New Mediacracy

At long last - it's Part 2 of the 2013/early 2014 Year-In-Review! Recorded way, WAY back in February, we are again joined by a powerful group of New Media professionals, titans, and darlings, to discuss The Year (or so) That Was. Come along for the PART 2 of the ride with Bree Essrig (PopTrigger, YouTube sensation, who unfortunately had to run before we took the group photo), Kai Hasson (Portal-A, White Collar Brawler), Woody Tondorf ( Machinima , Dark Knight Legacy), Brett Register (DC All-Access, Lost & Found Season 2), and the triumphant return of New Mediacracy co-founders Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf (YouTube Nation, which recently surpassed 1 Million subscribers!!!). Join NM regulars Bernie Su and Chris McCaleb for PART 2 of this free-form, insightful discussion about the exponential rise of Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs), New Media consolidation, online stars migrating to television and print media, controversial fan films, the tragic death of Net Neutrality, drinking blood, branding yourself, and SO MUCH MORE!!! Direct MP3 link

Just in time for Summer 2014 - it's the 2013 Year-In-Review! Recorded way, WAY back in February, we have assembled a powerful group of New Media professionals, titans, and darlings, to discuss The Year (or so) That Was. Come along for PART 1 of the ride with Bree Essrig (PopTrigger, YouTube sensation, who unfortunately had to run before we took the group photo), Kai Hasson (Portal-A, White Collar Brawler), Woody Tondorf ( Machinima , Dark Knight Legacy), Brett Register (DC All-Access, Lost & Found Season 2), and the triumphant return of New Mediacracy co-founders Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf (YouTube Nation, which recently surpassed 1 Million subscribers!!!). Join NM regulars Bernie Su and Chris McCaleb for PART 1 of this free-form, insightful discussion about the exponential rise of Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs), New Media consolidation, online stars migrating to television and print media, controversial fan films, the tragic death of Net Neutrality, drinking blood, branding yourself, and SO MUCH MORE!!! Direct MP3 link

When you love what you do - and the people you do it with - working rarely feels like "work" at all. This axiom is true for the members of Natural Disastronauts, some of the hardest working people in new media. On this episode, we sit down with 3/4 of the internet juggernaut - multi-hyphenates Katy Stoll (Cracked, Prom Queen), Daniel Vincent Gordh (Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Hipsterhood, Cracked Advice Board) and Will Gordh (Cracked Advice Board, lots of other stuff!) - upon the release of their latest original series, "Hollywood Acting Studio" (created by 4th Disastronaut Kevin Best, and produced by Starz Digital). Join NM regulars Bernie Su and Chris McCaleb for this candid discussion about actually making a living in new media, the pros and cons of working with your best friends (and family!), the perilous and addictive immediacy of audience interaction via social media, the recent YouTube migration to "Saturday Night Live," the now-Emmy-winning "Lizzie Bennet Diaries," Bernie's new series "Emma Approved," and much more! Direct MP3 link

For seven years, a young filmmaker tried unsuccessfully to get his script, an unconventional noir-ish detective story set in high school, made into a feature film. Everybody passed. Frustrated but not defeated, he decided to take matters into his own hands and raise the money himself. The resulting film was BRICK, and it launched the inspiring career of the film's writer-director, Rian Johnson. Join host Chris McCaleb for a special, shorter-than-usual episode, as we discuss Rian's directing work (including LOOPER and "Breaking Bad"), his interest in New Media, shooting film vs. digital, and MORE! Direct MP3 link

We're back with a lengthy year-end wrap-up! This time around, new media veteran Kathleen Grace (The Burg, The All-For-Nots, and now Manager of Production and Programming at YouTube Space LA) joins GigaOm writer and Attack of the Show staff writer Liz Shannon Miller, IAWTV Award winner and writer/director Brett Register, and Lizzie Bennet Diaries co-creator and showrunner Bernie Su. Joining them are the founders of New Mediacracy, Zadi Diaz (Head of Content Development at Disney Interactive Entertainment) and Steve Woolf (President of Blip Studios, SVP of Content at Blip), once again anchored by writer/director Chris McCaleb. In this freewheeling discussion, we explore the ongoing problem of discovery, YouTube's funded channel initiative, the newly-founded Blip Studios, the opening of YouTube Space LA, Hannah Hart's incredible tour fundraising campaign, the high profile departure of Ray William Johnson from Maker Studios, the mysterious industry blog "Working With Webseries Producers," our hopes for the year 2013, and so much more! Direct MP3 link

