Party Down (31 MB download)
Inspired by the Starz TV series, take over a Party Down catering team as you help the Hollywood elite celebrate in style! Keep the music playing, the food coming, and the conversations going as you schmooze with the stars. Work your way through 8 unique parties at huge yachts, extravagant balls, and exclusive nightclubs. Keep your cool, show them what you got, and maybe you can become the next big thing!

Rock God Cred Report:

Click here to check a 70’s lost classic from Starz “So Young So Bad”…must have tune.

Buy “Coliseum Rock”

Streaming Media West is in full swing.  With 150 speakers and 40 sessions, it is a real treat that all the videos will soon be posted at StreamingMedia.com. The video to my Commonwealth Club Smarter TV event from earlier this week will also soon be available on FORA.tv.  Between the two events, there was much discussion about the features (entertainment, social, commerce) of the connected devices and their ability to serve as monetization platforms for indie content, so this post is dedicated to providing a short synopsis of what was discussed and an overview of the market offerings.

Xbox 360
- 16mm consoles in North America, 33mm worldwide
- 1.5mm active before and after the Superbowl
- starting at $199 plus subscription to Xbox LIVE
- 25,000 pieces of content via Netflix (17,000) and Zune Marketplace
(Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony, MGM, Disney, ABC, CBS, NBCU, TBS, MTV, WB)
- Indie games get 70/30 split on XBLA via creators.xna.com/en-US
- Indie content best path to Xbox is via New Video, a Zune aggregator
- The Guild, Xbox chart-topping show, was a direct deal
- Magical friending features allow 8 Xbox LIVE living rooms linked to watch same shows, also integrating FB photos, Twitter, Last.fm
- Xbox is working toward a remoteless future with Project Natal
(per Marc Whitten, Xbox @ SMW talked about going from one to many to many to many, the channel of one, from audience to community, from programming guide to contextual search and social discovery with ratings and recommendations, tapping into the 300mm FB users, and 25mm Twitter users, and 1B+ mobile phones, PC was smart then got connected, phones were connected then got smart, TVs are now smart and connected, Xbox creating a world where it all just works – gaming, internet, tv, focused on content, community, curation, control; more details at:  http://itvt.com/interview/6110/radio-microsoft-xbox-live-general-manager-marc-whitten)

Ps3*
- 8mm+ consoles in North America, 29mm consoles worldwide
- starting at $299 includes Blu-ray player, no charge for access to Net
- Sony launching Sony Online Service for movies, tv, music, books, games
- 10,000+ hours of download content, 14,400 TV shows, 2,300 movies
- 40 partners incl Netflix, Lucasfilm, Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm Intl, Image Ent, MPI Media, New Video, Showtime, Starz, G4, E!, Summit Entertainment, Weinstein, HD Net, VIZ Media, FUNimation, Magnolia,
- Best path to PS3 is via New Video, aggregator for iTunes, Hulu, Zune..
- Social integration with Facebook games

Wii*
- 56mm consoles worldwide,
- Japan video service: original branded programming, CinemaNow
- no US movies or TV yet, Netflix maybe never

TiVo
- 1.6mm – 3.5mm subscribers, launched 10yrs ago
- $249 + $129/year (also bundled with cable/sat packages)
- DVR stores up to 1TB of TV, broadband features, integrated search
- 50,000+ VOD movies/tv via Netflix, Amazon, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Disney, YouTube, Rhapsody, Music Choice, Live365
- Thousands of video podcasts which indie producers can add to at:
www.tivo.com/rssvideo
- Indie producers can also get on TiVo Amazon VOD via CreateSpace.com
- no FB integration, Twitter onscreen chat, can share lists w friends
- in-show purchasing with remote related to specific ad campaigns
(per Evan Young, TiVo @ Commonwealth Club Smarter TV)

Apple TV*
- 500,000-6mm units sold, now starting at $229
- 50,000 tv episodes,175,000 podcasts, 2500+ movies
- Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Disney, WB, YouTube…
- Best path on to iTunes is via an aggregator like E1 or New Video

Boxee
- 700,000 free software downloads, expect to be at 1mm by CES
- Boxee box – partnering with TV, Blu-Ray, DVR, Game Console OEMs
- 180 partners incl Netflix, MLB, eGuiders, Pandora, Last.fm, Flickr, KidMango..
- Open SDK for indie producers to put up a channel: developer.boxee.tv
- Integrating payments platform for monetization of show content, merchandise
like having first two episodes ad-supported, buy now button for the rest of the season
- monetization should be available by summer 2009
- 2009 improve platform, grow user base, 12/7 Boxee Beta Unveiling w global search
- Cool friending feature to generate virality
(per Andrew Kippen, Boxee @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Roku
- 400,000 give or take a few hundred thousand units sold
- $79, $99, $129 wifi models sold on Roku.com and Amazon
- Netflix, Amazon, MLB, Revision3, Twit.tv, Blip.tv, Mediafly
- Open SDK enables any indie producer to launch own channel
- not about social interaction, no merchandising
(per Jim Funk, Roku @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Vudu
- 100,000 units sold starting at $150
- now licensing to LG, Mitsubishi, Vizio
- On-Demand TV/Movies, Pandora, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa..
- Select video podcasts, RSS Feed not accepting indie content yet
(per Rob Holmes, Vudu @ SMW)

