Why We Make Web Tv

I was at a networking dinner not too long and found myself in yet another “viable business model” conversation with a film financier who felt that we Web TV folk are barking up an unprofitable tree*. Thankfully, Josh Cohen pointed out that there are plenty of creators who are more interested in creative freedom than anything else.

As Mountain Man’s premiere becomes tangibly imminent, I can’t help but think about that conversation. As I said then, Mountain Man isn’t an easy show. It’s not a “fat guy, hot wife” show, or a “single friends in New York” show or even a “cute girl with a webcam” show. I’ve known this for a long time, but I also know that people haven’t seen much else like Mountain Man.  We shot it alone in the woods and when we finally came up for air, we had something much weirder and wilder than we had anticipated making.

I’m in Web video for the adventure and the freedom. Playing it safe and making something like we’ve seen on TV isn’t worth our time. We need to be making shows that viewers  can’t get on the TV. The couch is much comfier than a desk chair, and the TV is much bigger. If I’m asking for viewers to stick around on their computer for a few more minutes, then I’m going to make sure it’s worth it for them.

Because if we’re not making something daring, we shouldn’t bother.

*  I find these conversations counter productive. Postulating about whether or not a deal can be made, rather than actually making said deal (or being turned down), feels like a really boring waste of time. That’s not to say that this Suit didn’t make great points. He did. And no, I wasn’t pitching him.