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- Apalemick, on 11/13/2007, -1/+12I can tell you this: As a writer, on the second day of the strike, I took a meeting with a Internet guy who struck it rich with a website 5 years ago. I told him an idea a had last year and he has been bugging me to do it ever since. I have no doubt, because of the subject matter and the way I write, that if executed correctly, it would be popular. I am already working on the script and have contacted several actors.
NONE of this would have happened if the strike had not occurred. If I am successful in this venture, why would I ever go back to taking notes from a bunch of ignorant studio executives?
I made a deal to create a six episode show for the Internet in the first week of the strike. Imagine what 12,000 of us will be doing if this goes on for months.
This blog is dead on. The studios are taking the wrong path, just like the music industry did. I will relish in their demise. - bigfatapul, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6Interesting article and likely somewhat accurate from a predicitve standpoint, but some big issues remaining. First off, as someone who works in entertainment interactive marketing, I can say first hand that marketing content online is definitely not free. While the buzz word of the day is all things "viral," if you want eyeballs on your ads, you still have to pony up some loot. Especially in a competitive market. Also, how is are these new companies going to police piracy of thier content (or are they)? The article talks about everystage of development/distribution as being "free." That sure sounds profitable. Bottom line is that if you don't have consumers paying for your story/film/song, you won't be making money. And if those consumers can't find your stuff - if your "viral" YouTube "campaign" isn't driving traffic to your site, you won't be making money. And if you aren't eventually making money, those venture capitalists are gonna get sick of writing checks.
Good idea in theory, but remember the Silicon Valley bubble, as well. As always, those with good content will survive - but they will also always need a way to get the customers in the middle of nowhere to find out about it. And the Internet isn't the cure all to do that (see every other band on MySpace...) - ZenMojo, on 11/13/2007, -0/+5I've recently got involved in a few internet ideas, but I'm hesitant to commit freely. This is going to be a great change in the dynamic between production and creation and could be exactly what writers need to grab their rightful place. The studios are not going to be happy.
- ZenMojo, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4The AppleTV is a joke platform for now. Internet infrastructure in this country is exceedingly slow and the cable companies still own your access to high speed cable. But if the FCC succeeds in breaking the cable companies' hold on our viewing choices, then the AppleTV will be a viable platform and New Media can surge ahead. I hope that the AppleTV becomes successful, but right now it is pretty much an overpriced TIVO.
- Crosshare, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Not to mention a good portion of people HATE reality TV.
- hiPpymIck, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3The TV Set with David Duchovny is a quite funny explanation of whats wrong with the current system
i watched it last week - rot tom give it 64% in review
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tv_set/ - Venste, on 11/13/2007, -2/+5Something like this could really give a boost to the AppleTV, as people will try and find user-created content to replace their standard entertainment once scripts run out and reruns get old. Or, once this strike is settled, it could lead to increased content currently available online to more shows to be accessed using set-top boxes.
- skellener, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1I'd like to see many of the writers bring new fresh ideas to the net. Not much money (at least at first), but no censorship either! You can write whatever you want! Bring us some great stuff and you won't need a broadcast network! The future in on the net. Don't waste this opportunity!
- sjbdallas, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1It amazes me how often these huge corporations and media giants keep shooting themselves in the foot. You'd think at some point they would recognize that they must adapt or die but they keep trying to maintain their archaich control control over their respective industries.
TV started a slow and painful death when they decided to start copying eachother's reality TV ideas. The movie industry has been suffering as well but obviously not as much at TV.
I can't wait to see what the writers come up with on their own w/out being forced to bend to the will of some moronic studio head. - allaboutdatiki, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1Is that Ronnie Spector singing a duet with Michael Stipe? Say goodbye to Hollywood (as you know it).
- dillyhoo, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1Yes, YES. When the strike started, I thought: "Why am I sitting around writing so companies can get rich off my brain?" Since, I've been using the internet in ways that haven't been used, to collect opinions, and bring about new ways of collaboration through open and honest forums of insight into humor and life. By combining this with the use of the internet as a distribution medium, I've collected a new audience that's dissatisfied with the current bland options that are on TV. From here I can collect my most popular series and use the profits to up production values and send them directly to broadcasters! Next Tuesday, we are finally going to start filming our first high-production venue, and all I need is a stage-hand!
