Our Changing Industry - Something for Indie Filmmakers to Consider

I was just reading a white paper on something unrelated to indie horror, but it had some pretty startling stats on video content. Now, we all know we're living in a pivotal time in media consumption, but what we don't really know is where it's pivoting to. This white paper got me thinking and maybe some of these stats can light the way and show us something... I'll extract some of the highlights for you.

Overall viewership of traditional television networks, meaning ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, etc... is down, although there's a 1% overall increase in television viewing. So, that means that people are watching far more cable and specialty programming. Also, time shifted television content via DVR's increased 26% and the consumption of video content via the internet increased by 24%. Now, here's the shocking stat, the consumption of video content via mobile technologies is increasing at a TRIPLE digit rate. According to Youtube, mobile viewership increased 160% from 2008 to 2009. Consider all this and know that, although theatrical revenues are up, theatrical attendance has been flat or declined every year for the last decade...

So, what's all this mean? Well, a lot... and there's a lot of reasons why this is happening. The main reason is, ten or twenty years ago, you, as a viewer, didn't have much choice. You had a handful of TV channels to choose from and they usually just aired your usual TV programming. If you wanted a movie, you went to the theater or you went to Blockbuster to rent one. Video on the internet? What's that? Fast forward to today... you have choice, a lot of it. You can choose what you watch, when you watch it and where you watch it. This creates a fragmented marketplace. There's hundreds of channels to choose from and they air everything from movies on demand to specialty networks to regular programming. Movies are available everywhere and in so many different formats via so many different ways, it's insane - on your phone, on your computer, on your tablet... and then there's there internet, it changed everything. Content doesn't fit a certain mould anymore, it's anything and it's delivered anywhere. The viewer gets to choose now. Not the networks. Not the studios. Not the theater chains. The viewer has the power and when the viewer has the power, things change. So, what's this mean for content creators?

When I say 'content creator', I mean you. We're no longer filmmakers. We're content makers... and our content will be distributed on everything from big screens to handheld mobile devices. Our content won't be defined by time. No more 90 minute features, 22 minute episodic TV. It can be anything and it can be any length. Personally, I think that, for the first time in the history of entertainment, talent will define success. If you make content that people will watch, they'll watch. It's easy to get it out there. Attract enough of an audience and you'll get sponsors, you'll get advertisers, you'll get people to pay and the networks, studios and executives will take notice. It's a revolutionary time and I think we're in the midst of massive change... but that's just me.

So, what do you think? I'm I wrong? Is this just a blip or an anomaly? How's all this going to effect you? ...or is it? How's this going to effect the whole industry? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Interwebs Stuffs, including: Bloody Cannes, Livestock and other stuff...

I have to take back something that I said earlier this week... I mentioned that "Drag Me To Hell" did alright at the box office on its opening weekend and that it was pretty good. Well, I'm not taking back that it was pretty good, but I'm going to have to take back the comment that it did alright at the box office. The actuals came in and it was substantially lower than the projections. Not only that, after tabulations, it slipped from third to fourth, as "Terminator Salvation" did slightly better in the actuals. Oh well, you can't take away the fact that it was actually pretty good and I still suggest you check it out. Do note that this isn't to say that the world wants less violent films, either. I've come across a few links that I want to share, but check out the first one... it may answer this very question.

The Cannes Film Festival, which was founded in 1946, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious film festivals. Although it actually IS a festival, where films compete for the Palme d'Or, the festival has become much, much more. They have screenings, non-competitive programs, workshops, networking events, dinners, Swedish massage parties, etc... Long and short, it's one of the biggest festivals of the year... if not THE biggest. Which is why I found the article, "Cannes' red carpet is blood-soaked" from THR.com pretty interesting. By definition, indie horror has always been violent. However, it seems that violence may be 'in' these days. If you think that the festivals are leading indicators as to what kinds of films we're going to be getting in the next few years, it could be safe to say, after seeing the lineup at Cannes, that things are going to get violent.... and things getting violent usually means good things for indie horror.

Now, when it comes to the actual production phase of filmmaking and choosing which camera to shoot on, most of our readers don't really get to 'choose', per se. It's more like, what can I afford? That one? Okay... Having said that, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be on top of what's going on in the industry. So, check out this article that I found on Indieflix.com called "The Tortoise and the Hare: Being a Filmmaker in an Ever Changing World". I don't know who wrote it, but they made a film called "April Showers", I think... and they start the article out talking about the decision to shoot in 4K, then they segue into blu-ray, DVD and online distribution. If you don't know what 4K is, it's the highest res format for shooting on digital. Not much displays 4K right now, but, to demonstrate the scale of resolution... HD TV programming broadcasts at 720P, gaming consoles and blu-ray is displayed in 1080P. Digital theaters project in 2K and, lastly, there's 4K, which you can shoot on, but no one is really projecting in or displaying currently...

