We're now partnered with KOLDCAST TV to do a wide release of my latest web serial 88 HITS. New episodes will premiere every Tuesday starting next week 5/5/09.
Check out the teaser though right now:
http://www.koldcast.tv/video/2332
Thanks!
Blake
The new film incentives have passed and are now in play...
http://governor.state.tx.us/film/incentives/miiip/
Coolest thing is the minimum qualifications for features is now only $250k... that's going to bring a lot of indie projects into the mix!
-Blake
Interesting story from of all places the BBC...
Hollywood is being snubbed by its own creative talent. There is something of a stampede by the entertainment industry to get out of town.
Long before the global economic downturn kicked in, film-makers were upping sticks and leaving Los Angeles for more cost-effective locations to shoot their movies.
Canada was one of the first countries to benefit from Hollywood's so-called runaway productions, but now the competition is closer to home.
More than 40 US states are offering film-makers tantalising financial incentives, such as rebates and tax-free loans, to make the next blockbuster in their backyard.
This year, only five major movies, defined as having a budget of $75m (£51m) or more, are being produced in Los Angeles. The figure compares with 21 films last year and 71 in 1996.
Read full story
Being based in Texas I find this to be good news for us since we have some incentive programs, although they are not near as good as New Mexico, Louisiana, or Michigan. But, we're headed in the right direction.
-Blake
PINK is an Official Honoree at the 13th Annual Webby Awards!
Check it out
Speaking for the cast & crew we're well, honored, to be honored out of so many entries (thousands I'm told). Be sure to check out the other Honorees and Nominees too.
Thanks!
Blake
DIY distribution was the big buzz several years ago, and while it's still a good topic to discuss (or try as an indie filmmaker) it hasn't been talked up much recently. So when I found this article I was reminded of the many alternative ways to distribute indie content...
http://www.studiodaily.com/main/work/10321.html
It's one of the better reads on the subject that I've seen. Mainly because it has real world filmmakers' stories and then really good resources to offer to other indie producers.
Two of the better resources are:
1. Film Specific (http://www.filmspecific.com/)
2. Brave New Theaters (http://www.bravenewtheaters.com/)
Check it out!
-Blake
I don't typically post too many of my corporate or commercial projects, but this one is different. Did a job for True Value Hardware and Habitat for Humanity down in the 9th Ward of New Orleans...
(video image is cropped within this blog page, but if you're on FB you can see it in it's correct widescreen form)
What a great cause!
-Blake
Have you watched my other web series? No not "Pink", but the completely improvised web comedy "88 Hits" starring current and former members of the improv comedy troupe Four Day Weekend. A NEW episode is out today!
-Blake
After I won the Streamy Award they grabbed me backstage to do a 12 second interview for www.12seconds.tv. It's kind of like Twitter for video. You only have 12 seconds. So anyway, here's my moment in the limelight and I went over my 12 second limit as you'll see. :)
http://12seconds.tv/find/blake+calhoun
And here's a link to ALL the winners and their 12 seconds (including Natalie Raitano):
http://12seconds.tv/channel/streamyawards
-Blake
I was very fortunate and honored to win the Streamy Award last night for Best Direction in a Dramatic Web Series for PINK!
A good friend to the show (and Nataile) posted a video on YouTube that was recorded off his computer from the live stream...
For more info visit www.streamys.org.
Thank you to all the fans who watch and support the show!!!
-Blake
I was interviewed for a cool new podcast called the "Texas Film Scene" from Curtis Wayne. You can subscribe on iTunes or just download the individual episode (#6)
iTunes Link
Check it out!
Blake
The numbers are in, and the winner is...
YouTube, of course.
But, Hulu is now #2 and making great strides - and actually has a good chance of becoming more financially successful in the long run (YouTube doesn't make money...yet).
YouTube had 5.1 billion streams in February (yes, billion with a "b"), and Hulu had 308.8 million.
Advertisers seem to be much more inclined to work with Hulu because of their content, not their numbers. Professionally produced TV shows and movies, along with short form series (like "Pink") are what set them apart.
Read entire Cable/FAX story here.
-Blake
Check out this teaser for the upcoming film "Midgets vs. Mascots" starring none other than Gary Coleman. I know the producers of the film (from Dallas). Although I'll withhold their names to protect the guilty... :)
Teaser is surprisingly funny. It's like "Borat" meets "Jackass".
-Blake
Descent "first look" at the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera that shoots both stills and 1080p HD video...
http://www.dv.com/article/80232
I'm very interested in this move towards DSLR cameras and HD video (the way we shot "Pink" and "Exposed" was with a 35mm adapter and SLR lenses on an HD camera, so this would be similar, but better). I will likely not buy this one though since right now it doesn't shoot 24p (only 30p). However, it will definitely have this option soon, maybe as a firmware update or in the next model.
It's really an amazing thing to be able shoot this high-end of a look for around $3000.
-Blake
Good piece on Angel of Death (see previous post to watch series)...
http://www.flamesrising.com/angel-of-death-web-series/
-Blake
Okay, okay, I'll join! You can now follow me (Loud Pictures) on Twitter...
http://twitter.com/loudpics
If you aren't on Twitter yet, just sign up. It's easy and pretty cool actually. I'll update the progress of all the various projects I'm involved with from web series to feature films. So check it out!
-Blake
"Pink" has been honored at the 1st Annual Streamy Awards by being nominated twice for two awards. First one is Best Directing in a Dramatic Web Series and the second one Best Cinematography in a Web Series.
This new event is being pushed as "The Oscars for the Internet". So, it's prett cool. Nominations came from the newly created International Academy of Web Television from over 100,000 submissions.
The ceremony will be held at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills on March 28th. It will also be streamed live online (I'll let folks know where soon).
In the cinematography category we're up against JOSS WHEDON'S "DR. HORRIBLE"... that is some tough competition. Who knows how we'll do, but as they saying goes, it's just an honor to be nominated. :)
Here's a direct link to all the nominees:
http://www.streamys.org/nominees.shtml
-Blake
Just watch this:
From Crackle:
The days of "indie" web series are quickly coming to an end. This is really good stuff, but it's going to be very hard for lower-budget (and lower profile) web series producers to compete. This is a good and bad thing IMHO.
-Blake
