Felicia Day Makes a Legendary Decision

Felicia has something to smile about

Late to the news, but huge congratulations to Legendary Entertainment for managing to broker a deal with video legend, Felicia Day, for the Geek & Sundry YouTube channel.

Ms Day has a fearsome reputation for insisting on being fairly compensated for her ground-breaking work and keeping control of her intellectual property (it sounds logical, but how many creators have lost these rights to their own work over the years?) In 2009, when The Guild was the subject of intense negotiations with various parties, Ms day stuck to her guns and came out with a deal with MSN/Xbox that allowed her to keep ownership of her work.

It's too early to know what this might mean in terms of cross-platform work, but there is every reason to be excited about this news.

From GMAOnline:

Day reiterated her excitement: "As someone who's been working in digital entertainment for eight years, I am excited to see my company grow with Legendary, and to be able to keep making award-winning content within the changing digital landscape. And as a creator, I look forward to making fantastic things together, bringing projects I am passionate about to all platforms."

 Read more on GamesIndustry.biz

It's easy to forget that YouTube was launched less than ten years ago, Amazon is only just ten years old, and iTunes was released less than 20 years ago. In that short time the way entertainment is created and distributed has undergone a phenomenal change. Creators have not always negotiated the new reality well, and future-proofing contracts to protect works is an on-going challenge.

Congratulations to Ms Day (and Kim Evey and Sheri Bryant, who set up Geek & Sundry with Ms Day in 2012) for showing that it is possible to forge your own path and create a future that is, well, legen - wait for it -

Want to work with Felicia Day and Jenni Powell? Try Geek & Sundry's new channel!

from http://geekandsundry.com/view/geek-sundry-launches-new-channel/

UPDATE: The link to the SUBMISSIONS page is now working! Are you going to give it a go?

If you've been waiting for your big chance to break into the next level on YouTube, then you need to know about a hugely exciting opportunity that has just been announced.

Felicia Day's multi-layered Geek & Sundry YouTube Channels have just added a new venture - Geek & Sundry Vlogs. There is something for everyone, so if you're looking for a new vlogger - or want to check one out for the first time -  head on over to YouTube (also: Felicia with bangs...)

From http://www.youtube.com/geekandsundryvlogs

And - they are looking for new talent:

It kind of gets better, if that’s possible. These lucky vloggers? They’re not vlogging for us in a vacuum. Each of the twenty vloggers will be personally mentored by Miss Felicia Day herself, as well as the extremely talented and very awesome Jenni Powell, who hails from the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. (Squee?) Vloggers will have access to marketing training, extra promotion, exclusive collaborations, opportunities for access to events, resources, and even a per-video stipend. Yeah, totally dream job, right?! 

But, but … how can I be a part of Geek & Sundry Vlogs? You ask, stomping your foot in the Wonka Chocolate Factory … You’re in luck, Miss Veruca Salt. We’re accepting submissions for new vloggers all summer long!

How often do you get the chance to work with such talented people? Felicia Day has won so many awards and accolades for her work, and she has always been focussed on giving back to the community. Jenni Powell is another powerhouse with years of experience developing and creating online work, and is one of the founders of Celebrate The Web. They are fantastic people to work with and this is a huge opportunity.

If you have a current Vlog, or have been preparing to set one up, then you need to head over to the Geek & Sundry website. The submission page is due to be up today (May 20th) and as soon as it is I'll update this page with the link. In the meantime check out the new Vlogs that are already there!

Felicia is no April Fool - get your Geek on Tomorrow!

Geek and Sundry Logo from geekandsundry.com

Earlier this week Felicia Day announced that she would be hosting a TEN HOUR GOOGLE+ HANGOUT MARATHON to promote her new programmes on her new YouTube 'Geek and Sundry' channel. With a whole new stable of shows in the pipeline there is bound to be something for everyone. AND it's a fundraiser for charity, too.

Today the schedule has been published for tomorrow's event so you can plan your day accordingly:

10:00am – Welcome to the Hangout!

10:30am – Yoga with Alicia Marie

11:00am – Introducing our charity: Best Friends Animal Society

11:20am – Sword & Laser Show interview with co-host Tom Merritt

11:40am – J!NX Tee-shirt Giveaway with the owners and creators

12:00pm – The Art of Web Series Panel: Featuring Kim Evey (The Guild), Tony V (Black Box TV), Wilson Cleveland (Leap Year), and Tina Cesa Ward (Anyone But Me)

1:00pm – LIVE Fan Art Contest! We want submissions from YOU – draw and win prizes based on chat votes!

1:40pm – Chat with Steve Dengler of MegaCynics (CHARITY SPONSOR)

2:00pm – Novel Writer’s Panel: “Creating Great Characters” with Patrick Rothfuss (Name of the Wind), John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), Amber Benson (Death’s Daughter)

3:00pm – YOMYOMF Chat with Kev Jumba

3:30pm – Dark Horse Motion Comics Chat with Erik Bruhwiler, Animator and Producer

4:00pm – Cryptozoic Trading Cards Opening (CHARITY SPONSOR)

4:30pm – LIVE DANCE BREAK and Fan Dance competition to Public domain songs!

5:00pm – “Romance in Video Games” chat with Dragon Age creator David Gaider

5:30pm – “Indie Video Games: How To” with Bastion creator Greg Kasavin

6:00pm - “Casual Games: Designing Good Ones” with PopCap producer Matthew Johnson (Bejeweled, Peggle)

6:30pm – E-Sports! Chat with Day[9]TV’s Sean Plott

7:00pm – Chris Hardwick talks Nerdist YouTube Channel

7:30pm – NASA Astronomers Chat with Carolyn Brinkworth and Robert Hurt

8:00pm – LIVE Crowd Source writing “Geek and Sundry”, the one hour buddy drama.

9:00pm – WORLD PREMIERE: The Guild cast members Sandeep Parikh & Robin Thorsen and more perform to the fan-written “Geek and Sundry”

9:30pm – FIRE SALE; Give away remaining Prizes

9:50pm – GRAND PRIZE Giveaway!!!

10:00pm – ANNOUNCE CHARITY FUNDRAISER TOTAL – GOODBYE!

Yes, it is April Fool's Day tomorrow but no, this isn't a joke. I mean, you can trust Felicia, can't you? She would never try and trick people*. With lots of audience participation built in, so many prizes to be won and a great line up I am curious to see how the Google servers hold up!

It all kicks off tomorrow at 10:00 AM PT on Google + here: www.gplus.to/geekandsundry

See you there!

* You know, I don't keep score or bear a grudge. But Rick Roll. That's all I'm going to say.