The burgeoning arena of viewer-created content is about to expand once again thanks to Veronica Mars. The season three DVD for the show will include videos created by and starring fans of the series!
As envisioned by Mars creator Rob Thomas and his team, the special features in the DVD will include a fan feedback section featuring homemade videos of loyal viewers talking about the series. All that fans have to do is videotape themselves commenting on the show and forward their videos to the Mars production offices.
Thomas has sent word to MediaVillage that he wants fans to express their feelings on tape about any aspect of the show: When and why they started watching, their favorite storylines and characters, memorable lines of dialogue or whatever they want to say. In addition, he is inviting fans to tape themselves asking questions directly to him about any of the characters or any story details in the series’ third season. Thomas will choose some of the questions and answer them directly on the DVD.
Fans may appear individually or in small groups in their videos, but there cannot be anything visible in the frame that is trademarked, meaning no artwork or recognizable brand name products and no logos on clothing. There can be no music in the clips unless it is an original composition by the person submitting the clip and special permission is given to use it. Nor can there be clips from Mars or any other television program included within a video submission.
Further, everyone who appears in a video must sign a release (see below).
Thomas is looking for the best quality videos possible, so fans should submit the original tapes on which they make their recordings. MiniDV is best, Thomas’ team says, and Standard-Def is better than High-Def. DVDs should not be submitted, because they are too compressed.
Sound will be the biggest technical issue. Fans should shoot in a quiet environment and make sure the audio on their tapes is crisp and clear.
Of course, Thomas and his team reserve the right to refuse any submission they receive.
The deadline for submissions is April 6, 2007–so you need to move fast. To obtain the necessary release and to learn where to send videos, please contact Alex Mercer at alex@slaverats.com. Fans may also access the release at www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2007/03/12/VMVideoRelease.doc.
The third season of Veronica Mars is currently on hiatus and will return in April. Since it began in September, season three has featured two multi-episode story arcs, one about a rapist at the college Veronica and her friends attend, the other about the murder of the school’s dean. When Mars returns in April the season will end with a first for this serialized show: Five consecutive stand-alone episodes. The CW has not yet announced whether Mars will return for a fourth season next fall.
Last September, MediaVillage readers chose Mars star Kristen Bell as the Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in the first annual MediaVillage TV Fan Awards.
SoundOff to MediaVillage about Veronica Mars.