Okay, now it's time to help out a friend... so, do you remember "Livestock" from Christopher DiNunzio? We interviewed him not too long ago, here's a link to the interview. In any case, his film's been accepted into the Independent Features online fest, which is pretty cool. So, click HERE to be taken to the Independent Features site. Next, click on VIEW FILMS. Then, go on the left there and click on HORROR. There, you'll find three films, "Blood River", "Blood Trail" and "Livestock". Click on "Livestock". Log in, watch it and rate it. You may have to go back to the beginning at this point, then actually register. It only takes a minute, though. Anyhow, I think if "Livestock" gets enough good ratings, he can get a screening. Something like that. It's a cool site, regardless, and you can check out a few indie films. So, go rummage around there.

We always talk about the future of distribution and how we, as indie filmmakers, can benefit from what's around the corner. Most of the problem exists in the fact that the people with money and power are making their money and power in the old system of distribution, so why would the mix it up? I mean, you or I would love to have a pile of disposable income that we could dump into a new distribution system, where we'd steal audiences from the rich and give them to the poor, right? Well, there actually are a few guys with money and power out there who believe in changing things up. Take Ted Leonsis, for example. He's a former AOL executive, who stepped down from day-to-day management and started SnagFilms, a company that aims to distribute documentary films via the internet in, what I think, is a very unique way. Check out the article on him, called "Every Blog Becomes a Cinema". I really like the idea, but I wish it wasn't just for documentaries. I think that format could work really well for indie horror, as well.

Internets Stuff

Well, it's the day of the week where I link to some interesting articles and tidbits that I found out there on the web. Stuff that I think you, as an indie filmmaker, may find useful or interesting. Information you can use. Food for thought. Stuff that makes you go.... hmmmmm. Right, well. Where was I?

I tend to talk a lot about how we indie filmmakers need to think of our films and projects as 'content', as opposed to 'films'. Usually, I just talk about theory, statistics and things like that, rarely do I offer up anything that's terribly useful. I'd like to shift your attention to a company called Freewheel.tv. Now, once again, I'm not sure how useful they'll be to you, specifically, but it's interesting to know that they exist. Their tagline, if you can call it a tagline, is "Video Everywhere. Ad Revenue Anywhere. FreeWheel is here." Here's what you need to know... There's two ways for your content to make money. One, the viewer pays for it. Two, it's ad supported. I, personally, believe that most things are going to head towards the ad supported model and that's where a company like FreeWheel.tv comes in. Your specialty may be production, but you're going to have to get into things like analytics and metrics - who's watching, where are they watching, what are they watching it on, when are they watching it and all that. At absolute worst, you'll need to know what all this means. You see, you're selling space to marketers and advertisers and they work on things like CPM (costs per thousand), impressions and frequency. CPM is how much it costs them to reach 1,000 people, impressions are how many times their ad was seen and frequency is how many times their ad is played... You're going to need to know stuff like that and, if you do and the numbers are good, you have something to sell. FreeWheel.tv will help control, manage, optimize, forecast, adapt, simplify and standardize your content. If you're getting viewers, they'll help you get the metrics and information to help sell it, then monetize it. It's a whole other side of the business, but it's one you should know, as it's one that can make you money.

Now, I just read "'Saw' helmer to revisit Troma hit" on THR.com, which you can find here, and it got me thinking... So, Darren Lynn Bousman, one of the brains behind "Saw", not to mention the recent "Repo! The Genetic Opera", is interested in remaking... or should I say, reinvisioning... Charles Kaufman's "Mother's Day". Before I talk about what I was thinking, a bit about the original - it came out in 1980 and it's directed by Charles Kaufman, the brother of Lloyd (not the screenwriter), and it was distributed by Troma. It's basically a hillbilly horror, where a couple of good ole' boys rape and kill to impress their mentally deranged mother. The only reason the film got any recognition was because it depicted scenes of violence and rape, so it was labelled as an extreme exploitation film. Otherwise, it wasn't particularly successful. It was released on DVD in 2000 and has gained a bit of a cult following since then. Now, to be honest, I'm a little baffled by this one... when you remake "Friday the 13th" or "Nightmare on Elm Street", you get the title, that built in audience and the characters. With "Mother's Day", not only are you not getting any of that, it's not like the plot is terribly unique. I mean, why not just create your own hillbilly horror, based around the idea of a couple of mutant boys trying to impress their deranged mother? Having said that, I don't know how these deals are structured. Maybe Lloyd said, "Go ahead, use the name and borrow from the script as much as you want. Just mention that it's a Troma film and that it's a remake." If so, this could be a smart idea for Llyod and Troma, he's basically giving away a fairly dead title in exchange for a bit of press and advertising. Who knows? If that's the case, good on Lloyd. Actually, either way, good on Lloyd. Hopefully Bousman made a good deal...

