Mermaid Miracles

[Mermaid Allie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ixZKkR5azo&list=UUtJ2N9II4cIZKHlAh_H2Dng&index=4

This new youtube show is SO GOOD. I think its filmed professionally and some of the actors seem legit. Its really cool. I love the story and I think its definately one of the best mermaid shows on youtube. It looks like professional!!

[MerEmma]

It's not professional at all. :P It's made in Hawaii, I think. It is a pretty decent show, although I personally have yet to get hooked into it yet. :P

[Carolina Mermaid]

It's official, this is my new favorite mermaid show.

[Rain]

Yeah, I like this show. I never watch youtube mermaid shows, but I really love this one, and I've been waiting for the fourth episode to come out. Now that you've reminded me of it, I'm going to go check XD

[Winged Mermaid]

I'd never heard of this one! I watched the first episode and the quality and acting seems a ton better than all the other mermaid youtube series I've seen before. Think I'll subscribe and see if it catches my fancy.

[Mermaid Stark]

Yeah, I've seen this before. The quality is fantastic for a homemade mermaid show, but the acting is um... not so good.

[Traveling Merman]

From an actors point of view, it would be fine as a morning children's tv show, but the actors are just saying their lines, there's no intention there, just rather blocky/cut-and-paste "emotions", as for the production value, personally I think it's not any better than the bog standard video on you tube.

[Traveling Merman]

It's a 1 out if 10 from me

[Mermaid Allie]

If you go to the website, I think it specifies that they have an actual producer and director.
http://www.mermaidmiracles.com/?page_id=44

[MerEmma]

A lot of amateur shows have directors and producers. They make things go smoother. :P

[Traveling Merman]

My friends radio show has a director and a producer........that doesn't make it any better...........or professional. It's just a job title

[Traveling Merman]

A lot of amateur shows have directors and producers. They make things go smoother. :P

EXACTLY!...........only in most of my past experiences, they can hinder a piece to be frank! :/

[MerEmma]

Well, it depends a lot on who you get as a director or producer. All of the ones I've worked with in theatre have been fantastic, but not having a good one can ruin it very quickly I'm sure. =\

[Mermaid Stark]

Her dad is the producer. It's not a professional show at all, they just try to make it look that way by giving each other these big titles when they really probably have barley any experience at all.

[Mermaid Allie]

Ok whatever... This wasn't supposed to be a trash talk thread I just wanted to call attention to it because its much better than many of the other mermaid shows on YouTube.

[Mermaid Stark]

Allie, I don't think we were trash talking about it. We were just giving our honest opinions. My opinion is that the only thing that's better is the quality of the video. The show didn't really make me want to see more.

[Mermaid Allie]

Ok

[Lucinda]

They are now trying to crowdfund the second season in hopes of making a somewhat more professional-looking second season. Among other things they are hoping to hire a professional director.

[Mermaid Adriel]

They are now trying to crowdfund the second season in hopes of making a somewhat more professional-looking second season. Among other things they are hoping to hire a professional director.

Can't wait to see it!

[Lucinda]

I just hope they'll succeed in raising enough money...

[MerEmma]

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mermaid-miracles-season-2

$60,000? That's crazy! I mean, I get they wanna create a good show, but that is a LOT to ask for. Man. I know producing is expensive but that still seems like a lot for what the show is. I can't believe her mom spent $40,000 on the first season. I mean, believable, but I wanna know more about where that went...wow.

[AniaR]

I have a hard time believing 40k was spent. If mom had that kinda money to burn they wouldn't need to fundraise.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[MerEmma]

Yeah, that's kind of how I see it. The entire thing seems kind of weird.

[PearlieMae]

I have a hard time believing 40k was spent. If mom had that kinda money to burn they wouldn't need to fundraise.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk


I think mom was expecting a return on her investment, hoping for a certain viral quality that didn't happen.

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

I haven't watched more than a minute or two of it, but I recently met a director who is working on a webseries. It has cost them 40K or so just for the piolet episode - There are numerous actors and editors and the film crew, plus food for everyone (12+ hour filming days, so breakfast/lunch/dinner + snacks), and you need licenses for all sorts of things, and you need to shut down places to film there so you have to pay for the space and the lost business, plus editing software and tools and actual equipment itself including cameras, sound devices, all sorts of stuff. I had no idea producing a decent-quality webseries would be so costly!

Now, I'm not saying this mom has gone through the same thing, but she might have. Although I agree it is rather fishy to drop a supposed 40k on the first few episodes and then ask for 60k for the next.... it does sound like she had the money to do it before.

[Lucinda]

It's quite ambitious to try and raise that kind of money. I just hope nobody will end up heartbroken if things don't work out. But asking for this kind of money is just asking for too much completely out of the blue. I'm sure most fans simply expected them do do the second season the same way they did the first. I know I did...

[AniaR]

I don't know I still feel like calling shenanigans. I really have a very hard time believing that first season cost 40k. It looks like it was shot on a DSLR renting sound gear is not THAT expensive, (I don't see why they'd buy it...) the tails themselves certainly aren't expensive... the editing looks to be done in imovie.

and where exactly is the return? it doesn't look like their making use of google ad revenue either...

