MY DAMN CHANNEL -- My 5th Birthday Love Letter

I'm flying home from the 30th Birthday of "Just for Laughs" in Montreal -- the annual, best family reunion in comedy. I've just spent 4 daze and nights with many of the world's best comic minds -- and I'm heading into our birthday re-inspired to keep giving you more.

Everything everyone said about being an entrepreneur has turned out to be true. It's been much more rewarding to not work inside the old corporate monoliths of my past: MTV, VH1, CBS. But I'd never be here without remembering everything I learned there. It's been much harder work to create and run my own business -- the hours are endless -- the pressure to win for everyone who believes in us and works with us is a weight I've tried to carry with honor every day since leaving people like Mr. Moonves, Mr. Redstone, and their worlds 6 years ago.

We launched My Damn Channel July 31. 2007 to create a new destination for comedy fans and a new home for talent to get the freedom, money, production, distribution and promotion they deserve. Don Was still runs our music channel too. YouTube changed the world. Technology empowered every single content creator to finally get the equipment and distribution we needed to get our art seen by the masses without having to break down the walls of major television networks.

Most new companies never make it 5 years. We made it. Thank you for being part of this family and for supporting our simple mathematical premise: The Best Talent + The Best Original Entertainment = Big Audiences + Big Business.

From our first minute, we trusted smart artists to create their best work. We trusted smart fans to discern the difference between schlock and great video worthy of your views, likes, comments, and shares. This entire dream evaporates without you.

Smart advertisers trust us to deliver excellent talent, creative, production, distribution and promotion alongside every marketing dollar they spend to reach millions in a whole new way.

Our backers trust us never to raise too much or spend too much. They trust us to win big. Those backers include saints we love and many of our closest friends and family members.

To every artist, fan, advertiser, backer and business partner that's been with us since 2007 - thank you for believing and thank you for building the future of entertainment.

My Damn Channel would never have made it to our 5th birthday -- we'd never have even launched without WARREN CHAO. He's my Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, and the man who proves every single day that he's the most dedicated, brilliant, multi-talented executive in media. When I hatched the My Damn Channel idea in 2006, I went looking for the one person who could embody most of the things I was missing to take this dream from inception to glory. Warren is a Harvard graduate, a lawyer, a venture capitalist, a technologist, a business development executive and the only man in the world I'd trust to manage the math and the money. I want to thank Warren and his family for their trust as we all work every day to turn that trust into success.

Every artist who's ever had a video on My Damn Channel shares our belief that show business is best when TALENT is in charge. We vow to continue to put as many of you in charge of your art as we possibly can. We vow to continue to share your art with as many humans as possible. And yes...we vow to continue to share the cash.

Every person who's ever worked inside My Damn Channel has brought their energy, spirit, sweat, brain and backbone to help build an idea and a business that's grown gradually and consistently bigger every year. We worked together to try to avoid most of the mistakes of the first Internet bubble more than a decade ago. We worked tirelessly to outlast dozens of companies who raised countless millions to try to get this right. We worked together passionately to bring us onto the same stage as much deeper-pocketed, excellent pals like Funny or Die and College Humor. If you're on our team right now, you know that 2012 is the inflection point. This is the year when premium original content became the Queen and King at the prom. This is the year when our phones started ringing off the hook. This is the year we launched My Damn Channel LIVE every weekday afternoon with YouTube. This is the time when the great work you've done begins to reap more of the rewards you've earned.

Thank YOU again for every minute you've helped everyone at My Damn Channel.

Please share our link: www.MyDamnChannel.com

Please subscribe here: www.YouTube.com/MyDamnChannel

Please continue to let me know what you think of all that's good/bad/ugly -- and how we can work together.

Great art is usually reliant on breaking the rules. I apologize for breaking the rule to "keep it short" - but I couldn't let this 5th birthday go by without one final story:

My wife and I have twins who will also soon turn "5." My youngest daughter nearly broke my heart when she asked today why I couldn't have a job that got me home at 3 o'clock in the afternoon every day. She once asked me why I couldn't be a mailman - since he seemed to have to only work in the morning. The hours we all put into a career can be ridiculous and wrong. Jessie: I hope you find this one day and know that this was the night when your Dad started getting so good at his job making videos that he was home more with you and your sister and your brother and your most beautiful and loving mother.

Respect and Love,
Rob

(This note appeared originally on Rob Barnett's Facebook Page, 7/31/12)

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Status Kill Season Premiere

Today is the day! The season premiere of Status Kill from our very own Jesse Cowell. I could not be more excited. How about you guys? How excited are you? Are you excited enough to invite all your friends to the Facebook event I Hate Invites? Funny... right? Because it's an invite to watch a show about hating invites. Come on you guys… be that excited!

Denton Sparks is back and ready for action. He would never let any silly social media get in his way. He's way too professional to be wasting his time on silly social media sites… I'm kidding you guys, this series is ALL ABOUT the time we waste on silly social media sites. Wait, have you not seen the first season? Second question, what is wrong with you? GO WATCH IT NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Status Kill is one of the more than 30 new original series we are creating for you in 2012. Season Two premiered during today's episode of My Damn Channel LIVE which you can watch here.