Lastly, as you probably know, I'm a big fan of reading about and listening to what the big players have to say... I think it's good to be the small, indie guy, as you can change directions quicker and take bigger risks, but you should always hear what the whales have to say, as they're the ones pushing the money around. If money's what you're after, you better know where it's heading. This is an interview with Barry Diller, who's the Chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the guy responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting and USA Broadcasting. You can find the interview here and it's not that long... what's really interesting is his thoughts on net neutrality, the future of TV and video on the web. Check it out!

More Dead Harvey Thoughts About Online Content And Innovation

I've got a few ideas swirling around in my head right now and I'm not sure how I'm going to tie it all together, but I'm going to try...

It's funny to say, but it is true - horror and porn are the two genres that push change in the industry. Porn changes things from a more technical standpoint, as porn producers just want to reach people as easily and as cheaply as possible. They were the first to switch to video, they were the first to embrace the internet... the were the first to use 'user generated' content... Porn is truly an innovator in the entertainment industry and it's unfortunate to see how the internet brought it to new heights, but then, subsequently, has brought it to new lows due to piracy and free content. Bail out the auto sector? Please... bail out porn. Anyhow, horror has also always been an innovator. However, horror has innovated on a more creative level. From visual effects, to things like strong female characters and villains, to using things like 3D, smell-o-vision, all the way to music and sound effects... horror has pushed the envelope. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Check out this article from Adage.com, which is about 'augmented reality' and showcases a 3D sasquatch. Really, it's no surprise it's a sasquatch. Who do you think would be the first genre to use this technology? Without question - horror or, hopefully, porn. The long and short is, they need to innovate now, as porn is in dire straights and mainstream horror is hemorrhaging along with the rest of Hollywood.

A lot of people think that online content is the answer and we all know that the internet and TV have been on a collision course for a few years now... There will come a day when you will switch your TV to watch online content the same way you switch it over to play your PS3 or watch a DVD. This should, in theory, make it easy for any one of us to create our own TV channel and compete with the major networks. I mean, Magna just came out with a report, which you can click here to download, that says "despite the economic downturn and its inevitable strains on overall advertising expenditures, one category is clearly holding up as a beacon of change and growth: online video". Once again, I don't want to write the Magna Carta here, so I'll get right to the point... this isn't as easy as they make it sound. One, it's not simple enough to connect the internet to TV yet and, two, content on the internet is just not as good as the content on TV. You can argue both of those, but the truth of the matter is, until the average household can browse through online content with the push of a button, while sitting on their couch, this isn't going to hit critical mass. The technology IS here, but don't expect to see it implemented any time soon. Here's why...

The networks make shit-tons of money through advertising, which finances the shows that it airs. Online content STILL hasn't figured out how to generate an equal amount of revenue on a per-show basis. Really, if you think about it, the amount of TV channels is finite - there's not too many of them. That's why they can charge so much for advertising, more eyeballs per show. IF creators of online content were allowed to compete on the same field, what would that do? Dilute the eyeballs. So, it's no surprise that the networks, with all their money and clout, are going to fight this every step of the way. Now, as for the ease of connecting... it CAN be done fairly easily, but is it easy enough for the average household? No, not really. Not only that, the content that's available online doesn't really interest the average household as much as TV does, so... not worth the effort. Personally, I think indie horror and the indie film world, as a whole, needs this innovation to happen - we NEED a system that allows people to easily browse through online content while sitting on their couch. It's the golden goose that will bring our content to the masses. 3D, smell-o-vision and creative innovation isn't going to save us this time...