Yahoo! Connected TV
- On Samsung, Sony, LG, soon Vizio (WiFi TV), Toshiba (DVD player)
in 13 different countries, remote with slider keyboard
- CBS, Y! Finance, eBay, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, USA Today, Twitter
- Widget SDK: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
- Leverage 70mm US and 6000 existing widgets to bring best of the web into a TV friendly environment
- No app commerce, open surf or in-show merchandising yet
(per Russ Schafer, Yahoo! Connected TV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

ZillionTV
- Entertainment and marketing service, not selling boxes
- Going through ISPs/telcos, OEMs embedded software stack, direct to consumer
- 60+ content partners including major media players:
Fox, Sony, NBCU, Disney, WB, Lionsgate, Paramount + 60 indie producers
- Self-selectable advertising play, consumer choice ad categories
- VISA rewards to allow interactive in-show purchasing with remote
- Best path to get content onto ZillionTV is content@zilliontv.tv
- And there will be a social component, fan of Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital
(per Mitch Berman, ZillionTV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Sezmi*
-Just landed $25mm, starting trial in LA
(For more:  http://itvt.com/interview/6109/radio-sezmi-co-founder-chairman-and-president-phil-wiser)

FLO TV
- Bought Channel 55 spectrum in digital transition
- Now able to broadcast TV, no broadband capacity issues, no buffering
- 24/7 access to live sports, breaking news, hit shows, animation,
kids programming, soaps, game shows, reality, comedy, crime dramas
- CBS Mobile, (Y&R, CSI), Comedy Central (quick ht snacking)
- perishable content that offers social currency where live matters
- viewers watch on average 30min/day more than Hulu at 9min/day
- 900min/month more than the average voice minutes used per month
- Peaks at 1pm, stays relatively consistent 2-10pm
- 7/7/09 MJ Memorial 49minutes, most viewed in history of FLO TV
- most watch 150hrs/month, 120-180hrs range,
95% broadcast, 5% on demand
- In the top 100 cities in the US
- ATSCMH standard, DVR capability more of a rights issue
- FLO TV is standard in Japan, not using US technology
- Can’t disclose current subscriber #s, many millions split
between ATT and Verizon
- 99% subscription based, not ad supported model
- Projecting 43mm mobile tv users by 2013, 67mm by 2019
- Focusing on mobile, personal tvs and auto-entertainment
- 3″ PTV is $249, $10/month (first 6m free with purchase)
- working on monthly passes, day passes, event passes
- Established content delivers the comfort and safety of brands they know
- Original content like LXD, Amanda Congdon’s SometimesDaily
keeps them coming back for more
- Path for indie content on to FLO TV incl MyDamnChannel
- FLO TV might be integrated in nexgen iPhone
- No plans for a 20″ FLO TV but great alternative to cable
(per Bill Stone, FLO TV @ SMW)

*not present at SMW or Smarter TV

NATPE, 1/25-28
NATPE, beloved trade association that champions content deal flow, was onsite as well interesting new media companies in being showcased at the NATPE Market in Vegas in January.  The show will have a featured section for the Connected Home, and qualified exhibitors are being offered face time with major media players, venerable press outlets, and possibly even brand sponsors.  For more information, visit www.natpemarket.com, check out our NATPE LATV Fest coverage, or contact evie@natpe.org for exhbitor opportunities.

Back to the party
The party is still going strong tonight with the Reader’s Choice Awards and performance by VJ remixers Eclectic Method.  You can watch it via live stream.  And tomorrow, Epix kicks off the morning keynote which will be streamed live as well, then its another full day of programming.  In addition, there is a sizable show floor with a demo stage and rows and rows of exhibitors.  Check out Google’s little plush googlers. who won Content NOW’s Best of Schwag.  And be sure to stop by Tandberg for their timeshifting keychain and remote mints and Microlink for their pocket frisbees.  End of day, the remarks from Epix will be posted along with those from Revision3, MTV, Next New Networks, FUNimation, Tubemogul, and Electric Farm.  And then when the SMW video posts I’ll circle back on yesterday’s sessions with Hot Topic and HBO Broadband. Many thanks to conference director Dan Rayburn who embraces his attendees, offering them his cell number, free industry analyses and business development introductions. He was an enormous help to me with my Smarter TV event and this post.  He lives and breathes the stuff, and it shows.  Check out his post on the market:
http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2009/09/breakdown-on-the-number-of-broadband-enables-devices-sold-in-the-us.html

THE ONLINE VIDEO GORILLA IN THE ROOM: EPIX

Epix, the new premium TV channel from Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate, launched on TV and online at the end of October. The launch opened up movie catalogues from each of the three studios to be watched on three separate platforms; the content triple threat if you will. In a world of packed viewing options, how did we get to the point where three movie studios have launched a new pay TV channel?

Here’s the skinny. In 2008, Showtime’s contracts with Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate expired. You see, in the premium pay TV world, channels like HBO and Showtime manage two streams of content: their original programming including both television series and films, and their movie studio content. These channels pay the studios premiums to air their movies on TV for a determined amount of time. When these contracts near expiration, negotiations settle in.

In this case, the negotiations between Showtime and these studios were fairly contentious. The studios wanted a higher fee than Showtime was willing to pay. So passionate were these negotiations, the studios basically declined revenues from Showtime entirely to instead walk away from the deal entirely. Showtime will now lose Paramount films released after Jan 1 2008 and MGM/Lionsgate films released after Jan 1 2009. That includes heavy box office winners like Iron Man ($318M US box office) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($317M bo).

