Aymar Jean Christian is part of the inaugural class of Peabody Fellows, distinguished media scholars who provide fresh perspectives and commentary on behalf of the Peabody Media Center, the outreach and media production arm of the prestigious awards program based at the University of Georgia. He is an assistant professor of communication studies at Northwestern University.
You know you’re a TV nerd when your most anticipated awards announcements are the Writers Guild Awards. TV is a writer’s medium. Every TV fan awaits the Emmys, and some even bother to care about the Golden Globes, but most don’t know the major Guilds give out statues to television producers.
Nerdier still, I’m most interested in the nominees almost nobody writes about: web original short form comedies and dramas.
So while you probably could not imagine my disappointment when the WGA released their nominees for original short-form new media this year,...
You know you’re a TV nerd when your most anticipated awards announcements are the Writers Guild Awards. TV is a writer’s medium. Every TV fan awaits the Emmys, and some even bother to care about the Golden Globes, but most don’t know the major Guilds give out statues to television producers.
Nerdier still, I’m most interested in the nominees almost nobody writes about: web original short form comedies and dramas.
So while you probably could not imagine my disappointment when the WGA released their nominees for original short-form new media this year,...
- 2/19/2017
- by Aymar Jean Christian
- Indiewire
“Dude, you just created what could potentially be the biggest channel on YouTube.” That was the pronouncement from an emphatic Lilly “Superwoman” Singh to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a video announcing the launch of Johnson’s new YouTube Channel, Seven Bucks Digital Studios, in collaboration with the digital entertainment company Studio 71.
Read More: ‘Ballers’ Season 2 Premiere: Dwayne Johnson’s Return Rocks, But Doesn’t Ball Super Hard
Seven Bucks Digital Studios will be the newest division of Seven Bucks Productions, the production company behind Paramount’s “Baywatch,” New Line Cinema’s “Shazam,” and Dreamworks’ “Alpha Squad Seven,” all starring Johnson. The company was co-founded by Johnson and Dany Garcia. Studio 71 is a multi-channel network representing over 1,000 channels, which has partnered with RocketJump on “Video Game High School” and the comedian Colleen Balinger (“Miranda Sings!”).
Johnson already has a robust online presence, (with 100 million followers across social media platforms), and...
Read More: ‘Ballers’ Season 2 Premiere: Dwayne Johnson’s Return Rocks, But Doesn’t Ball Super Hard
Seven Bucks Digital Studios will be the newest division of Seven Bucks Productions, the production company behind Paramount’s “Baywatch,” New Line Cinema’s “Shazam,” and Dreamworks’ “Alpha Squad Seven,” all starring Johnson. The company was co-founded by Johnson and Dany Garcia. Studio 71 is a multi-channel network representing over 1,000 channels, which has partnered with RocketJump on “Video Game High School” and the comedian Colleen Balinger (“Miranda Sings!”).
Johnson already has a robust online presence, (with 100 million followers across social media platforms), and...
- 7/18/2016
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
A movie starring two YouTubers will make its money back in iTunes sales, regardless of its quality. That may sound like a good thing, but it’s not if you’re an online content creator looking to transition into traditional Hollywood projects and shake your reputation as a one-trick pony. Speaking from the sixth VidCon, the annual convention for digital content creators and their fans, creator Jimmy Wong is uncertain about his and others’ crossover prospects.
“It’s really hard to transition YouTube stars into traditional acting roles,” says Wong, who rose to YouTube fame with his viral hit “Ching Chong! Asians in the Library Song” — a timely response to an ugly, racist video rant.
Read More: Diversity is Thriving on YouTube and Four More Reasons to Be Excited for VidCon 2016
Wong is a filmmaker at RocketJump, a digital movie studio and YouTube channel that also hosts original content on its website.
“It’s really hard to transition YouTube stars into traditional acting roles,” says Wong, who rose to YouTube fame with his viral hit “Ching Chong! Asians in the Library Song” — a timely response to an ugly, racist video rant.
Read More: Diversity is Thriving on YouTube and Four More Reasons to Be Excited for VidCon 2016
Wong is a filmmaker at RocketJump, a digital movie studio and YouTube channel that also hosts original content on its website.
- 7/12/2016
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Read More: This RocketJump Film School Video Essay Breaks Down Our Complicated Love-Hate Relationship With CG After making it big on YouTube, production company RocketJump and front man Freddie Wong are bringing their creative process to Hulu for the behind-the-scenes series "RocketJump: The Show." According to the official synopsis: "'RocketJump: The Show' is a behind-the-scenes look at the RocketJump production team ('Video Game High School') as they create phenomenal action-comedy short films. Each half-hour episode of the series will chronicle the filmmaking behind RocketJump’s newest short and will include an exclusive look at the short film itself." "RocketJump: The Show" hits Hulu on December 2. Watch Wong gives a very visual explanation of the show in a short teaser video above. Read More: Watch: Learn the Secrets of Great Exposition, 'Escape From New York'-Style, From RocketJump Film School...
- 11/6/2015
- by Karen Brill
- Indiewire
The premiere of “RocketJump: The Show” has been delayed by Hulu, TheWrap has learned. The series, originally slated to premiere Oct. 21, will now debut on the streaming platform Dec. 2. Produced in association with Lionsgate Television, the eight-episode series will go behind the scenes at RocketJump, with each episode chronicling the filmmaking behind the entertainment company’s newest short. The half-hour comedy will be released each week with newly created short videos. Also Read: Streamy Nominees Freddie Wong, GloZell Green Talk Future of Digital Content, Mainstream Acceptance Wong’s RocketJump is the company behind the hit series “Video Game High School,...
- 10/9/2015
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
The 5th annual Streamy Awards were held last night at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event honoring the crème de la crème of YouTube, Snapchat, and Vine creators was aired live on VH1 for the first time ever. The best actress award went to Colleen Ballinger for her poor makeup skills and great everything else in her YouTube show “Miranda Sings” while James Van Der Beek snagged best actor for his work on “Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Universe,” the channel responsible for the dark reimagining of “Power Rangers,” the costumed ninja kids show from the ’90s. “Power/Rangers Unauthorized,” stars Van Der Beek as the villain and has hit over 15 million views on YouTube. Best ensemble cast and best directing went to the cast and crew of “Video Game High School,” while “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 3 winner and YouTube personality Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval won for best dance.
