Check Out Corey Vidal and Shay Carl’s ‘Vlogumentary’

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  9 August 2013.

Only five days after hitting the web, the Vlogumentary trailer is approaching 800,000 views. The documentary about video blogging is directed by Corey Vidal, and executive produced by Shay Carl. The two veteran vloggers released the trailer during a main stage presentation at last week’s VidCon 2013 to thunderous applause and plenty of tears.

Vlogumentary, which was previously titled I’m Vlogging Here, looks to be a poignant and honest portrayal of the impact of web video. The film explores the beginnings of many of the most popular YouTube channels as well as the art of vlogging.

Prominent YouTubers such as John and Hank Green (Vlogbrothers), Grace Helbig (Daily Grace), Toby Turner (Tobuscus) and many more are featured alongside dozens of lesser-known vloggers. Vlogumentary is set to release later this year.

VidCon13: Hannah Hart, Grace Helbig, and Mamrie Hart to Star in ‘Camp Takota’

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  5 August 2013.

YouTube’s favorite gal pals are making a movie. Hannah Hart (MyHarto), Grace Helbig (DailyGrace), and Mamrie Hart (You Deserve a Drink) will star in Camp Takota as announced at VidCon 2013.

Inspired in part by Mamrie Hart’s experience working at a summer camp, the plot of the film is pretty simple: Helbig is a twentysomething who finds herself returning to her old summer camp to work. There she runs into two old friends, played by Hart and Hart. Hijinks, humor, and booze are sure to ensue if the ladies’ history holds true.

The first trailer for Camp Takota released at VidCon 2013 and mainly consists of a lot of flubbed lines and laughter, much to the delight of fans. A booth at the convention let attendees sign up for camp, get a friendship bracelet and take their camp picture.

Camp Takota will be made available exclusively on pay-to-view platform, Chill.com.

VidCon13: ‘Lizzie Bennet Diaries’ Team Unveils ‘Emma’ Adaptation

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  5 August 2013.

Attention The Lizzie Bennet Diaries fans. Emma Approved is coming your way this Fall.

The team of showrunner Bernie Su, producer Hank Green, and Pemberly Digital announced their newest Jane Austen web video adaptation at VidCon 2013. Heroine Emma Woodhouse will be modernized as a confident entrepreneur who, of course, places a bit too much faith in her matchmaking prowess.

Su and Green’s first Austen outing, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, was a resounding success. Over 216,000 subscribers watched the 100 episode series. The program won two Streamys and was nominated for five more. A Kickstarter to fund the DVD raised over $462,000, nearly 800% of the $60,000 goal. The series was followed by Welcome to Sanditon, based on one of Austen’s short stories and starring some of the Lizzie Bennet characters.

There’s no word yet on any casting decisions for Emma Approved. However, with the show hitting YouTube in the Fall, fans should know soon enough who is playing the iconic Emma, Mr. Knightly, Frank Churchill and the rest of Highbury.

YouTubers Gather In Droves For VidCon

Originally published on PopWrapped.Tumblr.com.  3 August 2013.

Amidst thousands of screaming fans filling the arena at the Anaheim Convention Center, John and Hank Green took the stage to kick off VidCon 2013. In the coming hours, fans would learn about a Hannah Hart movie, John’s plans to be on set for The Fault in Our Stars movie, and have the chance to meet and greet their favorite YouTubers.

The annual web video convention, founded by the Vlogbrothers, is in its fourth year and is stronger than ever. More than 10,000 attendees packed the convention center and surrounding plaza today, the first of the two community days.

Jane Austen’s Emma is Coming To YouTube

Originally published on PopWrapped.Tumblr.com.  2 August 2013.

Emma Woodhouse is coming to YouTube. In an official announcement at VidCon 2013, the team behind the Lizzie Bennet Diariesrevealed that their next vlog series would be Emma Approved.

Bernie Su, showrunner for LBD, unveiled the Emma Approved logo to ear splitting applause and cheers at the packed Lizzie Bennet Meet-Up.

As Su, producer Hank Green, and the Pemberly Digital creative team did with LBD and then Welcome to Sanditon, the Emmaseries will take Jane Austen’s classic story and update it for the web video setting. Emma will be a proud, successful entrepreneur and will of course retain her confidence in her ability to matchmake.

Su, who won a Streamy for his work on LBD, was silent on any other plot or character points but based on the resounding success of both of this team’s Austen series so far, I am prepared to trust them with Emma.

Fans of LBD and Sanditon will no doubt be pleased with the choice of story. Earlier in the LBD Meet Up at VidCon, a fan had asked what adaptation the actors would like to see and a majority of the audience replied, “EMMA!” Wish granted.