Instead of negotiating with another pay TV channels, like HBO or Starz, the three studios instead pursued the completely unexpected option: form their own pay television network.

I worked at HBO for the past 4 years and hence was a little more eager than most to try out the product. When I initially heard about the new pay service, I was generally mystified. In a world of disaggregation,with content scattered on premium networks like HBO, online through services like Netflix and Hulu, download-to-own/rent on iTunes, and on demand, I hardly saw the need for additional options. That said, as audiences trend online to watch content, I was most interested in taking a look at the online product. Here’s a break down:

Availability

If you are a Verizon FIOS subscriber, you have access to the product. In addition, Epix is offering 50 thirty-day invitation codes to Marauder readers who are the first to Follow @epixHD on twitter AND tweet “@epixhd Experience Epix #DailyMarauder.”  If you miss your chance, you can also get a weekend invitation code if you visit the site during the month of November.

Content

Emil Rensing, Chief Digital Officer of Epix, tells me that as of today, there are 183 movies on the service. By the second quarter of next year, the goal is 3,000 movies. I asked Emil about Epix’s competition, eager to find out whether the channel views traditional pay networks like HBO and Showtime as competition vs. online movie providers like Netflix. “I’m personally a subscriber to both HBO and Netflix. I love the DVD service that Netflix provides but we’ll have more content online than Netflix. HBO doesn’t yet have the licenses to put all of their movie content online.“ Being that Netflix claims 12,000 streaming titles online, I pushed Emil on his answer. Within those 12,000 titles, Emil claims 2,000 are movies, “The preponderance of those titles is either public domain or bottom tier selections. They don’t have a lot of titles that will drive the subscription nut…We don’t buy content. We buy hits.”

User Experience

Hulu-Like Video Player

The online video itself looks and feels very similar to the Hulu experience. It rocks the same full screen, pop out, and light dimming options. Epix, however, features 720P HD quality for all of its movies, if you have a connection speed which can handle it of course. If not, it delivers the video to you in a quality compatible with your connection speed. Hulu also has films in 720P through their HD gallery although I only peeped 3 TV episodes in the library when I drove through this morning.

Finding What you Want

Either browse or search for content using predictive content options based on what you type in the search box. In this case, I was typing “Valenti” . I wasn’t looking for My Bloody Valentine but instead for the Valentino documentary.

Watching Movies Online with Friends

Here’s my favorite feature. Viewers can watch a movie with up to 4 of their friends, even if that friend is not an Epix subscriber. This is an acquisition and retention play of sorts but a very smart one at that. To make the analogy work a little harder for you, imagine if I could call you, the non-HBO subscriber, and invite you to instantly watch that next episode of True Blood with me from each of our respective houses. Yah, pretty neat. Here, fellow Marauder Martha and I, watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button from each of our houses in NYC and LA.

Movie watchers can type messages to each other while watching allowing an almost couch-like experience. Martha and I tested this feature three times over the course of a week. Our results varied from seamless to all-out failure.

Portability

The content is currently only available in a streamed model meaning that the viewer can only watch when connected to the internet. Starz Play, the online offering from Starz also available from Verizon FIOS, is instead a download model offering the option to watch movies on a computer screen or portable device even when Google decides not to holiday gift free Wi-Fi to the masses.

Distribution

Currently, Epix only has one distributor with Verizon FIOS giving them access to a pool of only 2.5 million subscribers. The two most attractive cable operators in the US according to audience size are Comcast (25M subs) and Time Warner Cable (15M subs). In July, Comcast publically responded that they were not interested in the service and think that it is in fact, “a bad idea.” So that leaves, Time Warner Cable as the most attractive girl in the room. Rumors have been floating around about a DISH distribution deal, which would pick up just over 13M subscribers and give Epix a bit more to talk about. The other pay TV networks are watching, but not really paying attention until Epix finds someone to carry the channel to more people. And even then, it’s really Showtime which has the most to worry about. It seems as though CEO Matt Blank may agree on this one.

Price

$10 per month. The service was initially offered its first weekend as a free preview.

The Low Down

Epix most reminds me of Hulu at least in the reason for its creation. Hearken back to the days in which Hulu was “New Site” and everyone laughed at its imminent failure. Mr. Techcrunch himself, Michael Arrington, liked to call New Site Clown Co. before it was dubbed Hulu.

Hulu was created as a joint venture between two broadcast television networks (Fox and NBC) which wanted more control (and hence revenue potential) over the distribution of their content in an iTunes world. Let’s just remember how NBC felt about Apple during one painful period in which The Office wasn’t available on iTunes.

Similarly, Epix was built by three movie studios, who in a world of Hulu, Netflix, and Showtime, wanted more control over their content. Both decisions were risky for the companies in question. Just ask Jeff Zucker from NBC how those digital pennies, dimes, or whatever currency he’s using these days are doing.

Here’s the main difference between Epix and Hulu: Hulu acts as a central location for all content even if its not featured in its super slick video player. Epix only offers content from these three studios.

Epix isn’t interesting to me as another pay TV network. We have HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, and a few others you probably don’t even realize you have. In a world of Movies on Demand, pay TV networks, Hulu, Netflix, and those things we used to call DVD’s, do we really need one more TV channel? In short, no. No we don’t. The cable operators realize this. They have enough to sell you when you call to set up service. HBO and Showtime used to be the cash cow for the cable companies. With the advent of online and digital phone services, this is no longer the case. The revenue potential on these two services far outweighs the opportunity upside on a pay TV network. So, why would I, Mrs. Cable Company, choose to carry another pay TV network that I will have to relegate marketing budget to? Hmmm…

Back to the consumer perspective. To really dig in on this, it’s important to quickly reference the content windows.