- 9/18/2015
- backstage.com
This Thursday, the 5th Annual Streamy Awards will honor the best of digital content live on VH1, but — because there are only so many hours in a Thursday evening — tonight the Streamys handed out awards across a wide swath of categories. Read More: Tyler Oakley, 'Lizzie Bennet,' 'Drunk Kitchen' and More Win at 2014 Streamy Awards Some of the highlights: James Van Der Beek was named best actor for his work in the "Power Rangers" Bootleg Universe short film, while long-running "Video Game High School," produced by the Rocket Jump team, picked up two awards. "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" was also recognized for its "Backstage" YouTube series, and YouTube stalwarts PewDiePie, "Epic Rap Battles of History" and The Young Turks picked up statues. The main Streamy Awards ceremony, hosted by Grace Helbig and Tyler Oakley, will be broadcast live on VH1 this Thursday at 10:00pm. Check out...
- 9/15/2015
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Tubefilter, dick clark productions and VH1 announced the finalists for the Streamys Audience Choice Awards: Entertainer of the Year and Show of the Year on Thursday. YouTube stars Tyler Oakley and Grace Helbig, who are also hosts of the show, are both nominated for Entertainer of the Year. YouTube comedy Smosh is up for Show of the Year, along with Rooster Teeth and Video Game High School. Starting today, fans can vote online for their favorite entertainer and show until moments before the winners are revealed live on stage. Fans can cast their vote at the Streamy website or VH1. Fans.
- 9/3/2015
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
We've all seen them: films that rely entirely on dialogue to get a story across. Sigh. So, how can filmmakers stay away from making this mistake? Read More: This RocketJump Film School Video Essay Breaks Down Our Complicated Love-Hate Relationship With CG RocketJump Film School tackled this issue in "Escape from (Dull) Exposition," which explores the idea of using enticing exposition to engage an audience. In a homage to John Carpenter's "Escape From New York," the RocketJump Film School team explains the importance of clothing, props and other visual aids in developing effective narrative set-up. The above video features RocketJump Film School director and editor Joey Scoma and Video Game High School writer Will Campos. With a suit, a "World's Best Boss" mug and an eyepatch, Scoma and Campos explain exposition without using boring teaching methods. Check out the clip above. Read More: Watch: Does an Expensive Lens Make a.
- 8/19/2015
- by Kaeli Van Cott
- Indiewire
2015 is the first year in which the Streamy Awards will honor excellent programming on Snapchat, and it a fitting turn, the ephemeral messaging platform is home to the online video award show’s most-nominated series. Nominations have arrived for the 5th Streamy Awards, and SnapperHero--a superhero series native to Snapchat--led the way with six nods.
SnapperHero, which launched in January, managed to earn the most nominations thanks to its powerful combination of an exciting cast and excellent production values. The series is led by online video stars like Anna Akana (who is nominated for Best Actress) and directed by Sam Gorski and Niko Pueringer of Corridor Digital, who brought special effects know-how to SnapperHero’s technical side.
Other series with multiple nominations include Streamy Award regulars Epic Rap Battles of History and Video Game High School, which are both up in four categories, and newcomers Bootleg Universe and Hotwives of Orlando,...
SnapperHero, which launched in January, managed to earn the most nominations thanks to its powerful combination of an exciting cast and excellent production values. The series is led by online video stars like Anna Akana (who is nominated for Best Actress) and directed by Sam Gorski and Niko Pueringer of Corridor Digital, who brought special effects know-how to SnapperHero’s technical side.
Other series with multiple nominations include Streamy Award regulars Epic Rap Battles of History and Video Game High School, which are both up in four categories, and newcomers Bootleg Universe and Hotwives of Orlando,...
- 8/12/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
VH1, Dick Clark Productions and Tubefilter announced the nominees for the 5th annual Streamy Awards on Wednesday. Snapchat scripted series “SnapperHero” led the pack with six total nominations. “Epic Rap Battles of History” and “Video Game High School” both followed with four nominations, while “Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Universe” and “The Hotwives of Orlando” each secured three nominations. “If the strength of this year’s nominees is any indication, we are on track for the biggest Streamys ever,” said Streamy Awards Creator Drew Baldwin. “This past year, video creators have inspired, educated and entertained us like never before — and I can imagine.
- 8/12/2015
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
This morning, some of the most influential creators and talent in online video, including Bart Baker, Flula and GloZell Green, announced The Streamy Awards nominees. The Streamy Awards is a multi-platform event that honors the very best in Youtube and online video that this year will air live on VH1, along with its digital platforms, from the Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 10pm. Read More: 2015 Streamy Awards to Honor the Best Online Videos...on VH1? The Snapchat scripted series, "SnapperHero," cleaned up with a total of 6 nominations, while "Epic Rap Battles of History," "Video Game High School," "Bootleg Universe" and "The Hotwives of Orlando" also stood out, earning a handful of nominations. The Streamys Blue Ribbon Panel, a judging body of creators, executives, and other experts from the online video industry, will declare the winners. There are also two fan-voted award, Entertainer of the Year and...
- 8/12/2015
- by Conor Soules
- Indiewire
Freddie Wong’s RocketJump channel houses some of the most creative, fun, and technically impressive videos on YouTube. Over the past year, however, Wong and his team of special effects maestros have had their sights set on other platforms, and a new partnership will allow RocketJump to flourish. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the digital studio has signed with Hollywood talent agency Wme.
The Wme deal will support RocketJump as the studio works on multiple projects. Most significantly, Wong and his team are planning a web series on Hulu called RocketJump: The Show, which will explore the studio’s creative process across eight episodes. It does not yet have a confirmed release date.
RocketJump: The Show will be the first of several large-scale projects RocketJump fans can expect. Through the studio’s April 2014 deal with Lionsgate, it is exploring aspirations across TV, film, and digital. When we spoke to Wong...
The Wme deal will support RocketJump as the studio works on multiple projects. Most significantly, Wong and his team are planning a web series on Hulu called RocketJump: The Show, which will explore the studio’s creative process across eight episodes. It does not yet have a confirmed release date.
RocketJump: The Show will be the first of several large-scale projects RocketJump fans can expect. Through the studio’s April 2014 deal with Lionsgate, it is exploring aspirations across TV, film, and digital. When we spoke to Wong...