I mean I want to say, she was homeschooled and it started out as a project. Good for her. That's ambitious.

But for example take the much more popular web series. the joker blogs. Several years old, huge following. All professionals. Also did a kickstarter to fund their second season. And did it for less. Or the Sailor Moon Movie series that some fans undertook. Or "My Other Me" cosplay documentary.

Like... I just feel that 60k is a bit much. You can do a heck of a lot with 60k in the industry. I think people have far too many misconceptions because theyre thinking of big budget films etc. We looked into filming a mermaid show locally and I don't want to get into too much detail because I want everything to be a surprise when it happens, but we were quoted 10k to use a studio with all the trimmings and some on sight filming for a specific number of episodes. So yeah... it just seems... kinda off to me.


It has cost them 40K or so just for the piolet episode - There are numerous actors and editors and the film crew, plus food for everyone (12+ hour filming days, so breakfast/lunch/dinner + snacks), and you need licenses for all sorts of things, and you need to shut down places to film there so you have to pay for the space and the lost business, plus editing software and tools and actual equipment itself including cameras, sound devices, all sorts of stuff. I had no idea producing a decent-quality webseries would be so costly!
from looking at several episodes I really dont think most of those things apply. And if it started out as a project I can't see her paying people and supplying food etc. but there are tax breaks and arts grants in both USA and Canada to cover those types of things too.

[Mermaid Momo]

Also, usually with Mermaid shows on youtube, the actors and people involved are usually all friends, family, or family friends, and I know I wouldn't have to pay my friends to be in a show if they were willing to do it. (maybe just taking them out for mcdonalds or to see a movie will be something I'd do to thank them.)

[Lucinda]

I was under the impression that someone mentioned here that 40K went into an unrelated video project. I don't think anyone here specifically said that the first season of Mermaid Miracles cost that much...

[AniaR]

um no. taken directly from the indigogo page:


Because this is about to turn into a lot more work, that means we need some help. Maya's mother Inga spent over $40,000 of her own money on the first season, so for the bigger, wilder, and longer second season, means we will need some financial help.

40k is what a teacher starts out making a year in my province if they're lucky enough to make it to full time work status. :/ sorry. I'm just not buying into this at all.

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

Great points Raina - I haven't watched the whole series so I wasn't sure what actually applied to her or not. I do agree 40k - 60k is quite a lot. From what everyone is saying, it seems like a great possibility that she feels like since people liked her first season, she could make some money with the second.... unfortunately, what a lot of people tend to think. The director for his indie web series I was talking about has pro-level equipment and actual actors/actresses/editors and stuff, so that's why he has spent the same amount of money on his show. Taking a peep at the rest of the episodes, I can see that this isn't pro-level yet.

I just hope she hasn't twisted the situation on the kids somehow that will cause them to be really sad. It's a great project for a family to do and be involved in (and will be greatly treasured when the kids are older!), but that doesn't mean it can be or will be a commercial success and I hope she realizes that!

[Lucinda]

The first episode of the second season is out now (Just in case anyone is interested).

[Travis Livingstone]

Hi everyone! Love to see we are stirring controversy on here! I'm the new assistant director, and special effects coordinator on the new season, and I also helped write it. We are very aware that we asked for too much to do this second season, mainly because we didn't have anything to show you what the new team can do! There's a new episode out, you should take a look. We did our best with the money we got, and we can only hope to keep it going. The $40,000 price tag that seems to be a popular topic here is most certainly true. This is partly because the old director was charging 2,000 an episode, which my crew and I found to be way too much. We did away with the dslr and managed a very cool episode with much better effects for the same money. The tails were expensive too, $300 or so to have them handmade before we knew there was websites like fun fin selling high quality products online. We plan on doing another indiegogo with a much smaller goal now that we have a pilot for the work our crew is doing for this great material we have to work with, and hope we didn't stir the pot too badly. Continue to give us feedback please, it only helps us and drives us to make this much more then your average YouTube series! http://youtu.be/nySQZxTP5V8

[AniaR]

Good luck.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[PearlieMae]

"...The tails were expensive too, $300 or so to have them handmade..."

:rotfl:

[MerEmma]

I wish you guys luck with it, but I agree with Pearlie...the tails were a rip off apiece. They were just Wave monofins with pretty basic spandex. $150 seems more appropriate--if they had merfins or something then that could be justified.

I look forward to seeing the next season though with a new crew & such. :)

[Travis Livingstone]

I wish you guys luck with it, but I agree with Pearlie...the tails were a rip off apiece. They were just Wave monofins with pretty basic spandex. $150 seems more appropriate--if they had merfins or something then that could be justified.

