MacGayber

Ummm. . . this shot is from the set of the latest SNL MacGruber short, which featured host Shia LeBoeuf as MacGruber's gay son. Here we see Will Forte, apparently dismayed over the presence of a severed chicken claw on set.... It seems Rosey shares his concern, as he is taking special care to document the event. Ok, so not exactly. . . but c'mon, we don't know who reads this blog... Kids are all about the internet these days. To see the MacGruber spots, check out: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=250058

Unsung Heroes of the Rock 3-0

The Facts: On Tuesday, May 6th, Rosey Media shot the promos for the upcoming weekend's episode of SNL, starring host Shia Lebouef (like "boof," y'all... John Wilkes. Recognize.) and SNL cast member Andy Samberg. They were both funny, they were great to work with, they hid in the bushes. . . But enough about that. It was brought to our attention that we never mention some very special people at SNL that you won't be able to see when you tune in Saturday night. Although they work at a breakneck pace, we managed to steal a candid shot or two. . . Brutal, isn't it? And yet they persevere. This is (L to R) Kati 'the intern', Rachel Lynn (standing) Producer Dina Moles (with the patented "what-the-hell-are-you-doing-taking-pictures-get-back-to-work" look), and "Indispensable" Kim Smelter, clearly concentrating on the big show. Finally, Dina and host Shia. This picture was snapped just as Dina exploded in a rage, demanding everyone get it in gear or we'd be over budget. Shia is scared. Andy has passed out in sheer terror, and is laying at her feet just out of frame. That's right. Big ups to the ladies of 30 Rock. Runnin' dat sh*t. FYI- Checkout the SNL Promos at: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=248757

Wowwy-Wow- Wow!

On April 3rd and 4th, Rosey Media shot the third installment in the gripping Laser Cats SNL Digital Short series. This time the enigmatic Chistopher Walken joined Admiral Spaceship (Andy Samberg) and Nitro (Bill Heder) in their quest to save the planet, and a cage-full of confiscated Laser Cats, from the devious Mayor TopHat (Kenan Thompson). Checkout photos from the shoot.

Less Bitching, More. . . Ah, hell, just start with less bitching.

We are good at putting teams of creative production people together. And our people are great because they, for a myriad of reasons, seem to defy a pervasive trend among production professionals... Despite years of experience- they're not jaded, pissed-off jerks. Apparently,somewhere somebody created the idea that to be a good creative or production staffer, you had to be a complete jaded bitch. Perhaps this stemmed from someone's perception that seeing the ropes and pulleys behind the scenes somehow destroyed the joy and magic of making entertainment. Or maybe it is as simple as textbook posturing to cover personal insecurity. What-ever... It is genuinely annoying to work with a group, or even a few individuals like this. Their attitude does not get things done, and worse, is dangerous to the creative process. That being said, let it be clear that we are proudest of our people, and consider them an integral part of what makes us stand out. They are consistently, for a variety of reasons, present to the production and focus not on what is wrong, but on what is next. Further, we lay it on the table that a fundamental part of our production process is the promise of no bitching. We have seen and strongly believe that a miserable work environment, no matter how efficient or skilled the team, cannot produce great work.

Want to Complete the Circuit? Try Rubbing Elbows

It was Rosey Media's pleasure to co-host the February "Circuit" party, and Wednesday night's turn out at the Stone Creek Lounge on East 27th was positively inspiring. Despite the damp weather, the candle lit, casual bar was packed the entire night, and buzzing with all things media. Two years ago Manhattan Casting Director Adrienne Stern and Hungry Man Films Mark Grande decided the best way to be in on the scene was to create one of their own- and they proceeded to do just that. Today with an extensive membership list that includes some of the brightest and most innovative media talents in New York, "The Circuit" holds events designed to facilitate a professional forum and networking platform . . . with a few cocktails thrown in just for good measure. Whether your work is on the big screen, the small screen, or the even smaller screen, celluloid or digital, the Circuit has something to offer, and the scope of knowledge and opportunity shared at the last event was truly impressive. Many thanks to Adrienne and Mark, and to all who turned out.

Remember the world before the web??

When I started out in television production in 1992, Cell phones where the size of pocketbooks, fax machines cost $500 and the internet did NOT EXIST. Can you imagine?? In an effort to stay on top of how quickly things are changing, I read...a lot. One report that caught my eye was from Horowitz Associates, "Broadband Content and Services 2007." It is amazing how pervasive broadband video is becoming. Some the key data: A whopping 61% of high speed Internet users watch or download broadband video content at least once per week, up from 46% last year. The number jumps to 86% for users who watch at least once per month. FYI- Every category of on-line video experienced an increase in usage over the past year. These are very impressive numbers and they speak to how significant broadband video has become and how quickly it has gotten there. Hold on, You Tube is only 2.5 years old.... Put your seat belt on, this is going to be a wild ride!! Checkout http://www.videonuze.com/editor/assets/HorowitzVideoUsage.jpg for a great chart on video downloads in 2007.

The WGA Strike- Our Thoughts

As members of the entertainment industry, and regular contributors to WGA scripted programming, Rosey Media has been among the many impacted by the current writer's strike. It would be less than honest to say we're excited about the strike. We're not. Several of our major clients are down for the count. We understand, however, what has brought the members of the WGA to the table. These negotiations, and arguably, the resultant strike, are not only necessary- they are an inevitability. Clearly, digital and internet distribution is no longer a sideline or broom closet experimental division of the major networks and studios. Rather, it has cemented itself as a staple, and is rapidly approaching flagship status. If this is where the industry is headed, it seems only reasonable that all parties involved in the creation of content to be used in this medium have defined responsibilities and benefits, just as they do in previously existing mediums. Internet programming is a viable marketing platform, and therefore comparable to other traditional mediums where it is considered fair that writers be compensated for their contributions. While the network and studio position that all revenue generated at this time is only going to repay investors for building the existing infrastructure is understandable, it does not excuse them from showing the same regard to their employees as they would in any other venture. No new business hires a staff and waits to pay its employees until it has broken even on its start up costs. Despite the logic of their position, we anticipate a long strike. It seems, however, that the network and studio hesitancy to grant the WGA the requested contracts only gives credence to the union position that there is quite a bit of money somewhere... And while neither of the involved parties are poverty stricken, their negotiation is necessary to set precedent for those who, years from now, could end up grossly exploited in a predominantly digital market. Having said all that, we urge both sides to stop the bitching, sit down and hammer out a deal!