Felicia Day

Well, it’s been a rocky ride, but after six long months of negotiation, the International Academy of Web Television has decided to part with the Streamy Awards and create it’s own separate awards show later next year.  I wanted to say a few things about this, since I have won several Streamys and I will always be proud of that fact, and at the same time, I am on the board that finally decided we had to part ways.

I can tell you from first-hand experience, that this decision was a LONG time coming (Many MANY conference calls!).  Everyone REALLY tried to work out the particulars so we could proceed with a 3rd Streamys akin to the last ones, but a fundamental thing got in the way once we started analyzing the situation.  Namely:

a) The IAWTV is a non-profit organization by construction, the Streamy brand and awards are FOR profit by construction.

It came down to board members and committee members asking fundamental questions like, “Why is this organization helpful to the average web series creator?” and “What are we OTHER than supporting an awards show?”   When those questions started to get answered, it became really clear that the future of the two entities, at least with regards to an awards ceremony, were headed in two different directions.

The following might be biased by my personal opinions, but oh well, it’s my blog   I think the IAWTV’s true future is in emulating an organization like IFC , not the Emmys or the Academy, because the origin of web content lies in the spirit of independence, and being an outsider.  I would never have gotten “The Guild” made through normal entertainment channels, yet my show garners as many hits as some cable shows.  “Fred” and “The Annoying Orange” on YouTube rival network television ratings with every video they upload!  To me, in all instances of web content creation, it boils down to people creating things outside normal means and delivering them to their audience in ways that are outside of traditional media, regardless of budget or “pedigree”.  THAT is what we should be celebrating, encouraging and enabling as an organization.  And the idea that proceeds from the IAWTV awards should go to community outreach and education made 100% sense: And was at base odds with how the Streamys are structured.  It seriously was impossible to resolve the two perspectives.

I guess it will be awkward for a bit, because we are a SMALL community, but hopefully that will pass quickly, because it’s not an “either or” situation.  BOTH an IAWTV Awards and Streamy Award can exist, probably they will end up giving awards to the same shows. I think it speaks volumes to how far the industry has come in the last several years that there can be room for more than one approach and more than one vision to rewarding the best of the medium.  I will personally wear a very nice dress to both ceremonies if I’m invited.

A lot of particulars are to be worked out with the planned IAWTV awards show, a lot of things to be decided, but they will be decided by the IAWTV MEMBERSHIP.  And considering the activism I’ve seen in the past few months over at the IAWTV, I’m super excited to see what we come up with.

My biggest hope with this change is that we can move on and focus on how the IAWTV can serve the community at large, to help and educate people who want to make their own content, but need more tools.  Opening enrollment to EVERY qualified member recently was a big step. There’s a lot of mobilization with the current members to form writing groups, producers groups, creation of a new website to connect members from around the world etc.  THERE is where the future of the non-profit IAWTV lies: in servicing the members.  And if we can have a low-key awards show to honor the members of our community for their talent, then that will be the icing on the web video cake.

I was not able to make the meeting last night for the IAWTV due to Guild shooting.  I was very upset not to be able to be there, not only because I am a member of the IAWTV board, but because I am a passionate member of the web video community.  I am 100% invested in the idea of a legitimate organization dedicated to forwarding the profile, standards and legitimacy of web video.  I believe that the IAWTV IS that organization.  It is in its infancy, but it is the seed that we need to work with, and grow it into a thriving representative of the world of web video.

After the Streamy Awards debacle, the community has gone through a period of turmoil, and rightly so.  I have generally stayed out of it publicly, which has caused some people to wonder where my voice was. (Generally, it was on conference calls and email chains between the board, but that’s something I can’t speak on in specifics, except to say those on the board ARE aware and active of not only the stakes, but of the problems that need to be addressed.)   I hope this blog clarifies a few of the points I would have brought up for discussion were I able to attend last night.  To be clear, is not the official opinion of the board at large.