- 7/16/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Earlier this year RocketJump — the YouTube production company spear-headed by Freddie Wong — announced they’d be teaming up with Hulu for a brand-new show aptly titled “RocketJump: The Show,” after wrapping production on “Video Game High School.” Partially scripted, each episode of the reality series will focus on the production of a new short that will be shown at the end of the episode. The shorts will also simultaneously appear on RocketJump’s YouTube channel. I caught up with Freddie at San Diego Comic-Con to talk about how the series is coming together and what it’s like to be a YouTube celebrity at geek mecca. Check out the interview above and then watch the trailer for the show below!
- 7/15/2015
- by Donna Dickens
- Hitfix
It’s the end of an era for Freddie Wong. His production studio Rocket Jump has officially finished a three-season run of its wildly popular web series Video Game High School. To wrap up the series’ finale, Wong has released his traditional infographic on budgetary spending, centered solely around the $2,435,434 production cost of Vghs season three.
In the past, Wong and Rocket Jump have released similar infographics outlining the cost for season one (which cost $636,010 to make) and season two (which cost $1,339,558). With season three’s infographic, Wong clearly details exactly where all that crowdfunding money from Indiegogo supporters went.
The bulk of expenditures can be attributed to, unsurprisingly for the nature and topic of Vghs, post-production visual effects ($414,320). Next up was the production crew at $277,235, and then the art department at $249,614. And while overall, Vghs cost much less to make than a traditional television series like Breaking Bad, the...
In the past, Wong and Rocket Jump have released similar infographics outlining the cost for season one (which cost $636,010 to make) and season two (which cost $1,339,558). With season three’s infographic, Wong clearly details exactly where all that crowdfunding money from Indiegogo supporters went.
The bulk of expenditures can be attributed to, unsurprisingly for the nature and topic of Vghs, post-production visual effects ($414,320). Next up was the production crew at $277,235, and then the art department at $249,614. And while overall, Vghs cost much less to make than a traditional television series like Breaking Bad, the...
- 5/12/2015
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Read More: Attention, Filmmakers: Essential Diy Tips Longtime YouTuber and "Video Game High School" co-creator Freddie Wong recently launched an educational offshoot of his Rocket Jump production banner called the Rocket Jump Film School. The site, which is still very new, promises to provide visitors with access to a wide-range of multimedia educational tools -- tutorials, interviews and podcasts are just the beginning. The video that you see above is one of the most recent additions to the new school's growing archive of material. Although the question posed by the video seems simple enough -- whether you can tell the difference between an image shot with a cheap lens versus a more expensive one -- over the course of the video, Wong demonstrates how the answer isn't quite so simple. Each lens is put to the test in the field and the resulting footage is then shown to a panel...
- 5/7/2015
- by Shipra Harbola Gupta
- Indiewire
As it did last year, YouTube is using digital displays, TV advertisements, and physical billboards to peddle its biggest stars. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, a campaign that began in April 2014 with ads for Bethany Mota, Michelle Phan, and Rosanna Pansino will return in 2015 with new spots featuring Hannah Hart, Grace Helbig, and Dude Perfect.
As with YouTube's previous creator-focused campaigns, the new ads will run on national TV and will appear in major cities on everything from bus stops to subway cars. The goal is to get consumers to check out some of the most popular and entertaining channels on the world's most popular video site. Hart, who hosts My Drunk Kitchen, and Helbig, who recently came to TV with The Grace Helbig Show, are good friends and frequent collaborators; Dude Perfect, known for its trick shot basketball videos, is among YouTube's most popular sports channels.
Since...
As with YouTube's previous creator-focused campaigns, the new ads will run on national TV and will appear in major cities on everything from bus stops to subway cars. The goal is to get consumers to check out some of the most popular and entertaining channels on the world's most popular video site. Hart, who hosts My Drunk Kitchen, and Helbig, who recently came to TV with The Grace Helbig Show, are good friends and frequent collaborators; Dude Perfect, known for its trick shot basketball videos, is among YouTube's most popular sports channels.
Since...
- 4/16/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Freddie Wong is arguably one of the biggest power players in online video. The creator and special effects wiz rose to prominence through his YouTube channel and production studio RocketJump. Wong is perhaps best known for all three seasons of his successfully-crowdfunded Video Game High School (Vghs), which, according to Google, has managed to rake in over 110 million global video views on YouTube alone.
Wong told Tubefilter he credits much of Vghs’s $1.9+ million fundraising success to the power of his fan base, which only increased in its numbers and appetite for RocketJump's programming as time progressed. During the week of Vghs' Season 3 premiere, for instance, viewership was 400% higher than the viewership was during the premiere week of Vghs Season 1 roughly two years earlier.
It's clear a creator doesn’t get over millions in contributions for crowdfunding campaigns, 110 million video views, and a 400% view increase from a complacent audience. So...
Wong told Tubefilter he credits much of Vghs’s $1.9+ million fundraising success to the power of his fan base, which only increased in its numbers and appetite for RocketJump's programming as time progressed. During the week of Vghs' Season 3 premiere, for instance, viewership was 400% higher than the viewership was during the premiere week of Vghs Season 1 roughly two years earlier.
It's clear a creator doesn’t get over millions in contributions for crowdfunding campaigns, 110 million video views, and a 400% view increase from a complacent audience. So...
- 4/7/2015
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is one step closer to presenting the 19th annual Webby Awards. The organization has announced the nominees for the 2015 Awards show, including some of today’s top digital video celebrities like Michelle Phan and Tyler Oakley.
This year’s Webby Awards received over 13,000 entries from all U.S. states, as well as from more than 60 countries across the world. From these submissions, the online video realm received some solid recognition. Phan and Oakley were nominated for their work on their YouTube channels, while the Fine Bros. were nominated for their Kids React web series. Sites like CollegeHumor and Funny or Die received multiple nominations for individual video productions, like Zach Galifianakis’s interview with President Obama on Between Two Ferns.
The 19th annual Webby Awards boasts an impressive roster of judges from the Academy. Comedian Conan O’Brien, Video Game High School creator Freddie Wong,...
This year’s Webby Awards received over 13,000 entries from all U.S. states, as well as from more than 60 countries across the world. From these submissions, the online video realm received some solid recognition. Phan and Oakley were nominated for their work on their YouTube channels, while the Fine Bros. were nominated for their Kids React web series. Sites like CollegeHumor and Funny or Die received multiple nominations for individual video productions, like Zach Galifianakis’s interview with President Obama on Between Two Ferns.
The 19th annual Webby Awards boasts an impressive roster of judges from the Academy. Comedian Conan O’Brien, Video Game High School creator Freddie Wong,...
