Who the heck is Greg Benson? Interview coming soon!

Greg Benson, actor and webutainment creator

You know how it goes....
One minute you're laughing out loud at hilarious and ridiculous videos on YouTube and the next you're emailing Hollywood producers asking them if they would like to do an interview with you. We've all been there, I know. And so it happens that I will shortly be interviewing Mr Greg Benson about his life as a Hollywood actor, director, producer, writer, husband, keyboard player, restaurant owner....

Where to start with Greg?
The truth is that Greg is everywhere you look. The Guild? He directed part of Season 1 and they just finished shooting part of Season 4 at his house. Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show? Greg directed that, too. In fact, if you go to MediocreFilms.com (they're better than they sound) you will find a host of hilarious videos that have all been touched by Greg one way or another, like Two Hot Girls in The Shower.

Yeshmin: A man of our time
Recently on YouTube, Mediocrefilms have released a series of films starring Yeshmin Blechin, an everyman. Yeshmin is the epitome of anti-hero, and these videos will make you weep. Weep tears of joy:



The fun bit!
I'll be talking to Greg in a couple of days so here's YOUR chance to send me some questions for him. He's worked with them all - Day, Becker, Evey, Benz, Brando, Nalts...the stories he must have! Leave your questions in the comments here or via Twitter and I'll get through as many as I can. Wish me luck and I'll post the video as soon as I've recovered!

Kim Evey and Jenni Powell: Celebrating the web video community

Jenni Powell and Kim Evey

The Heart of the Matter
In testing times it is often hard to know what to do to help. There have been many thousands of words written and spoken about the Streamy event last Sunday. That conversation is necessary and worthwhile. The web entertainment community is built by people who want to make things happen, who do not sit back and wait for permission, who, above all, want to make a difference. That might be making people laugh, or think, or escape for a short while. Or make them want to party. Kim and Jenni have stepped up to organise a special event tomorrow.

A Winning Celebration
In the heat of emotions unleashed on Sunday one thing - the one thing that really mattered - was lost:

"In response to a Streamy Awards ceremony that felt like it didn’t serve to fully honor the very deserving winners in all areas of web entertainment, Kim Evey (producer of The Guild) and myself have decided to put together an informal gathering of as many of the winners as are available this Thursday, April 15th for an evening of celebration. We have asked each winner to speak for 1 – 2 minutes on their creation and what working in web video means to them, why they love working in web video, as well as sharing thoughts on the issue of net neutrality, which effects our industry as a whole.

This is not about airing out grievences about the Streamy Awards ceremony, it is about celebrating those who were chosen by their peers as the best representations of web video in a variety of categories..." (From Jenni Powell's blog)


How you can participate
This event is being held for the web entertainment community. Those who are in the Los Angeles area can attend in person (but please let the organisers know in advance). Everyone else can join in the live stream. These are the details:

Thursday, April 15th at 8 PM PST (7:30 drinks at Amalfi next door)
Acme Comedy Theater
135 S. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2911

Live stream: http://www.acmecomedy.com/livebroadcast.shtml

You could also show your appreciation to Jinx.com who donated the funds for renting the Acme by tweeting them (or even buying one of their cool tees)- THANK YOU JINX!

Search for a #tag
I tweeted a short time ago that we are looking for a suitable #tag for twitter so we can all use the same one tomorrow. We've had some suggestions:

#doneright
#streamystoo
#streamykudos
#betterstreamys
#streamycelebration
(thanks to @theonetruebix, @GrrArrgh and @jennipowell)

If you have a suggestion for a short tag that encapsulates the spirit of the event then let us know!

More about Kim and Jenni
Kim Evey is a web entertainer with years of experience including her own Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show and as producer of The Guild. Kim was a live guest on eGuiders yesterday and you can see the recording here.

Jenni Powell also has years in web entertainment from LonelyGirl15 to Production/Admin Assistant for The Guild and Associate Editor at Tubefilter. Jenni also co-hosts the Knights of The Guild Podcast, which you can listen to here.

Thank you for organising this, Kim and Jenni - you are amazing.

Streamy Awards: My list for the People's Choice!

Tomorrow is a big day!

