Electus: April 2010 Archives
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Perhaps he says it in a way that make people think it sounds new or perhaps people just want to party with the guy - but it's crazy how he can speak for 45 minutes and not say a thing.
I still don't know what the hell Electus is based on the way Ben tries to define it (the website offers no help).
It sounds to me like a production company. A production company that will have Facebook Fan areas and YouTube channels. Basically like every production company on the planet.
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Electus' plan is to bring Burbank, Madison Avenue and THE WORLD together before a project goes forward - basically marrying advertisers with content producers up front. Perhaps you should Google (or "Electus'le" - which will be your way of rebranding Google - in a deal you'll announce by Press Release and then we won't hear about it ever again) the concept for the 'Soap Opera' from the 1930s.
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Everybody gets paid by Doritos and everybody (probably) makes money. It's called a commercial.
Seriously, producing "branded" content with celebrities doesn't mean shit. It means they're doing commercials and probably feeling pretty bad about themselves once they have to start announcing the winners of the Electus Award for Cheesiest Doritos Fanatic (which no doubt encompasses the person who can get the most people to join the Twitter feed).
There's nothing wrong with that. Money is money. That's why you're in business. Just don't call it revolutionary or visionary or YOUR IDEA! It's just a production company. Gary Coleman has a production company. Everybody is doing what you're doing.
Do it in 1994 as the internet is just coming into people's homes... then it's revolutionary.
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It recently came to my attention that Ben Silverman was asked to give a keynote address at this year's MIPTV Conference in Cannes, France on April 13, 2010. Realizing that Ben is a very busy man (what with single-handedly changing the media landscape... again), I have taken the liberty of drafting his keynote address for him.
Based on everything I know about him through interviews and presentations, etc., I have attempted to write the speech in a style he would find the most comfortable.
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Ben Silverman - Founder and CEO of the new multimedia company Electus - a groundbreaking partnership with media mogul Barry Diller's leading interactive company IAC.
(As the lights dim, a low hum emits from somewhere, smoke machines fill the stage with a heavy mist. A lightning bolt appears to strike the back of the stage followed by a thunderclap - leaving the silhouette of... A MAN.)
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(A pin spotlight pulls out to reveal BEN SILVERMAN in all his glory - sunglasses, suit that he probably slept in with the tie loosened - unshaven. He points to the sky as another lightning bolt shoots out of his finger. "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by The Scorpions screams from the speakers as he floats magically toward the podium on a hydraulic saucer.)
All is silent (except, I imagine, for the thunderous applause from the lucky MIPTV crowd).
Ben Silverman: Yeah... all right... good morning Cannes. Hell of a town you got here. I don't know what kind of poison you serve in your bars, but you fuckers got me drunk!
(From the wings, Notional founder and CEO Ricky Van Veen is heard cackling.)
Ricky Van Veen: You got that shit right! Whooo!
Ben Silverman: Before I get started, how about a shout out for my little pissant buddy over there, Notional Founder and CEO Ricky Van Veen!
(There is a smattering of applause and bunch of "who the fuck is that" looks throughout the crowd.)
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Ricky Van Veen: Damn straight on that one, cat daddy!
Ben Silverman: Can it, Ricky.
Ricky Van Veen: I get it "Cannes"! That's where we are! Freakin' hilarious, boss.
Ben Silverman: Shut the fuck up, Ricky.
Ricky Van Veen: Sorry, daddy-o.
Ben Silverman: (holding up a cocktail) And I said more vodka than tomato juice, bitch.
Ricky Van Veen: Sorry bout dat.
(Ricky comes on stage and takes Ben's drink to freshen it up.)
Ben Silverman: Anyway... Now we're cruising. You guys (and ladies) are all International Television folk, right? Excellent. How's business? It's great to see the Polish TV delegation out there.
(There is applause from a delegation of Polish Television Executives.)
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(A screen behind Ben descends from the ceiling revealing his PowerPoint presentation. The light envelops him in a Christ-like glow. The first slide is Ben Silverman's professional timeline.)
Ben Silverman: After I created "The Office" in the UK and decided to bring it to America, I really needed a new challenge. So I told NBC Universal Chairman Jeff Zucker I wanted to be the head of NBC. He said I was overqualified for the job and would be better suited to be his boss... but I convinced him that I would prefer to run NBC for a while and see how that goes first.
(Another slide - Images of Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jeff Zucker.)
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(Another slide - giant Electus logo... a smaller IAC logo barely noticeable.)
Ben Silverman: Having conquered the broadcast network world, I decided the one space where every content producer was having trouble was the online world. It was a challenge I couldn't refuse. The person who figures out how to make money with content on the internet will be made King! Everyone is losing shitloads of money right now. "It's a space that can't be tamed, Ben." "Please, Ben, don't try it." Everyone was being a whiny little bitch to me, begging me not to go into New Media. When Barry Diller pleaded with me to take $100 million and start Electus, I told him it wouldn't work. "It's throwing good money down the toilet", I said. But he insisted.
(Another slide - Ben Silverman holding a mini-dv camcorder.)
Ben Silverman: I just wanted to have a little mini-dv camcorder and some really good out of work writers looking for a break and I wanted to create a low-cost, high-quality content site. It's the only model that works. But Mr. Diller, being used to high-cost, low-quality content, insisted that I take the money. So I did. And, today, I'm happy to say, there is still some money left.
(Slight applause.)
Ben Silverman: I will now take your questions.
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Note to Ben, just copy and paste the text into Word, print it out, and you have your speech.
You're welcome.
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About Jill Kennedy
Manka Bros. (and the Manka Business Channel) hired her (for a very low sum) to cover the world of media (not the world of Medea) in her own words without corporate interference.
About Medea
She was a sorceress and wife of Jason, whom she assisted in obtaining the Golden Fleece. When Jason deserted her, she chopped up their children. One could say, Medea acted as rationally as a major media company.
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