I’ll take any excuse to post about our friends Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf, the masterminds behind Epic-FU. And then, Zadi throws me a softball!

I couldn’t afford to buy a ticket to Sundance.  So, I did the next best thing: Brought Sundance…to my apartment. This week we have a very special episode of The Best Short Films In The World featuring the filmmakers of the Sundance 2009 Film Festival.

In part 1 of our Sundance Film Festival 2009 Special, I sit down with Bryan Gaynor and Chadd Harbold of Last Pictures to discuss their Sundance-selected short film, “Asshole” starring Vice Magazine founder Gavin McInnes. I also interview Jessica Burstein, Robbie Norris, and Bartow Church of Dumb Bunny Productions in regards to their Sundance-selected short film, “Abbie Cancelled“. 

Check back later this week (January 22nd) to watch part 2 of our special! Featuring video FROM Sundance!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Kathleen Grace, established web series producer and co-creator of The All for Nots and The Burg, to talk about what a video creator needs to create a successful web series.

Q: What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments in the online video space?
A: I consider both The Burg and the All for Nots pretty great accomplishments, but in different ways. the Burg was awesome cause we all created a show from the ground up and it did really well. We generated a lot of buzz and built a fan base. The All for Nots was an accomplishment in a different way in that it was a much bigger production and we had to learn how to work with a “studio” and get notes, work within budgets, and deliver on a strict deadline.

Q: Who have been some of your favorite people to work with? Why?
A: I love the casts and crews of both shows in different ways. They were all amazing to work with. One person that I really liked working with on the All for Nots was Melissa Schneider. It was the first time Thom and I had another producer involved. She really supported us and pushed us to work better. She was really in it to win it. She was really fun and hard working.

Q: What advise do you have for some one who is planning to make a new web series?
A: Make sure you have a hook. Don’t just make a show about 5 friends hanging out . Make a satire about 5 friends hanging out in an up and coming neighborhood that everyone loves to make fun of. Make a show about a fake band going cross country. Also make sure it’s quick and easy to shoot. Something you can do while having a day job. And make it interactive.

Q: What are some qualities that a web producers needs to be successful?
A: Tenacity. Never give up. Work harder than anyone else. But as tenacious as you are be open minded and flexible. Always look new, creative solutions to problems.

Q: Several online producers like yourself have agents, managers, or both. If you had to choose between one or the other, which do you think makes the most sense for a rising video creator?
A: I have both an agent and a manager. My production partner Thom and I are both repped by CAA and Generate, a management company in LA. Each has it’s strengths. Managers are great at creating projects for you. Agents are great at selling projects for you. For a young video creator I would advise getting a manager- they will introduce you to people. You’ll meet 5 new comedians or writers or actors. They’ll help push you to create new and different things.

Two years ago, in a nondescript office park in Santa Monica, many friendly LA online video faces met for the first time. The original cast of characters included Steve and Zadi of Epic Fu, the Amanda Across America team, Alex Albrecht from Diggnation, Ask a Ninja, French Maid TV, Big Fantastic and other rockstar videomakers like Noodlescar, Invisible Engine, Mickipedia, The Rey Brothers, and Steve Garfield.

Wow, look how far videoblogging has come.

To fit with the reunion theme, many of original party-goers are invited to drink on us and our co-hosts and we hope all our new LA friends will join the fun as well! So stop on by and find your favorite friend from years past or come make some new ones. The location is still TBD. No costumes necessary unless that’s your thing.

Please let us know if you’ll be there, and here’s a Facebook page for the event.

I mentioned before that Erik Beck was up for the title of Hottest Male Web Host and though you and I both secretly know there’s no competition, we have to let the others know too. He’s made it to the finals and he’s up against 8 other male web hosts.

The male Web hosts left standing are: Leo Laporte (This Week in Tech), Gary Vaynerchuk (WineLibraryTV), Jeff MacPherson (Tiki Bar TV), Erik Beck (Indy Mogul), Michael Somerville (Love, Somerville), Kevin Rose (Diggnation), Martin Sargent (Internet Superstar), Chris Leavins (Cute with Chris) and David Price (The Middle Show).

So if you haven’t voted, VOTE NOW is your time to vote - you have until THIS FRIDAY, May 2 at 2pm PST. Be sure to tell all your friend because time is running out!

Have you ever watched Indy Mogul and thought to yourself, “Hey, this Erik guy is one sharp looking dude”? Well, you’re not the only one. Daisy Whitney from TV Week thinks so too. She’s compiled a list of The Hottest Male Web Hosts, and our very own Erik Beck is up against Eric Gunnar Rochow from Greenhouse. So if you’ve ever entertained those thoughts, now is the time to let those feelings rush forth. Vote Now! Polling ends Friday, May 2nd.

GO ERIK!

Congrats to Ben Relles and Amber Lee Ettinger and the Barely Political crew for making many year end “Tops” of 2007 lists. Ben brought some great characters into the world this year but none more newsworthy than “Obama Girl”. My favorite: Obama Girl listed as one of 2007’s Most Influential Woman with folks like Hillary Clinton. First, it was the internet, and now it’s the world! Check out some of the lists and related press:

Google: Top 10 Video of the Year
This was selected by Google based on a number of factors.

People Magazine: Top Web Videos of the Year
(Print Ediiton) Obama Girl was top video listed

MSN: List of Most Influential Women of 2007
She was #6 on the list along with Hilary Clinton, Tina Fey…

AOL Best YouTube Moments
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2007/12/18/best-youtube-moments-of-2007/

AP: Top Cultural Moments of the Year
They listed Obama Girl in June section.

I’m trying to refrain myself from flogging Channel Frederator’s The Meth Minute 39. But Dan Meth made this one is so funny I can’t help myself.

Wow! Awesome… Juxtapoz, THE magazine for hi-brow lowbrow artwork, has posted “Nite Fite” on the site.

I remember discovering an issue of their magazine for the first time when I was a college sophomore and thinking “If I could someday be in this magazine then that would be cool as hell”
And today I can finally say… this is cool as hell.

Special thanks to Jeaux for helping to get it in front of the right eyeballs. You are hard-rockin’ Jeaux.

–Dan Meth

As if “Internet People” wasn’t cool enough.

The first episode of Channel Frederator’s first original cartoon series, The Meth Minute 39, was an instant smash hit, seen more than 4,000,000 times with over 10,000 comments in our super-distribution (courtesy of Next New Networks).

On the heels of CF’s 100th episode, I’m extremely proud announce the official debut of our weekly series, The Meth Minute 39. Starting today, and every Thursday into next July, the original vision of New York filmmaker Dan Meth explodes, with a cartoon featuring James Brown crossed with “The Matrix.”
(And check out some of the internet love already coming Dan’s way on his blog.)

Bookmark the page, set your RSS feed, or hit ‘Subscribe’ on your iTunes or YouTube.

You’re going to enjoy it. Everyone else is.