- 4/7/2015
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Freddie Wong may very well be the most experienced crowdfunder in the entire entertainment industry. The filmmaker and special effects guru, who also spends a lot of quality time in front of the camera, has helped to raise no less than a cummulative $1,980,210 from 27,180 backers over three campaigns in three years under the banner of his, Matt Arnold, and Desmond Dolly’s production shop RocketJump for consecutive seasons of their hit, long-form, action-gamer-comedy Video Game High School (aka Vghs).
Given that crowdfunding experience (not to mention his experience with cultivating an audience on other platforms, like the 7.5+ million subscribers on the RokcetJump YouTube channel), Wong is the go-to individual within the online video industry when you're thinking about starting a crowdfunding campaign and need advice. The guys at Wong Fu got his help on their successful campaign. And Burnie Burns at Rooster Teeth gives Wong a lot of credit when...
Given that crowdfunding experience (not to mention his experience with cultivating an audience on other platforms, like the 7.5+ million subscribers on the RokcetJump YouTube channel), Wong is the go-to individual within the online video industry when you're thinking about starting a crowdfunding campaign and need advice. The guys at Wong Fu got his help on their successful campaign. And Burnie Burns at Rooster Teeth gives Wong a lot of credit when...
- 4/3/2015
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
Rooster Teeth turns 12-years-young on April 1, 2015. The Austin, Texas-based production company, online video and machinima pioneer, and prolific creator of high-quality online video programming has a lot of things to celebrate, including more than 16 million subscribers across its half-dozen-or-so established and burgeoning YouTube channels, a thriving destination site with an ardent, active, and happily paying community that’s two-million-unique-visitors-a-month strong, a recent presumably multi-million dollar sale to the YouTube multi-channel network Fullscreen, a growing convention for tens of thousands of fans of gaming and internet culture, and an upcoming feature that’s one of the top most-crowdfunded film campaigns of all time.
It’s that last achievement the individuals at Rooster Teeth should celebrate most as the entity enters the last of its preteen years.
Rooster Teeth CEO Matt Hullum, Creative Director Burnie Burns, and the rest of the crew started the Indiegogo campaign for their movie Lazer Team on...
It’s that last achievement the individuals at Rooster Teeth should celebrate most as the entity enters the last of its preteen years.
Rooster Teeth CEO Matt Hullum, Creative Director Burnie Burns, and the rest of the crew started the Indiegogo campaign for their movie Lazer Team on...
- 3/31/2015
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
What’s joining Netflix in the month of April? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a full list of original programming -- finally, Daredevil is premiering! -- movies, and your favorite TV shows streaming starting April 1.
Among our top picks: The Aussie horror indie, The Babadook, Life Partners starring Leighton Meester and Community’s Gillian Jacobs, and Hot Fuzz.
Netflix Originals
All Hail King Julien, Season 1 (4/3/15)
Derek, Special (4/3/15)
Marvel’s Daredevil, Season 1 (4/10/15)
Chris De’Elia: Incorrigible (4/17/15)
News: Tina Fey and Ellie Kemper Dish on Their Hilarious Netflix Series!
Movies
4/1
And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Bandolero
Barnyard
The Beautician and the Beast
Bound
Buffalo Soldiers
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
Down to Earth
Leprechaun 3
Leprechaun 4: In Space
Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood
Suicide Kings
Sunset Strip
Underworld
Whiteboyz
Wrong Turn at Tahoe
4/2
Life Partners
Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage
4/3
Starry Eyes
The Quiet Ones
4/4
Delta Farce
4/7
Preservation
4/9
Crank
Pioneer
4/10
The Awakening
Broken
Burning...
Among our top picks: The Aussie horror indie, The Babadook, Life Partners starring Leighton Meester and Community’s Gillian Jacobs, and Hot Fuzz.
Netflix Originals
All Hail King Julien, Season 1 (4/3/15)
Derek, Special (4/3/15)
Marvel’s Daredevil, Season 1 (4/10/15)
Chris De’Elia: Incorrigible (4/17/15)
News: Tina Fey and Ellie Kemper Dish on Their Hilarious Netflix Series!
Movies
4/1
And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Bandolero
Barnyard
The Beautician and the Beast
Bound
Buffalo Soldiers
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
Down to Earth
Leprechaun 3
Leprechaun 4: In Space
Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood
Suicide Kings
Sunset Strip
Underworld
Whiteboyz
Wrong Turn at Tahoe
4/2
Life Partners
Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage
4/3
Starry Eyes
The Quiet Ones
4/4
Delta Farce
4/7
Preservation
4/9
Crank
Pioneer
4/10
The Awakening
Broken
Burning...
- 3/18/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
What's new on Netflix in April 2015? The eagerly anticipated original "Marvel's Daredevil," with Charlie Cox as the blind superhero, which debuts April 10, for one. Also new: Acclaimed horror films, including the Iranian vampire movie "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" and the Aussie chiller "The Babadook;" a quartet of Nigerian films; and new seasons of "Wilfred," "Halt and Catch Fire," and "Sons of Anarchy."
Here's a much larger rundown of what's new on Netflix in April 2015, provided by Netflix. As always, all titles and dates are subject to change. We've also go you covered in terms of what's leaving Netflix in April 2015, in case you were wondering.
Available April 1
"And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen..." (2002)
"Bandolero" (2000)
"Barnyard" (2006)
"The Beautician and the Beast" (1997)
"Bound" (1996)
"Buffalo Soldiers" (2001)
"The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002)
"Down to Earth" (2001)
"Leprechaun 3 "(1995)
"Leprechaun 4: In Space" (1997)
"Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood" (2003)
"Suicide Kings" (1997)
"Sunset Strip" (2000)
"Underworld...
Here's a much larger rundown of what's new on Netflix in April 2015, provided by Netflix. As always, all titles and dates are subject to change. We've also go you covered in terms of what's leaving Netflix in April 2015, in case you were wondering.
Available April 1
"And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen..." (2002)
"Bandolero" (2000)
"Barnyard" (2006)
"The Beautician and the Beast" (1997)
"Bound" (1996)
"Buffalo Soldiers" (2001)
"The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002)
"Down to Earth" (2001)
"Leprechaun 3 "(1995)
"Leprechaun 4: In Space" (1997)
"Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood" (2003)
"Suicide Kings" (1997)
"Sunset Strip" (2000)
"Underworld...
