The Web Video Community

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Someone from old media once asked me, “Who do these guys think they are?” “Who gave them permission to do that?” I said, “It’s web video, you don’t have to ask permission, you just go do it.”

So it has been since Steve Garfield of SteveGarfield.com became the first video blogger and pioneering web video shows like Rocketboom, TikiBarTV and Ask A Ninja attracted millions of early viewers. None of us asked for permission we just had ideas and went and did them. Along the way we had fun making our shows, sharing knowledge and struggled together trying to figure out ways to monetize our web video series. There were little groups here and there, attempts to recognize great work and a few family arguments. Like when we watched the very public breakup of Andrew and Amanda of Rocketboom.

Watching the host and producer of Rocketboom argue online was like watching our parents battle it out in a no holds barred divorce. It did nothing to advance our content and it did nothing to help our web video community. In fact, I think it could be argued that the public display of un-affection between two very talented people set back our community and stalled the monetization of web video.

A few years after that setback a group of new guys came along to the web video scene and started throwing little events where they had web video producers who were gaining momentum talk in front of other web video producers. These little get-togethers spawned more discussion, sharing of ideas and really galvanized the web video community. These gatherings soon grew from tens of people to hundreds and real solid networking, where producers were finding money and actors were finding roles emerged. Something special was happening. Our web video community was growing. Thanks to some crazy guys who didn’t ask permission.

I have worked in television and in independent film and I never felt apart of those communities the way I feel apart of this web video community. I was so moved once by this special feeling that I told a television producer friend of mine that I had never felt like I was part of the TV business but that I really felt that I belonged to the web video community. It was like family and we shared and welcomed others. The hardened producer looked at me and said, “Just wait till there’s money there. It will ruin your community.” Well I’m starting to wonder if there’s money here now cause the past few weeks have not felt very welcoming.

Money is starting to enter our little community and a few people are getting paid but most are not. As Independent Web Video Producers we have yet to face our biggest battles against the forces that want and need us to ask for their permission and divided we will fail. We need leaders. We need leaders who have shown that they are willing to sacrifice their own time, money and effort. Leaders who will keep us together.

The old media guy that first said to me, “Who do these guys think they are? and Who gave them permission?” was talking about the Tubefilter guys, the guys who invested their own time, money and effort to bring together a community and recognize excellence in web video with The Streamy Awards. Unfortunately for them and for us they put on a bad awards show this year and haven’t don’t the best job rallying the troupes in the aftermath. But I don’t see the Streamy Awards as ruined and I don’t think we or anyone else should try and take the Streamy Awards away from the Tubefilter guys. It was their idea and they figured out how to fund it.

Sure it’s easy to point out mistakes. It’s easy to fuel the fail fires on the Internet. It’s easy to say these guys are trying to make money. It’s easy to say they are not transparent. So what? What’s wrong with trying to make money and protect your business secrets?

On the other hand it is NOT easy to reach out to someone who has made a mistake and say, “That’s OK. I see what you have done for us in the past. I forgive you. Let’s make it better next year.” And that’s what we need to do.

The Tubfilter guys are good people. They have worked long and hard to help our community. They have done great things for all of us. Yes, they have made mistakes but they are young guys and young people make mistakes. The Tubefilter guys have done more to help our community than they have to hurt us. In fact I think they have not only picked up the ball and ran with it, they built the ball and paid for it with their own money. They have done things for our community that none of us were willing to do. As for hurting our community? Most Americans have never heard of the Streamy Awards or any web video series. – We have a lot of work to do. We are not that hurt. Yet.

Taking the Streamys away from the Tubfilter guys or destroying it for them would be wrong.It will hurt them and our web video community. Sure you can say they destroyed it themselves but they didn’t. I still think it would be an honor to win a Streamy. I think the people like Mark Gantt & Jesse Warren should be proud of the Streamys they walked away with this year. In fact I think we should be celebrating them and the rest of the 2010 Streamy Award winners for the fantastic work they created instead of wasting our time arguing over a badly produced awards show.

Remember, the first Streamy Awards Show was a great first show and everything else the Tubefilter guys have done to help the web video community has been awesome. These are good guys who made a bad show and then made some mistakes handling the aftermath. I know people are upset because the Tubefilter guys are trying to make money off the Streamy Awards but it was their idea and they built it. We live in America, why shouldn’t they be able to make money off their ideas? Why do they need permission?

Imagine if you had a hit web series and then made one bad show and the people that you had brought in to help you tried to take your show away. It’s crazy.

We don’t need to start over, we don’t need to waste our time beating these guys up. We need to call upon the leaders of our web video community to patch things up, give these guys a pat on the back, tell them it’s OK and thank them for all the other great things that they have done for us.

We have some big fights ahead of us, keeping the Internet open, free and neutral is not going to be easy. The Tubfilter guys have laid a lot of the ground work that we need as Independent producers and I think we should figure out a way to be nice to these guys and stop fighting amongst ourselves.

We share a common purpose. It’s time to forgive, move forward and grow our little community of web video while we still have it.

If you are willing to forgive, move forward and grow our community I’d love to hear from you. If you have nasty comments that are hurtful and are only going to flame the fires already burning you are welcome to do so but before you do please think about your motives and share those motives with us.

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  • http://www.LanBui.com Lan Bui

    Great post. I agree, many people overreacted to the entire deal.

  • Streamster

    The first Streamys was not a “great” show. The writing was less bad, but it was still pretty immature. There was a huge emphasis on pandering to celebrities. A few people pointed out these problems but the Streamy producers ignored the complaints, and just turned up the volume on the things people complained about. That's why it failed so miserably. The first Streamys was a success only so far as it didn't fall dramatically apart — every first time effort gets a pass.

