Spot on as always Taryn.  You summed up the major points in the debate beautifully.  It's very rare to see someone who can clearly see and understand multiple points of views on a topic.  It's so very refreshing!

To me, it makes a difference that Crackle immediately owned up to the fact that they indeed were moving the release date to accomdate the Streamys.  You certainly can't accuse them of trying to pull a fast one when they were clear about their intentions.  How people choose to look at that decision, though, will undoubtedly largely vary...as we have already begun to see.

T- just clicked your post on Twitter. 

It's natural that "TBW" would rub web producers the wrong way; especially if they feel that SONY is hijacking an essentially grass roots industry event for their own purposes. 

Think: Sundance 20 years ago or TIFF more or less today.

As you wrote:

"But that's the real world baby and if more of the mainstream media picks up the Streamys because of The Bannen Way, then more mainstream studios and their offshoots, and then independent financiers and brands will have the confidence to finance original content for the web and that behooves us all."

So true.  I know a bit about the genesis of TBW and the way this project was structured can only be good for the community.  This rising tide could lift everyone's boat, giving everyone's projects greater credibility and more importantly, greater access to financing.
You shouldn't do anything to stifle that especially in this economic environment.

Many thanks for the great post. plk

Competition is a good thing. Hopefully the awards have been designed to create as level a playing field as possible.  
There is still something unique that goes into something that works on the web and anyone who achieves that deserves credit.

I used to see The Bannen Way all over LA Casting, I can't remember if I never submitted or just didn't get called in to audition.  I think it is exciting how far the web series world has come.

Thanks everyone for the comments...2010 seems to be offering a new level of play for those in web originals so it's up to us to rise to the challenge.

Peter- btw I think it was a post you made on facebook that initially connected Mark and I :)

Thank you, Taryn, for writing this article... 
     I was just thinking yesterday that I hope someone recognizes that Mark and I started with nothing and built this entity ourselves (we didn't start at Sony)... 
     I hope someone recognizes that The Success of The Bannen Way is a good thing for the web. Our goal was to bring higher production value to the web, allowing better talent to rise to the surface and allow people to monetize the internet. This will prove to studios or independent producers that they can invest more money on the web and make it back- this creating more job opportunities for all. With that said, it won't eliminate the ability for poor talented filmmakers (like Mark and myself) to prove that they are people worth investing in. 
     I also hope someone recognizes that we were originally going to be released in December. Sony decided to launch the minimum in December and then push in January so we don't compete with Oscar buzz and people going away for holidays. As much as I think its fair to be recognized in the 2010 Streamy's, I don't think we should be eligible in 2011 based on Season 1 of Bannen even though it technically spans over two calendar years. 
      I'm expecting a lot of haters out there no matter what happens- especially based on the anonymity of the web; but just know that Mark and I are just a couple of dogs trying to get a bone. Two and a half years ago we imagined where the market was going and tried to head it off at the pass. We hope everyone benefits from our experience. 
     Thank you again, Taryn, for writing this article and recognizing our situation. 
 ~ Jesse Warren

T- small world (even smaller industry)

:):):)

I'm with Taryn on this. Even though several members of the community are upset, miffed, whatever at this I can't say I blame them for feeling the way they do nor Sony's decision to do this. I fully expected Bannen to "leak" early, and if I was put in the same situation, I probably would do the same. It's not unlike Oscar hopeful pictures releasing in 2 theaters in December and then going wide the next month to build off of early recognition and buzz.

I also think it's great that this series gets pocketed into the 09 class of drama hopefuls and I look forward to our show (Compulsions) going up against it along with the other dramas of the year. It's going to be a very exciting battle to watch and I'm happy to have a front row seat. Re: the acting noms, From my understanding of the IAWTV eligibility, I believe you're only supposed to count the content released within the eligibility year. Thus, if Ironside and Forester get nominations they'll literally be getting them based on ONE scene. (Same goes for Vanessa Marcil). I'm curious to see if the IAWTV holds up to this, I do not envy that job. That's going to be very ood to try to separate performances by "when the episode aired".

Finally, since this is Taryn's blog... in my biased (but not at all unique opinion), Taryn deserves a Guest Star nomination for Compulsions. She's absolutely spectacular in our show, don't believe me... the go watch yourself. Don't just submit her because she's your friend or blogger, submit her cause the work she put in to this performance is effing amazing and deserves recognition.

 She herself has quite a battle ahead in this category, going up against the dramas AND comedies across both genders. So head over to http://www.streamys.org/submit/public-submissions-people/ and submit her!

Thanks Bernie- that means a lot :)

T - I think you are spot-on. It's always gonna be rough for indie content, whether you're talking about the Bannen guys fighting to get sponsorship and backing before release, or indie productions like GOLD or AJ fighting for discovery and distro post-release. All we can do is tell the best stories we can think of in the best manner we can tell them. Other productions are not the enemy.

The Streamys this year are gonna be amazing, and I hope that GOLD will get to play at least some small part in it. But if we don't, it won't be because the Bannen guys did something wrong. They created a show to the best of their abilities and released it, just like the rest of us. We all hope for a little attention and respect for our creations - should we fault the Bannen guys for feeling the same?

As Jesse posits - if Bannen does well, it helps all of us. The more web stuff can push into the mainstream consciousness, the easier it will become for all of us to raise money to make these things we love, and to bring audiences to them. At least I hope so. If not - Jesse - remember I said that when I come to your mansion begging for a gig ;-)

Oh - and remember you can nominate as many series and individuals for the Streamys as you'd like - 1 nomination per category per day until January 22. After you're done nominating Taryn and Compulsions and The Bannen Way, I hope you'll consider kicking some love GOLD's way. Vote for ALL the shows you like:

http://www.streamys.org/submit/public-submissions-people/

( plug - more on GOLD Streamy submissions: http://bit.ly/4RdGTQ )

We may not all make it to the Streamys, but good stuff at that award show is good for all of us.

"Bernie Su said:I'm with Taryn on this. Even though several members of the community are upset, miffed,"
Who exactly is miffed?

Interesting debate about this going on via Twitter
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=tarynoneill

@Jesse - I'm glad you're taking this all in stride. You're very astute in forseeing that this move by Sony (most likely out of your control) would not be a popular one to the community. Personally, the rabid Marketing/PR mind in me completely agrees with this play it's the smart/business thing to do.

By classification, our shows are 'competitors' in the awards but I feel that the potential presence of both of our series' at the Streamys and any other awards is only a positive for the indies, and especially for the growth of quality Drama on the web. I don't think I've said more than 10 words to you (something I hope to change at future events), but I am rooting for your show to do well across the board. (nominations, marketplace, and public repsonse). I can say that your series is already much more compelling to me than a lot of the other dramas out there.

@everyone else

Let's also not forgot that just because The Bannen Way is eligible doesn't mean that it's got streamy nominations locked up across the board, they're gonna have to impress the academy like the rest of us creators. Plus there are still a lot of well funded, dramatic web series already out there. Valemont, Riese, Circle of 8, Angel of Death, and The Lake ( I'm sure I'm forgetting a few others) are all well produced shows with BIG resources behind them. In the craft categories (which includes all the big Comedies and the Companion shows), it's very possible (and very tragic to Jesse's team and mine) that both The Bannen Way and Compulsions get No Craft nominations.

Every show has their work cut out for them going forward, getting the show out by the "deadline" is only the beginning. It's gonna be a battle, and it's going to be fun.