...Crap, they're all on strike. - skellener, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1I doubt it's much of a boost to AppleTV. That's just an oversized, overpriced iPod that sits under your TV. But it could be a boost to net shows in general. I am amazed at the quality ON Networks delivers with their HD shows. iTunes has yet to debut any HD content. Besides, with Connect 360, you get all the capabilities of AppleTV right on your XBOX 360. You can see all of your Mac content right there. Apple really dropped the ball with AppleTV. There are other better options out there right now. Just keep that fresh HD content coming all you entrepreneurs and we'll see Hollywood die just like the music industry!
- miker71, on 11/19/2007, -0/+1"Most technology companies fail."
Most movies fail. - miker71, on 11/19/2007, -0/+1Here's one of the first movies to made using the Silicon Valley model.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSjm7Ius09Q
Many a true word has been said in jest. - inactive, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Marc Andreesen is a genius and is usually right on with most of the things he says. Unfortunately, this time he's way off. There haven't been more than 3 compelling user generated videos in the history of the interwebs, nevermind this stuff posing any threat to Hollywood. The only good videos ever uploaded were either pirated or reality(fights, police chases) and about 3 times when an ***** in front of a webcam actually managed to be funny. Other than that, web video is ***** amateur hour.
- chroko, on 11/13/2007, -1/+2The article's metaphor is overly optimistic about the technology industry. Most technology companies fail. The article also talks about company owners and creative talent interchangeably. But 99% of the talent in the technology industry doesn't have ownership of their products. "Stock options" you say - but unless you work for Google or Apple, those are probably worthless.
Independent movies are already lost in the consumer's mindset. The situation will get worse with thousands of companies all screaming for the consumer's attention at once.
Do enough viral marketing - and it becomes spam. Movie theaters are dead (no advertising budget, no national releases). iTunes, Amazon and NetFlix are are the new gateways - the new movie studios who get to pick and choose what they release.
The new movie industry will be good for a chosen few - but it will suck just like it used to for the vast majority. - jkarhu24, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1I'll be a stage hand. jkarhu24 (at) gmail.com
- Petrarch1603, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1 indeed the good content will survive. Better to have it in a free market than thru deals with studios.
- boiboi, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Google Motion Pictures? If you've taken a course in filmmaking, you'd understand how difficult to craft a successful motion picture. ( I recommend "Looking At Movies" by Barsam) You can fine-tune a website for 9 years like Amazon until it's profitable or grow from 2 people to several thousand employees over the span of several years. In the film business, you have less than two years to double the $50 - $120 million investment and employ thousands of people overnight. (yes thousands. stick around for credits next time you go to the movies) And even if you think you have the best written script, there's no guarantee that it will translate well on film.
- skellener, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1Amen.
- tweezerz, on 11/13/2007, -0/+0What? No Image?
Z - sroussey, on 11/13/2007, -0/+0There is one important thing missing from this discussion: most studio contracts have outs for "extraordinary events" which includes any kind of strike. I would expect that the studios use this opportunity to clean house, and improve their numbers. There is a greater business context in which to place the strike.
- sroussey, on 11/13/2007, -0/+0The studios can use the writers to sever various entanglements with producers and particularly directors, before ever even sitting down with the directors for their contract negotiations which are coming up soon.
- Kmakinney, on 11/13/2007, -0/+0Having worked in both silicon valley and the entertainment industry, unfortunately, I think your analysis is flawed. Will Ferrell's company is successful for one very primary reason: his name. He is also offering "short" bursts of entertainment. Without the studio system, Will's shorts would be enjoyable and perhaps emailed around, but a money making enterprise? I don't think so. Any good VC would pass. He has a name, and that name was created with tens of millions of dollars supplied by first NBC and then movie studios. For the no name creator, maybe they can do a series of shorts that people like, but it's unlikely they are going to ever reach the level of hits that Will Ferrells site does. For that, it takes ad dollars. As you know, many of the internet behemoths today such as Amazon spent tens of millions of dollars to capture eyeballs...and then they became a brand. I don't think for anything longer than 5-10 minutes, without a pre existing name, you are going to be able to create brands on the internet without lots of money. And no VC will give you lots of money because you are funny. Which is what Will Ferrell started with before he was a brand.
- inactive, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1tv is dead anyway, has been for years
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