Emma Approved will launch this fall.

VidCon’s Ten Thousand Attendees Show Growing Impact of Online Video

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  5 June 2013.

More than 10,000 people will attend the fourth annual VidCon, August 1-3, at the Anaheim Convention Center to learn about the online video community and meet with some of its celebrities. Confirmed attendees include Hannah Hart (MyHarto/My Drunk Kitchen), Felicia Day (geekandsundry) Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoolike), Jenna Marbles (JennaMarbles) and VidCon co-founders, Hank and John Green (vlogbrothers).

"Even when VidCon was just 1,000 people in a hotel, it was our goal for the conference to reflect the growth and culture of the online video industry," said Hank Green. "VidCon's exponential growth over the last four years is indicative of online video's impact on the entertainment industry and on our everyday lives."

Digital research firm comScore’s confirms Green’s asseration about online videos becoming one of the fastest-growing entertainment mediums in the country. The firm stated that 182.5 million people in the U.S. alone watched a combined total of 39.3 billion online videos in just March 2013. VidCon is a celebration of online video as well as an opportunity for industry professionals to learn more about the business of online video.

YouTube Will be Title Sponsor of VidCon 2013 and 2014

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  29 April 2013.

In a show of the strength of the online video community, it has been announced that YouTube will be a title sponsor of the online video conference, VidCon, for the next two years. The 2013 VidCon is expected to have more than 10,000 online video professionals, content creators and fans in attendance.

Since the event’s inception in 2010, YouTube has been a supporter and sponsor. While the specifics of their title sponsorship will be released closer to the event, it’s clear that the decision will give YouTube a strong presence both this year and in 2014.

“YouTube has been a long-term supporter of VidCon, and is, of course, the biggest company in online video,” said Hank Green, creator and cofounder of VidCon. “We're thrilled to have them as our title sponsor for the next two years and are grateful for their continued support of our efforts to create a compelling and productive experience for VidCon attendees.”

Noted as “the largest industry conference and fan extravaganza in the world for online video” VidCon is set for August 1-3, 2013, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Industry Day, which is geared toward professionals and the online video business, will be on August 1.

The second and third days will feature panel discussions, concerts, other performances, celebrity meet-ups, an expo hall and much more. Among the featured celebrities expected at VidCon 2013 are Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoollike), Hank and John Green (vlogbrothers), Rhett and Link (Rhettandlink), Jenna Marbles (JennaMarbles), Dane Boedigheimer (Annoying Orange), and dozens of others.

Industry and community passes are available at www.vidcon.com.

Coming Soon to the CW: Brad Bell and Jane Espenson's 'Husbands'

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  2 April 2013.

Brad Bell and Jane Espenson are a dynamite duo. The team has created the winning Web series, Husbands, which was recently picked up by the CW’s online content branch, CW Digital Studio.

In case you're not familiar, Husbands follows a gay actor (Bell) and a gay baseball player (Sean Hemeon) who wake up in Vegas married. Despite having only known each other for six weeks the two decide to go for it and that means dealing with moving in together, petty fights, cute make ups, and public scrutiny (and then some).

Not only will fans get to see existing episodes via CW but the network is also funding new episodes. Bell and Espenson, who also created Husbands: The Comic with Dark Horse, are excited to continue exploring the still very much newlywed relationship of baseball superstar Brady and outgoing actor Cheeks.

“When they got married they’d known each other six weeks,” Espenson said. “This is a really new relationship. They haven’t celebrated each others’ birthdays yet.”

The fact that Husbands is popular is without question. The channel has over 25,000 subscribers and the episodes have garnered over 100,000, and in some cases 200,000, views. Seasons one and two have included guest appearances by Nathan Fillion, Joss Whedon, Mekhi Phifer, Jon Cryer, Felicia Day and more. Literary legend Neil Gaiman wrote the introduction for the comic. Popular may in fact be an understatement.

Geek & Sundry's Newest Nerdy Additions: 'Space Janitors' and 'On The Table'

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  9 Nov. 2012.

YouTube channel Geek & Sundry has announced two new shows premiering next week. On Tuesday, November 13^th, the satirical sci-fi comedy Space Janitors begins. The show follows two custodians, Mike and Darby, who do their best to keep things neat and tidy aboard an evil space station that’s in the middle of an intergalactic war.

Then on Thursday, November 15th On The Table will fill the tabletop gaming void left by Geek & Sundry’s TableTop, which is going on hiatus until January. Hosted by Warren Johnston, On The Table offers gaming fans the latest news and gives them a chance to submit their own tips, videos and more.

