Blog Archive

The Medium is NOT the Message.

– August 14, 2011

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.

Supply and demand.

– June 25, 2011

Some people have expressed frustration regarding the wait between episodes. The frustration is certainly understandable, especially because our episodes are so interconnected. But we don’t have an army of post production specialists who are paid to come in and work 5 days a week. For the bulk of the post work, it’s just me and Bracey, with a couple of talented professionals chipping in along the way for no pay. So it takes a little longer. It’s unfortunate but unavoidable.

As I commented to someone on our Facebook page, we had a choice between a) making the show with whatever resources we had or b) not making the show at all. We chose a). After wrapping on our last two episodes we know for certain that the first season story will be completed, and that’s a major milestone. But there’s still a lot work to be done. We initially said we needed $60,000 to do episodes 5 and 6 and we raised just under half that amount. We decided we were going forward no matter what, and as a result we had to put a lot on credit to make up the difference. We also incur monthly expenses that we’ll have to pay during the post process. So if some people are wondering why we’re still asking for money, that’s why. (And this is not including any unforeseen circumstances, like, say, hitting a deer.)

In other, cooler news: Bracey and I appear in the summer issue of Moviemaker Magazine on newsstands now in the States! I remember buying this magazine throughout high school, so this is a little bit of a deal. Thanks to Sheri Candler and author Jeffrey Goowin!

Season 1 is a wrap!

– June 23, 2011

On Saturday June 18 we shot scene 6-30, the last scene to be shot for season one. It’s been a long and strange road, but now we know for certain that this first season of story will be finished and out for all to see. We’ve said for a long time that the kind of show we were making would really become clear once you’re able to sit down and watch all 6 episodes together, and now that will finally be possible!

There’s still much work to be done in post-production. We’d calculated and set a fundraising goal of $60,000 to produce these last two episodes, knowing we’d begin production in May no matter what. As of this writing we have only raised about half of that amount, and while we will continue to do our best to finish these episodes, work will slow down until we can raise a little more money.

We’d planned for a possible release date of episode 5 in August and episode 6 in September or October. But we need to raise at least another $10,000 to make this happen. Please help spread the word about the show and encourage people to donate at VODO. We’re so close to finishing the first viewer-funded, torrent-distributed dramatic series. Help us get there!

Alternative funding suggestions are welcome! Please email contact@pioneerone.tv with ideas!

As always, none of this would have been possible without the support of our viewers. A sincere thanks from the whole Pioneer One team to all of you. Just a little bit farther to go!

Over the hump.

– May 29, 2011

By my calculations, we are more than halfway through this production block of episodes 5 and 6. We have only one scene left until episode 5, “Sea Change,” is completely in the can. The breakneck pace of the first two weeks is over. From here on out, it’s piecemeal shooting, with only one two-day stint in Binghamton next month.

Then it’s finished.

Well, this leg of the journey. The nature of a series means that it’s never really over, always more story to be told (and there is lots, lots more Pioneer One). But this first season, this way of doing things on the cheap and under the radar, this last year plus of scrounging and begging and borrowing, will be over. But we’ll have accomplished something amazing, something that I couldn’t really conceive of even a few short months ago.

I should stop there so I have something to say when it’s really over. There’s still lots more to be done.

The week ahead.

– April 25, 2011

We’re meeting with our new DP today and recording a new commentary for the Redux version of episode 1. It’s going to be part of a bundle of all the past commentaries and soundtracks that will be one of the donation incentives for the $50 level. The episode 4 page on VODO is going to be up for a while since we probably won’t have episode 5 ready to go out until late summer, so we wanted to give new fans access to all that stuff.

The new video blog posted yesterday is the first to feature the ‘thank-yous’ that donors get at $25 and up. This proved to be a very popular donation level so we’re going to continue that with episode 4.

Bracey and I leave for Binghamton to prep a week from today.

Episode 4 Release Date Set

– April 21, 2011

We’ve just received confirmation from the VODO team that episode 4 will be released on Thursday, April 28th.

This is the last of the episodes from the September-October 2010 production block, during which we shot 2, 3 and 4 simultaneously. Production begins on episodes 5 and 6, the final two of the first season, on May 5.

UPDATE: According to VODO, the episode will go live at 12 noon EST/5 pm GMT!

Jamie King at SXSW

– March 19, 2011

Jamie King, the founder of VODO and director of Steal This Film among other projects, chatted a bit about Pioneer One with DotTV at South by Southwest. Check out the video:

The State of Things.

– January 22, 2011

More has developed in the past week than in the whole previous month. We have a rough version of episode 3 that we like, and 3 is a tricky episode. We also saw a rough cut of 4 that, everyone agrees, is our best effort yet. It’s that point in a show where it’s clear that things are firing on all cylinders. And to get that feeling, even in its unfinished form, was great.

The release of episode 2 had complications that I think kept us from hitting our donation target. We have our own theories, but if you have one, please post your thoughts in the comments. That said, we’ve been trying to figure out how to move forward with the last two episodes with what we *do* have. We still haven’t figured out the details, but we do have our resolve back, which is just as, if not more, important.

There’s still much work to be done in getting 3 and 4 in a finished state for release. Right now there’s only 2 or 3 of us, depending on the day, who are able to do the post work. It’s a big job, and lacking more manpower and resources, it happens at the pace that it happens. It’s not ideal, but there it is. I have a feeling the show is really going to start to thrive once all 6 are finished and available to be watched one right after the other, which is another reason why I feel so strongly about getting them made.

Break’s over.

– January 18, 2011

More posts coming soon. It’s been a wild, crazy month.

Down to Business

– December 17, 2010

Well, it looks like there might actually be some people reading this blog now. Thanks for the donations everyone. I know we keep saying this everywhere, but it is 100% true: we couldn’t have made these next three without your support, and we need you to finish the final two. And I think those last two episodes are worth it, if I do say so myself. We’re also likely going to shoot them on Canon 5D DSLRs, which will give them an amazing look and feel and should step up the production values.

If you have any suggestions for content you’d like to see here at the studio, please emailvodo@pioneerone.tv with ‘Studio Feedback” in the subject line.

Also, please submit questions to vodo@pioneerone.tv with ‘Blog Question” as the subject and I’ll answer them here.

Seems like we had some hiccups on the day of release, what with the site crashing twice under the traffic. No so good, but not for a bad reason, I suppose. Now it seems the kinks are finally being worked out in the website and the dust is settling some. Looking forward to hearing from you!

-Josh

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