Traditional Windows

Here’s an example of this structure using a recent box office hit: Paranormal Acitivity. The traditional window, previous to Epix, would look like this:

(Please note. Apart from the movie release, these are NOT announced dates, simply a look at traditional movie windows.)

Movie Release: October 2010

DVD Release/Rental (Netflix): February 2010

Cable Movies on Demand/PPV: March-April 2010

Premium TV Channel (Showtime): September 2010

Free TV: December 2011

So, let’s pretend you’re a Comcast subscriber for a moment. You would have been able to watch the movie on DVD first, then buy it through your Movies on Demand service, then watch it through your Showtime subscription, and finally some time close to never watch it on free TV. Head spinning yet?

Well, Epix is now on the scene and Paranormal Activity happens to be a Paramount film. So, now the film will no longer be available on Showtime.

So now, the story goes first on DVD, then Movies on Demand through the cable company, then Epix on TV and online, and finally when hell freezes over on free TV. Confused again? Yup. I haven’t even mentioned that Netflix is considering delaying their DVD rental offerings 30 days to pay the studios less. Oh, and of course, companies like Comcast are pushing day-and-date movies on demand offerings with the DVD window.

All I wanted to know was when and where I could watch the movie again. Crikey…

In short, Epix is interesting to me purely for its online subscription-model offering. They can’t compete with the movie quality of other pay TV networks like HBO. Yes, Netflix is doing online streaming but Epix claims that they will have more and better quality movies online soon. Epix is connected to a distributor whereas Netflix need not rely on one. Both subscriptions cost about the same but one gives you additional access to 100,000 DVD rentals and the other to a TV channel and on demand network. Epix has the closest relationship and pull with the movie studios except in this case, its just three of them.

Epix needs more distribution to make some noise but if they find some, things will start to get a bit more interesting. Game on.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Epix to launch premium movie channel this weekend (get free passes here) (venturebeat.com)
• New Premium Net Epix Pushing To Add Distribution Partners Before Oct.30 Launch (paidcontent.org)
• Studios launch Epix high-def, on-demand movies site (and we have invites) (arstechnica.com)

An Evening with Ed Harris

Student Screening: Miller Brothers and Ed Harris

I had the opportunity to shoot at three special events this weekend for the Denver Film Society: An Evening with Ed Harris at the King Center on the Auraria Campus and a Question & Answer Session at the Denver Starz Film Center on Friday, November 13th, and the Women and Film Party, put on by Barbara Bridges, held at the Governor’s Mansion on Sunday, November 15th!

Pawel Szajda: Sweet Rush (Actor from Under the Tuscan Sun)

Barbara Bridges at the Women and Film Party in the Governor's Mansion

Barbara Bridges and Governor Ritter

These events were amazing! I met so many interesting people and made a lot of connections with people in the community and visitors in the film industry. I really enjoyed being out in the community as a photographer, I felt professional.

Actor, Manuel, and Filmaker

Women and Film Panel Member and Guests

Let me know what you think of the photos I posted! Contact me with questions about any of the photos or events as well!

Dance After Dark

DANCE AFTER DARK
DJ Freedom’s latest greatest featuring BIG ROOM ANTHEMS.

“Big Room Anthems” are songs made for the dancefloor of a full scale nightclub. Venues in NYC like Pacha, in South Beach like Cameo or in Vegas like-like any hotel with a nightclub really-feature these songs.
My versions on these songs is meant to feature the best parts of the songs. I don’t get into the WORDS a lot but they are there to guide the original vision of the song, and the person who remixed it.
If you like the list and want the download (I don’t sell these) then you should send me a note.
There’s a SPECTACULAR jazz song at the end that I want you to go to giantstep.net and buy…it is so well done and emotive I thought for those of you who LOVE music you’ll dig on this one.

Until next time…stay in tune!

BIG ROOM ANTHEMS | PART ONE

1) Love Songs (Bimbo Jones Dub) -
2) Did You See Me Coming – Pet Shop Boys
3) We Are Golden (Radio Edit Vs DJ Freedom’s Refix) – Mika
4) Sad Song (Jason Nevins Club Mix | FJ Dubout) – Blake Lewis
5) Smoke (Extended Mix) – Jus Jack With Phil Garant
6) Obsessed (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix) – Mariah Carey
7) Wake Up (Buzz Junkies Mix) – Sliimy
Fight For You (Beltek Mix) – Morgan Page
9) I Gotta Feeling (David Guetta Remix | FJ Dubout) – Black Eyed Peas
10) Down (Club Remix) – Sean Feat Lil Wayne
11) Use Somebody (Club Remix) – Kings Of Leon
12) Bad Romance – Lady Gaga (FreeMix)
13) Dollhouse – Priscilla Renea (FreeMix Reprise style)
14) Turn It Out – Altar and Jeanie Tracy
15) Shoes (Green Velvet Remix) – Tiga
16) Be Alright (Perry Twins Los Angeles & Demons Mix) – Kristine W
17) Shoes (Electro-fied Remix by Lanzamientos) – Tiga

