TVSnob Talks With Hollywood Writer Peter Rader, Founder Of Hollywood Remix

There is definite progress happening in the Hollywood Writer's Strike and we could see a deal between the Writer's Guild and the AMPTP very soon. We hope a deal doesn't distract some of the great Hollywood writer's from focusing on their various web video ventures that have sprung up as a result of the shortcomings of the big movie studios.

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk to writer Peter Rader.

Rader is the writer of such hits as Waterworld, The Last Legion, and Escape To Witch Mountain and is in the process of launching an innovative new web video venture called Hollywood Remix. Those that have been following the Writer's Strike would better know Hollywood Remix as Hollywood Disrupted, the group behind such viral video hits as Greedy Gentleman and a great interview with the bizarre minds behind The Simpson's.

Hollywood Remix comes about as a result of the current Hollywood paradigm no longer being viable, meaning that the studios which play such a big part in the current business model need to be removed from the equation, to say the least. By creating an innovative new business model wherein the "community creates content" and the creators control their own content, the middlemen are effectively eliminated, bringing video content straight to the end consumer and any associated revenues straight into the pockets of those who should receive it: the content creators. We talked with Aaron Mendelsohn a while back, another writer starting a similar venture called Virtual Artists and his model was to use strictly professionally created content to attract web traffic and advertisers. Hollywood Remix on the other hand, will be home to both amateur and professionally created content, and will contain user-generated elements such as those seen on a site like Digg, where content is "self-filtering". Ultimately those watching the videos will determine what makes it and what doesn't. In fact, even the advertising will possibly be in part user-generated, with viewers rating advertising on the site and even co-creating advertisements. Rader figures this will all help to build the community element of Hollywood Remix, in his eyes the key component of its eventual success.

We may even see a collaboration with Virtual Artists in the future as Mendelsohn has brought together some big names in the technology and open source industries and looks to have a state-of-the-art video platform in the works for his startup. By focusing on mainly professionally written and produced content with Virtual Artists, that leaves an opportunity for Rader and Hollywood Remix to take advantage of the "long tail" of movie buffs. Look to see a lot more niche content from Hollywood Remix, rather than the mainstream selections we expect from Virtual Artists. We should see something up and running by this March from Peter Rader and we look forward to it. Right now, you only have access to the Hollywood Disrupted front page and a big "coming soon" sign nestled in the Hollywood hills. We'll keep you updated on any developments in the next few months.

February 7, 2008

TVSnob Talks With Hollywood Writer Peter Rader, Founder Of Hollywood Remix