Jenn2.0 Trailer from Rob Lewis on Vimeo

Jenn2.0 Storyboard #17

I’ve blogged about the behind-the-scenes of Jenn2.0, a web series in the making, and how we’re using new media to make new media, but this weekend we start the heavy lifting and begin production—well actually I get to participate as Associate Producer and bring my french press; the NAS guys have to do all the hard work.

Several of the scenes call for extras, especially since one of the scenes is a reenacted version of our SDTweetups, but with a little boyfriend drama thrown in. Of course I’ll be there with all the awesome guys and gals from NAS. If you don’t know Kevie, Cody, Josh, and Megan, you should! You can also meet our fabulously talented cast which includes Alexis (she plays me), Lourna (she plays my faux rival Larissa), Chad (he plays Dave who has a secret crush on me), and Ian (my faux boyfriend – if only…). So contact Kevin, come be an extra, and then stay and have a drink with us after the shoot.

If you want to be involved here’s the info:

Background Actors Needed

Keating Hotel, Minus 1 Lounge at 5th and F Street

Sunday, Nov 16th,  1-5
Tuesday, Nov 18th, 4-7

Please send contact info to:

Kevin Calumpit (@kcalumpit)
kcalumpit [at] nashd.com

Requirements:
- Wear muted solid colors.
- Try to wear the same clothes both days.
- Will need to sign model release.
- Refreshments will be available.
- Minus 1 lounge will open following wrap.

MakingJenn20.com has more behind-the-scenes videos walking you through script changes, casting, introduction to the cast and crew, and of course a little bit of me.

We Need a New Logo, Want to Design It For Us?

Rob Lewis threw together the existing logo, but we all agree that it could be a ton better. We also know that there are ridiculously talented individuals out there who might be interested in designing our show logo. We’re kinda like an early stage startup so we we’re strapped for cash, but if you’re interested you’re work would obviously be promoted and attributed to you on all Jenn2.0 promotional materials including the MakingJenn20 site and any other show related entities. Plus we’ll love you forever.

Leave a comment, send me an email, reply via Twitter, or get in touch with Rob Lewis (@golewis), Executive Producer, directly.

Rob Lewis, Executive Producer, uploaded some footage from our first round of auditions that is actually pretty interesting to watch.

Jenn2.0 – First Audition from Rob Lewis on Vimeo.

We even have a “making of” site predictably named MakingJenn20.com with some behind-the-scenes insight from Rob, Darren Elwood (the writer), and soon some entries from myself as well as the rest of the production crew. We also have a 12seconds account and Twitter account if you want to stay current on all thngs Jenn2.0. In an attempt to capture my own perspectives, I’ve made another little video confessional on some show and “Jenn” related thoughts.

More Thoughts on Jenn2.0 from Jennifer Van Grove on Vimeo.

This is all fresh territory for me, but it’s ridiculously awesome to be involved and be the inspiration for the character. I feel well accepted in the web/tech space and probably blend in a bit, but in the real world I’m kind of a weirdo. Even today, as I recorded my little confessional at Coffee Bean, I felt the perplexed stares of CBTL customers and staff (some who even know me) as I spoke into my laptop’s cam. For me blogging, twittering, creating video posts, and jailbreaking my phone for live streaming video are all normal everyday occurrences; sometimes it’s easy to forget that a majority of people can’t relate to that lifestyle. It will be interesting to see how people react to the character of Jenn, her life, and her world. Thank goodness I’m collaborating with really smart and talented people who I think can really bring Jenn’s world to life in a very entertaining way. I’m anxiously awaiting the next steps of getting the entire cast together and actually shooting the pilot. Of course we’ll need tons of extras, so stay tuned if you want to make a cameo!

From the creators of the hit internet series Viral comes a new series
that follows Jenn, a web savvy twenty-something living in Southern
California.  Jenn has poured herself into her network of friends that
she maintains across the ether-world of Web2.0 social media
applications. She is reinventing herself into a media brand and
producing an online show, Jenn2.0. We watch through computer screen,
webcam, and candid follows as Jenn struggles to find balance between
her online personas and her ever-present reality.

JENN
A web savvy twenty-something living in Southern California. She is a
unique combination of social butterfly and computer nerd who has
recently found a way to put that knowledge to use as a Social Media
consultant. Jenn is single, but has just ended a serious relationship.
She feels like her Karma, as it relates to men, must be bad. She has
had trouble defining the right partner because she can’t yet define
herself.

DAVE
Early 20s.  Filming Jenn as part of a college project, Dave is
enamored by her but cannot get the words out. He is characteristically
shy but disguises it with quick witted jokes and self deprecating
humor.  He pokes fun at Jenn when he can in an attempt to keep her on
his level and within reach.  Dave is a close family friend to Jenn,
and knows everything about her via her digital trail.

IAN
Late 20s to early 30s.  Jenn’s boyfriend, a well-established business
man who is very work-oriented.

LARRISSA
A twenty-something energetic socialite who loves to interact and be
the center of attention.  She is Jenn’s “rival” in some respects,
although they still consider each other friends.

I’ll blog more about the process, because it’s actually very odd for me to be involved in something that is so close to my every day reality. What I think is even more strange, however, is that I’m practically living the script today as the production crew – NAS Productions, Rob Lewis, and Darren Elwood – casts for the series. Here’s what I’m doing to keep track of my notes on the various actors.

• I’m using my iPhone to take photos of the actors.
• I’m using Backpack (37signals product) to manage my notes, create photo galleries, and share my comments with the team. [I adore Backpack for this type of project management. The only improvement I would suggest to the 37signals team is to allow for embedding photos hosted elsewhere]
• I’m emailing my photos from my phone to the custom Backpack email address, which is extremely convenient.
• I’m creating goofy videos (using PhotoBooth to record and Vimeo to host) like the one below to document the behind-the-scenes for a making of the series type website. [Side note - I'm being overly dramatic to mimic Real World-style confessionals]
• And…I’m overdosing on caffeine.

More to come later, but I’d love any and all thoughts on the project or my process…especially if you have recommendations for even better tools to manage all this good stuff.

Jenn2.0 Casting Confessional from Jennifer Van Grove on Vimeo.