After Pi yesterday and The Streamy Official Nominations being released on Friday it's been fun, fun, fun! Well, apart from the massive migraine, that is. Anyways. I ventured back in front of my screen and found via Whedonesque and thanks to The One True b!X that I saw this from Tubefilter.tv:

"Audience Choice Voting starts on Monday! For those of you who absolutely can’t possibly wait to start voting, blog your best guess of the Audience Choice Award lineup (pick 10 web series!) — the blogger who’s lineup is closest to the official lineup announced at the end of the day on March 16 wins two (2) tickets to the Streamy Awards Ceremony on March 28! Tweet links to your posts to @tubefilter on Twitter "

That's too good to resist! So here's my list:

1) The Guild

Some of you might be aware that I love this webseries for a multitude of reasons. See all the various posts here and there about why. They should be first.

2) Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Yes, it's tough to decide between this and The Guild. Dr Horrible has broken records, moulds and hearts. And inspired me to create my own webseries. Yep, they will probably win :)

3) Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show

This is the best game show I've seen on the Web. If it is a game show. And if it isn't then it's still one of the funniest, freshest shows in webland. I heart Kiko!

4) Two Hot Girls in a Shower

Actually completely Suitable For Work, you'd be hard pressed to find two hotter or funnier girls in shower on the web. The interaction and dialogue is awesome.

5) Legend of Neil

It's a bit naughty and a lot funny. NSFW but you'll check it out anyway because it's got legs (Season 2 is shooting now).

6) Happy Tree Friends

Isn't it great when you can share funny shows with your kids? Possibly not if it's Happy Tree Friends! Very funny with a gory twist every episode guaranteed to delight kids and horrify sensitive adults.

7) Battlestar Galactica: Face of the Enemy

These were very well done and they didn't spare the effects or writing. They (almost!) help to fill the time between Part 1 and 2 of the final season - but I'd have liked to see them released earlier.

8) The Onion News Network

What's not to love about this series? From the people who brought you such stories as "Sony release another piece of..." and "Apple introduces new Laptop with no Keyboard", The Onion continues to take unaware bloggers and commentators by surprise. Perhaps too funny.

9) With the Angels

I love the story and the acting is spot-on. I hope they do well because this is a very good series that builds really well.

10)After Judgement

I'm new to this series but I'm really enjoying so far. The idea behind it is intriguing and the quality of acting and cinematography is very high.

11)Arby and the Chief

Halo, Machinima, taking the action and dialogue to the illogical extremes. This was a ground-breaking series that has stood the test of time for me.

Okaaaay. Did I mention the migraine? It's made it hard to count. And to write much. Or get pictures....So - what are your picks for the People's Choice? If you have a list and blog it don't forget to send them to @tubefilter on Twitter.

Do you have a question for Felicia Day?

If you have, I could be asking her about it very soon!

You will be glad to know that The Guild Season 2 starts on 25th November. In honour of this Whedonage are running a series of articles. Yesterday there was an introduction to Season 2 and a great interview with Vincent Caro (Bladezz). Vincent was a real sport to do the interview and he is a great guy. Next will be more news about The Guild and an interview with Kim Evey. Yes, the Kim Evey, producer of The Guild and star of Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show and Two Hot Girls in the Shower (among many others).

But what about Felicia?

Oh yes, and the other news is that I'll be doing a video interview with Felicia in the next couple of weeks. Now I have promised I will do my best not to bibble (or squeee - hey that sounds like a traditional English dinner!), so we should have that covered. Now I have tons of questions for Felicia but I'm sure everyone does. So if you want me to ask her something then just comment on the Whedonage post and I'll do my best to ask as many questions as possible. My big problem now is how to present the video. I'm not sure the world is ready to see me on a video - how can I get around that? If only I had a way to be on the video without actually being seen....!

Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show: Now with added Wash!

TCMS Season 2 is well under way....

And the latest episode stars a familiar face - Alan Tudyk! I'm a HUGE fan of GTCMS a weekly webseries starring Kiko, whose infectiously happy mangling of the English language is a real pleasure to behold. Each week a guest (or victim) visits with Kiko and her happy band of, er, friends and chaos ensues. In the latest episode lobster fisherman Girly Boy (or Gary Boyd, or Wash!) finds himself in mortal danger. Only the collective strength of Team GTCMS and their balls can save him. 

Who is responsible for this medley of manic madness?

