How to Build Buzz For a Web Series

by Mathieas McNaughton on June 14th, 2010

Very few web series attract any pre-launch attention, those that do begin with a distinct advantage, an audience that is already aware of its existence. One of the biggest challenges a new series faces, is the ever increasingly daunting task of cutting through the clutter of online video. Furthermore, not only do web series need to compete with other shows, vloggers, and keyboard playing kids and kittens, they are also in competition with social media sites, other websites, games, and occasionally, real life. The competition for viewer attention has never been greater. Simply releasing a series and hoping that it will find an audience is not an option. Therefore, in order to be competitive, in order to build an audience, a series needs to begin generating buzz even before the show launches.

‘The Bannen Way:’ A Comedy on HBO?
by Drew Baldwin on June 2nd, 2010

From July 10 to July 31, HBO Canada will be airing the full 93 minutes (a feature-length version of the web series) in HD on The Movie Network and available on demand starting July 13, according to TMN’s online schedule. The listing describes The Bannen Way as an “action comedy,” which at first appears to be a listing error and not an attempt to re-market like in Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, the failed low budget indie drama successfully rebranded as an intentional “quirky new black comedy.”

Celebrating the Web and Stepping Back From the Ledge

by Guest Author on April 16th, 2010

Tonight, though, we’re paying our Respect Tax. To the web, to ourselves, to each other.

I’m not going to get sappy – partially because as I write this a raging of a hangover is on the horizon (look for that as a metaphor later in this piece!). However, in her acceptance speech at the Celebrate the Web, post-Streamys gathering, Felicia Day said, “We want to be authentic to ourselves,” as why we work on the web. So I’m going to pound a Red Bull and write this with the honesty it deserves.

14th Annual Webby Awards Nominees
April 14, 2010

The Bannen Way nominated for Best Drama & Best Editing while Vanessa Marcil Honoree for Best Female Actress

Online Film & Video

If the Web 2.0 revolution has shown us anything, it's that the Internet is a proven star-making invention. While Hollywood still produces it's fair share of blockbusters, the Internet is an increasingly reliable source of quality online content. All of the Online Film & Video Winners, Nominees and Honorees have premiered their work online and are one step closer to stardom.

Hollywood Brass and YouTube Strivers Split the Streamys

The Bannen Way CLEANS UP at The 2010 Streamy Awards!
By Jamey Giddens on April 11, 2010

The Bannen Way took home the awards for Best Web Drama (Gantt and Jesse Warren), Best Directing for a Drama Web Series (Warren), Best Male Actor in a Web Drama (Gantt) and, as previously reported, Best Editing for a Web Series (Zach Arnold). The Bannen Way boasted several soapy names in its cast, including General Hospital alum Vanessa Marcil as Bannen's partner-in-crime—not to mention sex— Madison; One Life to Live's Brynn Thayer, who appeared as the ghost of Bannen's mom and The O.C.'s Autmn Reeser (aka Mrs. Jesse Warren), as one of a trio of badass, nymphette assassins hunting Bannen.