DCTV Interview with LA WEB FEST Director

Today marks the first day of the all-web series festival, LAWEBFEST, and we thought you all needed a little inside info on what goes into making a festival and what you can expect this weekend! DCTV Creative Director interviewed Festival Director Michael Ajakwe, Jr. on judging, women in web series, diversification, the global experience, and why “the web is the way.”

DARYN: So you are the first man I’ve interviewed for DCTV. I hope you feel special! I wanted to reach out to you to talk about the LA Web Series Festival, which is in its second year. What was your inspiration?

MICHAEL AJAKWE JR.: I feel honored to be your first! My inspiration for the festival was my belief that some of the web-based shows are really cool and need to be celebrated. Also, we are web creators and need to know and network with each other and educate each other and also expose the public to what we are doing so they can begin to follow our shows online post-fest.

DARYN: You put together the first festival in 90 days. You had a year this time around to prepare. What did you get to do differently?

MICHAEL: More time gave me more options. I am trying just to do it better. It’s nice to have more time. I wanted to reach more people and we have. We have entries from 19 different states and 7 different countries. It’s amazing what a few extra months makes.

DARYN: I have to say, as a woman, I was endeared to the LA Web Series Festival last year because there were so many female-driven and ethnically diverse web series selected! In fact, the Web Series of the Year was Diary of a Single Mom. This year is no different. For those interested in submitting next year, what goes into the judging process for LA Web Fest?

MICHAEL: Well, we have a small team of screeners. We look for shows with a fresh perspective. We also look for good, sound storytelling, multi-layered characters, shows that are well-made. A show might look great but not have it together storywise. A show might not look like much because of a limited budget but it is saying so much with a wonderful story and wonderful acting. You don’t have to be perfect to earn awards at LAWEBFEST. We give merit awards for acting, writing, directing, editing, and if everything is working together as one, we honor the series itself. And our approach is not winner-take-all. If we feel two or three or even five performances were outstanding in a particular area, we commend them all, rather than just choosing one! After all, when it comes to art, there can always be more than one winner. I have never believed in the “there is only one” system of merit when it comes to the arts. I feel that’s more for the drama than the art itself. Granted, everyone can’t win. All we’re saying at LAWEBFEST is that that there can be more than one winner in a particular category.

DARYN: Because this is Digital Chick TV, I can’t help but point out that of the 12 Board Members of the LA Web Series Festival, 5 of them are women, which is a pretty nice percentage. How were the Board Members selected?

MICHAEL: The Board was selected by me from a diverse group of both industry and non-industry friends and associates. I wanted a certain gender and intellectual mix since those who support the arts come from all walks of life. I don’t believe that only the people who work in the industry are qualified to judge creative content. How can that be with the amount of garbage that we put out every year in film and tv?! We can’t be that smart. Often, I find that people who work in other fields have a better idea of what people want to see and what’s entertaining. I respect John Q. Public’s opinion as much as my industry colleagues. My board, I feel, is reflective of that. It’s not just one narrow point of view.

DARYN: The LA Web Series Festival increased the number of selected series this year. What was the reasoning behind that?

MICHAEL: I feel our numbers increased because we had more time to plan and market the fest. More awareness. There are also more web shows out there. I guesstimate upwards of 1000. And that’s just in America. If you count overseas, it its probably close to double that.

DARYN: In scanning the panels throughout the festival, I see great panels on often rarely discussed subjects: “Women of the Web,” “Diversity on the Web,” “Web Series: A Global Phenomenon,” “Closed Captioning for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf” and I really want to applaud you for discussing these topics. How did you develop these panels and what can people expect from the LA Web Series Festival experience?

MICHAEL: I wanted to hold panels that are of interest both to the web community at large and to me. I come from tv and film where things are not as equitable. People of color, for instance, tend to be marginalized in tv and film, whereas on the web, we are thriving. Women don’t have as much opportunity to create and run shows in tv or direct feature films, but on the web, women are kicking ass!!! They are creating shows, writing, directing, producing. They are doing it all. And it’s no big deal. Just business as usual. The web series genre respects and welcomes women and minorities moreso than traditional media, and I wanted to discuss that. I wanted to talk about how the web is taking a leadership role when it comes to opportunities for people who want to create. Everyone has a shot. That is not the case with tv and film. I truly feel that you have a richer landscape of programming when you include everybody and not just one group of people. That’s boring. That’s why people aren’t going to movies as much or watching as much tv. We’re tired of seeing the same old shit! The web offers a wonderful, healthy alternative. That’s why our motto this year is “The web is the way.” If you want a different entertainment experience, “The web is the way.” If you want to participate in reshaping the entertainment landscape in America and abroad, “The web is the way.”

DARYN: You are also offering six web series producers an opportunity to screen at the Marseille Webfest in France, which is very cool. When will those selections be announced?

MICHAEL: Yes, isn’t that amazing?! Last year, after LAWEBFEST, a talented producer in France, Jean-Michel Albert, reached out to me via a mutual friend and told me he was trying to launch Europe’s first all-web series festival to be held October 14-16 in Marseille, France. Unlike LAWEBFEST, which is privately financed by the Bank of Michael Ajakwe, the City of Marseille– thanks to the tireless efforts of one of its ministers of culture, Stephane Rizzo — is putting its resources behind the Marseille Webfest, which I think is incredible. I have been consulting with Jean-Michel for about a year. He is here at LAWEBFEST 2 to observe and to look for web shows to showcase at Marseille Webfest. So Jean-Michel, Stephane, and I came up with the idea of sponsoring six web series makers and bringing them to Marseille for the festival — all expenses paid– so they can show their work to an international audience. The big announcement will be made on Sunday during our awards ceremony, which starts at 8:30 PM and is being held at Locals Sports Bar & Grill, 5047 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles (between La Brea and Fairfax.)

DARYN: Most importantly, when and where is the festival and how can someone get tickets?

MICHAEL: The festival is today (Friday, March 25), tomorrow (Sat, March 26) and Sunday (March 27) from 10 AM to 9 PM Friday and Saturday and 10 AM to 11 PM on Sunday. It’s all taking place at the Stage 52 Theater, 5299 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles (between LA Brea & Fairfax). Our awards ceremony is Sunday night from 8:30 PM to 11 PM at Locals Sports Bar & Grill, 5047 W. PICO (Between La Brea & Fairfax). All of our workshops, panels, screenings, and evening tributes are recession friendly. Nothing is over $10! You can buy tickets at the door, but seating is limited. You can also buy tickets online at www.lawebfest.com. Lastly, let me me say this festival is not only for web series makers, but for anyone who is interested in getting into the industry. There are producers in the fest this year who were lookie-lou’s last year. So come on down and see what we’re about!

DARYN: Thanks for your time, Michael, and for all that you’re doing to diversify and support the web series industry.

MICHAEL: Thank you for interviewing me, Daryn. It’s been a lovely experience.