Now, let me tell you about a success story, which is going to loop back and tie all this shit together, I think... I'm a baseball fan. Further, I'm a Red Sox fan. I want to watch or listen to every game. I'm on mlb.com and redsox.com every day. I subscribe to XM Radio, so I can listen to all the games and, since they introduced mlb.tv, which streams every game online, I've been subscribing to that. I'll come home, plug my laptop into the TV and watch the games. I can't get enough, really. I go through the effort of logging on, plugging my laptop into my TV and watching pixelized content on my big screen TV. Why? Because it's worth the effort for me. I'm not alone on this, either. MLB's online, satellite and streamed content has been a huge success story and they had this all figured from the start. MLB's content has grown year after year and is generating good dollars for baseball AND it's increasing its fanbase. So, hold on... if people are fanatical enough about something, they'll go to the effort for the content? Yeah... Well, what else is like that? That's right... horror.

Horror fans ARE fanatical, they DO crave more and more of it. The problem, currently, is that there's just too much out there and none of it is standardized and/or easy to find. If there was one portal for horror, where you could read news about ALL new projects, watch ALL trailers for upcoming films, read interviews with filmmakers, download ALL available films, watch EVERY horror TV shows, etc... you'd probably use it. However, it's not going to happen any time soon because all of the "content producers" aren't going to agree on how it's going to be distributed, how to generate revenue and, then, how to distribute the dollars. If there's was one league of horror, say... MLH, this would be easy. Just do what MLB is doing. However, there's not. So, standardizing everything isn't going to happen anytime soon... and that's why Hollywood will only innovate on a creative level. If they innovated on a technical level... it may allow you, the indie horror filmmakers, to take away some of their eyeballs.

So, while Hollywood horror and porn fight to retain its audience and maintain its eyeballs through creative innovation, the battle for how online content will be distributed will rage on... In the end, I think it'll work out for indie horror filmmakers - just not as soon as everyone thinks. However, do know that each and every day brings us closer and closer to that point where the average household can sit back on their couch, push a few buttons, then watch online content through their TV. When they can, I hope they'll turn to DeadHarvey.tv.

God, I hope all that made sense...

Internet Web Tubes: Cheerbleeders, Elm Street and more...

What's going on out there on Al Gore's internet? As usual, quite a bit.

A little while back, we interviewed Peter Podgursky, the guy behind the USC thesis film, "Cheerbleeders". What sucks about reviewing and talking about short films is the fact that they can be hard to get your hands on. Nothing like getting a bunch of people interested in a film that they're probably not going to be able to see. Well, this is the internet age, my friends, and, if I may quote Homer Simpson, "The internet? Is that thing still around?" Well, yes it is. And right now, and for another week or so, you can check out "Cheerbleeders" on New Blood, for FREE by clicking here. Also, I have to like the fact that they linked back to our interview with Podgursky, which you can also find if you click here. It's a great short horror film and it's a great interview. If you're in film school, thinking about film school or went to film school... or you just like good, short horror. Check it all out, good stuff...

Here's a link to an article that was on THR.com and, really, it's just for interests sake... You see, they've cast the major parts for the reinvisioning of "Nightmare on Elm Street" and you're getting "Twilight" actor Kellan Lutz, "Terminator" the TV show's John Connor - Thomas Dekker and Rooney Mara, who are all joining Kyle Gallner, who will be playing the role that Johnny Depp played back in 1984. So, am I the only one who thinks that all these actors are just a bit too good looking to be in this? I thought the same thing with the "Friday the 13th" remake, to be honest. Maybe I just consider myself overwhelmingly average looking, but I always figured that the idea was that the people in these films, the kids of elm street or the kids who visit Camp Crystal Lake, could be anyone - meaning, they could be you. Now, though, it's like they're from The WB. I think having model-like actors just adds to the disconnect between the viewer and the film, but... that could just be me. I usually root for the killer, anyhow.

Here's a wicked article on MediaPost.com called "How Can Independent Video Producers Compete In The Super-Premium Era? ". Now, I know that most people still see the big screen as the Holy Grail of filmmaking, with the small screen (TV) coming in second... however, that should change. I've said it a million times, but if you look at your film as just content and you're just trying to reach eyeballs, the internet is your buddy right now and, one day, it'll be your BFF. Not only that, as we progress, your content will be monetized a lot easier online... (read: you'll make more money with online content) That's not to mention, you'll have complete creative freedom and won't have to worry about being too over-the-top or anything. Anyhow, not only is the article interesting, the few comments at the bottom are interesting, too. The article is talking more from an advertising perspective, like... if you're making a web-based series and are looking to compete with the networks for ad dollars. Good read, though. You should know about this stuff.

