Building A Fan Base With Google+ Hangouts On Air

On January 16, 2013 I hosted the first Actors Talk Podcast Google+ Hangout On Air with a panel of independent filmmakers: Benjamin Dane, Sean Johnson Jr. & LaMarcus Tinker and Christopher Shawn Shaw.

In case you’re not up to speed on just what a Hangout On Air is, check this link from Google http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/onair.html

As you can see if you visited that link, the unique aspect to the Google+ Hangouts On Air is that they are broadcast publicly, live-streamed to YouTube, to your web site, to any site you choose to embed the link provided once the HOA begins. It is an opportunity to connect with a vast audience who can not only watch the Hangout live, but can interact by submitting questions and comments that can be responded to during the broadcast by you and your guests.

Want to introduce your fan base to your cast? Set up a HOA and get the ball rolling and the buzz started. That’s just one of many possibilities I see for actors and filmmakers having new opportunities for promoting their films and their careers.

For those of you interested in producing your own Hangout On Air (once you’re in the know they are referred to as an HOA) I can give you a few insights:

First, there is a learning curve…but it’s not incredibly steep. If you are not already, secure a Gmail account, activate Google+, fill out your profile and start to add people to your Circles. Don’t know what that means? Just get started and you soon will.

After something of a slow start, Google+ as a community is really growing rapidly and the technology that Google is implementing and improving is driving that growth.

In the few weeks that I’ve been actively circulating within the Google+ community I have seen changes, especially to Hangouts and Hangouts on Air, almost daily.

And speaking of Community, one of the biggest assets that Google+ has going for it is the Communities. Think of these like Facebook group pages but with much easier and much more consistent interaction among community members.

Need some information on how to start a Hangout On Air, how to use Google+ and Podcasting, where to find like-minded artists, foodies, geeks, you name it and there is likely an active Google+ Community with plenty of folks willing to answer questions and help you get started.

I’ve found several great sources for learning the Hangout and Hangout On Air ropes but none better than Ronnie Bincer. His daily video tutorials and explorations of Google+ functionality have been a goldmine as a resource. A resource that is FREE. No doubt if I get to the point where paying for assistance with growing my ATP audience is an option, I know where to start.

Think there might be TOO MUCH information making it hard to find? Well…this IS a Google product and it’s no hard trick on Google+ to search for and find archived posts and videos on most any subject you need to research.

Another bonus is that because Hangouts On Air reside on YouTube following their broadcast, you can always check YouTube as another source for instruction.

So actors and filmmakers and podcasters, I hope you’ll check out Google+ and especially the Hangouts and Hangouts On Air. I’m still taking baby steps in learning how to use this FREE technology but I see great possibilities for using these tools to connect to my existing audience and to hopefully grow the audience well beyond what I formerly thought possible.

THE FILMMAKERS ROUNDTABLE

The HOA that I produced on January 16, 2013 ended up running almost two hours. Did I intend for it to run that long? Not really. But in retrospect, I should have realized that if all my panel was able to make an appearance that, with four guests, it would take some time.

That is one of the issues to be hashed out in advance of producing your HOA: How many panelists do you need and how many should you book in the event that some can’t make it? You don’t really want to schedule a HOA, publicize it and then end up in a room by yourself.

I was fortunate that ALL of my invited guest filmmakers were able to make the date and we had what I thought was a very fruitful conversation.

Below I’ll link to photos and information about each of my guests and their projects: Benjamin Dane (Beyond The Farthest Star), Sean Johnson & LaMarcus Tinker (400, Down By The River) and Christopher Shawn Shaw (Youth Group, Familiar Spirits).

BENJAMIN DANE

I previously interviewed Benjamin Dane for ATP Episode 7 almost one year ago. At that time his film BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR was finishing post-production and talks were underway with distributors. Now, a year later, the film is complete and distribution is in final negotiations and a release date is expected in 2013.

As a producer-actor, Benjamin has great insight into what is takes to get an indie film from script development, into production, casting, post-production and onto distribution. BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR has a terrific cast including Renee O’Connor, Barry Corbin, Andrew Prine, Cherami Leigh, Lou Beatty Jr.

BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR

Cast Interview: Renee O’Connor from Beyond The Farthest Star on Vimeo.

Barry Corbin As Chief Burns:

Renee O’Connor As Maureen Wells:

SEAN JOHNSON JR. & LAMARCUS TINKER

400 TRAILER

400 Trailer from Sean Johnson on Vimeo.

I first interviewed Sean Johnson for Actors Talk Podcast Episode 14 At that time, Sean’s film, DOWN BY THE RIVER had finished shooting and was in post-production, rushing to be finished for a film festival entry.

That was on May 7, 2012. Now, DBTR is complete and in talks with distributors and Sean and his actor-producer brother LaMarcus Tinker, executive producer on Down By The River and a busy working actor (Friday Night Lights, Glee, Arrested Development, etc)are raising funds and continuing development of their next project, a sports related drama called 400.

These are two brothers, real brothers, to be watched. Both are multi-talented actors, directors, writers, producers. I don’t think there’s anything related to making movies that they won’t be able to accomplish. They have that much drive, that much passion and that much talent.

LaMarcus Tinker

Not to be missed in this episode of Actors Talk is the story that LaMarcus tells of how he came to be cast and had a part written into the show for him when he showed up in Austin with no job, no prospects. It’s a great story and a glimpse into the heart of this dynamic young man.

Be sure to visit the 400 INDIEGOGO crowd funding page and help Sean and LaMarcus bring this project to life.

CHRISTOPHER SHAWN SHAW

Christopher Shawn Shaw Director’s Reel

I met Christopher Shawn Shaw on Facebook. We both hit common groups there on a regular basis and I began to check out the video links he posts.

It didn’t take long to see that Christopher is a talented director and writer. One of the projects currently on his docket is a faith-based comedy called YOUTH GROUP. Take a look at this trailer and you’ll see that Christopher and writer-actor Thor Ramsey, a frequent collaborator, definitely have a very original idea of where films made for this market can go. Their Youth Group project is off-beat, funny and I suspect it might just make us think a bit.

Youth Group Trailer with Thor Ramsey

A New Project in Development

WRAP UP

The discussion among this group of filmmakers was, I hope, entertaining and informative. It was to me and I hope you found it beneficial as well. For those of you just thinking about starting the actor’s or filmmaker’s journey you have a little bit of a glimpse into some of the time, energy, sacrifice, commitment and passion it takes to forge a career in this business.

Take heart from the stories of these filmmakers, pursue your dreams and keep working to get where you need to go!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these audio excerpts from the full two-hour Hangout On Air. If you’d like to see me try more Hangout’s On Air, please use the contact number 877-518-2530 in the USA or my Google Voice Number 512-660-7160 and let me know. I’d love to hear what you have to say about this episode or any of the other episodes of Actors Talk Podcast.