We see the show as an experiment too. But more an experiment in storytelling and a test of our own abilities. Most of the attention we’ve gotten thus far has been due to our distribution method via VODO and BitTorrent, which is fine, especially given that we only have 4-episodes worth of content available so far. I’m certain once the remaining two episodes are released and the season can be watched in its entirety, more attention will be paid to the actual content of the show rather than its delivery method.
That said, we’ve noticed something interesting happening. It seems like motives are being ascribed and assumptions made about why we are doing the show the way we are. It’s not because we’re trying to bring down Big Media, or because we believe all content should be free. We’re making the show like this because it was an opportunity to get it made at all when traditional means didn’t seem a realistic option for us. VODO presented an opportunity to get the show seen by millions–an irresistible proposition for any content creator. We never planned to make the show through viewer donations until viewer donations started coming in great numbers. So we kept moving forward.
And we will continue moving forward. Episode 5 is in the final phases of post production and episode 6, our season finale, is being edited as I type this. We’re going to get them out there and then keep doing what we’ve always done: see what resources and opportunities are available to us to get the show made. Because it’s all about the show. The show is our message.
I hear you on the distribution method not being the big story. The success of Pioneer One got me excited since it was what I was planning on doing for Your Face is a Saxophone. I figured, throw it on BitTorrent, CC-license it, frame it as a rebellion against Big Media, and watch the donations roll in. As it turned out, uh, no.
However, doing all that stuff has gotten it seen by more people than I’d ever have dreamed of had I tried to pitch it to a commercial television network. Hardly the wildfire that Pioneer One’s been (partially since you beat me to it), but not an insignificant number at all. And we raised enough to make a second episode.
But ultimately, funding and releasing a show like this is just logistical. Artistically, it’s not a replacement for having a great story to tell, and promotionally, it’s not a replacement for having an audience who wants to be told that story. It does, however, make it a bit easier.
Zacqary Adam Green
Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you completely.
Josh
The first time I downloaded the show(when ep 1 came out), it was a promotion on uTorrent and I may have downloaded it by mistake but I watched it nonetheless and found the pilot to be extremely interesting. My one complaint though is that it was ungodly frustrating having to wait months between releases. I loved it for the great pilot, and the lack of Hollywood elements mostly, and I’m sure the payoff to all this building up will not be disappointing.
I won’t lie the medium did matter to me, and I loved seeing bittorrent being used legally to support a great crew rather than for piracy, but I don’t think the medium itself would get me to follow the series to the end. The story is great and that is mainly why this series is getting so much attention.
Bayan Rafeh
@ Bayan Rafeh: Thanks Bayan. I hope you’re right, and that’s the point I was trying to make. VODO and BT may have gotten people in the door, but people (hopefully) come back because of the content itself. I’m happy there are people who discovered the show through the uTorrent promotion and came back for more.
Josh