Let's dip back into the THR.com well and read another article from them, this one called "Adults Steering Clear of Movies". The long and short is, 'pricey, star-driven thrillers and dramas' are stinking it up at the box office... they use "State of Play" as an example in the article. On the flip side, in these recessionary times, youth oriented films are kicking ass. It's easy math, when you think about it. Adults are worried about jobs, money, mortgages, bills, etc... and, not only are they cutting back, when they're looking for entertainment, it's probably going to be escapist-type stuff: horror, action, sci-fi, etc. Now, kids don't give an F about the recession. They're worried about who's going to buy them beer on the weekend or what brand their MP3 players is. On top of that, they don't care to see 'pricey, star-driven thrillers and dramas', anyhow. They've always been into the escapist stuff. So, if you're a budding screenwriter looking for something to write about right now, think about beefing up the young adult aspects and toning down on the serious stuff.

Lastly, remember those random clips that wound up in my inbox? You know, the ones that are really for the upcoming Donnie Darko film, "S. Darko"? Well, here's the third installment. I gotta say, these were all very well done and this last one really ties it all together. I'm not just saying that because they were done by our buddies at Fewdio, either. Anyhow, here's a link to the first one and here's a link to the second one. Last one is embedded below.

Indie Horror Related News And Info From The World Wide Web

It seems like we've reached a tipping point with the internet... I mean, not the news part, the distribution part. So, I'm definitely going to be posting once a week on internet and internet related things that are pertinent to indie horror or indie filmmaking. At this point, the internet is your biggest, best and cheapest tool for marketing and PR, but, soon enough, it could be your easiest and most profitable distribution channel. The internet! It's not just for porn anymore!

So, right out of the gate, here's some big news... Although the video's will be hosted by the studios, who will retain control, collect traffic and ad revenue and avoid sticky copyright problems, Youtube is now, in fact, showing Sony, CBS and Lionsgate Movies... legally. Click here to see the article on TheWrap.com called "Youtube Creates Channel for Movies, TV Shows". This is actually a pretty big deal for a few reasons... the first reason is, this legitimizes Youtube as a real distribution channel and could enable it to create partnerships and generate some real revenue. For you, it means you could follow suit. If it catches on, there's no reason that there wouldn't be a Sony channel, a CBS channel, a Lionsgate channel, a Dead Harvey channel and your channel... then people could scroll through them, mark favorites and use it like they use iTunes. The other thing that I think is pretty big here is what it could mean for the internet as a distribution channel. Currently, the internet is seen as a place where people get pirated and illegal content, plus watch videos of people getting kicked in the balls and check out tranny porn. This shit here, this is legal. This can create a win/win situation. I mean, what if the studios started teaming up with the Torrent sites next and said, fine... remove prerelease and leaked stuff, like what just happened with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (My God, what a disaster!) and we'll provide you with DVD quality releases when they're legitimately released on DVD... but we're putting in ads and we want a good portion of the revenue. Like I said, this all adds up... and one day, the internet will be your biggest distribution source and major studios and indie guys alike will both be making money off it.

So, check this out... We've talked plenty about the future of film and I've mentioned how I think that, as we progress, you're going to see more and more marketing and advertising dollars subsidizing film projects. To me, it just makes sense... it's no cost to the viewer, it helps pay for production and the advertiser gets their brand in front of an audience. Everyone wins. Well, now there's Filmmortal. Taken right from their site, "Filmmortal is a revolutionary tool which enables Filmmakers and Advertisers to bid on Product Placement opportunities in REAL TIME. The company was founded on the principle to help aspiring and talented indie filmmakers get their dream projects made by receiving financial aid in return for placing products and brands in scenes or storylines." I'm not sure when they got started, as there's not a ton of activity on it... but there is activity. In fact, there's some serious activity. I don't think it costs anything, so you should definitely check it out. Why wouldn't you try to raise some extra coin by listing your project?

Like I've said many times before, when you're an indie filmmaker, you're not just the filmmaker. You also have to be the producer, the PR guy, the marketer, the agent, manager... everything. And marketing and PR is probably the biggest thing that you need to know, it'll make or break your film. It'll make it sit on your computer or it'll put it on the shelves of your local video store. Having said that, there's always something you can learn from watching the big boys... and here's an article to check out from Adage.com called "Marketing Lessons from "Paul Blart: Mall Cop", which you can find here. Now, to be honest, after reading the article, things like The Superbowl and when you release your film aren't going to have much of an effect for you, but there is stuff you can take away from this. I think the most important thing is to try to involve your community. Get locals involved, inform the local press of what you're doing, then, once it's done, try to get a local screening, promote the hell out of it in town. Then, put together a press kit, based on everything that you did. Not only will doing all that boost your confidence and get you rolling, the press kit and the result of doing all that could help you sell the film.

