Internet Connection Interview

AE: PASSENGER (it is spelled with all caps, right?) gives us an interesting fantasy/supernatural concept about a war in Heaven played out on Earth in the past, present, and future. Can you tell us about your inspiration for this story?

AG: My greatest motivator for creating this show has been the chance to explore many subjects I’ve always been fascinated by. I wanted to take everything from the study of dreams, mortality, spirituality, science, psychology, archeology, history, and quantum physics, and directly link them into more unorthodox concepts such as the supernatural, time travel and ufology, and imagine new possibilities. Also, there have always been intriguing themes unifying some of my own life experiences, which relate to some of the areas covered on PASSENGER. Creating the world of PASSENGER gives me the opportunity of figuring out what some of that means, and to have a lot of fun in the process! And yes..all caps on the show’s title..no real reason, I just like how it looks .

AE: The episodes we have seen so far have been quite enjoyable with first-rate production (and an excellent score which I believe you wrote). Can you tell us about the response you have received and have you tracked online viewership?

AG: Thank you. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and producing a high quality sci-fi series on a symbolic budget creates exciting challenges, so I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished so far.

The score of PASSENGER is another valuable story layer and helps to flesh out the mythology. Originally, I started out my professional career as a song writer and musician before going into acting, and released several full length albums with my band AKIAV through my record label [Ed: and you can download their music from Amazon.com at this link]. Eventually I created a publishing catalogue of hundreds of songs which are featured on the show, as well as specifically compose new material for other scenes.

We have gotten an incredible response from the general audience. People are enjoying that the show is a lot more about capturing ‘a day in the life’ of some of these supernatural characters versus the glamorous lives portrayed on some other shows, and how that grittiness lends more believability to both the escapist and intellectual experience. We have also received a lot of much appreciated support from the online sci-fi community, like you guys, thanks! We’ve had some amazing reviews, received a prestigious award, have been official selections at various festivals, gotten an amazing amount of growing viewerships and fans through our online channels and have the wonderful distribution of the series through our friends at KoldCast, who we met when we screened PASSENGER at the Independent Television Festival.

I’d be doing all sorts of crazy projects regardless, but the positive feedback and overall reception of the series has been amazing, and it’s really encouraging to know people appreciate what you’ve dedicated yourself to and are working so hard for.

AE: Apart from creative control, what are some of the advantages of creating a web series vs. working within established channels such as network television?

AG: I never set out to limit PASSENGER to one particular format. I’m producing a show that can be viewed online as well as on television, so we have been blessed to have already been approached for online distribution opportunities as well as met with some TV studios, networks, and considered certain offers, and I would never alienate any one particular distribution possibility. I’m always open to listen to anyone who is genuinely interested in PASSENGER, of its well being and existence.

The web provides a platform in which to develop, distribute and test the potential of ideas and to freely exercise creative control, something which is rarely given to an unknown by network television. But from a marketing and promotional perspective, major channels have a vast amount of resources to help a show be more visible. They are both valuable outlets, it all depends which one better serves your project at the time.

I think what’s great about the online movement is its similarity to what happened with music, the freedom to create and the ability to distribute has shifted. Hopefully more creators will stop feeling like they have to please many people to see their ideas through. And can re-claim their voice by exercising their craft.

AE: Among the web series we have viewed so far, yours is one of the best suited to make the jump to television as an ongoing series. Did you try to pitch this to any of the traditional television outlets, and if so, what were the responses you received?

AG: Taking PASSENGER to Television has been part of the plan and design of this series from a beginning. I think the quality of the show has consistently attracted positive industry response without me really having to peddle it, and I’m grateful for that, and some companies have expressed genuine interest on doing the show, which has been very flattering. But the offers thus far haven’t been balanced enough for it to be worth it for the project in the long run. I want PASSENGER to have the allowance of creative development, so that not only the fans benefit by there actually being a series, but this way I’m also protecting the investment of the network, producer, investor or whoever I’m partnering with.

I had a gentleman from a studio who invited me to meet and discuss PASSENGER, so I went on my passionate way of describing the show. And then he said, “Hey, that’s a great pitch!” and i couldn’t help telling him that it wasn’t a pitch, that I’m happy to talk about my work with the same passionate deliberation and excitement to anyone who wants to listen, because I really enjoy what I do. Anything formulaic runs the risk of being dead on arrival. I’m too busy doing, to be chasing. Burning useful energy on just pitching an idea, or writing a treatment which maybe will pass through many different desks before probably getting a ‘no,’ is wasted time. It seems that for some, the idea of working together is simply to buy you off. I’m looking for business partners to share a vision with. In the meantime, I rather invest my time into creating and evolving. Essentially, I strongly believe honest and unapologetic art eventually attracts good business.

AE: If PASSENGER did get picked up as a television series, what would you see as some of the disadvantages of moving to a broadcast network/cable production?

AG: It really shouldn’t be an us versus them thing. But making a move to TV too early on can be dangerous, even pilots with established stars fail more than succeed. So it’s partly about timing, creating a following and demand for the show by fans which builds leverage for your cause, and bringing something new to the table. I only plan to take PASSENGER to TV when its guaranteed that the season will run through out its entirety. Wether we partner with a larger company or by financing it ourselves internally, and then license the series out.

Going to TV doesn’t mean we’d abandon the quality and care that goes into PASSENGER independently, or stop creating episodes of PASSENGER for the web. If anything, a TV deal would improve our overall production because it would increase our budget exponentially, allowing for very few creative limitations. It would also speed up the pace in which we produce, post and air new episodes, combined with the online channel for the show where viewers can get their fix by watching exclusive new material between the airing of each episode.

