Moving on…
Last night Rudy and I had a very candid conversation with one of the folks at Tubefilter. He’s a great guy that I’ve known since early 2007 and he’s never fed me any bullshit. As a result, he finally talked with us about what’s been happening behind the scenes.
Firstly, I’m not going to reveal the details of our conversation since he made it clear that this wasn’t something Tubefilter wanted to discuss online. As forward-thinking as they are with their online presence, they feel it’s important to keep certain business affairs off the web. Completely understandable. But, if you read Liz Miller’s article on NewTeeVee today, you’ll see the gist of what we talked about.
Over the past few months there’s been a lot of bullshit surrounding the Streamys and yesterday’s blog post just reflected that I can’t take any more of it. You know the expression “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”? At this point, I feel like they’re trying to fool us a fourth time and it’s really trying the community’s patience. Some of the community wants to fight, some want to forget, all want to move on.
Here’s what I think should happen:
- Tubefilter should stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes and be completely honest with us from now on.
- IAWTV members should appoint a new chair and board of directors (not necessarily 100% new, but definitely approved by the community) made up of a devoted selection of creators and executives that have the time to be involved. I don’t think it’s necessary that Tubefilter have two people on the board of directors, as long as they have one liaison for the Streamys.
- The two organizations should work together to plan the 2011 Streamys.
Yes, I really did just say that.
From what I’ve heard and seen over the past few weeks, Tubefilter (although they never properly apologized the way we wanted them to) has their tails between their legs and wants to prove that they can still make a great award show. I think we should give them a chance… but under the supervision of the IAWTV. I would like to see the Chair (or an appointed board member) overseeing all the decisions made for next year, and members of the IAWTV volunteering to help with the preparations.
This may not be what either Tubefilter or the IAWTV want to do, but a compromise has to be made in order for us (the community) to move on to other issues (e.g. union agreements, IMDb credits, etc.). I think that giving them another chance, but under heavy supervision, is a fair idea. What do you think?
[Above photo (cc) Matthew W. Jackson]
Excellent article Casy!
Thanks, John!
I agree, we’re all at the point that we need to move on from this BS. The Streamys failed, we recognize that there needs to be change. Be open and honest about the change that is going to be made. And, let the actual community have a stronger voice in what changes are made.
Nice post, Casey.
You hit upon something that has always bothered me about this debacle. I only know five people in this whole world who are devoted enough to sacrifice 100% of their time and financial well-being for the Streamys, and they’re the guys who are already doing it. If the tubefilter guys aren’t making the Streamys, then who would? Not I. I don’t think most of the creators I know have the time to make the Streamys happen. It’s clear that the Tf guys know they fucked up (everyone we know has been reminding them non-stop for three weeks). Presenting a new system by which we help the very people who founded this in the first place makes the most sense.
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@Jamie: Well said.
@Matt: Exactly. I would’ve helped sooner but they were too closed. Next year, the IAWTV needs to be involved… it’s such a simple concept, and I hope everyone can just leave their egos at the door and work together.
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This.
And who, in your mind, constitutes the community that would approve this board? Because I know that it’s not going to be representative of web series creators overall, just like it wasn’t representative when the IAWTV first came into existence. How does one solve the inherent problem of not possibly being able to actually represent a creator base that is so wide and varied?
Also, you must see the irony in calling for Tubefilter to “stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes and be completely honest with us from now on” and yet keeping your conversation with your inside person over there secret. With so many people citing a lack of transparency as one of their major grievances with this entire situation, I would ask you to implore your inside person to provide all the people who care about this issue the same insight that your person is providing you.
@Matthew: The IAWTV is made up of a LOT of creators from the community, so I believe we can approve a decent creator-centric board. And when it comes to our source, we were told this information in confidence. Please don’t point a finger at me just because I’m being trustworthy to a friend. Bad form, sir, bad form.
My first question is whether of not the IAWTV has governing rules?
My second question is when will they be re-written?
My suggestion is this overhaul should be completed by end of May because the clock is ticking for 2011.
The IAWTV will need at least six months of firefighting to put out this last blaze.
I hope this gets resolved soon because the ones I’ve been listening to – winners, nominees & attendees – still have a bad taste in their mouths.
Thanks for the space Casey.
@Stan: Apparently there are governing rules, but I’m not sure they are finished. Members of the IAWTV haven’t seen them yet (as the academy IS a very new organization). I will ask for more information at the meeting in mid-May. It’s quite possible they will not need an overhaulin’, we shall see. Yes, there is a lot more work to do, but we’ll have a better idea of the scope of it once we have our meeting. Trust me, we ALL have a bad taste in our mouths… Thanks for your two cents, Stan!
Casey, everything I say seems to be bad form in your eyes. Although I appreciate the “Hook” reference, Rufio, please realize that I’m trying to encourage you to use the leverage that you have to engage your person at Tubefilter to be as honest with and as open with the rest of the community as they were with you. At no point what so ever did I ask you to betray any confidence. I pointed out the irony, I asked you to engage on behalf of the community that you represent.
I’ll work hard to send all future communications through Jolene Blalock, so they’ll be interpreted as non-confrontational, which is how they are meant to be read. Fair? :)
@Matthew: If you want to get along, try being a little more diplomatic and less accusatory next time. I would love nothing more than to tell everyone what he told me, but he told me under the promise that we wouldn’t say anything about it online. My point that “Tubefilter should stop pulling the wool over our eyes” is part of that… I WANT them to come out and tell you all what they told me. They might actually get your support if they told you the truth… unfortunately, they’re using marketing and dishonesty instead and losing all of our trust.