Welcome to Treason Media’s new web site and inaugural blog post. I hope this space will give you a little more insight into my creative process and what drives me to create funny stuff for the TV, internet and whatever new screens those wonderful tech boffins have in store for us.
Speaking of getting to know me, my close friends often joke that I want to get paid to be myself. I don’t deny this. In fact, I see my new company, Treason Media, as the fulmination of 30 odd, er 20 odd years (but who’s counting really) of obsessing over pop culture. I’ve had my nose stuck in a comic book or my hands curled around a game controller for as long as I can remember. I was the first kid on my block to have a VCR. (Okay so it was Betamax.) And I had an Intellivision before anyone else. (Admittedly, everyone else had Atari.) But I think this shows that I’ve always been an early adopter, willing to take risks and follow my own path. And that is the spirit I infuse into every aspect of Treason Media and the shows we produce.
This year began in full-on, start-up mode. Those of you in the kids’ business know that Kidscreen, (the biggest kids content conference/market) is just around the corner and a week earlier than in years past. So, not only am I launching my company this month – which, for those who have done it know that it involves making thousands of gut churning decisions – but I’m also trying to book meetings, pull creative together on the projects I’m pitching and launch this web site. As Sam Elliot said in Roadhouse, “I’ll get all the sleep I need when I’m dead.” I’ve worked harder on this than anything I’ve ever done before in my life. It’s exhausting and exhilarating – I’m putting my own ideas and projects I believe in out into the world to be judged – but it’s also very fulfilling. This is what I’ve been working towards since I made that fateful decision to enhance my incredibly lucrative Carleton English degree with Ryerson’s RTA program. Hopefully the universe will go along with that.
In the coming weeks, I plan to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Treason’s projects, dispatches from the front lines of media entrepreneurism, discussions of storytelling design and craft and generally sound off about issues related to the industry and creativity that are important to me.
For now, I’ll wrap up by showing my eternal gratitude to all those people who have helped me get to this point. First off, my partner Allison, for her undying support and patience with my flights of fancy (cocktails in the compound soon). Cindy for all of the advice and pushing me to be bold. KJ for making me look so good. Greg for a logo that will look amazing on a t-shirt (one will be in the mail soon) and the brilliant Tripp designs. Sam and Dale & Robin for trusting me with their projects and believing in my new venture. Scott for translating Treason’s philosophy and spirit into an indelible identity. Ben for turning that identity into a killer site. Thank you all. I couldn’t have got to this point without you.