Lastly... another strange clip wound up in my inbox. I think the cat's out of the bag on what's going on here, but... did you see the first one? Find it here.

Strange Things Are Afoot On The interwebs

We all know who Platinum Dunes is, right? The production company that was formed in 2001 by Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form? I'll be honest, when they first came out and made it brutally clear that they'd be basically cherry picking some of the most influential horror films from my past and 're-envisioning' them, I was none too happy. Although I prayed for each film to fail and that Platinum Dunes would close up shop, they didn't. Not only that, I hate to admit that my hatred's softening over time. Don't get me wrong, a bit of me died with each announcement. First, with "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in 2003, then "The Amityville Horror", a suspect sequel to "TCM", then "The Hitcher", "The Unborn" and "Friday the 13th". Now, they're slated to remake "Near Dark", they're doing a "Friday the 13th Part 2", "The Birds" and, worst of all, coming out in 2010, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" - which was one of the most influential movies in my life, with one of the most influential characters. By the way, the reason this all came up is because they've picked who's going to play Freddy and, obviously, it isn't Robert Englund. It's none other than Jackie Earle Haley... if that doesn't ring any bells, he played Rorschach in "Watchmen". Here's an article on him getting the role. Anyhow, back to my rant... I'm assuming that you and I are probably on similar pages... like, the movies that influenced you and made you the filmmaker/writer/producer that you are, were made 15 to 25 years ago. You've probably thought, "this new stuff is just not as good as the old stuff" and when a remake comes out, you almost always say, "the original was better". Well, I got to thinking... these remakes aren't really for us. They're for the next generation of horror fans and horror filmmakers/writers/producers. I'll leave out the whole monetary aspect, as that obviously plays a major part, but... consider this: I remember listening to Motley Crue's version of "Helter Skelter", having no idea that it was a remake... then being informed by my father that it was a Beatles song from 20 years earlier and that the original was better. Now, put that experience in the context of me and Platinum Dunes and I'm the old man saying that the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is better. So, I think, in the future, the correct response to someone getting excited about a Platinum Dunes remake should be... "Hmmm... interesting that they're remaking that. You did know that it's a remake, right? I sure hope it's a good movie... You should check out the original when you get a chance and let me know what you think." Then, appreciate the fact that Platinum Dunes is playing a part in keeping horror alive and shaping the horror filmmakers of the next generation. Or is that way too soft?

Here's a link to an interesting article that I read on TheWrap.com called "Coming Soon to Your Flat Screen: Layoff TV". So, what was that movie... or was it just a story? You know... it's in the middle of the Great Depression and the news is all upbeat and fake and it pisses this one filmmaker off. So, he sacrifices everything to make a film with an honest take, with honest characters and after years of sweat, blood and tears, he creates his opus and, when he screens it, everyone hates it. They tell him, "Man, life is depressing enough, we'd rather see some fake, upbeat shit". I'd research that a bit better, but you get the point. There's actually two trains of thought on this. One is, people like escapism during rough times. They want fantastic movies that take them to different worlds and have happy endings. They want to forget about the daily grind and all the depressing things that come with it. The other train of thought is, people don't want to see that shit because they can't identify with the characters. Bad times call for down-to-earth characters with problems and issues. To be honest, this is the type of shit that you need to be thinking about when you're writing - think about your audience (reoccurring theme here, people). Anyhow, this article seems to think that people want escapism on the big screen, while they want realistic, down-to-earth stuff on the small screen. Check it out and think about it when you're writing...

Lastly, I received a very strange link to a video on Youtube, I embedded it below. Check it out...

Indie Horror On The Web... plus a few other things

Before I get into all the interesting things that I found in the webtubes, do you remember the interview we did with scream queen, hottie Melissa Bacelar a while back? Well, here's a link to the interview, if you missed it. We talked about the film "Skinned Alive", but she's been in lots of good indie horror, such as "Pink Eye", "Slumber Party Slaughterhouse: The Game" and "The Scream". Now, she's reached out and asked for Dead Harvey's help, as she's in the running for Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors Spooksmodel Contest... So, help her out and vote for Melissa Bacelar! Click here, find her picture and click on it.

