Carpel Tunnel

My right hand hurts. Why? Because when it's not busy teaching 2 year olds how to tap dance (my glamorous day job), it's firmly attached to my mouse. Clicking and commenting on viral video after video after video.

When we started thinking about marketing "Get A Clue", Peter & I decided to get some solid advice from people who know things. Things about the interweb & web series. We talked to the great guys over at Big Fantastic (Prom Queen, Sorority Forever), who told us to get busy and start telling everyone we know about the show. I e-mailed the writers/producers of the fabulous web series "We Need Girlfriends" (which was picked up by CBS a few months ago), and they were so kind to send me back a reply answering all of my many many questions. They told me to harass people -- just keep sending out e-mail after e-mail begging people to watch the show & get as many online friends as you can. Then I talked to a a friend of a friend who works over at Funny or Die. She told me to get active in the communities that we wanted "Get A Clue" to thrive on. Friend people, watch videos, comment on videos, etc. "Become an internet junkie," she said.

And so I have. On behalf of "Get A Clue" I'm constantly on Funny or Die, YouTube, & MySpaceTV commenting on videos & requesting friends like it's my job. Which I kind of wish it was. Well, I wish I was getting paid for it but I'd never want to actually have a job like this. I didn't think it was possible, but I've completely overdosed on web content. If I see one more Sarah Palin spoof or wacky cat video or overly tricked out MySpace profile I am going to kill myself. But my last words will still be (typed of course), "Get a clue & subscribe to us!" (dying gasp)

Thank you IMDB Help Desk

I tried submitting "Get A Clue" to IMDb & this is the message that I got back last night:

"This is a specific message about your recent new title submission to IMDb as
indicated in the subject.

NOTE FROM IMDb TITLE EDITORS:
-----------------------------
Online-only requires significant national mainstream press coverage or very
substantial, independently verifiable viewership."


This wasn't a surprising e-mail. I kind of expected it. But I will say this: there are titles and credits on IMDb that I know to be student films from back in my college days. Maybe these student films went to a few film festivals & became short films, I don't know. I'm not saying that those titles don't deserve to be on IMDb. But "Get A Clue" is, essentially, a 30 minute film broken up into 3 minute increments. It was an original screenplay, shot with an experienced crew & professional actors. Basically, if we put all the "Get A Clue" episodes together & released it as a short film we would have more chance of getting it on IMDb.

Food for thought in this ever changing world of online media...

Ego Check

I know, I know. Two posts in one day. It's a good thing I have a magical job that allows me to work only 12 hours a week. That way I have an ample amount of time to spend on my acting, writing, & producing jobs that currently make me little to no money. But someday, right? SOMEDAY!

So we've shot "Get A Clue". And we're currently editing it. I'm really enjoying the editing process. It's the first time that I've been in the editing room for something that I've written & acted in. And I'll tell you something. It definitely knocks your ego down a few thousand pegs.

There are lines/scenes that you thought would make people pee their pants. And then they can't even make you chuckle. They just don't work the way you imagined them in your head. And the best part is, it's YOUR fault because you're starring in it! So you can't even blame an actor's bad line read.

Then there is the whole aspect of watching yourself onscreen over & over again. From different angles. Sometimes unflattering angles. My character in "Get A Clue" is named Lindy Langley. She's sweet, naive, silly, idiotic, & totally self-UNaware. Oh, and she's CONSTANTLY eating & has no real sense of sexuality. My initial idea for Lindy was that she grew up in an orphanage (because her parents were killed by a rhino while on a safari). While living in the orphanage she wasn't allowed to watch any TV except for "I Love Lucy" & "Leave It To Beaver" so she grew up with a warped, 1950s take on life. I love Lindy Langley. I seriously do. But BOY OH BOY do I look unattractive when I play her. Or more specifically, when we freeze frame on me during one of my many "Lindy eats something" scenes.

The verdict: acting in your own writing projects is both a joy & a curse. Today it's a joy. :-)