HUSTLE TO THE NEW DISCO | PART TWO

18) Get It Shawty (Moto Blanco Radio Remix) – Lloyd
19) Red (Moto Blanco Club Remix) – Daniel Merriweather
20) Outta Here (Moto Blanco Club Remix) – Esmee Denters
21) Let Me Show You (Moto Blanco Remix) – K-Klass
22) Generation Noise (Twocker Remix) Laidback Luke Featuring Boogshe
23) I Call It Love (Moto Blanco Remix) – Lionel Richie
24) Let Freedom Think About It (Free*Beats) – Ida Corr
25) Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix) – The Ting Tings
26) Gypsy (Laidback Luke Gypsy Woman Remix) – Steve Angello
27) Hotel California (Latino Guitar Mix) – Eagles
28) Time After Time (Tommy Trash Club Mix) – Soul Central Feat Abigail Bailey
29) Whatcha Think About That (Starz Angels Remix) – Pussycat Dolls Feat Missy Elliot
30) SPECIAL CLOSER: No Worries – Robert Glasper (Special thanks to GIANT STEP ON THIS ONE!)

DJ Freedom | Music Scientist…Rhythm & Soul Productions
(917) 405-4423 | Freedom@socialtravelers.net
www.facebook.com/freedom.us
www.myspace.com/rsmf

Found this today, and thought I’d share it with you. Watch movies, sports, and more from your PC.
I thought it was to good to be true, but I tried it and it works

Pezzo tratto dalla Mixtape “Underground Future Object” con la partecipazione di Rayden del gruppo “Onemic”.

La mixtape è scaricabile qui.

Check it out!

My favorite furry creatures are back and this time it’s personal. I present to you via STARZ, The Wolfman. Enjoy!

Intentando repetir el éxito de Party Down, la cadena Starz ha anunciado la producción de una nueva comedia dramática de media hora, llamada Gravity, que se enfoca en los miembros de un grupo de un excéntrico programa para sobrevivientes de suicidio.

Según lo informado, la serie, también conocida como Failure to Fly, contará con un reparto muy interesante formado por Krysten Ritter (Veronica Mars), Ivan Sergei (The Break-Up), Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible) y Rachel Hunter (Rock Star).

Ritter interpretará a Lily Champagne, una joven clínicamente depresiva que busca el amor que su padre nunca mostró. Sergei será Robert Collingsworth, un oftalmólogo deprimido por la muerte de su esposa y famoso en Internet por su cómico intento de suicidio.

Además, Rhames será Dogg McFee, el líder del grupo y un ex-jugador de beisbol que esta confinado a una silla de ruedas, mientras que Hunter es Shawna Rollins, una ex-modelo y actual coach personal con interés por hombres jóvenes.

Robyn Cohen (Starved), James Martinez (Brother to Brother) y Seth Numrich (How to Kill a Mockingbird) completan el reparto de esta serie, creada y producida por Eric Schaeffer, Jill Franklyn y Dan Pasternack.

Gravity comenzará a filmar los 10 episodios de su primera temporada este mes en Nueva York, y será estrenada en los primeros meses del 2010.

Party Down (31 MB download)
Inspired by the Starz TV series, take over a Party Down catering team as you help the Hollywood elite celebrate in style! Keep the music playing, the food coming, and the conversations going as you schmooze with the stars. Work your way through 8 unique parties at huge yachts, extravagant balls, and exclusive nightclubs. Keep your cool, show them what you got, and maybe you can become the next big thing!

The zombies are aiming to take back the bite from vampires. Forget about Tickle Me Elmo Robert Pattinson and his Twilight gang, Woody Harrelson and the brother of the Pepsi girl have breathed new life into the walking dead with the success of Zombieland. Ok, I’ll stop the punning.

On October 13th at 10:00 p.m., the Starz Network will bring us Starz Inside: Zombiemania . Starz Inside: Zombiemania is a fun look at the Zombie craze around the world. Featuring clips from a vast library of Zombie films and Zombie experts, including the “grandfather of Zombie films” George A. Romero and best-selling author Max Brooks. The documentary traces the evolution of the Zombie from its roots in African folklore and Haitian Voodoo to its current role as pop culture icon.

I’ve been recommending this small TV show (a Starz original) to everyone recently, and now I am recommending it to you.  I’d been hearing about it a lot, so when it suddenly came up on Netflix Instant Watch I instantly checked it out.  And just like that I was converted.  Not that I was against it in the first place or anything.  I was convinced.  Enchanted.  Whatever, people, follow me blindly!

For those who haven’t heard of that of which I write, Party Down is a show following a catering company and it’s small band of heroes, all of whom are, of course, really trying to be actors, writers, and otherwise employed in the entertainment industry.  That is, except for their fearless team leader, who just wants to be the best team leader out there…and to get through a night without puking, getting caught with his pants down, or offending the client.  And to open a Soup N’ Crackers.  What can I say, it’s a dream.  Each episode follows one self-contained and clumsily-catered party, and the roster of special guests is pretty awesome, on top of the already awesome cast.  Oh, and 5 or so episodes are directed by Fred Savage.  Yes, this is what he’s been doing since Daddy Day Camp.

Besides the fact that that paragraph alone should have you reaching for your computer and Netflix account, here are…

10 Reasons You Should Totally Check Out Party Down!

1. It’s Bill!!!!!

That is to say, it’s Martin Starr, also known as Bill from Freaks and Geeks.  I am sad to report that it took me something like two and a half episodes to realize why I knew this guy, but when I did, I shrieked with joy!  It took my friend Carrie about two and half seconds.  Shut up.