- 3/18/2015
- by Sharon Knolle
- Moviefone
Crowdfunding platform Indiegogo announced that Sundance award winner “Dear White People,” which raised its initial production funds on Indiegogo, has broken the U.S. domestic box office record for a crowdfunded film. Since its opening on Oct. 17, the biting work of satire has grossed $4.4 million domestically, topping the previous record-holder, Zach Braff’s Kickstarter-funded film, "Wish I Was Here," which grossed $3.6 million. Indiegogo also notes in the press release that its 2014 campaigns for other projects made for the screen, including “Lazer Team,” “Tabletop,” “Video Game High School 3" and “Gosnell” were among 4 of the top 10...
- 1/29/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Two films forgotten by the Academy, the animated adventure "The Lego Movie" and the Roger Ebert Documentary "Life Itself," triumphed at the recently concluded 2015 Producers Guild Awards.
"The Lego Movie" took home the Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures for producer Dan Lin while "Life Itself" won the Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures for producers Garrett Basch, Steve James, and Zak Piper.
Meanwhile, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole took the Oscar glitter away from Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" when "Birdman" was awarded the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures.
The Oscars just got interesting! Will "Boyhood" triumph over "Birdman" at the Academy Awards?
In TV land, NBC was the big winner of the evening with two of their shows taking home trophies for Competition Television ("The Voice") and Live Entertainment & Talk Television ("The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon...
"The Lego Movie" took home the Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures for producer Dan Lin while "Life Itself" won the Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures for producers Garrett Basch, Steve James, and Zak Piper.
Meanwhile, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole took the Oscar glitter away from Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" when "Birdman" was awarded the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures.
The Oscars just got interesting! Will "Boyhood" triumph over "Birdman" at the Academy Awards?
In TV land, NBC was the big winner of the evening with two of their shows taking home trophies for Competition Television ("The Voice") and Live Entertainment & Talk Television ("The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon...
- 1/26/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Crowdfunding website joins newly formed Vimeo On Demand Publisher Network
Indiegogo and Vimeo unveiled a partnership Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival that will designate the later as a preferred distribution platform for films crowdfunded on the former.
Vimeo has committed to an ongoing creator fund for certain film campaigns on Indiegogo. In exchange, the latter promised exclusive distribution via Vimeo On Demand. Also, Indiegogo has signed up for its new partner’s Vimeo On Demand Publisher Network, placing a VOD storefront on the crowdfunding site. The favor will be returned on Vimeo’s website.
Also Read: Sundance Party Report...
Indiegogo and Vimeo unveiled a partnership Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival that will designate the later as a preferred distribution platform for films crowdfunded on the former.
Vimeo has committed to an ongoing creator fund for certain film campaigns on Indiegogo. In exchange, the latter promised exclusive distribution via Vimeo On Demand. Also, Indiegogo has signed up for its new partner’s Vimeo On Demand Publisher Network, placing a VOD storefront on the crowdfunding site. The favor will be returned on Vimeo’s website.
Also Read: Sundance Party Report...
- 1/24/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
"Web series" have matured over the past ten years: Netflix and Amazon have made billions from users paying for access to large databases – movies and TV for Netflix, almost everything for Amazon. They took advantage of the internet's vast capacity for information. Then they invested in original programming to keep users paying. It's paying off. Netflix is now synonymous with high quality web TV – Amazon is getting there with "Transparent," "Mozart in the Jungle" and a promising roster of upcoming shows – putting them at the center of the mainstream debates over net neutrality. And web networks relying on advertising – YouTube, Yahoo, Hulu, Aol – have had some (though less) success. Collective Digital Studio and Freddie Wong's brand- and crowd-financed franchise "Video Game High School" has been a marketing coup for YouTube. Multichannel networks are investing in higher budget scripted series -- like Maker's "Oh You Pretty Things" and...
- 1/24/2015
- by Aymar Jean Christian
- Indiewire
The new show will chronicle the making of RocketJump’s new short films
Hulu has ordered a long-form comedy series from Freddie Wong and the RocketJump team, the people behind YouTube’s “Video Game High School.”
The eight-episode series will go behind the scenes at RocketJump, with each episode chronicling the filmmaking behind the entertainment company’s newest short. The half-hour comedy will be released each week with newly created short videos, which will also premiere exclusively on Hulu.
Also Read: Lionsgate Partners With Freddie Wong’s RocketJump Studios
RocketJump will produce the series in association with Lionsgate Television. The...
Hulu has ordered a long-form comedy series from Freddie Wong and the RocketJump team, the people behind YouTube’s “Video Game High School.”
The eight-episode series will go behind the scenes at RocketJump, with each episode chronicling the filmmaking behind the entertainment company’s newest short. The half-hour comedy will be released each week with newly created short videos, which will also premiere exclusively on Hulu.
Also Read: Lionsgate Partners With Freddie Wong’s RocketJump Studios
RocketJump will produce the series in association with Lionsgate Television. The...
- 1/22/2015
- by Alicia Banks
- The Wrap
Freddie Wong recently wrapped up Video Game High School, but as it turns out, his fans won't have to wait very long for another web series from the special effects virtuoso. Wong and his team at RocketJump will bring an eight-episode series to Hulu thanks to a deal between Hulu and Lionsgate.
At this point, there aren't that many details to share about the new series, but a blog post from Hulu does reveal a few tidbits:
"The new Hulu Original will be a half-hour comedy series, with new episodes released weekly. Each episode will chronicle the filmmaking behind RocketJump’s newest short. Eight full episodes will be released exclusively on Hulu and the newly-created shorts will premiere exclusively on Hulu as well."
RocketJumps's shorts have become popular on YouTube thanks to their fun, whimsical tone and their dazzling special effects. Along the way, Wong and his team have worked...
At this point, there aren't that many details to share about the new series, but a blog post from Hulu does reveal a few tidbits:
"The new Hulu Original will be a half-hour comedy series, with new episodes released weekly. Each episode will chronicle the filmmaking behind RocketJump’s newest short. Eight full episodes will be released exclusively on Hulu and the newly-created shorts will premiere exclusively on Hulu as well."
RocketJumps's shorts have become popular on YouTube thanks to their fun, whimsical tone and their dazzling special effects. Along the way, Wong and his team have worked...
