Whoa!: Netflix To Enter Original Programming With Mega Deal For David Fincher-Kevin Spacey Series ‘House Of Cards’ – Deadline.com

Nellie Andreeva

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 15, 2011 @ 1:34pm PDT

EXCLUSIVE: Video streaming juggernaut Netflix is becoming an original programming player. In what is probably the biggest gamble in its 14-year history, I hear Netflix has outbid several major cable networks, including HBO and AMC, for  Media Rights Capital's drama series House of Cards, executive produced and directed by David Fincher and exec produced by and starring Kevin Spacey.

Negotiations are still going on, but I hear Netflix landed the drama project by offering a staggering commitment of two seasons, or 26 episodes. Given that the price tag for a high-end drama is in the $4 million-$6 million an episode range and that a launch of a big original series commands tens of millions of dollars for promotion, the deal is believed to be worth more than $100 million and could change the way people consume TV shows.

Ever since Liberty Media chairman John Malone in October drew a comparison between Netfix and HBO, industry experts have speculated whether Netflix would become the next HBO by venturing into originals. HBO, too, established itself as premium cable movie channel before hitting gold with original series that have now become its bread and butter. Netflix, which dominates the movie streaming market at 61%, had said in the past that it was not interested in branching into original programming. Until now.

Given the strong interest in House of Cards from multiple networks, observers had speculated that the project may get an episodic commitment, but a massive two-season order is pretty unheard of these days. Going straight to series itself is a risky proposition as attested by NBC, which recently tried it before reverting to the traditional pilot model. Besides the sandals-and-toga Rome, which was a co-production with the BBC, HBO has piloted pretty much all of its projects, including those with A-list talent such as Martin Scorsese/Terence Winter's Boardwalk Empire and Michael Mann/David Milch's Luck starring Dustin Hoffman. AMC went straight to series on The Walking Dead but with a modest six-episode order. Rome and Fox's CGI extravaganza Terra Nova started off with 13-episode orders. Starz, which has been going straight-to-series with its dramas, ordered 10 episodes of Camelot and 8 of Boss. Snatching a high-profile project like House of Cards is certain to put Netflix on the map. But by committing to air/stream and market a 26-episode original series, something it has never done before, it will also put the company to the test....

Read full post on deadline.com

 

Anthea Foyer Rocks SXSW!: SXSW Round-Up Day Four- Excerpt from Simon Staffans' blog

15 minutes of transmedia blast

So, first session was a short and intensive one, as Anthea Foyer held a talk on Transmedia – Formula for Success at the Future15 track of the SXSW (which is basically everyone talking getting 15 minutes to talk on their subject). Now, hats off to Anthea for this session, which from my point of view was the most condensed and to-the-point one so far.

So, as Anthea did put it, there are five aspects to creating a transmedia property:

• provide your audience with new and exciting ways to participate with your content (as an example, their own Time Tremors)
* create multiple points of entry, maximize audience exposure and uptake. And yeah, it really doesn't matter if the audience understands what transmedia is; it is enough if they are comfortable with the platforms used
* drive content and audience through a number of interconnected platforms and channels. An example would be Cisco's The Hunt
* create a momentum of audience participation that is both sustainable and far reaching. There might be audiences you had no idea of, but your audience will find them. And yeah, gone are the days of forcing the consumer to consume what you want them to. Just remember, be agile - let people come in and tell their stories.
* make sure you create meaningful content and a great story. When you're in the story, you don't care about platforms or tools as you're immersed.

A fast and furious take on transmedia, and perhaps the best 15 minutes I spent in Austin this first time I was here. I sincerely do like when people who have done something can come and talk about their experiences and their conclusions from that. Thank you Anthea.

The Consumer’s Dilemma Driving Global Piracy | SSRC Report #infdist

"This remarkable study should be required reading for anyone concerned with copyright and enforcement, or with the challenges of cultural globalization"

- Gilberto Gil, musician and former Brazilian minister of culture

"The Social Science Research Council's study is a landmark in the copyright literature: an actual empirical investigation into what works and what doesn't in the enforcement arena. If policy makers want to be guided by evidence and not rhetoric, they will begin with the Council's study and stay with it for a very long time."

- William Patry, senior copyright counsel, Google

"somewhat epic... The whole report is really fascinating, and an incredibly useful read for policy makers who are so focused on things like ACTA, enforcement and industry claims of "losses." It really is a huge contribution to the research on these topics -- and something that I hope gets delivered to policy makers. I'd send copies to various politicians myself... if it weren't for that license that tells me I could face five years in jail for doing so. Update: Clearly, I missed that this is pure satire by the report's authors. Such is life when I'm so used to seeing such things that are real."

- Mike Masnick, Techdirt

"The entire report is a must-read"

- Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa

the report is downloadable here with some tiers re. paid vs. free which is explained on this page. Canada appears to be exempt due to funding from the International Development Research Centre.

http://piracy.ssrc.org/the-report/

It's Time for Some Inspiration: 10 Awesome Videos On Idea Execution & The Creative Process :: The 99 Percent

Description from the site of above video:

"1. William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible (53:12)

This rich and wonderful profile of acclaimed South African artist William Kentridge comes from PBS's Art:21 series. Among other things, Kentridge talks embracing the seriousness of play and learning how to work out of your weaknesses.

'It’s always been in between the things I thought I was doing that the real work has happened.'"

Other wonderful talks:

2. Ira Glass: Bridging The Gap Between Appreciation & Ability (5:20)

3. Michael Wolff: Don’t Overvalue Your Experience (62:04)

4. J.K. Rowling: Life Is Not A Checklist of Achievement (20:59)

5. IDEO: Enlightened Trial-And-Error Always Wins (24:20)

6. John Kelly: The Many Shades of Procrastination (4:17)

7. Elizabeth Gilbert: Where Does Creative Genius Live? (19:32)

8. Daniel Pink: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (10:48)

9. Steve Jobs: Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last (14:34)

10. Mast Brothers Chocolate: Business As Personal Craft (4:16)