It really sucks to be in independent film right now. Another "indie" label has bit the dust...

June 5, 2008 - LOS ANGELES -- Paramount Pictures said Wednesday it will combine its marketing, distribution and production functions with indie label Paramount Vantage. Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, said in a statement provided Wednesday that the combination of the two Los Angeles-based units of Viacom Inc. will be more efficient.

The merger will initially result in the loss of three executive positions, said a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity.

It was unclear if further jobs might be lost or when the combination will occur, the person said.

Paramount Vantage, which produced the double Oscar-winner "There Will Be Blood" released last year, is the latest indie movie label to be merged into the larger operations of the same company.

Time Warner Inc. said last month it would close its Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures film studios and eliminate 70 jobs.

That followed the layoff of 450 people at New Line Cinema, which was absorbed into Warner Bros.

These companies of course call their "indies" under $25 million (or so), which doesn't compute to true indie filmmakers - BUT, I'm not talking about production here. I'm talking DISTRIBUTION which is the end game and in reality the hardest part of the entire process.

For example, I finished my last indie feature film back in 2006. Got foreign distribution rather quickly (which is not the normal case I assure you), but we just signed a domestic DVD deal in the last few months. So two years to sell the film. And we're actually lucky. 95% of all indie films NEVER SELL. Even films that play at Sundance.

Indie filmmaking is a lot of fun. But as a business model it has never been good and with these recent events it's virtually dead I'm sorry to say.

-Blake

Hey ANY press is good press! "Pink" got a small mention in the Hollywood Reporter today...

Check it out here.

I didn't realize the series was a "cult hit". :)

-Blake

The first Netflix player has been released and it looks like a really good start. It's called the Netflix Player by Roku.

Check out a review here at CNET

It's only $100 and then whatever your monthly Netflix subscription rate is. So in essence the movies you download and watch are "free".

Box has HDMI and component out and it's also wireless or can be connected to a network. Video quality is so-so, but you're streaming instantly off the web so it really depends on your broadband connection speed. The CNET review has more details.

Again, I say a good start. They will improve on it soon and in the not too distant future HD movies will be available instantly too. In years to come this will be as common as any technology you can think of. We'll say "remember when we had to go to the video store (or receive them via mail) to rent a movie"?

It'll be here before you know it.

-Blake

Good article this morning in USA Today featuring many talent agents, including the guys at UTA they rep me and "Pink". Also, they interview several filmmakers who have current or upcoming web projects online (however, ahem, they didn't talk to Mike or myself about "Pink" - I think we need a new publicist). ;)

"There's a huge cultural change going on out there," Nadler says (from UTA). "The model of how people consume their entertainment is totally up in the air."

That's not the only thing up for grabs. The foundation of Hollywood's dominance in pop culture and the entertainment industry is being threatened by the democratizing force of the Internet, which posits that anyone with a snappy idea and a video camera can dish up features to the masses.

As a result, top Hollywood agencies such as UTA, Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency are diligently mining the Web for raw talent. The process quickly has become as crucial to entertainment talent scouts as trawling smoky comedy clubs or screening obscure movies has been for generations.

Click here to read full article

-Blake

Fan of "This Is Spinal Tap"? How about the lead singer Nigel Tufnel?

Check out these new interviews with him about Stonehenge - and I'm not talking about Spinal Tap's song either... ;)

GOOD STUFF.

-Blake

P.S. After following above link, click on Nigel's image on the left side of the page to open videos.

Always thought of him as an "outsider" inside the Hollywood studio system. Great filmmaker and actor that will be missed.

-Blake

"Foreign Body" is the name of a new web series and a new book by legendary author Robin Cook ("Coma"). The web series premiered yesterday...

http://www.foreignbody.tv/

Definitely check it out.

It's produced by my friends Big Fantastic. They also produced "Prom Queen" (among many other web series). They are really the pioneers of the serial web space - at least for higher-end, quality, dramatic shows.

The series runs through August 4th, and the the new book comes out right after the show ends. A very nice piece of marketing brought to us all by Michael Eisner and his company Vuguru. Pretty cool.

-Blake

This is a new term to me... "Upfront". I'm just learning about this although I've actually known what it was, just not the actual name.