Anyway Martin Starr is always amazing and hilarious, plus his character is the cater waiter struggling to be a screenwriter, so maybe I’m just excited because I got all of his jokes.

2. Jane Lynch is amazing and…wait for it…different!!!

Jane Lynch is always pretty amazing, but I feel that she often gets pigeonholed into the same type of roles – the lesbian dog-training, Cheerio-coaching, slightly agressive and psycho roles – for which she has become known and loved.  But I know she’s more than that and she proves it in Party Down.  She’s not only really funny, but refreshing.  And not just “Jane Lynch,” but her character.

3. The rest of the cast is amazing as well!

That may not sound like the most exciting section heading, but it’s true.  With such a strong core group, they can throw them into truly crazy situations, and all of them are really talented comedic actors.  And the cast includes that girl from Mean Girls (all growed up and pretty) and that guy from Wet Hot American Summer (it also took me a few episodes to realize why I knew Ken Marino). 

4. Amazing guest stars too!

Over-usage of the word “amazing?”  You decide.  And yes, that so totally was the brother from Wings playing a Russian mafia soldier recently released from a murder sentence…with a lazy eye. 

5.  Tight episode structure.  Tight writing.  Tight…um…shirts (sometimes).

6. They go there.

It’s Starz, so there’s leeway for some swearing, indecent references, drugs, a porn star awards show party, and way too much puking.  But I swear it’s all well done, including just the right amount to be fun.  Well, maybe there’s a little too much puking.  Mostly done by Ken Marino.  Poor Ken Marino.

7.  If somehow you are not gathering this from what I am writing, let me say it again – It’s funny!

8. It made me think of all the things that are good about The Office.

It’s filmed along the same vein, but not as a mockumentary.  Which is not to say I don’t like a good mockumentary, just that it’s not exactly the same.  No cameras following them, but it is reminiscent of the style of The Office.  Plus, now that I’m thinking about it, it does have a cute girl and guy couple (whom you want to get together) being the voice of reason, while surrounded by a bunch of crazies.  So there’s that too.

9. Did I mention Fred Savage directed this?

10.  Short and sweet.

I was in the process of writing something here about how one good clean season is better than a long stretched-out storyline or a sophomore slump, when I discovered that our raggle taggle crew is going to be back for more!  So, instead, my point will be that when you finish the show in love and wanting more, as I know you will be, there will be more episodes coming soon.  Bring on Season 2!

(also, may I point out that I just used “raggle taggle” in a sentence?  Word!)

As workplace comedies like The Office start to run their course, it’s series like Party Down that bring a freshness to the screen.

Half-hour comedies are based on one thing – character. With that trailer you can see this has plenty. Be warned, the comedy is little over the top. It also has many scenarios that we’ve seen before, but it works brilliantly because it’s based around these people who are at the bottom and craving to be at the top.

Each episode follows a L.A. catering company as they work events from a college conservative union caucus to an after party for the adult film awards. Working for the company are different actors, has-beens and wannabes, who are waiting for their big break. Until then, they’re stuck with each other.

Haven’t heard of this one? Well, that’s because it’s a Starz original series (the same guys who make Crash). But even though the season’s over, it’s easy to catch up on all ten episodes. The second season doesn’t start until April 2010, so you have lots of time to check it out.

And you’ll probably recognize some of the names involved with Party Down. The series was created by John Enborn, Dan Etheridge, Rob Thomas, and Paul Rudd – yes, that Paul Rudd. Out of the ten episodes, the directing job is shared between two men: Bryan Gordon and Fred Savage – yes, that Fred Savage.

Leading the cast is Adam Scott who you’ll remember playing Will Ferrell’s jerk, alpha male brother in Step Brothers. Scott plays an actor, Henry, who is returning to the company after one successful stint on a beer commercial. But even with that one gig, he has that “face” that people recognize but can’t place.

The two ladies in the group are played by Lizzy Caplan and Jane Lynch. Caplan’s character is an out-of-work comedian who is constantly arguing with her husband on her cell. She’s known for her roles in Cloverfield and Mean Girls. Lynch, who is currently in Glee, continues to show us that she is the funniest woman over 40. If you know of someone funnier, please let me know.

But it’s Ken Marino who steals this show. Once, a hardcore partier – a man who made a bong out of cheese – is now the boss to all these unenthusiastic caterers. He has all the scenes which are excruciatingly funny. The following clip isn’t one of them but it works because it rings true with his character.

“Made footless… by pot.” Need I say more?

The state of the industry sometimes can be a troubling thing but there can always be light at the end of the tunnel depending which way one is looking. Attending the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) Production Conference in Century City, one could feel the progression and honesty setting in as the aspects of the new state of distribution which were adequately discussed The realization and decision on approach creates a more stable thought for the future.

After opening remarks by former Fox Chairman Bill Mechanic, who declared in tandem that the balance of technology and attendance will create a new structure since “the outlets are there”, gave credence to the impending discussion of the state of new distribution avenues and financial incentives to motivate the industry.

