Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage • Hacker News Board

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#31

Post by ck2 » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:31 PM UTC

dangrossman wrote: post #28

ck2 wrote: post #20

Is anyone wondering how long until PayPal locks his account? Not wishing for it to happen - but realize it's PayPal. Now if we can just get him to be making jokes about PayPal, that I'd pay to see.

> but realize it's PayPal. Which several hundred million people use without having their accounts locked.

People use it for single small transactions.

Wait until paypal sees hundreds of thousands of $5 payments and a balance over $100k

- especially if his account is relatively new - unless his people were smart enough to pre-empt this with them.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#32

Post by trafficlight » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:31 PM UTC

leftnode wrote: post #26

caiusdurling wrote: post #9

I bought this purely to support him for being brave enough to release it DRM-free. Currently watching it and trying not to snort my drink over my laptop due to laughing too much. Excellent way to discover a new comic I'd say.

His show "Louie" is equal parts drama and comedy. It's really an amazing show and he's easily the top comedian today, hands down.

Louie is a great show. He is the master of uncomfortable situations.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#33

Post by dangrossman » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:32 PM UTC

ck2 wrote: post #31

dangrossman wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but realize it's PayPal. Which several hundred million people use without having their accounts locked.

People use it for single small transactions. Wait until paypal sees hundreds of thousands of $5 payments and a balance over $100k - especially if his account is relatively new - unless his people were smart enough to pre-empt this with them.

The worst that's likely to happen is they ask him to send a copy of ID and a bill with his address on it, he faxes it over and the account is unlocked the same business day. Does it seem unreasonable that a payment processor should want some evidence of the account holder's identity (much like banks are required by law to collect) once they're in a position to pay out tens of thousands of dollars?

I don't see anything to poke fun at.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#34

Post by adgar » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:33 PM UTC

Protip: You can start playing the video in VLC/your favorite player as soon as the download starts, if your download rate is fast enough to keep up.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#35

Post by dantheman » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:35 PM UTC

lgeek wrote: post #25

Chromium crashed during my first attempt to download the show and then I ran out of free disk space the second time (yeah, SSDs are a bit too small). Anyway, my point is that starting a download and then only getting a couple of MBs shouldn't really count as using a download slot. On the other hand, I don't know if it's possible to check how much data has been transferred using existing technology. He seems to be usi…

Ideally it'd work where they generate a URL for you that works for 24 hours or something like that, or they give you a one time url, but you can generate as many as you'd like for 24 hours. If for instance they see someone generate 100 or 1000 or something they can then revoke their permissions.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#36

Post by mladenkovacevic » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:49 PM UTC

I hope he pulls it off and if anyone can it's someone with as much credibility and talent as Louis CK.

I feel like I'm getting a bargain at $5, knowing how much enjoyment I'll get from his material. That couldn't be said for the majority of studio-supported/produced mind-numbing crap out there. Sa-da-tay!

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#37

Post by kisstheblade » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:53 PM UTC

Well DRM helps nothing to stop a video from being torrented, so why bother with it. I think Louis CK is smart enough to understand this, and with this personal appeal will probably sell better than using the usual methods.

I bought a copy because of this. It's nice to support the artist directly especially when the video file finally is as good as the versions you usually find only on torrent sites (no "you criminal" warnings eg. like on store bought DVD:s. Nice way to thank those that have actually paid for the content...).

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#38

Post by masklinn » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:57 PM UTC

brentvatne wrote: post #22

Happy to support this with my five dollars! Hopefully this model catches on.

> Hopefully this model catches on.

If the success of NiN's "Ghosts I-IV" was not sufficient, I doubt that one will be. It's a long walk, uphill, on a 10G planet, of a slope the size of Olympus Mons.

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#39

Post by city41 » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 9:10 PM UTC

rb2k_ wrote: post #2

I'd LOVE to see more content producers distributing their own content rather than giving money to middlemen. I am not sure if this would also work for people that DON'T have their own TV show but just start doing things. Maybe something akin to "openers" on concerts would work. Bundling less known content in a "pay what you want" basis.

Although I agree, I'm not sure this distribution method scales as is. I just sent Louis 5 bucks, downloaded the video, copied it to a USB drive, and then hooked it up to my Roku. I'm fine doing that ad hoc process occasionally, but if I got most of my media this way it'd get old very fast.

Surely there is a better way to distribute this stuff such that it doesn't take away the nice advantages and gives most/all the money to the artist too?

Re: Louis CK self-produces, self-publishes content on his webpage

#40

Post by jgeralnik » Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 9:13 PM UTC

Just bought it. While I'm really happy to support DRM free content, I must say I am somewhat disappointed that you can only download it twice.

"PLEASE NOTE that you can only stream the film twice AND you can download the film twice. Once you start a stream of the film, your stream will be active for 8 hours. Once you have exceeded your streaming and download limits, you will need to purchase the film again to stream or download it again. However once you have fully downloaded the film, you are of course free to watch it as many times as you like. "