An Upfront is an event the networks put on to showcase their new series (ie. pilots) to advertisers. But it goes beyond just series these days. For example, NBC Universal has many, many offerings to buyers...

(Zucker was eager to remind advertisers that) "you can buy mobile, you can buy digital, you can buy cable ... you can buy Olympics, you can buy football -- you can buy the Super Bowl -- you can buy Hulu.com, you can buy integrations into our films, you can buy integrations into our theme parks."

That's a lot of stuff for them to consider!

NBC is doing things differently this time around - and of course they need to on the network TV side of things. They're pretty much dead last in the ratings.

So why am I interested in this? Well, with the recent work I've been doing on "PINK" and with the new series I'm doing for Warner Bros. we're involved with Upfronts. For "PINK" it's really only geared towards the Internet (for now) and attracting a sponsor. This will happen in the next several weeks. For "Exposed" (the WB show) it happened last week in NYC. Our show was mentioned with all the other shows - current and upcoming - on The CW Network and on the new WB.com website ("Gossip Girl", etc.).

In the above mentioned quote from Jeff Zucker, he talks about Hulu.com. NBC owns this with FOX (I believe that's correct) and we are right now finalizing a deal to have Season One of "PINK" roll out there this summer before Season Two premieres (also on Hulu.com and elsewhere).

Here's a link to the entire story on the NBC Upfront, called "NBC Leading a Different Upfront Change". It's very interesting to see how all this stuff works.

Now I just need to make sure our shows are really good. :)

-Blake

Been very busy recently with the post-production on PINK. We're trying to get all 25 episodes cut by the end of this month - rough cut that is. Then finished by mid next month (or so). It's a ton of work. Basically we're editing a feature length project. But it's all going very, very well. Everything (pretty much) is cutting together nicely.

Oh sure, we have the occasional moment of, "Why didn't I get a close-up shot of that?" - or, "Stage line, what stage line? Let's just flop the shot to make it work". But that happens on every show I've ever done. And anyway, keeps things interesting in the edit. :)

BTW, we've now decided the new episodes will launch in AUGUST. Can't give a firm date yet, but it will very likely be mid-month. We also will have a very cool announcement soon about an event in July to promote the series. Can't wait to share this!

For now though it's back to the dark editing dungeon...

-Blake

Two good videos on YouTube from the Roger Waters show last night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufrl3R1E6Sk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs2X6Egg-ak&feature=related

The pig went right over our heads as you can see from my photos in previous post. But the videos really tell the story!

-Blake

Best concert I've seen in ages. No warm up band. First set Pink Floyd greatest hits and a few solo songs. 15 minute intermission. Then "Dark Side of the Moon" played front to back. Greatness...

We've been so busy shooting the new season of "Pink" - and trying to get the word out on our Webby Nominee for Best Drama: Individual Episode - that we failed to mention we already won an Honoree Award for Best Drama Series.

Check it out

Okay, okay, so it's not an nomination or a win, but it is a pretty cool deal. With over 10,000 entries they selected the top 15% for the Honoree Award. So we'll take it!

In just three short days on May 6th we'll know if we won the Webby for Episode 7 "Feels Like the First Time", and we'll know about the Webby People's Voice Award.

Last thing on award talk - we've got a chance for an Emmy nomination too. The main awards were announced last week and they'll announce the new media ones very soon. Our collective fingers are definitely crossed. :)

I know we JUST wrapped shooting the next round of "Pink", but there's no time to rest. Our next show "Exposed" for Warner Bros. Television is in pre-production and will shoot in early summer.

Here's a snipet from a press release put out today...

“We want to continue the Warner Bros. tradition of authentic voices creating compelling programming for this new digital canvas,” said Craig Erwich, Executive Vice President of Warner Horizon Television, who also oversees TheWB.com on behalf of the Studio. “The office water cooler has moved, and fans of TheWB.com can instantly engage with our content and interact with one another through the site, through the Facebook application, or on their own web sites and blogs. We are working with some of the finest talent in our business to create powerful and innovative programming that will fuel this community.”