This has nothing to do with horror, but if you're an indie horror filmmaker looking to monetize your content, you may want to read this... it's an article from TheWrap.com called, "The Answer to Monetizing Shorts: Branded Content?". Unfortunately, the article concentrates on that show that jumped from being web-based to ABC, "In the Motherhood". However, I do think there's something that can be taken away from this. Here's the thing - A film is supposed to be ad free and make its money by having people pay to see it. The TV model works by having advertisers paying for space during the show, so you can see it for free. However, the line between the two is being blurred and I think advertising is going to play a big part in the future of entertainment. You can still have people pay to see it, but why not supplement that with a bit of ad dollars?

Here's one for all those who are researching a script or story, plus it's kinda funny... So, for starters, here's a link to the International Paranormal Investigators site, they're the guys who sent me this email. I don't know what I signed up for, but I get emails from them every once in a while. I suppose if you're into ghosts and the paranormal, it's a good site to do some research on. Anyhow, here's what made me laugh... here's the body of the email that accompanied that link - Last week I sent out a newsletter about a response I made to a request to answer why I teach ghost hunting. The website International Paranormal Investigators posted my response for others to comment on. Well Ryan sent me back a super positive response and I'm so proud to say that they want me to be on their radio show. The name of it is Raid Radio and it is from Scotland. The topic for discussion will be What is the opinion of having psychics participate on a ghost investigation. Like, there's an argument here... "Hey, psychics, do your own thing and leave the ghost investigation to the Paranormal Investigators". I don't know, made me laugh.

I think that the success of the indie horror scene is going to depend on a few things. One is the development of new distribution methods and the use of the internet to facilitate those methods... VOD, web-based series' and online distribution are all going to be key. Then there's stuff like p2p file sharing and pirating. For Hollywood, this stuff can be a nightmare, but, I think, for indie film, it's going to be a huge blessing. So, check this out and see if it gets your brain juices flowing... "RiP: A remix manifesto" is a documentary film from Brett Gaylor, who happens to be the creator of opensourcecinema.org, a video remix community which supports the production of the feature. (click on that link for more info on the doc) It's an open source film about copyright and remix culture, created over a period of six years and, guess what? It's going on the country's first open-source film tour and you can host a screening. Here's a link - RIP! A Remix Manifesto. I love the fact that the film is a collaborative work, that's cool. However, the fact that the nation-wide screening is all DIY and open source is awesome. Check out the link, see how they're putting it together. It's a great idea...

More Horror On The Interwebs...

Once again, I've got a loaded inbox and I'm going to throw some links and info at you. As long as I keep getting this stuff, I'll keep passing it on... and, like I said last week, if you have a Myspace page, a website or some sort of online deal that you want us to promote, let me know about it. I'll mention it.

So, I was looking into this new film, "Silent But Deadly", which comes out... I don't know. Some time in 2009. Anyhow, it's a horror/comedy from Michael Patrick Entertainment, directed by Stephen Scott and written by Erin Berry, David Pluscauskas, Lori Kelly and Joel Plue and it's about an unconventional and mysterious serial killer who takes aim at a Hollywood film set by unleashing his own brand of retribution on the cast and crew. Jason Mewes, of Kevin Smith fame, plays the killer and it's also got Will.I.Am Sadler and Kim Poirier in it, plus a bunch of other fairly notable names. Anyhow, check out the Myspace Page here... it looks like it's going to be pretty good.

So, I was reading this article on the Bit Torrent client, Vuze, a couple days ago. I even mentioned them in my post yesterday because of that article. Anyhow, I downloaded it and checked it out, as they were saying that you could stream to your PS3 through it now. Now, you can already stream from your PC to your PS3, but this just takes out a few steps and makes it easier, so it's not exactly the second coming of Christ or anything. Anyhow, that's not the point. The point is that most Bit Torrent clients are just that, stripped down ways for you to pirate shit. Vuze, which you can find at Vuze.com, is trying to be a lot more. They're trying to be more like Hulu or Youtube with their Vuze HD Network. It's actually a pretty cool way to search through torrents, but that's not all! They also have lots of legal content, like trailers, music videos and indie films, uploaded by the filmmakers. You read that right, you can upload your content. Not only that, you can charge people to download it or you can have it ad supported. Either way, it's a way to monetize what you've made and you don't have to deal with distributors or anything like that. Anyhow, if you've currently self-distributing your film, there's no reason NOT to check this out and use it. Click here to be taken right to their "publish" page. I'm so intrigued by this that I might contact them... I'll let you know how it goes.

Speaking of uploading and selling content through web portals, I think I told you about Eyesoda.com before. They want to build social networks around thought provoking indie films and music. You can go to the site, sign up and look around... you can also upload your film and build an online business. Hey, no reason not to use all of these, right? Who says you can't put your film on Vuze, put it on here, fuck... put it everywhere. Anyhow, they sent me a code to get a free movie download and I figure it's the same code that they sent to everyone. So, click HERE and it should take you to Eyesoda.com and you should be able to get a free movie download...