- 1/21/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
The final guild/industry group to declare nominees did so this afternoon as the Motion Picture Sound Editors (Mpse) spoke up with a roll call of players for the 62nd Golden Reel Awards. On the film side of things, "Birdman" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" had the best showing with three nominations each. I've been wondering if the latter could slide into Oscar play this year, but it's hard to gauge here, as "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" had a nice Mpse showing, too. In the effects/foley category, "Fury" is featured as well, also a strong possibility to pop up. All other expected players ("American Sniper," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Unbroken," etc.) are featured. We'll see how the sound branch shakes it all out tomorrow but I'm a little more confused by where they'll end up going than usual, I must say. Check out...
- 1/14/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Hollywood’s sound pros nominated Birdman and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for three awards apiece as the Motion Picture Sound Editors unveiled nods for its 62nd Mpse Golden Reel Awards, honoring the best feature film, television, animation and computer entertainment work of the year.
“2014 was a fantastic year for sound,” said Mpse president Frank Morrone. “The advent of new distribution channels, streaming services and gaming platforms is creating additional opportunities for sound artists to practice their craft beyond the traditional venues of film and television. This year’s nominations reflect that change, spanning an amazing diversity of mediums and genres, all executed at the highest level of creativity. We are truly inspired and impressed by the work of our colleagues.”
This year’s Golden Reels will additionally honor Noah director Darren Aronofsky with the Mpse’s annual Filmmaker Award. Oscar winner Skip Lievsay, known for his work...
“2014 was a fantastic year for sound,” said Mpse president Frank Morrone. “The advent of new distribution channels, streaming services and gaming platforms is creating additional opportunities for sound artists to practice their craft beyond the traditional venues of film and television. This year’s nominations reflect that change, spanning an amazing diversity of mediums and genres, all executed at the highest level of creativity. We are truly inspired and impressed by the work of our colleagues.”
This year’s Golden Reels will additionally honor Noah director Darren Aronofsky with the Mpse’s annual Filmmaker Award. Oscar winner Skip Lievsay, known for his work...
- 1/14/2015
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Vimeo just made some of its pages far more useful and pretty than they were before. The online video site has updated the look of its Vimeo on Demand pages and added several new features like recommendations for better user experience.
According to a Vimeo blog post, Vimeo on Demand pages received some aesthetic changes which should make them look more appealing to prospective purchasers. For starters, the streaming site has added its video player to the top of all pages and tweaked the player for maximum loading speed. And due to Vimeo’s developers implementing some “color-math magic,” Demand pages now also have default customized designs which take their cue and hues from the page’s video and uploaded images.
The Vimeo blog post also re-emphasized the availability of 4K streaming content. Back in December 2014, Vimeo updated Vimeo on Demand pages to allow viewers to purchase and download content in 4K.
According to a Vimeo blog post, Vimeo on Demand pages received some aesthetic changes which should make them look more appealing to prospective purchasers. For starters, the streaming site has added its video player to the top of all pages and tweaked the player for maximum loading speed. And due to Vimeo’s developers implementing some “color-math magic,” Demand pages now also have default customized designs which take their cue and hues from the page’s video and uploaded images.
The Vimeo blog post also re-emphasized the availability of 4K streaming content. Back in December 2014, Vimeo updated Vimeo on Demand pages to allow viewers to purchase and download content in 4K.
- 1/6/2015
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Forbes has released its annual series of "30 Under 30" lists, and as was the case last year, the online video community is well represented on the "Hollywood" list. Among other honorees, the list includes YouTube-native content creators like Freddie Wong, Hannah Hart, and Harley Morenstein.
Forbes uses "30 Under 30" to spotlight talented young men and women across a variety of different fields. Last year, the Hollywood category honored creators like Grace Helbig, Smosh, and Issa Rae, and this year, it spotlights a completely new group of talented individuals. Wong, who released the third and final season of Video Game High School this year, earned some kudos, as did Epic Meal Time host Morenstein and My Drunk Kitchen host Hart, who both released their own books in 2014. Wong and Morenstein are 29; Hart is 28.
Other honorees with ties to YouTube include rapper Spoken Reasons, who shares his verses with more than 1.7 million subscribers, and...
Forbes uses "30 Under 30" to spotlight talented young men and women across a variety of different fields. Last year, the Hollywood category honored creators like Grace Helbig, Smosh, and Issa Rae, and this year, it spotlights a completely new group of talented individuals. Wong, who released the third and final season of Video Game High School this year, earned some kudos, as did Epic Meal Time host Morenstein and My Drunk Kitchen host Hart, who both released their own books in 2014. Wong and Morenstein are 29; Hart is 28.
Other honorees with ties to YouTube include rapper Spoken Reasons, who shares his verses with more than 1.7 million subscribers, and...
- 1/6/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
We’re heading into awards season and the Producers Guild of America has just released the picks for the upcoming 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards.
Slated to go live on January 24th, the ceremony is held each year to honor the unsung heroes of the film and television industry- the producers. And this year “Nightcrawler,” “Foxcatcher,” “Unbroken,” “Gone Girl,” “American Sniper,” “The Imitation Game” and “The Theory of Everything” are all up for top honors.
The 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards nominees are:
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
American Sniper (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Boyhood (IFC Films)
Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gone Girl (20th Century Fox)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
The Imitation Game (The Weinstein Company)
Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
The Theory of Everything (Focus Features)
Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated...
Slated to go live on January 24th, the ceremony is held each year to honor the unsung heroes of the film and television industry- the producers. And this year “Nightcrawler,” “Foxcatcher,” “Unbroken,” “Gone Girl,” “American Sniper,” “The Imitation Game” and “The Theory of Everything” are all up for top honors.
The 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards nominees are:
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
American Sniper (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Birdman (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Boyhood (IFC Films)
Foxcatcher (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gone Girl (20th Century Fox)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
The Imitation Game (The Weinstein Company)
Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
The Theory of Everything (Focus Features)
Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated...
- 1/5/2015
- GossipCenter
Movies made by women directors were snubbed by the Producers Guild of America when they announced the nominees today! Both "Selma" by Ava DuVernay and "Unbroken" by Angelina Jolie were left in the dust. I agree with not nominating the latter movie (sorry Ms. Jolie but "Unbroken" is too earnest for my taste) but "Selma" deserved a nod! It's a profound movie aided by DuVernay's skilled directing and David Oyelowo's fine performance as Martin Luther King Jr.
You know who I'm blaming for this? Paramount! The studio did not send screeners to Academy voters. Heck, they did not sent one to us, the Broadcast Film Critics Association. But after begging, they did send a link so I could watch "Selma" in time for our Critics' Choice Movie Award nominations.