TheWB.com will feature an exclusive slate of original series from creative talent such as director/producer McG (the upcoming “Terminator 4,” “Supernatural,” the “Charlie’s Angels” films) and writer/producer Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl,” “Chuck,” “The O.C.”), among others, launching on the site within the first year. All original content for TheWB.com will be released under the Studio 2.0 banner, WBTVG’s division for original digital programming, both live-action and animation, created for broadband and wireless.

McG is partnering with production team Big Fantastic (“Prom Queen”) on “Sorority Forever,” an innovative mystery/drama that peeks behind the walls of one of the most intriguing secret societies in the world: the sorority. Separately, McG is also teaming up with the creators of the hit Internet series “Pink” on “Exposed,” a thriller about a college student haunted by a hidden past and trying to remain undercover.

Read the entire release here.

Craig Erwich is the studio exec we work for along with the folks at McG's company. Pretty fun stuff!

-Blake

We need your help! PLEASE VOTE for "Pink" at the Webby's "People's Voice Awards"...We've dropped to 3rd Place!!!

http://pv.webbyawards.com/

You have to register but it only takes a few seconds.

Thank you!

We wrapped production on PINK 2.0 last night. Cast and crew did a great job! Here are a few stills from the last week...










































































I'll post more info soon. Right now trying to get caught up on sleep!

-Blake

Wrapped our first week of shooting for the next round of "Pink" episodes on Saturday. Had a very smooth week. We shot all of the "Adult Nate" scenes with lead Natalie Raitano. I really hope the second week goes as well.

Here are a few pictures from the week...

















Will give a detailed report once we wrap the entire shoot.

And please don't forget to VOTE for "Pink" at the Webbys People's Voice Awards!

-Blake

Saw this today online in PARADE...

George Clooney may earn $20 million per movie, but he's a rarity. Overall, the median wage for actors in the U.S. is less than $12 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As for the rest of the crew, they're clearly doing it for the glamour, not the money.

The median wage for a movie or television writer is just $5,000 a year.

A costume designer or makeup artist can earn more than $2,000 a week. But since work comes on a project basis, year-round employment is not guaranteed.

Production assistants typically earn just $8 an hour.

TV show directors can earn upward of $35,000 for a single one-hour episode -- if they hit it big.

We start principle photography tomorrow morning on the next round of "Pink" episodes. Shooting 25 more over the next two weeks.

BTW, I'm the director and actually make less than $8 an hour. Pretty glamorous, huh? :)

-Blake

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

What are you voting for? Well, PINK is up for a "People's Voice Award" at the Webbys too. It's kinda like the People's Choice Awards. The audience votes on it's favorites.

PINK is up for best DRAMA: INDIVIDUAL EPISODE

You vote on the Webby Awards site. You do have to register, but it's quick and painless. Please help us out and go vote!

Thanks!
Blake

Just found out "PINK" has been nominated for a Webby Award in the category DRAMA: INDIVIDUAL EPISODE. Click here to see all nominees in Video Category. Our listing is about half way down page.

The Webby Awards are the the "Academy Awards" for the Internet, so it's a pretty cool thing!

Awards are June 10th in NYC. So fingers crossed!

-Blake

If you're in Dallas and are attending the AFI Film Festival stop by today and check out a panel I'm on...

WEBISODES, SCHMEBISODES
What Happened to Writing for Feature Films and Telelvision?
5:30pm
Co-hosted by Dallas Screenwriters Association
How does Internet distribution affect entertainment writing? Did the writer's strike change anything? Will writers earn income from "non-traditional" media?
Moderator: Elliot Kotek, Moving Pictures Magazine
Panelists: Blake Calhoun, Creator, "Pink"; Jim Hart, Screenwriter; and Brad Keller, Fireside Entertainment

And tomorrow I'm on another one...

THE INDIE PAYBACK REALITY
The Real Truth Behind the Cost, Risk and Prospects for the Independent Film Today
5:30pm
Co-hosted by Dallas Producers Association
This discussion will center on what to know before you start spending your hard-earned cash to make your dream feature film project.
Moderator: Corey Scholibo,"The Advocate"
Panelists: Charles Acosta, Arrival Pictures; and Additional Panelists TBA

I'm one of the "Additional Panelists TBA". :) Check them out if you can!

-Blake