The entertainment industry is, no doubt, beginning to pluck diamonds-in-the-rough from the digital realm and insert such series across traditional platforms.
HBO is arguably taking a lead in such strategy as evident in such deals as Issa Rae’s “Insecure”. Thus, it was not surprising when the premium cable channel held a special talk session during Tribeca Film Festival entitled “The Journey of Digital Storytelling to TV: A Discussion With HBO Talent.”
In a jam-packed theater on a late afternoon of the annual Festival gathering in New York City, programmers assembled the creators and key talent from “High Maintenance,” a comedy series about a marijuana dealer who makes deliveries on his bicycle to stressed-out clients across New York City. They discussed their journey from video platform Vimeo to HBO and the changes in a once traditional business model of serial entertainment.
Listen to GHOGH with Jamarlin Martin | Episode 54: Frederick Hutson
Part 2: Jamarlin talks to justice-tech pioneer Frederick Hutson, who was busted and jailed for four years on marijuana charges. He founded Pigeonly to create communications products for inmates and their families that reduce the destructive impact of incarceration.
Session moderators included Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, co-creators of “High Maintenance.” (Blichfiled directs, Sinclair stars). The primary voices on stage gave insights to a room where the interest to replicate such success was palpable. In case you weren’t able to make it into the sold-out event, here are the top three take-aways as you plan your rise in the creative hierarchy that is Hollywood:
The real winning is in just starting to launch your digital series, no matter what. Know that mistakes will happen and that there will be a learning curve.
Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, co-creators of “High Maintenance,” a comedy series about a marijuana dealer who makes deliveries on his bicycle to stressed-out clients across New York City. The series made the leap from video platform Vimeo to HBO.
As is now known, after a certain amount of time (and views) a Hollywood agent sought to represent “High Maintenance,” got the creators a meeting with HBO, and the rest is history.
It should be noted, however, that most of the team already came from the acting, casting, producing world, so that clearly didn’t hurt. But the journey is one that can inspire the right collective with a vision to create solid online work that just may lead to an unconventional yet rewarding path of success.