Sunday, November 29, 2009
WGAe Tries to Bridge New Media Divide
Tubefilter: "New Media, Transmedia, Web Video, Web Series, Web Television, whatever you want to call “it,” “it” is the future. Anyone reading Tubefilter, which has a mission “to grow the audience of web television,” knows this. Considering this, the traditional media complex is not going anywhere anytime soon. Too often the traditional media industry belittles internet video, which is why it is refreshing to see a media mainstay, like the Writer’s Guild East pursuing an active role in promoting new media."
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4 comments:
The arena of web-based entertainment is indeed the new thing. Perhaps it's because I grew up with internet access, but I really don't understand how any sort of union could possibly exist for such a quick changing industry. Not only are new forms of entertainment being created everyday, but new ways of accessing the media is created everyday. On top of that the internet is a mess. There is no logical structure and that's what makes it great. But to try to apply any kind of union, even one as flexible as this one just seems impossible.
I understand the attempt to rid the web of piracy which steals from other forms (music, movies, etc). This seems to be the most feasible method of using the internet to increase revenue (stopping theft). On top of that the only clear way to make money off the internet is with advertisements. But even these are miniscule. Then there's the server space required to distribute the content. There is just so much stuff, and it changes so fast, that I do not think an internet union is ever going to be viably possible.
I think its good that folks are starting a more level-headed discussion on this issue. The bottom line - weather or not it fits with the popular ideology - is that the internet is making old business models ineffective. I firmly believe that this is going to push *all* media industries towards new models, but I suppose starting with the media for whom the internet is integral is a good place to start. I hope that they are successful in reaching creative, yet effective models for this form. Media producers are going to be forced, sooner rather than later, to think about the value of *creating* work, over the value of distributing it. Maybe this approach would work for some of the writers too, thinking about payments for the act of writing, not royalties on the distribution of their script. Certainly there are may questions that need to be answered, but acknowledging the need to examine our current thinking about media, profitability, and creative work is a good start.
I think it's a bold task to try and create an "internet union." I agree with Michael that with the rapid movement of the internet it seems that any union conclusions would be obsolete the next day. The real problem here is how to make money off the internet. Ethan brings up a great point about being commissioned to create work, instead of being paid to sell work. Although this seems to be the most logical idea, it requires wealthy donors with high hope to actually function. People are cheap and they only want to pay for something in demand. So i don't know how well that idea would practically pan out.
On another note I think an "internet union" would be great for filtering content. Although some would claim the beauty of the internet is its lack of boundaries, I think putting some limits would help create better work. If there was a union then perhaps there would be a better standard quality required. Fore example, I just saw an internet web tv show called "The Hayley Project" which got nominated for a 2009 streaming award. I know it is low budget, but the quality of acting/shooting/editing was quite poor. I just think a union, with rules, could help push people creatively to produce cleaner work.
Interesting idea, and the comments posted here are interesting responses.
Even if new media is the future, no one has quite figured out how to capitalize on it as of yet. Once someone can figure out how to consistently make money off of the internet, a new industry will truly be born.
Viral videos like Ask A Ninja or the Numa Numa Dance may lead to celebrity and income for their creators, but there are hundred of thousands of other videos just as strange that never get picked up on.
However, when a known writer does choose to produce and distribute something over the internet, interesting things happen. Look at Dr. Horrible, which won Emmys. Look at Wil Wheaton, a child actor who is now primarily supported by his internet fandom.
It's incredibly interesting. If the writers do figure out how to use the internet, let me know. I want to join.
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