Fetch!

What You Can Do: How It All Got Started

Posted by Fetch Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:52:00 GMT

OK, so here’s the story: One night a few years ago my husband, my sister and I were all watching a brilliant documentary called Why We Fight. The film was basically about The Military Industrial Complex in our country and how the American army is helping to fund the economy of much of the western world. The documentary was intelligent, illuminating, shocking, moving and basically made me want to kill myself dead. In fact, about an hour into this documentary I closed myself in my bedroom and started reading US magazine.

Somewhere into an article about Brangelina I realized that this is a problem. If you want help starting, stopping or ameliorating a global issue, I am basically your target audience. I genuinely want to help, to get involved, to be of use. But instead, I am hiding under my bed reading made up news about hyphenated celebrities.

I realized then that I had been taken over by a illness I like to refer to as Impending Sense of Doom. Perhaps you recognize this feeling? I also felt ISD while reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and watching the polar bears in An Inconvenient Truth (On the iceberg?! The horror!). ISD comes on when you are presented with an insurmountable issue and you feel like there is nothing you can do about it. And when this happens, I just don’t want to know anymore. If i hear about a genocide and there is nothing I can do about it, I don’t want to know. If you tell me that thousands of elephants are being slaughtered in front of their families and now they all have post traumatic stress disorder and there is nothing I can do about it, I don’t want to know. I realize that personal ignorance and denial is a very poor global policy, and yet when faced with my options I don’t know what else to do.

What else do you do?

And then I got an idea. I have access to a production company! I have (albeit limited) producing skills! So maybe there is something I can do.

And that’s where the idea came from.

What You Can Do is a web series that takes a pressing social issue (global warming, AIDS in Africa, hunger, etc.) and shows what an individual could DO about if they had a minute, an hour a week or a year. We have started pre-production on our inaugural episode and we hope to launch it in June.

I am not naive enough to believe that a single web series can cool down the planet or end global strife, but it is still an effort at an attempt to connect people to solutions. And who knows – maybe it will reach someone and inspire someone who really can make a difference. Someone with a larger skill set, and a more talented brain than I possess.

And that is something worth putting down US magazine for.

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V-Day and Juice

Posted by Fetch Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:01:00 GMT

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day

We’ve all been there. A person we’ve been around for quite some time, or at least long enough for some kind of familiarity, yet we don’t know their name. Well, more than ever, particularly in the week following Valentine’s Day, I’m suffering through with very little sensitivity to the parties opposite me in this quandary. You see, I know who you are, luv. I might even know your exact breast size, or the specific way I can please you, I just don’t know your name.

Thank god that this year the celebration of sex and romance fell on the weekend. It enabled me to have two early Valentine romps, one Thursday, one Friday (which quite annoyingly carried into Saturday). On the actual day of celebrating the Saint, I engage in sinning with two lovelies, who seemed very content to share in my prowess. After all, sharing love and sweaty affection is the essence of the day, right? Not leaving out Sunday, I was able to extend myself into yet another moment of debauchery, this one appropriately including loads of chocolate, though not much of it was eaten (well, at least in the way you one would traditionally do so). But I digress.

The following Friday, I was approached by a fantastic ginger, who seemed quite angry with me for not seeing/calling/sexing her on the aforementioned day of affection, which I found odd, because at first glance, I was certain I did not know her. At second glance, a quick peek at the flesh under her left hip bone, revealing a bite mark (mine, to be exact), I understood that I did know her. But, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, I did not know her name. And you’d think I would say, that I did not REMEMEBER her name, but that would be a lie. I never knew her name from the start. I don’t find this to be shameful, per say, but I am a bit embarrassed by it. I mean, knowing a woman, in the biblical sense of the term, should preclude that I have a general idea of what to call her when engaged in public or non-sexual situations.

I do have a defense, if you care to hear it. When we met, she would not tell me her name. Soon after, when we engaged in skin-to-skin combat (the reason for the bite mark), she was adamant that I call her Pet.

