Press Release: “Neighborhood Watch at the Hollywood” Web Series Selected as Finalist in NATPE LATV Fest’s NextTV Competition

Social Media: http://pitch.pe/76091
Print: http://www.prlog.org/10795820.html

The Groundbreaking Series was Chosen as One of Three Finalists in the Dramatic Category.

07.14.2010 – “Neighborhood Watch at the Hollywood” Web Series Selected as Finalist in NATPE LATV Fest’s NextTV Competition

The Groundbreaking Series was Chosen as One of Three Finalists in the Dramatic Category.

"Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” has been selected as a finalist in the National Association of Television Program Executive's (NATPE) NextTV Competition held at the LATV Fest. in the Dramatic Webisode category sponsored by Lionsgate.

“We are extremely excited to be selected to this exclusive group of finalists by a prestigious organization such as NATPE. We’ve been working a long time to bring something that’s different but also unique to the internet and are equally excited to finally show people a taste of what we’ve been able to do,” said Anthony DeLosa, creator of the series.

In “Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” the viewer is immediately introduced to a unique storytelling device in the form of the Hollywood's state of the art security system’s control panel. It becomes evident that they are watching the story unfold through the mysterious operator’s eyes as the system is used it to monitor the tenants. The console is completely functional and the operator has access to not only security cam footage but also video from cams hidden in apartments as well as mobile cams. Only the security system's operator controls what is seen and when and discovering their identity is central to the plot.

Filmed entirely on location at the upscale condo development, the Hollywood (http://www.livethehollywood.com), the plot of “Neighborhood Watch at the Hollywood” tells the story of four female tenants as they experience live and love in the complex where other tenants suddenly disappear without explanation. Friendships are put to the test and lives forever changed as the truth behind the mystery slowly comes to light.

Winners of the NextTV Competition will be announced at an awards ceremony at LATV Fest on July 14, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles at 6:30 pm. The ceremony will also be streamed live via http://www.stickam.com/natpe

For more information about “Neighborhood Watch at the Hollywood” visit out IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1382713/ the production blog at http://neighborhoodwatchwebseries.blogspot.com/ or follow on Twitter http://twitter.com/WatchWhoUTrust

About the NATPE LATV Fest NextTV Competition
The mission of the NATPE LATV Fest NextTV Competition is to showcase and reward excellence for a professionally generated video web series. Through the Next TV Competition, NATPE is searching for the best pilot for a new web series or the best new episode from existing web series.

NATPE NextTV Competition Dramatic Webisode Finalists

http://www.natpe.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260&catid=48&Itemid=194

Entry Page: http://www.natpe.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=254&Itemid=217

Dramatic Webisode Finalists

Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood

the_source

Central Division - "Episode 1"

Shout-Out From tubefilter Article on SciFinal

Lettieri of SciFinal Blazing Paths for Online SciFi – Tubefilter News http://news.tubefilter.tv/2010/06/09/lettieri-of-scifinal-blazing-paths-for-online-scifi/

NW@TH included in SciFinal.com commercial

A solid second at :34!

Virtual Set Visit: Unit 207

This unit was used as Xal's apartment. We spent some time in the kitchen and office but primarily shot in the den area. It also served as our home base while filming. The wardrobe was sorted out and the prepped equipment in this unit.




Xal (Kirsten Scoles)

Trailer Announcement

Watch events unfold through the eyes of the security system's mysterious operator.



“Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” incorporates an innovative storytelling device called "Forced Perspective." Forced perspective is essentially first person point of view, which is nothing new, however the difference is that the viewer is forced to see the entire story through a character's perspective. The powerful aspect of Forced Perspective is that the viewer doesn't get to see what they want to see or even what they are used to seeing. There is no hand holding. There are no zoom shots to direct your attention to where clues might be-you're going to have to find them yourself. In “Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” the viewer is immediately introduced to the control panel of The Hollywood's state of the art security system and it becomes evident that they are watching someone use it to monitor the tenants. The console is completely functional and the operator has access to not only security cam footage but also video from cams hidden in apartments as well as mobile cams. Only the security system's operator controls what is seen and when and discovering their identity is central to the plot.

One Year: My Turn

As I sit here it's 4:30 am early Wednesday morning. Later today I'm meeting with my editor to lock down a final cut of the trailer for Neighborhood Watch at the Hollywood. I can't sleep as thoughts of how to best promote it race through my head. It could prove to be a crucial test for the show. For the last year I have ate, slept and breathed this project. (Which is a funny expression because as I just indicated, I don't sleep much.) It is my white whale. Welcome to my world.

Inspired by Chris Preksta's One Year post celebrating the one year anniversary of wrapping principal photography of his show, I decided to follow suit. A year ago today we weren't quite wrapped but in the middle of our 58 pages in 6 days shoot. First I need to acknowledge the cast and crew for their fine work and others behind the scenes for their support. They are ever present in my thoughts, a constant reminder that I'm responsible to the people who have shown faith in me which is a great source of motivation.

I keep replaying the decisions I have made for the project this past year. Did I zig when I should have zagged? The truth is I made the best decisions I could have at the time. While I may have done things differently today, it's because there are some options today that weren't available back then. It's comforting to know that there are other independent unestablished self-funded(ind-uns for the sake of brevity) out there like me who share the same struggles. By the same token, it's disconcerting to know these struggles have not gotten easier by now when really, they should be.

There is no Sundance for ind-uns. Those championing our cause are too few and far between. There are many that could be. There are a few that should be and perhaps a couple that are making an effort, but for the most part we are in no better position then we were a year ago. I've heard all the excuses none more than "it's the economy." Well I got news for you, smart people seem to find a way to make plenty of money in a bad economy. I knew when the wallets slowly cracked open they would be for project with "names" attached or for players already established in New Media and if you look at the deals that have happened in the past few months, that has been the case. It's a good thing I didn't listen. It was apparent that on top of everything else I was going to have to get familiar with the advertising biz. So I refined my own pitch, identified my own targets, researched my own contacts and enlisted help to shop the show whenever I could. The good news is that I've recently found a kindred New Media spirit to storm the beach and carry the flag for the show.

So other than the trailer, where are we? I feel like we have a really unique opportunity to show that ind-uns shows can integrate brands. That's an honor I'd be proud to have. As I said, fortunately the show really provides some organic seamless spots for integration. Unfortunately, we really need the funding to finish the project the way it should be finished. While we have the footage "in the can" the concept requires a great deal of animation and some effects. It makes me wonder sometimes if the concept was just too big for me to pull off. That being said, I believe you should go big or go home. Preliminary feedback has been great and I'm convinced the show will be well received.

My greatest source of stress this pass year is that I will let everyone down. The cast. The crew. My family. My friends. Mel Kimman of the Hollywood, who saw something in me that made him provide an awesome location to shoot in. (It shall be served.) And myself. The thought that I have so many projects I'd love to do that may never see the light of day. I take solace in the fact that whenever I put my mind, heart and soul to something I get it. To those who kept the faith, I'll remember it. To those who lost faith I won't hold it against you, but I'll remember that too. I shall finish the game.