews that Kristyn does with our guests. We typically have to leave about 20 to 25 minutes on the cutting room floor — heartwrenching sometimes, but necessary for now as we build our fan base and try not to overstay our welcome with each of our episodes. Originally, we had planned to air episodes between 5 to 7 minutes long, but most of our episodes are very close to 8 minutes and several have gone over — there’s just that much good material!

Lastly, I wanted to clarify one point that Tom brought up about the workflow at The Web.Files. He assigned the bulk of the show bookings to me, but, in actuality, Kristyn is the one who has found and booked the majority of our guests. She’s not only an awesome host and interviewer, but a great producer, too. I attribute much of our success to her excellent research skills — she does a LOT of work to research each show and her depth of knowledge and the community that she has built with in the web world has led to most of our interviews.

Thank you to all for your comments, for watching our show, and for making New Media one of the best, most creative places to spend time.

Cheers!
Sandra Payne
Director/Producer
The Web.Files