THE MISSION:

The IAWTV organization’s #1 priority needs to be creating an identity outside of the Streamys.  This has been my mantra from day one.  Personally, I would advocate becoming the IFC for web video content, not aiming to become the Academy of Motion Pictures, but I think the best way to figure out how to best service the academy members is to hear what the MEMBERS would like to see from the IAWTV themselves.  The suggestions should be surveyed and implemented.  And it needs to be done ASAP for the good of the community.  If you are an IAWTV member, please know that your voice needs to be heard NOW and register at the IAWTV forums.

The only way we can figure out what this organization needs is through dialogue, which has been sadly lacking up to this point.  There are many divergent needs in the space that I would never think about, like points included in a blog by Jim Louderback about standards and viewer count, and NUMEROUS others that I have tagged in my Delicious account.  I think that the sheer number of interested people clamoring for change shows that a legitimate organization is NEEDED, but we need to formulate concrete steps to make the IAWTV a value-adding organization.  And it needs to be done QUICKLY, not at an old-media glacial pace.  Let’s dive in and figure it out.  We need leadership to get through this.  If you have an opinion, voice it.

THE BOARD:

There are brilliant people on the board of the IAWTV.  However, I believe there is a problem in the composition.  In my opinion, the board needs to reflect a wider range of web video interests, including more content creators, and a broader cross-section of them.  Web video is very hard to define, and the opinions of everyone from YouTube vloggers to network-backed web series should be heard and represented. Whether this means a change in leadership or addition of board seats, I believe it needs to happen, again, quickly, in order to regroup and proceed forward. Personally, I would be 100% willing to step down from the board and be merely an advocating member if it would help get this organization on track.

THE AWARDS:

Awards are fun.  Everyone loves a party.  But at the end of the day it’s about the work.   I think the overall vision of the IAWTV needs to come BEFORE all this wrangling for the Streamys name, or any other planned celebration.  I do feel like the IAWTV needs to have SOME awards show, because the community needs a legitimate way of recognizing excellence in web video outside of awards like the Webbys, which is for-profit and prohibitively expensive for the average web video creator to enter.  What DOES need to be worked out by the non-profit IAWTV is solving some of the problems that were inherent in this year’s awards procedures themselves; like IAWTV membership requirements, nomination categories, and nomination procedures.   The technical production, name and venue should be the last thing the IAWTV focuses on.  The wrangling over the Streamys as a name and event is just stalling what should be the focus of the IAWTV, which is a structuring of vision and leadership.

I don’t aim to solve any problems with these points, but to encourage dialogue, and express faith in the fact that we can pull together and use the recent events as a make or break wake-up call to get organized.

I’m crazy swamped, but I wanted to post a little something about The Streamy Awards, a fantastic night to celebrate web video!  I commented to a friend of mine, “It’s like we became the cool kids for one night!”  All the web video people dressed to the nines, all these Hollywood people lined up to get into our party!  Crazy!

I was honored (and a bit flabbergasted) to win Best Actress in a Comedy (over some hilarious women I admire) and The Guild took Best Comedy Web Series and Best Ensemble in a Web Series.  WOOT!  Full list of winners at the Streamys website.  We couldn’t have been in the running without our donors, it’s quite an honor to have been supported through Season 1 by viewers, so my most heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who donated, or linked the video.  It’s a real democratic win I feel   The Guild cast had a great time too, it makes me proud to have created something that makes my actors get recognized, LOL.

Dr. Horrible racked up MANY awards, as it should have!  I was very torn during the whole process, especially with the Audience Award (which was of course taken by Dr. Horrible! ), so I tried not to personally promote one project over another, even though The Guild is my baby.  My conscience is cleaner for it.  And Joss and Neil were there in person to accept their awards, with Joss’ wife Kai and Maurissa, one of the writers of Dr. H.  They all rock and I love them so much!  For me, Dr. Horrible was the reason that web video is blowing up, pure and simple.  Without Joss going outside the system and getting mainstream attention, web video would never be where it is today, I truly believe that.

There are many pics of the event (Here’s the Official Flickr Photo Collection for The Streamys.)  Thanks to all who tuned into the live stream, hopefully the video will be posted soon to link the acceptance speeches etc.  Below is an interview I did with Kodak that was very nicely edited before and after the awards.  I will never forget that night, it was an amazing experience.  Now…back to work

This Girl Does It All – The Fabulous Felicia Day from Mary Rambin on Vimeo.