A DOC'S JOURNAL by Scott Solary

This was a blast to produce! I even shot this one.

And then the Flaming Lips put on "March of 1,000 Flaming Skeletons" in Oklahoma City:

It's hard to top the Lips! Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Posted by Scott Solary at 09:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So I've been tight lipped for the last few weeks while my paperwork went through, but now that my background check is clear, I can finally blab about my new position. As of Monday, October 29th, I will officially be the Senior Producer/Showrunner of Wallstrip!

While I've had some influence on the past 2 weeks worth of shows, I'm really looking forward to this week's shows, because I've been more integral in their production and creative direction. I really hope I can make an already well-produced show even better.

Here's today's show. It appropriately falls on my "first" day. I feel like it's my first show that I produced from concept to finish.

I've been working on and off with Jeff Marks and Adam Elend since they started Wallstrip a little over a year ago. CBS recently acquired the show, so I'm now working for the newest old media company in town, CBS Interactive.

Our immediate future plans are exciting and I'll post as they develop.

Please tune in and enjoy!

Here's a show from last week. One of the first shows that I really got my hands dirty with:

Rumor has it that Target will be using it for internal training.

Here's an in-depth interview from "The Alcove with Mark Malaro" with Lindsay Campbell, who explains Wallstrip, it's past and future, rather well.

Posted by Scott Solary at 08:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I seem to have leftt out.. ahem... overlooked some key points to the Hulu launch.

1. Besides NBC content, Hulu will carry News Corp.'s content as well.
2. Hulu will be serving as the licensed distributor of said content.

This second point was the major discrepancy in my post. Hulu can, and surely will, distribute this content to the likes of AOL, YouTube, MSN et. al.

If I had only read SILICON ALLEY INSIDER first.

The article sums it up on my side:
Although we are slightly more optimistic about Hulu's chances to build a profitable, stand-alone business, we're still skeptical. Hulu may eventually have some negotiating leverage as a third-party aggregator, but in the meantime, NBC and News Corp hold most of the content and most of the cards. The biggest problem? There are dozens of cooks in the Hulu kitchen--and not enough food.

Matt Dentler started started a conversation right off the bat on his BLOG.

Posted by Scott Solary at 06:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Great news! You will no longer be able to see NBC's content online, unless you subscribe to their new venture, "Hulu." This childishly named site will function as the online version of NBC. Imagine NBC, but online. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute. I know it's hard to imagine such a thing. Pure genius. Here's the slick part: it's NOT called NBC! It's called Hulu. See what they did? They put all the exact same shows on one site, but changed the "network" name. Silly viewer, I bet you didn't even notice.

What's that? Did you say you enjoy watching online versions of TV shows on your aggregate site like MSN, Yahoo or AOL? That is so "web 2.0." NBC's thinking is like 2.0, only negative 2.0. That's negative in a positive way. Like the glass is FULLY empty. That's all the sense I can make of it anyway.

How ridiculous for you as a viewer to think that NBC should kowtow to your viewing habits and try to put their content in your constantly-clicking-path. And how egocentric for you to even consider that they should go to the trouble to sprinkle their content throughout the internet's ever-increasing video hosting outlets. I can here the response now, when confronted with the idea that people's natural tendency is to surf and browse the web, seeking out the most appealing content. The P.R. spin might sound like, "People are tired of clicking, they just want to go to one site and be fed one opinion. And we at NBC are just the people to give it to them! We hope to be to the Zune what iTunes is for the iPod." Good luck with that. Hulu? HuCares?

New TeeVee gives a more objective account of their decision HERE.
First reported in Valleywag.

If you have one, you'll totally understand "The Wake-up Cat"

If you love Star Wars, cover your ears, but you have to watch this:

I'm going to have some good news soon. HERE'S a hint.

Posted by Scott Solary at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Wednesday night, Luci and I went to see the Raveonettes play at our local venue, Southpaw. The opening band, Gliss, was really cool and had the kind of sound you'd expect for a band opening for the Raveonettes. However, the second band - Nicole Atkins and the Sea were the exact opposite. I have no idea what they were doing on this bill. To keep it short and as polite as I can be, suffice it to say they were underwhelming, melodramatic and ultimately, boring. They totally took the wind out of the show's sails before the Raveonettes came on. Apparently they have a following and lots of people came out just to see them, but then fled Southpaw once the Raveonettes hit the stage and the legitimate sound of rock hit their tender little ears.

