MyDamnChannel.com, a site that will play a variety of original video content from established comedians, filmmakers and musicians, launched yesterday on its own site and YouTube.
“We saw the opportunity to bring professional content made by established artists to the web and build a business around it,” said the company’s chief operating officer Warren Chao.
The company is aligning with the artists to produce original programs that will run in weekly installments, like a TV season. Each episode will run from three to five minutes.
Among the first shows to be presented is a political comedy starring Harry Shearer, who plays Vice President Dick Cheney in the first episode. David Wain, a comedian who directs films, has produced a romantic comedy set in Brooklyn. Don Was, a music producer, created two channels, a music documentary series in which he will interview musicians and a channel that will play new music from artists he knows.
There are just a few channels running now, but Chao said many more will be introduced, with the possibility for branded channels that are advertiser related, “as long as the content is entertaining.”
A variety of advertising options will be presented, from pre-rolls and post-rolls to sponsorship deals and product placement opportunities.
The content will be syndicated on YouTube and other web portals, which will be valuable to advertisers, “because we can guarantee millions of impressions,” Chao said.
He distinguished My Damn Channel from YouTube. “We’ll create a dozen episodic shows that will run every week, like an MTV experience on the web.” The episodic nature of the programming is also valuable to advertisers, “because they know the audience will be tuning in every week.”
Chao said the company will sell advertising and work with a few partners, including Middleshift, a consulting firm and some ad networks.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More