Kim Evey is writer, producer and also stars as Kiko. Ms Evey and her husband Greg Benson also produce a number of other webseries including 

Retarded Policeman (perhaps not what you are expecting and all the better for it)
Two Hot Girls in the Shower (definitely not what you are expecting and infinitely funnier)
The Guild (oh yes! I may have mentioned The Guild before a few hundred times!)

Where can you see this fantastic webseries?

On the Intertubes, of course! You can either view on YouTube or directly at the Crackle.com.

And they are on Facebook, too. I've embedded Season 2, Episode 7 (with Alan Tudyk) here:

What are you waiting for? Watch them all now!

Anything else?

Unicow (he's a unicorn cow), one of Kiko's friends, has his own series with episode 1 called 'Unicow gets laid'. And this is exactly what you would expect. I confidently predict that you won't have seen a funnier deadpan performance from anyone in a Unicow costume before. Enjoy!

ELE Applications close in 3 DAYS!

October 11th is the closing date

So you'd better get cracking or you'll miss the cut off for being considered for the DVD. The numbers of applications are rising, and if the amount of new posts on Wonderflonium.com this morning is anything to go by, the ELE (and Evil WorldofHiglet!) are going to have their work cut out for them looking through them all. All the rules and information are on the Evil League of Evil website so make sure you follow their instructions. I did a post last week with some pointers, too, and there is so much information on the Internet about creating videos that there really is no excuse to have a go. Come on - it can't be worse than this, after all!

My Evil Twin's ELE Competition closes on the 11th, too.

I've had several correct entries to the competition where you can win Evil WorldofHiglet assessing your application to the ELE. You don't need to have done a video and if you win you will get a video on YouTube critiquing your application in best Evil WorldofHiglet style. What? You're too chicken? Thought so....but if you decide to have a go all you need to do is identify all the DVD and the book in this picture. How could I make it more simple? (Note: I wrote 'simpler' first and then cringed and berated myself for such slack use of language. It's all about standards, people).

Stuff happened

And in more, related, news:

• Dr Horrible is finally available from iTunes in the UK and Australia
• Felicia Day has Twittered that Season 2, Ep 1 of The Guild now has a rough cut (very exciting!)
• Felicia has also Twittered that she is appearing in more than 1 episode of a new sitcom, Roommates
• A trailer (complete with spoilers) has been posted on YouTube for Nathan Fillion's new series, Castle which is due to be released in 2009.

And, finally

Dark forces are at work, my friends. A new Evil WorldofHiglet video is due at the end of this week and this one is not to be missed. I can't say anything else about it because it is filed under 'SuperSecretProject' but this is the one. Tell your friends.

PS

Kim Evey was chatting again on the Watch The Guild Community site a couple of days ago after a gruelling weekend of shooting The Guild. She said she still wants a Higlet and that she was going to go and watch the videos. Excited? I was so hyper I nearly forgot to do a screenshot! Hehe. Yes. I am very sad, but - Kim Evey! And anyone (Dani, Chris, Nas, Nathan or anyone else) who tells you I was starting rumours on the chat is completely wrong. It was a misunderstanding, nothing more. 

More Guild Improv - 3 Fridays starting tomorrow!

'Being Humans' is Improvising again
Felicia Day, Jeff Lewis and Sandeep Parikh (Codex, Vork and Zaboo from 'The Guild') are in an Improv Group called 'Being Humans' and they have confirmed three new dates: Friday June 6th, 13th, and 20th. Performances start at 10.30 pm. Go to 'The Guild' website for full details and if you are in the LA area at all, this is the place to be! The cast will be sure to say hello to any Guild fans who make the journey and you could get some photos and memories that will have you envy of your friends for years to come.

Wil Wheaton is Gorgeous and not-so-Tiny...
You know when you've not seen someone for a while and then you do and then you think - Wow! Well, Episode 11 of 'Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show' - a manic, multi-coloured 'Banzai-meets-TisWas' web series has been released and it stars Wil as 'Moshi Swartz' (or is that Mushy Shorts?). 'Gorgeous Tiny...' is frantically funny and is written by Kim Evey (producer on The Guild) and directed by Greg Benson (Director/Editor of The Guild). This episode does not disappoint. And Will sports a very fetching beard. Hmmm. Guess he's completely recovered from his surgery now because he is great fun.