If you’ve been around our blog, you know we like to support indie filmmakers whenever we can. Today’s post is an interview with cutting-edge indie, Tyler Weaver, who also runs an awesome blog called Multi-Hyphenate.
Whiz!Bam!Pow!
With what may be the most action-packed title of all time, Tyler is creating a “transmedia” experience, and he’s using IndieGoGo as a tool to raise funds and awareness for his project.
Trans-huh?
Entertainment is changing at a rapid pace, and Tyler Weaver’s bravely living on the bloodiest bleeding edge. Take a look at his pitch video for Whiz!Bam!Pow! and read his info-packed interview below.
What Tyler Weaver’s doing with Whiz!Bam!Pow! just may be your sneak peek at the future of indie-storytelling.
BTW, on Twitter? Follow Tyler @tylerweaver, and of if you’re not already, please follow us @JokeAndBiagio.
Biagio: Your project looks awesome…but I have to admit, I STILL don’t fully understand it. That hasn’t stopped us from funding it…because your passion and talent are clear. So please explain: what is a transmedia world, and how does it all work together to turn into one kick ass project?
Tyler Weaver: Whiz!Bam!Pow! is divided up into two worlds. The first is the world of the comic books and radio show; the Sentinel’s world. It’s where all the high adventure and comic book fun happen.
The second world, the “film world,” is where the stories about the readers of the Sentinel’s adventures exist; a more character-driven, traditional film narrative, with an almost “documentary” feel (that’s not to say they’re going to be downers – there’s a lot of fun in there too!)
[Note from Biagio…we don’t think all docs are downers :-) Our upcoming doc, Dying to do Letterman, is pretty uplifting and funny, actually!]
The comic world and the film world will interact with one another, each fueling each other in a very deliberate manner. The cool thing is that because it’s transmedia, audience members can choose which pieces they want to engage with – some may only want the comic books. Some may only be interested in the films. But they all gel together into one story whole.
Breaking New Ground
Biagio: What you’re doing seems like a radical departure from traditional “indie” entertainment. Why “transmedia world” versus independent film?
Tyler Weaver: Whiz!Bam!Pow! was originally conceived as a feature film, but as I was writing it and noodling around, two things happened:
…give people as many gateways into the storyworld as they want, build a sustainable playground for creatives…a deep world filled with choice…
One, I found that I had a unique opportunity with this story. Because it dealt with comic books, I couldn’t use Superman as the hero — I would have to create my own. Being a life-long comic book nut, it gave me an excuse to play in that world. Eventually, it grew from there into comics, radio shows, and of course, multiple short films.
Two, the landscape of the film business is changing every day. Self-distribution has always been my main goal with Whiz!Bam!Pow!, and I was presented with a unique opportunity – a business decision that also made story sense: Embrace the transmedia aspects, give people as many gateways into the storyworld as they want, build a sustainable playground for creatives, and a deep world filled with choice for our audience, expanding the story into the various forms of media (comics, radio, film, etc) that shaped my creative tendencies.
Hands-On Producing
Biagio: At JokeAndBiagio.com, we’re all about “hands on producers”…folks who take control of their future by actually DOING something. We’ve always said, “Producers make stuff.” Clearly, you’re doing just that. How much of each aspect of Whiz! Bam! Pow! are you personally taking responsibility for?
Tyler Weaver: With my writing and producing partner, Paul Klein, I’m writing each piece of Volume One and directing the short film (as well as the feature in Volume Two). We’re bringing on some insanely talented team members, and they will help us realize this project and make it more than we ever dreamt.
But at the end of the day, even Paul, who I’m fortunate to call my best friend in addition to my writing and producing partner, came into this project because of a crazy idea I had, and his belief in that idea.
If Whiz!Bam!Pow! fails, it rests squarely on my shoulders. On the other hand, its success is shared by the entire team, and the audience who helps us get there.
Biagio What personal skills do you have that are helping you realize your vision?
Tyler Weaver: It’s funny that most of my career experience and pop culture love has coalesced into this project. In my “daywalker” life, I was previously the Executive Director of a non-profit foundation, an archive of historical documents that used the Internet and technology to bring history into the hands of whoever wanted to experience it. I became used to project managing large scale technology projects with a small team spread around the world, simultaneously running a publishing company and documentary production house as well as the marketing and outreach aspects of a non-profit.
Then there’s my creative background, in music, in film, music videos, Multi-Hyphenate, and a 20-plus year love of comic books and storytelling.
Even when I was running the non-profit, I remarked how similar it was to being a film director/producer – leading a group of people into an endeavor with a flag (mission statement for NPO, script/story bible for film), and creating an environment in which they’re free to do their best work.
Biagio: What aspects of Whiz!Bam!Pow! are you getting help with?
Tyler Weaver: Everything!
In spite of the transmedia/tech angle, Whiz!Bam!Pow! is still a creative collaboration like a film – with more pieces parts. We’ve got an amazing artist, Blair Campbell, doing the art and designing the comic book. We’re slowly piecing together our on-camera and radio talent for the shorts, like Kate Dawson (who will have a presence in many pieces of the project) and David Baker, lending his voice talent to the gruff 1940’s Jimmy Malone meets Perry White editor of the Daily Record newspaper in the radio show, The Adventures of the Sentinel.
Writer/Director/Actor/Producer/Do-it-All talent David Baker gives his pitch for Whiz!Bam!Pow!
We’re bringing on an app/web developer to help us build the means to digitally distribute the project through the Internet and mobile technology. And I’m thrilled to be reuniting with my sound guy from my previous film, Gather ‘Round the Mic, Jay Cox, as he makes this whole thing sound extraordinary.
This is a collaborative project – both on the creative and on the audience side. We need people to make this work – and collaboration is the most important piece of the puzzle (so much so that it’s creeping into the story thematically as well).
Crowd Source Funding with IndieGoGo
Biagio: You chose IndieGoGo over Kickstarter to raise money for your project. Why?
Because IndieGoGo offers the “keep what you earn” model, it was perfect for the transmedia aspect of this project. We’re already putting the comic book into production, and that’s not going anywhere.
Biagio: Are you happy with that decision?
Tyler Weaver: Am I happy with that decision? So far, yes. But ask me again when it’s all over (though I doubt my opinion will change)!
Biagio: What advice do you have for indies considering the IndieGoGo versus Kickstarter debate?
Get used to failing, because it’s going to happen a lot. What separates you from the rest is your ability to get back up and keep on keeping on.
Tyler Weaver: Pick the platform based on the individual needs of your project – not the prevailing winds of popularity. It’s the project, the content, the people behind it, and your own willingness to push yourself further than you ever have that makes or breaks a campaign.
Let me make this crystal clear – you have to be prepared, irregardless of the platform you choose – for the roller coaster you’re about to embark on. You will experience the highest highs and the lowest lows (sometimes within one click of each other). Get used to failing, because it’s going to happen a lot. What separates you from the rest is your ability to get back up and keep on keeping on.
Biagio How will Whiz! Bam! Pow! finally be rolled out? What’s your anticipated schedule?
The goal is to have all the pieces out by April 2011 – the comic book, the short film, the radio shows, and of course, the App/Website. This could change, but we’re hoping that the roll out will begin at the end of January with the comic, then go from there. A lot is going on behind the scenes right now, but it has to be a very deliberate and purposeful roll-out based on the story itself.
That said – look for the comic near the end of January!
Kapow!
There you have it…Tyler’s master plan for world domination. We like that he’s thinking outside the box, and gave $25 to his IndieGoGo campaign. You can do the same at the Whiz!Bam!Pow! IndieGoGo page.