We’re also going to start a little more with the conversation about what we want to do with LVP and the shows that we’re producing. Stick with us because we really think you’ll like what we’ve got going on. Until then, take a look at episode 3.

Episode 2 of CELL is rolling out in a few hours (9 pm CST) and we just got it finished. Talk about under the wire. The schedule has been crazy tough to meet and kudos to Debbie Balbo, our Sound Designer, for putting in the hard work to get the sound mix finished in time for each episode. Our post-production team in general has been amazing and continues to impress. Each episode seems to improve in some way on the one before it.

Make sure you take some time to watch CELL and then check out our forums to talk about what’s going on.

And most importantly… thanks for all the support that you’ve all shown. It’s been great and we hope it keeps growing.

We’re actually working on several new projects and we hope to be talking about them all within the next couple of weeks. So keep watching CELL and keep trying to figure out what’s going on… because we’re going to do it to you again soon.

Keep your eyes open… and take a gander at this…

Click here to view the embedded video.

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CELL: The Web Series, Episode One is live! Check it out here: http://cellthewebseries.com/

Let us know what you think! Please create topics in the forum for Episode One if you’d like to share your thoughts or ask questions.

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That’s right, you heard me. Twitter contest for a Lovable Varmint t-shirt.

All you have to do is tweet this out to the whole world and you’ll be entered to win one of our loverly Lovable Varmint t-shirts.

#CELL premieres tonight! 9 pm CST! Tell your friends! One lucky twitterer will win a t-shirt. RT this to enter! http://bit.ly/au3iTr

Simple, right? So get on the ball and start spreading the love. We need you guys for us to be successful!

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Keep in mind that I say this about transmedia with an understanding that it’s ridiculously difficult for independent producers with limited resources to start up a transmedia effort. It’s much easier for someone making a web series to just film it and put it out on some streaming source and hope for the best. Also much cheaper.

Did I mention much less successful, too?

With so many outlets fighting for a limited number of eyes, producers need to plan for more in-depth engagement with the viewers from the beginning. It is more work. It does take time and can be really frustrating. At the same time, if you work hard at it then you will start to see results.

Gennefer Snowfield is one of my favorites in the interwebs when it comes to finding great information about transmedia or branded entertainment. Following one of her links pointed me to this post on Culture Hacker by Robert Pratton. In a nutshell, he explains his plan for creating a cross media experience for the film Vauxhall Crossed in order to build an audience. He has a great analogy for growing a fan base that relies on digging for oil. He even has a great visual aid, which I am blatantly ripping off right now.

Digging for audiences, from Robert Pratten

This analogy works really well and explains the importance and power of really taking the time to connect with the audience. The example he continues with is great because it shows an understanding of the audience he’s trying to attract. In this case, the project is for a story about spies. So he created a storefront for a Chinese restaurant that doesn’t exist. It’s a cover for the agents but the site acts just like a restaurant. Early adopters who join in get secret access to another part of the store, just like… wait for it… spies!

He did a great job in thinking about the product and how to support it by playing up concepts that fans of that content would appreciate. He connected with the desired audience. This is a really important part of the puzzle that a lot of people miss.

It’s not enough to just tweet about your show or your story. You can’t get by with simply adding a lot of random friends on Facebook hoping that someone will pay attention. You have to engage with the audience you want to attract. And that’s the really hard part. It takes time and you really have to care. Once you get there, you really have struck oil. Or gold if you prefer something less messy… but less accurate as a metaphor. ‘Cuz it doesn’t really spread out like… let’s just stick with oil.

So in this case Pratton does a great job of getting people into world he’s creating. Once they’re invested in this world, they start to tell their friends. And then we have a shampoo commercial.

What about existing properties? Can existing properties with an established fan base benefit from a transmedia approach? Absolutely.

More and more TV shows are reaching out to new audiences

Just look at your local bookstore and see all of the novels written for Star Trek. Swing by a comic book store and check out how many comics there are of TV shows like Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other TV properties. When you stop and think about it, these transmedia projects aren’t just great for the originating property. They’re great for the new industry and the new market that’s being introduced to the property.

Transmedia is a gateway for people to access stories they never knew existed and I’ll argue it’s good for the entertainment industry as a whole. But that’s a big heady concept and I’ve rambled enough in this post for now. So let’s talk about that next time.

One lucky t-shirt winner, Kendra!

You know those nifty Lovable Varmint Productions t-shirts everyone had been talking about? Of course you do! Now’s your chance to get your very own LVP crew shirt. To help celebrate our distribution of CELL with Koldcast.TV, we’re going to be giving away Lovable Varmint Productions t-shirts. (Well, a few at least.) All you have to do is make your own poster for CELL. Find out more after the jump, or just go to…

http://cellthewebseries.com/contest/CELL%20Poster%20Contest.zip

to get your pics and start work.

We know the show’s not out yet so you’re not entirely clear on what’s going on. And that’s a good thing. It’d spoil all the surprises if we told you all the secrets right now. But we can still help you out. Here’s the logline for the show…

A man wakes up in a cell after a night on the town. When he realizes he’s not in jail and he’s not alone, he fights to stay who he is while helping someone else remember who they were.

So that’s all you get. Now be creative and make some great posters.

Oh but wait, where do I get the pictures I need to make these things?

It’s simple. Just go to  http://cellthewebseries.com/contest/CELL%20Poster%20Contest.zip and download the ZIP file. Inside that lovely ZIP file you’ll find instructions and images that you can use to make your own promotional poster for CELL. There will be instructions on how to submit as well as a few rules. (Lawyers make us do these things you know.) The deadline for submission is January 31st, 2010. E-mail your entries to the e-mail listed in your packet. (contest at lovablevarmint.com) We’ll announce the winners February 2nd, just in time for our premiere.

Digital submissons only please

I can’t wait to see what you guys put together. Good luck!!

Oh yeah… legal stuff…

By submitting material through this contest, you are allowing Lovable Varmint Productions, LLC (LVP) to use the material for the purposes deemed appropriate by LVP. All submissions become and will remain the property of LVP. No compensation is due to the submitter. Submitted material will not be returned. The selection process and whether or not a winner is chosen, is solely within the discretion of LVP.  Any submissions may be edited by LVP at the sole discretion of LVP.  Participation in this contest does not guarantee that you will win. (Wouldn’t it be nice if contests did that? But they don’t.) LVP reserves the right to cancel the contest at any time without prior notice.

Blue Fiddles will be hitting the web on January 25th. From their site…

Blue Fiddles, is a new web series written by actress Nena Botto. It’s the story of three women searching for meaning amongst the day to day grind living in Portland, Oregon. The theme is a mix of comedy and drama that has aims to be glamorous through honesty -women who have scars from life experiences not from numerous Botox sessions.

I’m planning on taking a look when it comes out. One thing that I like about the show is that it looks like they really got their community behind them. When you look at their Facebook page you can see that they really worked hard to get the community to help make the show happen. That kind of hard work is what makes indie web productions happen.

Apparently there are only 3 episodes in the first season so I’m anxious to see how they turn out. Every new show that’s a success helps all of us be successful. So mark your calendar for January 25th and take a look.

And good luck to all of you at Blue Fiddles. I’ll be rooting for you.

Blue Fiddles Official Trailer from Benjamin James on Vimeo.