She had enjoyed my compliance so much that she wanted to see me again, and again, and again. She was quite pissed that I did not call her. So there I was, standing at the bar, apologizing, and saying, Happy Belated Valentine’s Day…whatever your name is.

Juice

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Working to Keep the Arts in Education

Posted by Fetch Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:35:00 GMT

Over the past six months, On the Leesh has been working with Young Audiences New York. YANY promotes creativity, essential life skills and academic achievement through innovative and diverse multi- disciplinary arts programming for public school children Pre-K through 12 and their families – all of which support the development of a well- rounded individual.

YANY first asked us to create a promotional video for them last summer. They asked us to film at a variety of schools where they have a strong presence and pair that with interviews with YANY staff, teaching artists, teachers and students. Throughout the last six months we have grown to love this organization. Their tireless devotion to take care of the whole child; in school, after school and with their family.

I think that executive director, John Schulz said it best. “We believe here at Young Audiences that learning does not stop at the last school bell of the day. So we have started to go into afterschool programming to continue the education process afterschool as well as working to build on our family programs which we are very proud of. Because what it does is it brings the parent into the school environment and allows them to experience and create with their children, so that they can then take it back into the home environment and therefore allowing the process to continue long after Young Audiences NY isn’t in the picture.”

This has been a tough year for all not for profits, but arts programs in NYC are taking a very hard hit after the budget cuts. Everyone at OTL hopes that programs like YANY continue to thrive in this city. We all have heard about the benefits that such programs have on children. Test scores increase, attendance increases, self confidence increases; all vital necessities in every child’s life.

To learn more about this organization – please visit www.yany.org

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Things I've learned about producing shows for the web.

Posted by Fetch Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:03:00 GMT

When we first started producing The In-Betweens of Holly Malone, in 2005, web-series were such uncharted territory, they didn’t even have a real name yet. We were calling them nano-series. There were a few serial based programs on the web, but mostly the web was a place where you’d look for one-off entertainment involving people falling down, exploding mentos or the like. We’ve learned a lot of things over the past few years, and I wanted to share some information for those who are interested in starting their own series.

1. Get in and get out. When watching programs on the web, people have a very short attention span. Think music video. People will generally give you about 3 minutes of their time before they click off. Now what’s strange is people are more willing to watch four three minute episodes than one twelve minute video. I can’t tell you why this happens, as I am not a scientist, but this is what we’ve learned time and again. Three minutes is a magic number.

2. Comedy plays better than drama. To this day, I’ve only seen a couple of dramatic web-series. Typically, people seek out comedic content on the internet. Perhaps it’s not such a leap from looking up a funny video on youtube, to watching a serialized story. This may change over the next few years, but for now, aim for comedy.

3. People are willing to forgive more on the internet. Production value is a key factor that you should always have in mind. If something sounds like it’s down a very hollow tunnel, or it’s not in focus, people won’t be interested. However, the type of camera that you use is not as important. People are used to watching videos posted by flip cameras on blogs, so you don’t need the highest state of the art HD camera that George Lucas will be using to film his next Star Wars saga. Use what you can get your hands on, and make sure it’s produced well. Story tends to outweigh production design.

4. Consistency is important. For anything to gain a following, you need to maintain a consistent posting schedule. We try to post every other week, but if you are able to post weekly, that’s ideal. Just don’t post weekly for four weeks and then have nothing for three weeks and start posting again. It is better to post every other week and not have a lag in between. Also, plan on having at least three months of content – though six is ideal. You need time to build a following. You don’t want to start to get interest and then have nothing left to post.

This means that when working on web content, you are likely to be working on it for a long time. Which brings me to my last point.

5. Make sure you have fun Since this content is something you’re likely to live with for at least 3 months, but closer to 6, make sure you pick material that you like to work on. Work with people who you have a good time with, and keep a clear perspective on the whole process. As it stands right now, you’re not likely to make a lot of money working on a web-series. There are definite benefits, but getting labelled the next Bill Gates isn’t one of them.