"Selma" is a "late to the party" entry that is gaining momentum dashed by the PGA! If you remember, Clint Eastwood...
You know who I'm blaming for this? Paramount! The studio did not send screeners to Academy voters. Heck, they did not sent one to us, the Broadcast Film Critics Association. But after begging, they did send a link so I could watch "Selma" in time for our Critics' Choice Movie Award nominations.
"Selma" is a "late to the party" entry that is gaining momentum dashed by the PGA! If you remember, Clint Eastwood...
- 1/5/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Producers Guild of America announced today the motion picture and long-form television nominations for the 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards. On the list are American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Nightcrawler, The Theory Of Everything and Whiplash.
Noticeably absent among the ten are Selma and Unbroken.
Last year’s PGA winners were 12 Years A Slave and Gravity.
The Directors Guild of America nominees will be announced on January 13, 2015. The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
2006 was the last time a film (The Departed) won the Oscar for Best Picture, while the PGA’s The Darryl F. Zanuck Award went to Little Miss Sunshine. The last seven years in a row the PGA winner ultimately went onto win the Academy Award – No Country For Old Men,...
Noticeably absent among the ten are Selma and Unbroken.
Last year’s PGA winners were 12 Years A Slave and Gravity.
The Directors Guild of America nominees will be announced on January 13, 2015. The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
2006 was the last time a film (The Departed) won the Oscar for Best Picture, while the PGA’s The Darryl F. Zanuck Award went to Little Miss Sunshine. The last seven years in a row the PGA winner ultimately went onto win the Academy Award – No Country For Old Men,...
- 1/5/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Nightcrawler, The Theory Of Everything and Whiplash have been nominated for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, the PGA announced today. There were some surprising omissions– Selma, Unbroken, Interstellar and Into The Woods. On the TV side, American Horror Story: Freak Show, Fargo, The Normal Heart, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History and Sherlock are the nominees for the David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television. Big Hero 6, The Book Of Life, The Boxtrolls, How To Train Your Dragon 2, and The Lego Movie were nominated in the Animated Feature category. The 2015 PGA Award winners will be announced January 24 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
This year, the Producers Guild will present special honors to Jon Feltheimer (Milestone Award), Mark Gordon (Norman Lear Achievement...
This year, the Producers Guild will present special honors to Jon Feltheimer (Milestone Award), Mark Gordon (Norman Lear Achievement...
- 1/5/2015
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
The Producers Guild Of America (PGA) announced on Monday (January 5) its motion picture and long-form television nominees for the 26th Annual Producers Guild Awards - but there is no place at the table for Selma or Unbroken.
The categories include: The Darryl F Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer Of Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Award For Outstanding Producer Of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; and The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer Of Long-Form Television.
The feature documentary film category and other television category nominations were previously announced by the PGA in late 2014.
All 2015 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on January 24th at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The PGA will present special honours to Lionsgate chief Jon Feltheimer (Milestone Award), Mark Gordon (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Gale Anne Hurd (David O Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), the HBO television motion picture The Normal Heart (Stanley Kramer Award), and production...
The categories include: The Darryl F Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer Of Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Award For Outstanding Producer Of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; and The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer Of Long-Form Television.
The feature documentary film category and other television category nominations were previously announced by the PGA in late 2014.
All 2015 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on January 24th at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The PGA will present special honours to Lionsgate chief Jon Feltheimer (Milestone Award), Mark Gordon (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Gale Anne Hurd (David O Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), the HBO television motion picture The Normal Heart (Stanley Kramer Award), and production...
- 1/5/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Gearing up for an exciting awards show season, the Producers Guild of American just announced the nominees for the Documentary, TV Series/Specials and Digital Series categories of the 26th annual PGA Awards.
Slated to take place on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, the big event focuses on the production aspect of the entertainment industry.
Furthermore, the PGA will announce the remaining nominees on January 5th, so stay linked to the GossipCenter for all the latest updates.
And the nominees are:
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
The Green Prince (Music Box Films)
Life Itself (Magnolia Pictures)
Merchants of Doubt (Sony Pictures Classics)
Particle Fever (Abramorama/Bond 360)
Virunga (Netflix)
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
Breaking Bad (AMC): Producers: Melissa Bernstein, Sam Catlin, Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Mark Johnson, Stewart Lyons,...
Slated to take place on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, the big event focuses on the production aspect of the entertainment industry.
Furthermore, the PGA will announce the remaining nominees on January 5th, so stay linked to the GossipCenter for all the latest updates.
And the nominees are:
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
The Green Prince (Music Box Films)
Life Itself (Magnolia Pictures)
Merchants of Doubt (Sony Pictures Classics)
Particle Fever (Abramorama/Bond 360)
Virunga (Netflix)
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
Breaking Bad (AMC): Producers: Melissa Bernstein, Sam Catlin, Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Mark Johnson, Stewart Lyons,...
- 12/3/2014
- GossipCenter
The Producer’s Guild of America (PGA) is getting ready for its 26th annual Producers Guild Awards. The organization just announced the nominees for both digital series and traditional television on December 1, 2014. Among 2015’s Outstanding Digital Series nominees are some of the most popular web series from the past year. Crackle snagged a nomination for Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (which just featured its first-ever YouTuber, Miranda Sings). The fan-favorite Epic Rap Battles of History is also in the running for best digital series, as is the 3rd and final season of Freddie Wong’s explosively popular Video Game High School. Espn’s 30 for 30 is also nominated along with Cosmos: A National Geographic Deeper Dive. These web series join some of television’s hottest shows in the full lineup of nominees for 2015. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, True Detective, and House of Cards all...
- 12/1/2014
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Video Game High School is now in Freddie Wong's rearview mirror, and his first post-vghs video is a special one. Wong teamed up with Jimmy Kimmel for "Tie Fighters", an action-packed short that involves a men's bathroom, a Windsor knot, and a burning stake. The video stars Wong and Kimmel as they meet in the backstage bathroom at Kimmel's show and argue over which one of them tied a better tie knot. Their argument quickly comes to blows, one thing leads to another, and they ultimately fall through a trans-dimensional portal to a world populated by ties. As you might expect, that setup is a blank canvas on which Wong can show off his dazzling special effects skills. The short debuted during Wong's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 18th. It then made its way to the Rocket Jump YouTube channel two days later. Wong isn't the first...