I was reading the "The Wrap" and came across this article from Eric Kohn called, "Niche Marketing Guru Has Recipe for Success". You can find it here. It doesn't mention horror at all, but it's an interesting little article on how marketing guys try to reach their target demographic for particular films.

Lastly, I'm sorry... I'm NOT a Tarantino fan. For me, he's got a pretty f'ing bad track record, really. Working backwards, I thought "Death Proof" was a disaster, I couldn't stand "Kill Bill" and "Jackie Brown" was not just awful, it was God awful. That leaves "Sin City", which I liked, but didn't love, "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs". He writes great dialogue, really has a knack for producing and nailed his role as Richard Gecko in "From Dusk Till Dawn". He's definitely a talent, I just think he's GROSSLY over-rated. Having said all that, head on over to The Weinstein Company's site, here, click on "coming soon", click on "read more" on that "Inglourious Basterds" tab... and you can check out the trailer for it, which looks f'ing good, I gotta say. Also, right below it, you can find out some more info on "H2". What's that? Well, if you didn't hear, it's Rob Zombie's sequel to "Halloween"... yup.

Indie Horror on Al Gore's Interwebs - Part I

You know that IQ game? A fish is to water as a human is to... that could be a bad example, I was thinking 'air', but it may not be so obvious. Fuck, I write horror shit, not IQ tests, but here's another one, anyhow. Traditional media (TV, radio, etc) is to studio films as BLANK is to indie horror. That should be a bit clearer. It's the web. The internets. Al Gore's interweb tube. Those lines of communication that run up, in and around all of us, constantly. I've always preached that you need to do the basics, such as use Myspace, Facebook, Youtube and all that. That should be natural. Hell, you should be setting that shit up when the idea for a film first pops in your head. Anyhow, I get forwarded a lot of shit. Either places where our friends' films get mentioned, cool websites of upcoming films, web-based projects and new services. So, once a week I'd like to show you some of this stuff. Maybe it'll give you an idea, who knows? Also, if there's anything out there on the interwebs that you'd like to share, forward it on to me.

Here's something that'll make you ram your head into a wall, thinking... why the F didn't I think of that? LostZombies.com is a social network "whose goal is to create the world's first community generated zombie documentary". Basically, you go to the site, which is here, and you sign up - fast and free! Then, you get a profile page and you go get yourself familiar with their timeline... and each square in the 196 square grid represents an objective that needs to be fulfilled in order to complete the documentary. For example, one unfinished square reads, "Footage of individuals or people going to great lengths to acquire pharmaceuticals to treat the Campion Virus". Really, it's a wicked idea and I'm really anxious to see how it turns out. Very cool.

I don't know if you remember the interview that we did with Jeff Palmer, the award winning screenwriter of "The Sleeping Deep". If you don't remember it, check it out here. Anyhow, as he was researching his award winning script, he went on to the site "Strange Maine" to do some research. It's a site for all the weird shit that goes on in Maine and it explores its unique strangeness. Now, a few years later, the site reviewed the script and wrote a big article on it. In fact, if you're a filmmaker that lives anywhere near Maine, you may want to check the article out, as he goes into some serious depth on the scene in Maine - you can check it out here.

I knew it was a matter of time before we got a site like DownloadHorror.com, which you can find here and went live a week or so ago. You set up an account and can download horror films for around $10. All the movies are high-res, DVD quality. By that, I don't mean HD or Blu-Ray, just straight MP4 DVD quality. When you download them, you get the DRM-Free (digital rights management free), so you can play them on any device, as many times as you want. Even though they boast that they have one of the largest libraries of indie horror films, it appears that it's mostly Brain Damage films at this point. However, like I said, they just got started. So, you can assume that they'll get more films soon. If you don't like ordering off Amazon, you don't like going to the video store and piracy just ain't your thing, you've got another option.

Lastly, I was talking to the guys behind "Rotkappchen: The Blood of Red Riding Hood" and, even though they're currently in post on the film, they've got a wicked site up, which you can find here. Not only does it have a 'great ass' on the front page (seriously), they've done a really good job on putting it all together. There's some good art, plus the site itself is very basic, but has everything it needs. A good example of what indie filmmakers should be doing as they approach their release dates.

Like I said, please forward me anything that you'd like to throw out there or promote, whether it be a site for your film, a new online project or just some cool horror related shit that's out there.