The discussion entitled “New Distribution Options For The Future” was piqued by the initial thoughts of Pierre David, the chairman of the producers committee of the IFTA, who said simply “find your niche and do that stuff”. His perception is that even with a big film, in terms of the aspects of pre-sale or even specific territory basis, you might be “lucky if you get $10,000 in Italy”. He also marks that the UK sector as down too since Woolworths basically dumped 1000s of DVDs onto the streets to be sold in the past ywar. He does make the point that Germany and Australia are stable in terms of its markets but that is a rarity in the world. He believes that there is still a DVD Market in the States but that too is down 17% as of this year. Unless you have a pre-sold perspective like a Lundgren, Seagal or a Van Damme, it becomes difficult. The category of increasing interest, in his perspective, is television because, in his mind, it is a stable world where you can have a game plan. There is a flow of channels opening up worldwide and this should be considered part of the future. There are outlets on Lifetime, Icon and ScyFy but you have to make the right kind of product. Pierre also mentions the incumbent impact of VOD [Video On Demand[ using IFC as an example but saying that currently in the sector, they will grab 70% of the revenue.

Nolan Gallagher, Founder & CEO of Gravitas Ventures, balances this saying that there seems to be a lot of confusion, in his mind, as to where the revenue is coming from. The big question is when VOD is going to be the savior. People are starting to make money in the sector but is it enough to warrant the movie budgets? Gallagher says that there will be a continual integration into digital cable in the homes. The amount of digital boxes will increase viewership at least 20 million. The going rate currently to put your movie in front of 50 million potential viewers via an On Demand possibility is $20,000 but there is no gaurantee anybody will buy or watch it. Publicity, he says, even the most basic kind, is key. The thought right now in terms of a workable model is a transactional VOD deal for four or six months then switching to a TV deal right after as a blueprint. The problem is that you can make at times only $5000 on such a deal which seems non-productive. This is because people tend to want to underpromise and overdeliver which is the paradox of sorts. A horror film, in his estimation, can do $80,000. The growing angle is a deal through a multi-pronged distributor like a Lionsgate which can get into 50 million homes direct (in the VOD sector) through Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Right now there can be 140 movies on Comcast On Demand at any given time. The inherent problem is that a year from now there might be 1400 movies showing an increase of tenfold and a saturation that makes differentiation hard. It all becomes about marketing in this scenario. The benefit approach here is to approach two or three different companies and rotate them on subsequent projects . This of course can present a negotiation problem but the specific Gallagher suggests is to only make the deals for 2 year intervals.

In comparison, Steve Bickell, who heads International Distribution for The Film Department, says that the bottom line is that the economic structure of the film business is absolutely broken. The inherent change works from generation to generation. There was an overabundance of video when video came in. Same with free channels and the influx of cable. Now DVD sales are falling and VOD is not able to pick up the slack because currently there are no safety nets in terms of business models. International Distribution is much more difficult and selective now because all the territories have compacted their business. Our domestic distribution model here in the States, Bickell explains, doesn’t exist anymore. It is virtually impossible to find a domestic distributor to do what you need since most of them won’t do P&A (Print & Advertising) anymore. This makes it hard in the short term to get films off the ground. The issue of key is the marketing and how to use it. The future is coming he says but “the timing is fucked up”. Even going to 50 million homes unless there is a back end is not enough to finance a film.

Marc DeBevoise, Sr. VP of Digital Media at Starz, offers a slightly different perspective. His thought is that doing the DVD process is still cheaper than doing a digital file for consumption. We are closer to a branching point, he believes, than most people think. The problem, in his experience, is that people tend to make a quick or rash decision in terms of their distribution. As a rule, he suggests to not doing anything ad supported as a first spot distribution point. Jumping the gun into “free” is something to be very wary of. His perspective is that those who survive will be able to piece themselves back together if they figure out a way to get to the promotion and secure a slot on a new media platform. His company used to do 100 DVD releases a year which is now down to 50 maybe even using the angle of their own Anchor Bay films.

Curt Marvis, President Of Digital Media at Lionsgate, is in a key position with a justified perspective in helping jumpstart this new revolution. He says that LG has changed dramatically over the past ten years which is what has allowed them to remain competitive. They are no longer a private distribution company. They now own 50% of TV Guide Network and FearNET. He relates that he had a meeting last Friday with the senior heads of the departments of Lionsgate. It was set up to show what was happening at the VSOs and the cable networks in terms of the VOD initiative. He says there are now a number of new points of distribution. They went through about 15 boxes of different territories and angles. If you look at XBOX, it reaches about 23 million people. That is larger than the 22 million subscribers for Comcast which is the largest MSO in the country. Add on top of that the IPOD and ITOUCH users who are in the billions but, of which, over 50 million buy and download regularly. Add on top of that the fact that YouTube might be moving to a transactional based business and there is a whole new world. However, it needs to be functional in terms of a business model. There is a large audience that exists but it matters how to get to them. The film industry currently has no direction from which to exploit this area. Marvis believes these are the deals to make along with TV. In the downturn, he says making reference to Bill Mechanic’s early statement, there is opportunity on the back end of this crisis. VOD simply has not picked up the slack yet because of consumer awareness but that will change. Consumers simply need to be educated. Marvis still believes it will 2 to 3 years before VOD truly takes off but will become more diversified in the channel offerings that will be coming online.

Elizabeth Guider, an editor at Hollywood Reporter, has a similar perception to some of the others but comes from a different angle in the mass media. She sees the current crisis as a complicated situation. As the media, they want the independents to have success but it is just not happening. At The Reporter, they are tracking an alarming amount of bankruptcies, somewhere between 30 and 50 with the amount of production deals are going down from 550 to about 250. All the Pay TV deals have dried up since the channels themselves have started to merge together to save their own bottom line. By reaction, their stocks have plummeted and their ad sales are simply done. Summit somehow with “Twilight” was able to capture lightning in a bottle but that is an isolated occurence.

