GoDaddy.com is renowned for its risque Super Bowl spots, but it is taking that attitude into the broadband arena with a videopodcast at www.Frenchmaidtv.com. Frenchmaidtv, the brain child of Tim Street, is a series of how-to videopodcasts in which three scantily clad French maids teach viewers how to perform tasks such as registering domain names, which is where GoDaddy comes in.
“It’s goofy Benny Hill comedy that explains a variety of services, so it’s ideal for companies like GoDaddy to reach 18-34 year old males,” Street said. He founded Frenchmaidtv in 2005 and ran a few non-ad supported videopodcasts on iTunes, which were highly rated. “It got the ball rolling and we’re in business now,” he said.
He works with Podtrac, the podcasting network that sells ads to major companies. Mark McCrery, CEO and co-founder of Podtrac, sold Frenchmaidtv to GoDaddy. “It’s a great environment for advertisers to get their messages across to a target audience, especially when it comes to technical services that are complex for users,” McCrery said.
The format of the videopodcasts is two to four-minute episodes that start with casual shots of the maids before they begin their how-to lesson, which is told in alluring French accents with on-screen graphics that illustrate the steps.
Street says the main challenge in producing the videopodcasts is to name them so they will be found through videopodcast search. “Clients often want to use the name of the product, but people don’t always search by product name,” he said. “We chose ‘How to Register a Domain Name’ for GoDaddy and once we had that I wrote the script and sent it to GoDaddy and Podtrac for comments. We shot it in a hotel room with some location shots as well.”
Barb Rechterman, executive VP of marketing for GoDaddy, says she relies on podcasters to create their own programs. “We let them be the creative force because they’re able to cater their content to their audience. It’s safe for us because it’s coming from the heart of the podcasters. We guided the creative copy with Frenchmaidtv, but aside from that it’s all coming from them,” she said.
“The uniqueness of the voice of the podcast” is its highlight, according to Rechterman. “You can’t get it on TV, because it’s all scripted acting.”
Frenchmaidtv’s videopodcasts play on iTunes and Frenchmaidtv.com. GoDaddy’s also plays on its website (click “View all others” and “Our customers.”)
Producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher To Receive Harold Lloyd Award From The Advanced Imaging Society
Producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher will be presented with the 2025 Harold Lloyd Award in recognition of their producing achievement in creating Gladiator II at The Advanced Imaging Society’s (AIS) 15th annual Lumiere Awards luncheon, which takes place Friday, February 7, 2025, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Empowering their storytelling with groundbreaking technology and skill, Wick and Fisher have thrilled audiences and driven the film industry forward for three decades. Their steadfast dedication to the highest standards of cinematic excellence have resulted in epic films, including Memoirs of a Geisha, The Great Gatsby, the Stuart Little franchise, the Divergent Series and both Gladiator films. The first Gladiator earned Wick an Academy Award® for Best Picture. In light of their consistent and distinguished contributions over the years, as exemplified by this year’s Gladiator II, the Advanced Imaging Society wished to recognize the team with this year’s esteemed Harold Lloyd Award.
“Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon Entertainment have revolutionized modern filmmaking with their bold storytelling and ability to elevate large-scale productions to epic levels,” remarked Jim Chabin, AIS president. “Their work has not only captivated audiences but also redefined filmmaking standards, leaving an indelible mark on the art of cinema. At AIS. we deeply admire their visionary contributions and enduring influence on the film industry.”
Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of the late, great Harold Lloyd, remarked, “Doug’s artistic vision and Lucy’s dynamic leadership have brought authenticity, beauty and profound emotion to some of our favorite epic films. Together, they are a... Read More