    The Tubefilter guys do great things for the web video community. But they have incredibly bad judgment when it comes to producing a live event. These are different endeavors, requiring different skills. Perhaps they should stick with what they're good at and hand the other thing off to someone who knows better.

  • http://twitter.com/Loganchance Logan Rapp

    Tim —

    Yes and no, on this one. To me, the debate has shifted away from the Streamys, but the industry at large. It's easy to forgive and move forward, sure. The 3rd Streamys are a long ways away and there will be a lot of people keeping an eye on it. Part of what happened with the Streamys was, in my opinion, the lack of a watchdog. Now they know there are some.

    However, I have deep reservations with their desire to control the conversation regarding the IAWTV.

    They may think they're trying to do a good deed, but in essence, prior to the IAWTV's Los Angeles meeting, this Rebuild The Trust effort was launched. Rather than going into the meeting, pleading their case, and having the discussion first with the IAWTV, instead, they've decided to publicly accuse the rest of the board of a “takeover.” The tone and the timing are anything but conciliatory, and responses to questions from Liz Miller over at NewTeeVee show they're not leaving any room for compromise.

    The IAWTV is going to be vastly important to the industry in the years ahead, but as it stands now, the leadership is the equivalent of Variety composing half of the leadership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is not good. And it bothers me to be this way, because I've met some of these guys, and they're good people, but as a news organization they cannot maintain control of the industry leadership and expect it to flourish.

  • http://www.nytvf.com Ned

    Extremely well stated, and from the heart.

  • benblair

    Finally someone has said what I've been trying to get others to hear for two weeks. I'm glad you put this out there Tim. I wish people would take a breathe and be more open to the “ubuntu” mentality (I am, because we are), and do more picking each other up and drop the tearing each other down. THANKS for writing this.

  • http://www.blakecalhoun.com Blake Calhoun

    Well said. Thanks Tim.

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  • http://twitter.com/richardburns richardburns

    As someone who has produced a bunch of cultural events for the community over the years at MacWorld, NAB and in New York City, I can tell you the difficult lies in the make-up of the community. First, there is tons of diversity which is good except bad when looking for a sponsor. NAB has tons of sponsors because the show caters to one type of person. Podcasters come from all walks of life. Many are just doing the web shows on the side. These tend not to be big spenders either. Shows are time consuming, require people and resources. You want a better awards show, pay more money at the door. Or find a big sponsors to cover the costs. On the other side of the picture, being part of this community is just plain fun. Growing pains and all.

  • http://www.lg15today.blogspot.com modelmotion

    The “Tubefilter guys” own the Streamys brand. No one argues with that. What the discussion is about is what the best awards show would be to represent the web series community via the IAWTV. The IAWTV needs to be independent. It is really that simple. But the IAWTV does not own the Streamys. The choice is really up to Tubefilter on whether or not to allow the IAWTV to own and operate the Streamys.

  • http://twitter.com/Mark_Gantt Mark Gantt

    Tim-
    You have always told your opinion and what I believe to be the truth. Thank you for this post. It's easy to get wrapped up in the frenzy of other people's opinions but I appreciate yours here.
    Thank you for that. I agree with you about the Mark, Brady and Drew. They have been a huge part of this growing community. They have always been a place to go to for the latest news and great networking events. I value them and appreciate them. I'm not sure what is going on with the “Rebuild the Trust” site and what's happening there. I look forward to the IAWTV meeting… well look forward, is optimistic, lets say I'm glad we're doing it. As someone that's new to the space I am so grateful for all the pioneers in front of me, the Big Fantastic guys, LonelyGirl15's Miles and Greg, Blake Calhoun, Electric Farm and more. These guys all took web video and dramatic storytelling to a new level. Thank god for them. These are the growing pains but I agree to just kick the Tubefilter boys to the curb for this fuck up is stupid. Let's get clear on WHAT REALLY HAPPENED and MOVE ON and continue to create and not ask permission!!
    Continue to do what you do Tim!
    Mark

  • http://www.fixitinpost.net Zack Arnold

    And the voice of reason rises above the rest of the chatter. Thank you Tim for posting this. SPOT ON.

  • Robb

    Tim, let's not forget that those in the webseries community, like myself, who have been critical of the Streamys and Tubefilter and the “IAWTV”, are ALSO giving our time, energy and money (lots of money). Our blood sweat and tears. Just like the “Tubefilter Guys.” Just like you have. We ALL understand what it's like to be in Tubefilter's shoes to a certain extent. This fledgling industry is not for the faint of heart. The web can be… ego bruising.

    BUT, if we don't like the way that Tubefilter operates, we SHOULD say something about it. That's how a community works.

    Tubefilter HAS helped to elevate web entertainment and the community, I agree with that. But elevated it to what? To where?

    That's the rub.

    It hasn't escaped a lot of us web producers that the most vehement defenders of the New Media New Status Quo, are also the ones who have benefitted the most from it.

    I see where Tubefilter is “leading” us. I see where their vision on the community is headed. I admire their enthusiasm and initiative. I get what they're doing. I understand their vision.

    I just don't like it.

    And I don't have to.

  • Jesse Warren

    Great article, Tim! I think the talk of a “badly produced awards show” will fade out as soon as bigger news hits the web community. So keep creating great content everyone!

    ~ JW

  • http://twitter.com/funnyjones Jonesy

    This is uplifting…