Gustavo Montaudon, President of Alebrije Entertainment, handles a lot of the business for Latin America which he says is having tough times in terms of theatrical business. Technology primarily is a problem down there with a lack of broadband. The VOD operators are scarce with Digital Latin America being the only primary. The TV component is growing but at a disconcerting rate.

Howard Frumes, a well respected attorney from Alexander, Frumes & Horowitz and the counsel for the IFTA, offers an almost chilling perspective. He says that the oddity is that that right now more than half his time is spent on productions coming in or in actual investments from China. It is not American or European co-productions. They look at them more as “local films”. The domestic marketplace is no longer a source of financing for independent films. The problem is that with China they are still building theaters. Frumes says the highest grossing film in China was “Titanic” but that was over ten years ago. China is the one optimistic outlay. The problem is that most people are relying still on P&A which is a hundred-year-old mechanism and no longer applies, especially with digital. He cites in terms of stories pictures like “Juno”, “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Twilight” which are simply more direct in their angle of marketing globally. The key he says is that at the very beginning, you have to think about the very end.

His advice is threefold. First, when you start looking at your film and script, keep in mind that you have to deliver on all these mechanisms. You have to build some marketing dollars into your budget from the get go. Second, you need to have a variety of people to collaborate with. Meet with marketers, international distributors and bankers to get a perspective because no one can get credit currently. The key is going with different partners on a case-by-case basis whether it be European, Asian or whatever. The key is diversity.

The closing thoughts, which drew applause, came from Mitchell Berman, CEO of Zillion TV, who was more theoretical (which seems a little like grandstanding) than the practicality of the others. Berman admits that we are in a state of change but that it is going on all over the world. He says that we have to just take a method and try it then try it again, making a reference to a quote from FDR back in the 30s. Berman says that he started at HBO and then help start Sky in New Zealand. The new aspects he is seeing in Asia he believes will change the perspective. 4G has already started to permeate and Verizon has started to deploy it. It is all about who can adapt to the change in technology that continues to permeate. He mentions Vizio specifically as a distribution channel outlet since it works through wireless. His specific structure is that old people are holding onto old business model. The new people are ready.

It is just seeing what is coming ahead of the pack. But time is a battle for distribution that will fought as the years progress.

I designed a series of animal characters to reflect the culture of some of the humans in their home country, through their character design, dress, ornaments, and personality.
These were a part of a presentation for an animated children’s series, that went unproduced by the BBC. The colors were done by Julian Chaney, Parker Simmons and Julian helped with the conceptual art for these characters, and I did the final character designs for the project,as seen here. I enjoy mixing and matching different artist and influences in my visual development commissions, in order to create the strongest product possible for my clients. I also like to brag about all the top new artist I have worked with, prior to them becoming big time in the animation industry! In future articles, I will demonstrate my design and collaboration process….no egos allowed.

Due to some family issues Aryn’s Cult TV will be down for about a week or so.

I promise to have it back up and running as soon as I can, but for now, please go watch TV and tell me about it!

Bother you all soon!

~Aryn

I had a chance to check out WALL-E (2008) as it was on STARZ with DISH Network.  I put it on expecting my daughter to enjoy watching a movie about a robot and to spend some quality time with her before we went back to school and work today.  She had a great time watching the beginning of the movie when WALL-E is a little clumsy as she laughed when he got himself into some funny situations.  She became distracted about 30 minutes into the movie and started to play with her toys instead.  I planned on shutting it off and doing my own thing once she lost interest, but I ended up watching the whole thing! The message this movie gives is quite interesting on the adult level. WALL-E is adorable as his build and his voice both remind me of E.T.

WALL-E first takes place on earth where humans have created so much trash and waste that there is no longer plant life.  The human race appears to be extinct at first due to the fact that there is no more agriculture and the world is covered in waste.  WALL-E and his pet who ironically enough is a cockroach are alone in an environment filled with machines and waste but WALL-E learns about humans and emotions through movies that were left behind.  He longs to share life with a companion and is particularly curious about what it would be like to hold hands with another robot that cares about him.  A spaceship lands and a female robot is left behind to conduct research on the earth’s status.  WALL-E is amazed by her and the story begins.  This is when my daughter lost interest and mine began.  The animation is great and the plot is effective enough to keep you wanting more.  There is action and drama involved in this movie that can relate to children and adults. It can also provoke some great conversations that you can have with your children that can make for a great learning experience.  You can use this movie as a tool to talk to your child about our environment, healthy eating habits, farming and so much more!

Interesting Facts:

• Pixar researched the body language in silent films to help the robots portray emotions without talking.
• WALL-E’s cockroach friend is called ‘Hal’ and was named after Hal Roach who was famous for producing silent films.
• The sound WALL-E makes when he moves around is taken from an actual 1950’s hand-cranked generator that was purchased for the movie on E-Bay.
• The sound of WALL-E causing a bunch of shopping carts to crash was really taken from a recording device place inside of a cart that was thrown around a parking lot and crashed down a hill.
• WALL-E made $63 million on its first weekend at the box office!
• WALL-E won the Academy Award, Golden Globe and Film Critics Award for Best Animated Feature of 2008.
• Sigourney Weaver was the voice for the spaceship’s computer.