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Trevor's Big Break

Posted by Fetch Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:28:00 GMT

I love many things, but one thing that is extremely high on the list is my love for craft beer.

One of my favorite breweries, “Dogfish Head,” sponsors their very own “Off-Centered Film Festival,” that is held at Alamo Draft House in Austin TX each year. The festival’s theme is the underdog so I decided that I would write a short film about a down-and-out chicken mascot who can’t get any work until he drinks Dogfish head.

On the Leesh was gracious enough to agree to help me produce this fine piece of work, as it would serve as a learning tool for me to become more adept at our process of making a film here at OTL. I would write, direct and be the executive producer, while Alicia and Julie would guide me along the way.

Since I decided to do things through On the Leesh there were steps that had to be taken that you wouldn’t normally do for a home movie. There were SAG waivers to fill out, budgets to make, Writer’s Guild papers to complete and a whole bunch of scheduling and planning.

Many thanks to Alicia, Julie, Matt, Jessie and especially my husband Greg for being in the film today and doing a fantastic job!!! Greg you’re the best Trevor Birdie out there.

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what do you do when a drive dies?

Posted by Fetch Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:53:00 GMT

okay so we’ve all been in that situation right, we’re working on something and then the computer starts to run slowly. maybe your hands start to sweat at this point, or your heart rate gets elevated, but you think – i’ve been here before. so we restart. we’ve been taught since we started using computers – when all else fails, restart. but what do you do when the restart doesn’t speed anything up? instead other applications begin to run more slowly. at this point, i get tunnel vision – i feel like martin brody when he sees the shark for the first time on land and at sea.

www.youtube.com/watch

regardless of which cinematic legend you associate with, you probably start to freak the bleep out. i do. a lot. i start to verbalize all sorts of words we’re not supposed to verbalize, but then something happens. a moment of calm comes over me, i hear the angels sing, and i remember no sweat, i’m meticulous about backing up. so you plug in your back up drive, but still things run slowly. now i contemplate homicide (because, yes i believe that judgement day is real, and the machines will rise up against me – so me killing my computer is a type of homicide). however, i realize, this homicide is very expensive. so i call my tech guy.

i use mac daddy with tim ransom. he’s great – helps me through a variety of pickles. first he stops me from crying, and then we get down to business. nine times out of ten – my computer has just gone rogue. how does this happen? how does your computer get corrupted. i’m not a tech person at all, but i don’t think it’s too much to ask that something that we’ve spent a lot of money on, can run smoothly. okay so my yo-yo gets tangled, i get it. a $4,000 piece of equipment, should cook me dinner. for real.

i’m in the middle of this predicament for the second time in three months. why haste though forsaken me? i am the uber prepared, covering all bases.

i hope that my mac daddy can fix my mac s*&%%y. just as i’m writing this, another drive has gone rogue.

DAMN YOU!!!

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Official Finalist: Las Vegas International Film Festival

Posted by Fetch Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:06:00 GMT

We’ve just been notified that Denim has been chosen as an official finalist for the Las Vegas international Film Festival! Although it will not screen at the festival it is one of only 20 films chosen in each category to receive this honor!

We’d like to thank the Las Vegas Film Festival for this extraordinary honor!

Check them out at: www.lvfilmfest.com

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New Short Film: Kung Pow Wow!

Posted by Fetch Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

New to the festival circuit is On the Leesh Productions’s short film Kung Pow Wow. To say it’s a short film is not really letting on about just how short this film is… it comes in at just under 3 minutes. Our motto: get in, make ‘em laugh, get out!

Here’s the description:

Dating is difficult, especially when you order in. “Kung Pow Wow” is a comedic tale about an argument between a couple when the boyfriend isn’t sensitive to the needs of his girlfriend’s taste buds.

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We Have Our Man

Posted by Fetch Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Yesterday’s auditions for the short comedy, “Milestone” went fabulously well!

We saw some really great and talented actors. Ultimately though, a very friendly face won us over with an outstanding read of the role, Billy. We are happy to announce that Brian Patacca will be playing the role in the movie.