- 11/21/2014
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Felix Kjellberg's PewDiePie channel is at the top of our monthly Most Subscribed YouTube channels chart for its third month in a row. The internet's most popular destination for Let's Play videos (whose creator is "happy" since he put less emphasis on his YouTube comments) stood steady in the #1 spot with a minor 5% dip in its subscriber acquisition rate. PewDiePie ended the month with nearly 0.76 million million new additions to his Bro Army. In second place is the YouTube home of gamer Mark Edward Fischbach aka MarkiplierGame. The online video repository of "hilarious gaming videos, original comedy sketches, animated parodies, and other various bits of entertainment" added almost 0.43 million new subscribers in October. Up next in the #3 spot is Rhett and Link's Good Mythical Morning. The daily morning talk show that's always funny and sometimes educational ended the month with more than 0.42 million new subscribers. VanossGaming is next up in fourth place.
- 11/11/2014
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
Freddie Wong's series “Video Game High School” is quickly proving that long-form content can attract massive audiences and advertising dollars on the Internet. But are Google's metrics making it too challenging for various web series to succeed? See photos: ‘American Idol’ to Launch Google Voting and Facebook Live Stats This Week After starting as an independent production, Wong's “Vghs” has lit up YouTube, generating an audience of more than 84 million views in its first two seasons of the 40-minute episodes. The third season of the teen dramedy — set in a world where the coolest high-school kids are intense gamers – has already accumulated.
- 10/24/2014
- by Gina Hall
- The Wrap
Jimmy Wong is going back to his YouTube roots. Jumping off his current turn in season three of Video Game High School, Wong has launched an Indiegogo campaign for Band Aid, a six-episode musical comedy series. Band Aid and features a group of four ex-bandmates who reunite when lead singer Chase (played by Wong) launches one last attempt to win over his crush Jo (Abbe Drake) before she leaves town. Along the way, regular musical numbers will keep Band Aid lively (in the spirit of other musically-inclined comedic programs like Flight of the Conchords, Tenacious D, and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). In addition to starring in the series, Wong will also direct it alongside Matt Enlow, who is best known as the creator of the hit web series Squaresville. Here's a look and the pitch: Wong - who is the brother of fellow YouTuber Freddie Wong - has always had an affinity for musical comedy.
- 10/16/2014
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
For the first time in more than a year, a new episode of Video Game High School is available. Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold's action-packed web series, which is co-produced by Rocket Jump and Collective Digital Studio, has begun its third season across Rocket Jump's online video channels. For extra-eager fans, the entire series can be downloaded from the Rocket Jump website for $14.99. The third season returns to protagonist Brian D and his band of gamer friends, who continue to take on a cadre of villains both in the virtual world and in the hallways of the titular high school. Season three was funded by a record-breaking Indiegogo campaign and is Vghs' biggest season yet, so we sat down for an interview with Wong one day before the show's premiere at New York Comic Con. Here's what he had to say about his latest creation: Tubefilter: What is going...
- 10/13/2014
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold's Video Game High School is known for its impressive production value, which far outstrips most other web series. Now, thanks to a deal with Dolby, the team at Rocket Jump will bring top-of-the-line sound to season three of Vghs. Dolby assisted Rocket Jump by providing sound design and mixing services for the newest installment of Vghs, which arrives on October 13th. The result is 5.1 surround sound, which is also used in blockbuster films and TV shows. Dolby is using the Vghs partnership as one part of a campaign called the "Made for Web Audio Program", which seeks to educate digital content creators and promote the use of high-quality sound in digital productions. In addition to Rocket Jump, Dolby has also partnered with several other online video creators as part of the initiative, including Corridor Digital and Michael Gallagher. The Made for Web Audio Program...
- 10/13/2014
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Marvel Entertainment, “Star Trek” actor George Takei and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will be honored Nov. 8 at the Los Angeles Lgbt Center's 45th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards. Also read: Streamy Awards Big Winners Include ‘Video Game High School,’ Lgbt Vlogger Tyler Oakley “As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the world's largest provider of programs and services for Lgbt people, we're excited to honor some very deserving Super Heroes in our movement,” said the center's CEO Lorri L. Jean. Takei played Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series as well as in six of the franchise's feature films.
- 9/17/2014
- by Travis Reilly
- The Wrap
Are you a digital series creator? If so, now’s your chance to get some recognition for all that hard work. You can submit your series to the 2015 Producers Guild of America Awards by September 19 to be considered for an award in the Digital Series category. The Awards seek to honor excellence in motion picture, television, and new media productions. Last year’s digital series nominees included Burning Love, Epic Rap Battles of History, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Wired: What’s Inside, and Video Game High School, with Wired’s show ultimately taking home the prize. To be considered for the 2015 PGA Awards, read up on the PGA’s eligibility and submission guidelines. Then, fill out a Notice of Producing Credits form at www.producersguildofamerica.com. The deadline for turning in the form is September 19; no series will be accepted after this date. Nomination polls for digital series will be...
- 9/15/2014
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
YouTube is at it again with a new round of advertising, this time featuring one of its most popular web series of them all. The online video site plans to promote season three of Video Game High School (Vghs) starting next month. Created by Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold in conjunction with Collective Digital Studio, Vghs quickly grew in popularity over its first two seasons, garnering over 84 million views on YouTube and other platforms like Netflix and RocketJump.com. And this past weekend, the show won three Streamy Awards, more than any other show in the history of the awards. YouTube’s original ad initiative started earlier this year and featured such YouTube celebrities as Michelle Phan, Bethany Mota, and Rosanna Pansino. More recent ad campaigns centered around Epic Rap Battles of History and Vice Media (whose recent investment deals could be partially due to being featured in the YouTube...
- 9/9/2014
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
There were “YouTube millionaires” (those with over a million subscribers) and actual digital millionaires inside the Beverly Hilton on Sunday night at the 4th annual Streamy Awards. Epic Meal Time's Harley Morenstein wanted everyone to ignore the difference. Also read:Streamy Awards Big Winners Include ‘Video Game High School,’ Lgbt Vlogger Tyler Oakley “Any YouTuber that touched this microphone tonight is a millionaire. Don't you ever forget that,” Morenstein said in an on-stage rant. “Maybe (it wasn't true in 2011), but it's 2014. So you show them that respect. Lots of money, we're talking about money here,” Morestein said to cheers. Harley Morenstein before.
- 9/9/2014
- by Mikey Glazer
- The Wrap
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