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It was the IAWTV LA meeting last night
The IAWTV is the International Academy of Web Television, which is:

"...an independent non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of leaders in the field of web television, web video and the digital entertainment industry. The principle mandate of the organization is to oversee the selection of nominees and winners for the annual Streamy Awards™ which recognize outstanding achievement in episodic shows produced originally for broadband distribution." (from the IAWTV.org website)


Like many other people I tuned into Twitter last night hoping to pick up a feel of what was going on at the meeting. I'm not a member of the IAWTV but I feel that I'm part of the wider community and I'm very interested in finding out what the future holds. It was hard to fathom what was going on from the few people who were tweeting during the 3 hour meeting and I was relieved when I read that New Mediacracy were going to be recording a podcast straight afterwards. I knew that meant that I would get some answers.

Two hours (and eight pages of notes) later...
...and I can say that if you feel that you are a stakeholder in the community too, then you need to listen to this podcast. "The One About The IAWTV" has regulars Steve Woolf, Zadi Diaz and Chris McCaleb talking with Tony Valenzuela, Casey McKinnon, Barrett Garese, Brett Register and Rudy Jahchan about the meeting and the implications for the future. They give some information about what happened at the IAWTV meeting and the discussions they have about what they would like to see in the future are interesting, passionate and food for thought.

You should also read the post Jeff Koenig wrote before the IAWTV meeting "15 Ideas the IAWTV Should Consider to Help Protect Independent Web Series". It received a well-deserved mention on the podcast and is very well written and thought out.

Outside looking in
I will be writing about this in more depth in the next couple of days but the issues they raised about gatekeepers, structures and inclusion are things that I have been wrestling with and they affect everyone - creators and consumers alike. New Media is just that - new. It doesn't have to repeat the same mistakes old media made. Listening to the podcast gave me more hope that the future will be better.

P.S.
If you listen to the end I get a shout out which was a very pleasant surprise (except for the dog who jumped up when I yelled). Two for two, which is pretty humbling (Kim Evey and Jenni Powell also gave me a lovely shout out on the previous New Mediacracy epsiode, "Episode 12: Post-Streamys Breakdown and a New Season of The Guild"). I'll try not to let it go to my head.

The Streamys: Rebuild the trust?

This is what the Streamys 2010 should be remembered for - excellence rewarded. Felica Day FTW

EDIT: Added link Derek Housman's tumblr post

These wounds are made for picking
The last two weeks have tested the mettle of many supporters of Web TV, webseries and web communities as a whole. After the events three weeks ago there have been claims and counter-claims across the web. And now there is a new movement afoot. Here are some recommended reads:

http://news.tubefilter.tv/2010/04/26/the-truth-about-the-streamy-awards-and-the-iawtv
A special Tubfilter Editoral from the creators of the Streamys Awards, Drew Baldwin, Brady Brim-DeForest, Joshua Cohen, Marc Hustvedt and Jamison Tilsner

http://rebuildthetrust.org/
The Manifesto from RebuildTheTrust

http://www.caseymckinnon.com/blog/personal/2010/04/26/the-elephant-in-the-room/
A rebuttal from Casey McKinnon, new media creator

http://rebuildthetrust.org/community/comments.php?DiscussionID=6&page=1#Item_2
@theonetruebix has asked for details about who does what at the IAWTV, Tubefilter and the Streamys

http://rebuildthetrust.org/community/comments.php?DiscussionID=7&page=1#Item_1
@Jeff_Koenig has asked for clarification on the 'takeover' section of the RebuildTheTrust manifesto

http://www.barrettgarese.com/post/551640683/my-total-speculation-on-what-the-truth-about-the
@SpyTap, Barret Garese, speculates on what it all might mean

http://kentnichols.com/2010/04/26/streamys-and-iawtv-there-can-be-only-one/
@kentnichols (AskANinja.com) looks at what might happen

http://derekhousman.tumblr.com/post/551571819/building-the-future
Derek Housman adds his take on the situation (thanks to Jeff_Koenig for commenting with this link)

The road to hell is paved with good intentions
My Gran was fond of that saying, usually applied when one or other of us had neglected to do homework, dishes or another decade of the Rosary but really meant to do it very soon.
Most people mean well but the gap between the intention and the result can be - well, very gappy indeed.

Confusion Reigns
I have no idea what is going on.
You have no idea what is going on.
We have no idea what is going on.

All I know is the following:

• I love me some webseries and have a lot of respect for the creators out there doing their thing
• I cannot shake the suspicion that money, influence and things unrelated to promoting new media/online entertainment are behind many of the issues being aired in public on both sides
• Transparency is a good thing as long as it works both ways
• Change is not always good, or bad

What I hoped the Streamys would be about:

• Celebrating achievements and efforts of the whole community of creators in the new media space.
• Promoting online entertainment as an industry to the world as a whole.
• Showing that creators can come from anywhere - that the quality of the product and the sincerity of the pursuit of the craft is more important than where you live, who you know and the funding you receive.

What I hoped the IAWTV would be about:

• Setting standards of propriety and openness that the rest of the new media/online entertainment industry could work towards.
• Building on the efforts of the creators to establish online entertainment as a vibrant and diverse community with common goals, standards and aspirations
• Organising, or at least setting standards for, outreach, learning and technical workshops for ALL the community

What happens next?
I have no clue. Letting the dust settle seems an appropriate response at this juncture because I have no idea what is really going on. The last three weeks have left me heartsore for all our community. There is more shock and disbelief today. People are trying to do the right thing. It's just a pity that there is no consesus on what that might be.