Projects are winding down, and I’m getting ready to go into my annual “Learn New Things” phase. That’s when I get the time to really go through tutorials and new software that I know I will need to use in the next year. This year, that includes Modo and Lightwave (I have used Lightwave for years, but there’s a new version out), ProAnimator for After Effects, and Apple’s Color. I’m also looking forward to more time for writing in the next month or so.

I’m thankful for this year. It started out pretty badly, but things really came together. Empty Street is doing well, and we’re currently in the middle of two great projects. I think we’re doing the best work we’ve ever done. I started Empty Street back in 1993, and we’re still one of the best web design and development shops in the USA. That’s awesome, and sometimes I have to remind myself how far we’ve come.

And this year I launched Genius Monkeys- a company I formed to fit the web video and broadcast video niche. Genius Monkeys and Empty Street play well together, as web and video continue to converge. I formed Genius Monkeys to give myself a vehicle to do what I love best- to tell stories. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s awesome to finally have the means to do this.

I’m happy to report that even after startup costs, Genius Monkeys made a profit our first year. That’s amazing, and it’s allowed me to co-create and produce a new original sitcom for the web called “Couch Cases”.

“Couch Cases” has really been a trip, I’ve learned so much and I’m having an amazing time. I’m positive that this show is good enough to deserve being on network primetime, but even if it doesn’t make it to your television I’m very proud of the work. And we have a plan. The quality of the project is high enough that I’d be surprised if we didn’t at least get some doors opened for us in Hollywood. And hey, we’ve already been in USA Today and we have not even wrapped yet!

I have a lot to be thankful for, I get to live an interesting life doing things I enjoy. That’s huge, and I know it. I don’t plan on wasting these opportunities. Most importantly, I’m thankful for my friends and family this year. I hope your Thanksgivings are all amazing and wonderful, and that you get to spend them with the people you love the most.

The article by Janet Kornblum in USA Today that I’m in was printed yesterday. I was on set for 12 hours, so I didn’t get to tell too many people about it at the time. Check it out online- just go to www.usatoday.com and search for ‘Ortman’.

This is really, really cool.

I (Patrick) got interviewed by a reporter for USA Today this week, to talk about webisodes and the future of entertainment. We had fun, and hopefully something will be appearing about it in print and online soon.

It’s interesting, as we’re in the middle of production of ‘Couch Cases’, to take the opportunity to stop and think a bit about where all this is going. And by ‘this’, I mean ‘the world of entertainment as we know it’.

I believe that people will always seek out well-told stories. After all, the human race has enjoyed storytelling since time began. But it’s clear that the ways we’re starting to enjoy entertainment are changing rapidly with technology. These sea changes are a big part of why the WGA is currently striking. It remains to be seen how the producers and storytellers of the future will harness these new opportunities, but I’m hopeful things will quickly work out for everyone.

And it’s very exciting for all of us at ‘Couch Cases’ to be a part of this changing world of entertainment.