Someone did a little recording of the show. Here's their clip:

Last time I saw the Raveonettes, it was just Sune and Sharin with acoustic guitars and a tambourine. This time, they were plugged in and the drummer played a 2-piece kit to a click track. I sincerely hate bands playing to pre-recorded material. Once it's introduced, I begin to doubt the reality of everything I hear. To be fair, they were really singing and playing, but there were times when a bass line or a drum fill would kick in and it obviously wasn't happening live. Beyond that, they put on a great show and the crowd dug it.

On Friday, a group of us went to a sold-out screening of "Control" at Film Forum. I was really impressed. The cinematography is stunning, but expected being a photographer's film. The acting is also spot-on. I do wish the band's characters were more developed. I was also expecting to be more in the head of an introspective depressive, whereas, I saw the Ian Curtis of "Control" as a guy who was driven over the edge by marrying too early and being torn between two lovers. Despite what I wanted or hoped for, the film totally works on every level. Luci summed it up best on the walk out of the theater when she said, "I've been waiting for that since I was a teenager."

Check out the throat singing styling of Yat-Kha as they pay homage to Joy Division with their unique cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

In case you missed it, we dedicated a special noir edition of ReelerTV to Anton Corbijn and his debut masterpiece:

I've been able to see 2 out of the 3 films I really wanted to see when I was in Toronto, but didn't. Would somebody please program "My Winnepeg" so I can complete my quest?!?

Posted by Scott Solary at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So I didn't get to see David Cronenberg's latest film, "Eastern Promises" in his home town of Toronto, but I did get to see him at the beautiful DGA Theater here in New York tonight.

Although it's very hard to tell from the picture, he sat and talked quite a while afterward. Kinda looks like Bill Maher talking to Sigmund Freud.

I liked the movie, but I wasn't as impressed as I hoped I would be. It just never quite reached the tension I think it was trying for. Great performances, story, direction and effects though. All very Cronenberg.

I really wish I could embed this video of a Cockatoo dancing, but alas, not everyone is into sharing. Too bad, because it's simply amazing. But since I can't here's a still to tempt you -

And the link: CLICK HERE!

Posted by Scott Solary at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was lured in by this spectacular ad for Sony. Who can resist bunnies and the Stones?:

Which led to another amazing ad from the same campaign:

Which then led to the inevitable and hilarious spoof:

Posted by Scott Solary at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The recent freelance gig I picked up with CBS Interactive got a nice write-up in the Wall Street Journal. Not only do they explain what it is I'm doing better than I can, they were also kind enough to mention us "twenty-somethings" doing the work. Thanks, Wall Street Journal! I feel younger already.

Here's an excerpt:
"To cater to what it believes is the short attention span of online audiences, the network today is launching CBS EyeLab, a digital-production studio that will create and distribute short clips cut together from the network's most popular shows." [...] "CBS has hired six twentysomething digital-video editors to create similar content for EyeLab. They all work outside CBS headquarters, which the network says will make their creative process more authentic."

HERE is the entire article.
HERE is another take that paraphrases the WSJ piece just fine.

I'm about to dig into 48 Hours - Mystery. These should be lots of fun. I'm looking forward to the videos being posted so I can share them here. I've been told it'll happen soon.

Meanwhile on the other network:

Posted by Scott Solary at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am now SOOO connected. Luci and I recently jumped in the deep end of mobile communication and bought the new Blackberry Curve. It's not just another cell phone with e-mail, a web browser and a media player, we can make phone calls over wi-fi! The phone actually "sniffs" for a wireless internet connection in addition to cell towers to connect to. Finally I don't have to run to the window to talk to someone if they call me at home on my cell. I can relax and have a perfectly clear conversation in the comforts of my office thanks to my wireless internet hub. What will they think of next?

They even have a VIDEO

Posted by Scott Solary at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm now a proud owner of an autographed copy of "Don't Hassle the Hoff" thanks to our new friend at St. Martin's Press.

and...
I'm only 3 Pups away from having the entire collection of 12 Hood Pups! I'm starting to amass doubles and even triples if anyone wants to strike a barter.

Photos taken with the Curve.

Posted by Scott Solary at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)