How Can Actors Help Themselves With Online Video?

Actors are very creative people. They see things they want to do and roles they want to play every day. Unfortunately actors depend on other people to cast them in roles that they can play...well not any more.

Sandeep Parikh is an actor, writer, director and creator of his own show for Comedy Central's Atom Films Legend Of Neil. You may recognized Sandeep from his role of Zaboo in Felicia Day's The Guild.

I recently had lunch with Sandeep and had a chance to chat with him about what he's doing online.

Are you an actor who has created your own online video series?

A New Media Movable Feast Welcomes Galacticast

American author Ernest Hemingway wrote about his years in Paris as part of the American expatriate circle of writers in the 1920s painting a picture of a struggling young writer in hi book, A Movable Feast.

Currently there is a group of online content producers here in the "ohs" of this century living a very similar yet digital lifestyle in Los Angeles and all around the world.

We have a "local" community across the Internet but come together in person every once in awhile as we did this week to welcome Casey McKinnon and Rudy Jahchan of Galacticast to the LA Area.

ZadiDiaz, Steve Woolf and Sarah Atwood of Epic FU fame rounded up the troupes to enjoy a little Rock Band Karaoke at Sardo's in Burbank.

Felicia Day of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and The Guild, Kent Nichols of Ask A Ninja, Doug Bresler of Doogtoons, Hayden Black of Goodnight Burbank and Abigails Teen Diaries,Lara Doucette of Tiki Bar TV, Annie Tsai Ricky Rey, Lan Bui, Vu Bui, Bonnie Pierzina of Noodle Scar, Daniel McVicar and a couple other folks including my agent from UTA all made it out.

We are living in a very special time. I wish the energy and fun of this moment in my life could last forever.

When Should You Take a Deal?

When Should You Take a Deal? from 1timstreet on Vimeo.

She's been on TV's Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Monk and also writes, producers and stars in her own online video series The Guild but Felicia Day recently told me at NATPE's LATV Fest that she's not just going to take the money for her online video series. Right now Felicia's going the Independent route getting donations, winning awards, and selling DVD's. She's also looking for "smart money" to help her grow the number of webisodes she has and more importantly grow her brand.

I think we are going to see more smart actresses like Felicia Day realize the power of the Internet in creating their own careers and launching their own brands.

Look out, Q4 and 09 are going to be fun times.

Will Star Power Save Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog?

I watched ACT 1 of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog this morning and as the opening title played I was really excited. When I saw Neil Patrick Harris dressed in a white lab coat and goggles standing in his well art directed laboratory I was cheering inside. Dr. Horrible looks so cool the video looks like film and the lighting is far beyond what I could dream of with French Maid TV. But when Dr. Horrible talks to camera for 3 minutes and 51 seconds with expository dialog all I can think about is, if this wasn't Neil Patrick Harris and if Felicia Day wasn't in this and if Joss Whedon hadn't written, directed and produced this I would have been on to another video 3 minutes and 20 seconds ago.

Right now my heart is broken. I so want to like Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog but a 13 minute video that takes 3 and a half minutes to get into?

Joss what were you thinking? Am I missing something here?

I want Dr. Horrible to work in the worst way and it hurts me to write this but if there were no stars and no star power Dr. Horrible wouldn't have a chance on the Internet. Even with the great performances of Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day I have my doubts.

If you are trying to launch an online series without stars you have to grab your audience with something emotional right away. Dr. Horrible takes awhile and that makes me worry.

I'm into the story of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog but I have a vested interest. I'll keep watching Dr. Horrible and keep my finger's crossed that it takes off but based on ACT 1 of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog I'm really not expecting big numbers.

I hope I'm wrong.


Lower your head, watch your step and try to enjoy the rest of your day on the Internet.