If you missed the premiere today during My Damn Channel LIVE then we can't be friends anymore. Don't cry. Come on, stop it. Fine we can still be friends but you have to do one thing for me. Watch Status Kill, share Status Kill, tell everyone you know about Status Kill (ok, so maybe that's three things). We cool internet? Alright cool, just don't fuck up again. Tweet @Jeskid and let him know what you think and watch for me @MrChrisDonahue in a tiny, small nonspeaking part in future episodes.

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What's Next... at least until 8/3/12 (UPDATED)

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Meet "Save The Supers"

We're so proud to premiere Save The Supers the latest series from internet web series superstar Sandeep Parikh, co-star of The Guild and creator/writer/director of The Legend Of Neil.

In Save The Supers, Sandeep stars as "Merman," the leader of a group of superheroes whose superpowers can't shield them from the effects of an economic downturn.

The series will feature guest appearances from Felicia Day, Seth Green and Fiona Gubelmann!

Save The Supers is one of the more than 30 new original comedy series we are creating for you in 2012. Episode one premiered during today's episode of My Damn Channel LIVE which you can watch here.

Here are the full credits for "Issue 1: The Superforce vs. The Bottom Line">:


CAST
The Super Force
Night Knight: Max Bird-Ridnell
Fleet Foot: Jordan Black
World Man: Mickey Hawtrey
Elementra: Mandell Maughan
Merman: Sandeep Parikh
Morphman: As Himself


Jokester: Zack Ward
Tay Zonday: As Himself
Reporter: Brooke Seguin
Interviewer: Ben Benjamin



EXTRAS
Bank Extras Dallas Bloom, Jennifer Chauvin, Emmanuel Lagumbay, Anne Lamsa, Austin Patrick, Jennifer Ramirez, Kevin Rusley, Caitlin Teasdale, Anthony Thompson, Daniel Weinell, Pat Weinell



CREW
Director/Exec Prod: Sandeep Parikh
Executive Producers: Rob Barnett, Warren Chao, Jesse Cowell
Executive Producers: Steven Dengler, Greg Aronowitz
Written By: Ben Benjamin & Sandeep Parikh
Producer: Jeff Winkler
Line Producer: Kimberley Browning
Co-Producer & Story Consultant: Josie Kavadoy
Associate Producer: Ben Benjamin
DP/Co-Director: Bry Thomas Sanders
Casting: Helen Geier


1st AD: Tyler Stratton
2nd AD: Jared Scott Mercier
2nd 2nd AD: Brian Kameoka
Key Set PA: Sam Schweikert
PA: Dave Beaudrie, A. Steen, Chris "Romulus" Winn
PA/Driver: Dave "Mack" MacKenzie


Script Supervisor: Sandy Fleck
Camera Op: John Schmidt, Paul Wojciak, John Beattie
1st AC: Mike Nelson
1st AC: Dave Desio
DIT: Zach Charney Cohen
EPK/Set Photographers: Lan & Vu Bui


Gaffer: Chris Walters
Best Boy Electric: Jason Klinger, Matt Fore
Electric Intern: Christopher Boulos
Key Grip: Brian Taylor
Best Boy Grip: Sarah Shulte, Tim Hogle
Grip Intern: Keiko Saito


Sound Mixer: Leonardo Nasca
Boom Op: Saif Parker, James McCormick


Production Designer: Greg Aronowitz
Art Director: "Red 5" Schripsema
Assistant Art Director: Keri Palmetto
Art Department Coordinator: Sloane Grace
Graphic Design & Titles: Josie Kavadoy
Storyboard Artist:Zack Finfrock
Set Construction: Zachary Helmer,Jason Klinger, Shawn Strider, Louie Lambie, James O'Conner, Will Robertson

Set painters: Christina Holleran, Danielle Bonadona

Prop Builders: Mazin Dajani,Anthony Thompson, Jennifer Chauvin
Costume Designer: Greg Aronowitz
Costumers: Mari Mukai & Samantha Silver

Seamstress: Ginny McQueen, Laura Hoover, Ruby Leigh Young, Ashphord Jacoway

Makeup Coordinator: Jenn Rose
Key Makeup Artist: Sonia Carbrera
Key Makeup Effects: ArtistJo Hollard
SFX Makeup Assistant: Johnny Leftwich


Stunt Consultant: Thom Williams
Stunt Coordinator: Marque Ohmes
Stunts: Marque Ohmes & Samuel Jaye Paul

Craft Services: Ariana Del Rio
Catering Provided by Brad Detanna

Editor: Scott Turner
Original Music by Elon Arbiture
Post Production Sound Design & Mix: William McGuigan
Assistant Editor: Melanie Tomlin
Visual Effects: Mazin Dajani, Sevan Najarian & Lincoln Smith
Opening Credits Designed by Joseph DiLeonardo
Animator: Scott Gordon
Colorist: Brian Barrow


Payroll Services Provided By: ABS Payroll & Production Accounting Services
Payroll Coordinator: Justin Gourlay
Producion Supplies: Atomic Production Supplies


Special Thanks
Nick Quackenbos
Ruby Simpson
Carla Lowry
City of Claremont, CA
Gabe Uhr
Todd Roy
HD Films
Zach Carroll
David Taghioff
Corey Moss
Laxmi Niwas

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