Check out teasers for both shows after the break and be sure to visit Geek and Sundry’s channel for more nerdy goodness.

Check Out ‘Save the Supers’ From Sandeep Parikh and My Damn Channel

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  4 Nov. 2012.

If you crossed the superhero drama and action of The Justice League with the comedy and style of The Office it’s a good bet you’d have a hit. That’s exactly what actor/writer/director Sandeep Parikh has created in his latest web series Save the Supers.

Parikh and the cast and creators of Save the Supers were on hand at Long Beach Comic & Horror Con to talk about how the show came together. Known for writing and directing the popular Comedy Central web series Legend of Neil and for his role as Zaboo on The Guild, Parikh initially created Save the Supers in 2004. It took until 2012 for his idea to truly come to life but now Parikh’s creation is pulling in 50,000 – 75,000 views per episode and it’s easy to see why. With satirical but creative characters and smart, snappy dialogue, the show will resonate not just with comic book lovers but also with anyone who enjoys being entertained.

Save the Supers follows the Super Force as they face down super villains, navigate office romances, and battle their ever-shrinking budget. Check out the season premiere after the break and see more of Save the Supers on My Damn Channel.

'Doctor Who' Episode of 'All-Star Celebrity Bowling' Finally Premieres on Nerdist Channel

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  31 Aug. 2012.

Today Nerdist Industries kicked off it's Doctor Who-eekend with an episode of All-Star Celebrity Bowling featuring Team Nerdist vs. Team Doctor Who. It is the best showdown of geekiness in all of Time and Space. There are fezzes. There are TARDIS bowling balls. There's Wil Wheaton! This is the episode whose preview brought down the house at San Diego Comic-Con. See for yourself it is lives up to its hype.

The rest of Doctor Who-eekend includes the series premiere of Dork Fork with Alton Brown where he'll be cooking up Time and Space themed dishes. Later on Saturday, the Nerdist Channel will feature Chris Hardwick's Q&A with Smith, Gillan, and Executive Producer Carole Skinner from the New York Doctor Who premiere. The Who-eekend concludes with cosplay coverage from Gallifrey One on Just Cos.

Of course you need no more prompts from us to watch the season premiere this Saturday, we have beat that info well into your head. Stay peeled to The Flickcast for any more slivers of Doctor Who info in the coming weeks while part one of the new season gets underway.

Also watch the full episode of All-Star Celebrity Bowling after the jump. The Nerdist really knows how to appeal to the Whovian in us all, enjoy!

New ‘Nerdist Channel’ Lineup Includes ‘Doctor Who’, NPH, Bill Nye, and More

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  26 July 2012.

Neil Patrick Harris, Bill Nye, Stephen Hawking, and the cast of Doctor Who may seem like a strange combination but The Nerdist Channel is making it work. In a preview for their programming, Nerdist Industries has managed to find a wonderful geeky balance between fun, science, and hilarious ridiculousness (see learning to tie a bow tie with Bill Nye, the Science Guy). The latter especially refers to Harris' series "Neil's Puppet Dreams," which sounds and looks just crazy enough to be awesome.

Plus, I think NPH has proven that there's really nothing he can't do. Then for all you science lovers there's "Stephen Hawking: The Nature of Black Holes," where the theoretical physicist leads you through the universe. But depending on whether or not you're a Whovian (like Hardwick) the best part of the preview is the news that the cast of Doctor Who will be featured on an episode of "Chris Hardwick’s All Star Bowling.”

Geek and Sundry’s ‘Written by a Kid’ Debuts with Joss Whedon

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  19 July 2012.

We'll be the first to admit that a YouTube series all about stories written by kids sounds both lame and ridiculous. Who would want to watch that? If the first episode, "Scary Smash," is any indicator, the answer is everyone.

Surprisingly awesome and hilarious, Written by a Kid features a child telling a story to two adults (writing and creative team Will Bowles and Josh Flaum). The kid's story is portrayed on-screen as he or she tells it through part animation and part live action. Airing exclusively on the YouTube channel Geek and Sundry, which was founded by Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Eureka, The Guild), Written by a Kid's episode "Scary Smash" was shown last week at San Diego Comic-Con to roaring applause. Of course, having Avengers director and all around geek god Joss Whedon star in your first episode doesn't hurt either. The series officially debuted on July 18 on YouTube and new episodes will be posted on Wednesdays.

Despite our initial skepticism, it turns out that with a perfect mix of fun, humor, and adorable childishness, Written by a Kid is good (and interesting)  for all ages. But don't just take our word for it. Check out "Scary Smash".