The cross-promotional aspect of those two formats is essential for the success of a show these days. I’d love to have more financial resources in order to execute many of the plans I have for PASSENGER, like playing with a lot of really cool interactive online games, view animation episodes, post a PASSENGER comic book series, music videos, interviews, and behind the scenes footage that fans will be able to enjoy.

AE: You mention on your website that you have an aggressive marketing campaign planned for PASSENGER. Is that bringing attention to your web series and is that part of you strategy to eventually get the show on television?

AG: Doing it for the right reasons, and word of mouth will always be king. That being said, PASSENGER was created to be adaptable to this new age of the entertainment business, and our online presence has been an incredible marketing and promotional tool for us. Also, I was lucky to be a principal actor in many commercials, so I was able to observe and learn a lot about the balance of creative & business. And there are certain products which typically invest much more into advertisement, and are everyday lifestyle necessities, so we targeted those product groups by weeving them in organically as necessities for the characters in the storyline of PASSENGER. Rather than shoving obvious Ads down people’s throats and ruining a scene, we are more on the soft product integration side, rather than the greedy short run.

In the long run, being respectful and not patronizing your audience, is important for the success of both art and commerce. And placing products justifiably, builds brand trust and awareness in a cool and seamless way, earning people’s loyalty rather than scaring them away. The fact that PASSENGER was structured to be ‘brand’ friendly has definitely been a key asset in acquiring the interest we are receiving.

Independently through my production company Space Cadette Entertainment, we are almost half way into production of the first TV format season. We currently have 3 completed hour episodes (or Chapters, which are broken into webisodes online) and three more in pre-production. And have already been discussing the show’s possibilities for TV over seas as well as here with producer reps and sales people. Basically if the sponsors like the show, they buy into a time slot on a channel and Pam! PASSENGER is on TV. So it’s not really a question of if it will be on TV, but when and where.

AE: What sort of budget did you put the series together on?

AG: That’s always a little difficult to answer, mainly because I’m shooting on the Red and film. We are also a union production, we do permits, insurance and all that..so there are a few heavy costs we can’t avoid. But I have an amazing team which truly believes in the show and work lovingly for long and cheap. We are also able to get some of the best gear and services at incredible rates around town because of my work history and friendship with a lot of professionals. So the actual production money value is ten times more than what we have to actually spend out of pocket. It’s a constant process of thinking outside the box to come up with inventive and creative solutions in order to overcome obstacles. And we are maintaining the quality of PASSENGER at the competitive production level of major shows, which was the goal. We are just doing it with a fraction of what they typically spend, but it comes comes at the cost of exhaustive sacrifices.

A huge part of the success of this show is shared by the fact that the majority of the main actors on PASSENGER are like me, co-executive producing and acting. Meaning that they are also investing financially on the project for points on the back end. Those friends and phenomenal actors are my heroes, they believe in their talent and believe enough in me to take part in my crazy world, and I wouldn’t be able to produce this show without them.

AE: I noticed that you are soliciting sponsorship through product placement. Have you had any success with that and do you believe that revenue from sources like that could keep a web series like PASSENGER in production in its current format over the long term?

AG: Like product placement or sponsorship, ad sharing and partnering with online channels who already have commercial clients they work with, is another way to make money and even finance your web series. In the case of PASSENGER, our budget is somewhat bigger than most web series, since we are also producing it for television. Nonetheless, getting paid by hits can add up to be a substantial means for funding, and in the long term be a viable resource to sustain a good shows solely online.

AE: Web series have continued to grow and now offer a good alternative to the bland genre shows the broadcast networks and cable channels continue to throw at us. Do you believe that independent productions like yours can remain a viable force and can they maintain themselves financially for multiple seasons in their current format?

AG: I really believe the general public’s ability to be engaged in more intelligent and challenging programing has been highly underestimated by a large part of the entertainment industry. A lot of programing has fallen into a degeneration of original ideas, by thinking they are playing it safe and feeding filler to viewers. But like what happened in the music business, the online video revolution born out of a creative need for change, holds both its positive and negative aspects. And it will take some time before it can structure itself in order for anyone to be able to really track and link big profits directly from online sources. I’m not sure we’ll be able to solely depend on online income in order to sustain the budget we presently need for PASSENGER, any time soon. But I’m gonna keep going with the show one way or another, it’s too rewarding for me on so many levels, not to.

AE: What do you see as the most effective means for web series like PASSENGER to become financially viable, multi-season productions in their current format? (i.e., Ad revenue from online viewing, sponsorship/product placement, sales of tie-in products, DVD sales, etc.)

AG: All those different avenues are very beneficial. They provide independent productions with a fighting chance, and hold the potential to be extremely profitable resources one day. But in the end, where there is a will, there is certainly a way. It just requires some sacrifice and determination to achieve what you imagine.

AE: You currently have quite a number of episodes in post-production. Is your plan still to roll out a new episode on a weekly or semi-weekly basis, and how many total do you have planned for the current season?

AG: Yesss!! I promise we will be posting new episodes of PASSENGER much more frequently. Starting with a brand new episode of PASSENGER on Friday May 27, on all our online channels, and followed by episode 6, two weeks after that. I can’t wait for the fans to see ‘em! We have a total of about twenty new episodes currently in post production for the next two online seasons of the show.

AE: Any other comments about PASSENGER or web productions in general you would like to share in parting?

AG: Yeah, you don’t have to have a lot of money or experience, to experiment and explore your ideas and share them with the world. Just the willingness to dream out loud.