In April 2011, Hank Green (VlogBrothers, VidCon, Project for Awesome) approached Bernie Su (Compulsions, co-host of this very podcast) to discuss the possibility of bringing "Pride and Prejudice" to life for the YouTube generation. Less than a year later, they launched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and within days the show had already attracted a dedicated fan base and the attention of international media. On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with stars Ashley Clements and Mary Kate Wiles (also of Squaresville), producer Jenni Powell (Video Game Reunion, VidCon), and co-creator/writer/director Bernie Su. Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we discuss the meteoric rise of this independent series, the highs and lows of interacting with fans (in and out of character), adapting a beloved novel for the digital age, interactive storytelling, their epic VidCon experiences, Tumblr feelz and so much more! Direct MP3 link

Heroes. Gossip Girl. The Vampire Diaries. House. Nikita. Fringe. All of these television shows have had successful companion web series, and the common thread between them is Retrofit Films, the upstart production company founded by filmmakers Chris Hanada and Tanner Kling. Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we discuss making web series based on properties with rabid fan bases (and high expectations), navigating the world of branded content with some of the largest brands in the business, the irritating new media buzzwords that have worn out their welcome, the challenges of making cross-platform content to exist on both the web and television simultaneously, and their latest projects with Disney/Marvel, "The Fury Files" and "Marvel Mashups." We recorded this podcast in May 2012, and in the many months it has taken us to post the episode, Retrofit has hired former guest Ryan Copple as their VP of Digital Development. Congratulations all around! Direct MP3 link

Making an independent web series is always challenging, whether you're working with three million dollars, or three hundred dollars. On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with veteran director Scott Brown (Larry King Now, Blue Movies, Asylum), multi-hyphenate Kristen Nedopak (Geek Girls Create) and producer/consultant Brian Rodda, to discuss their work in new media, as well as their two new series, Stockholm and Skyrim Parodies. Join NM regular Chris McCaleb as we talk about making porn funny, crafting your own wardrobe (and the surprising cost of fake fur), creating high-quality work on a tight budget, working with the actual Larry King, shooting in a basement, finding inspiration in video games, and spending special time with Denise Richards. Direct MP3 link

Still basking in the glow of VidCon 2012, here's a trip in the wayback machine to VidCon 2011, and a panel entitled "The Battle for Narrative & Relevance: Long-form serial storytelling and the search for an audience on YouTube" Join the group of adventurous convention-goers who managed to find our panel, moderated by frequent NM guest Liz Shannon Miller (Attack of the Show, GigaOM Video), featuring David Nett (Gold: The Series), former NM guest Ryan Copple (Riese: The Series, Halo: Forward Unto Dawn ), Kaleena Kiff (Riese: The Series), Celebrate the Web 6 winner Terence Krey (Oh, Inverted World) and NM regular Chris McCaleb. Direct MP3 link

What is it like to actually live the life of a professional YouTuber, an often all-consuming, 24/7 job that regularly blurs the line between entertainment and private reality? On this episode of New Mediacracy, we sit down with three prolific YouTube personalities - Olga Kay, Exotic Jess and Joe Nation - who have been living in the YouTube trenches (and for a while, under the same roof) for years, and survived to tell the tale. Join NM regulars Chris McCaleb and Bernie Su ("The Lizzie Bennet Diaries") as they discuss building and maintaining an audience, the importance of quantity vs quality, working in the circus, raising a teenage daughter, and the scary, crazy, exciting and wonderful life of a professional YouTuber.