I look forward to seeing the next season though with a new crew & such. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nySQZxTP5V8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nySQZxTP5V8

[MerEmma]

Yeah! Fin-Fun tails right? Much more affordable. It was a pretty good episode for what it is. :)

[Mermaid Mhara]

Hi everyone! Love to see we are stirring controversy on here! I'm the new assistant director, and special effects coordinator on the new season, and I also helped write it. We are very aware that we asked for too much to do this second season, mainly because we didn't have anything to show you what the new team can do! There's a new episode out, you should take a look. We did our best with the money we got, and we can only hope to keep it going. The $40,000 price tag that seems to be a popular topic here is most certainly true. This is partly because the old director was charging 2,000 an episode, which my crew and I found to be way too much. We did away with the dslr and managed a very cool episode with much better effects for the same money. The tails were expensive too, $300 or so to have them handmade before we knew there was websites like fun fin selling high quality products online. We plan on doing another indiegogo with a much smaller goal now that we have a pilot for the work our crew is doing for this great material we have to work with, and hope we didn't stir the pot too badly. Continue to give us feedback please, it only helps us and drives us to make this much more then your average YouTube series! http://youtu.be/nySQZxTP5V8

I have to admit, I really enjoyed watching the episodes made!! But to me they were no different to the usual Mermaid shows except with higher quality sound and filming work and some nice effects here and there.
All in all, I like the story, the plot and all is wonderfully thought out but because the first season was mostly full of 3 minute episodes...it seems all rushed and sometimes silly, and if I were you and trying to get people good and properly HOOKED I'd look back and maybe instead of continuing with the story RE-DO the first season in the quality of that first pilot season 2 episode to tie up some loose threads and plot holes (for example in the episode where the mother tells the daughter about their past she says ;now I'll teach you some mermaid magic' a few episodes later the friend says 'if only your mom had taught you some magic' like...huh? Didn't she? And also...what happened to the other mermaid friend she had in the first episodes?)
See little nit-picky things like this might sound odd and silly but...kids DO realise these things- and for a full out success, you have to have that flowing plot and story at the very least good.

If the tails really did cost $300 each then I'm sorry you were well and truly ripped off, and for the price you paid you could have gotten some VERY nice and realistic fabric tails, or maybe even made your own sequin tails which would have looked even better!
Yes, as others have said a LOT of the acting seems very 'I am reading my lines, I have no emotion but oh my Gosh my mother is missing what do i do...Oh look cake' and can be a little annoying at times but that will come with time I'm certain of it!! :)
Also, as much as I LOVE the song in the opening of the season 2 episode 1...it just ISN'T opening title song material to me :/ I can't even explain it...but with the first season, I was hooked just with the lovely song. This song is perfect for credits, but perhaps something a little...more would be better for the opening.

All in all, with the general idea and story...I LOVE IT and it has so much potential! I mean, a Mermaid girl who comes of age and has a Mermaid mother who must now bestow her secrets upon her only daughter...but before she even gets time to adjust to her new fins, a group of nasty sirens kidnap her mother in order to find the tempest. Sounds better than some of the novels I've read about mers :P

[MermaidCecelia]

i think the plot is pretty interesting for s2 , much better then s1 personally, it seemed like the first few episodes didnt have any big plot , but then again that is pretty much how all youtube shows start out as.and for awhile it annoyed me how the episodes were kept short under 10 minutes, cause to say you invest alot of money on the first season, but only have short episodes, some that dont match one another, makes no sense
i do see film quality improvement compared to the last season, first episode was pretty stunning video quality compared to other shows ive found. i feel like tho for the second episode they went to that cave too early, and it seemed like a REALLY quick transition from that siren dying, to her coming back alive within that short period, and personally not to pick at the ending, but when i come back form the dead, im not going to worry about "oh yes nice new tail colour" LOL and i think there could of been ALOT of potentional with a whole journey to find mayas mom, it was really quick , techincally in the plot it had been awhile of them searching, but i think there could of been more adventure before reaching that cove , ya know?
they asked for 60k, but they didnt get enough money, they only made around 630$.
hopefully the plot goes alot more smoother , its a pretty neat show , i wont say its the best show out there , but its pretty neat

[SIF]

Mermaid Miracles is filmed in Cali. Maya Tritt is the main actress and one of the two writers and the show is professionally filmed in (town not to be disclosed. do your own poking around and you'll figure it out. :p) Weather or not the (whatever)grade professional cinematographers meet Hollywood standards is entirely up to the publics opinion, but considering the young, patch-work cast from around their town and the young writer and the low budget they're doing fine work I don't think anyone should be judging them.

[AniaR]

K let's clear this up right now: people were concerned about the cost because this community has seen an extraordinary amount of scams considering its small size. It's a mermaid forum where we discuss things happening in the mermaid world. The assistant director posed in the bitch thread complaining that people had concerns (which I feel is unprofessional) it doesnt have to be a big debate back and forth over the merit of the show or hollywood expectations etc. The kickstarter is long over, the show has filmed, it's alll over with and done. Moving on!

[Mermaid Lunette]

(Might be late to the thread but..)

I find myself enjoying the series because it's cute and being a new mer I tend to watch other mer videos often so finding a little series like this is nice.

However I am so glad others have pointed out that the acting a bit...bland, and monotone. I think that is an important critique and I hope all the actors take that into account. (Just my thought)

Personally I think that if they tried a bit more improv maybe they could have a better time with it? I saw mermaid maya's unboxing video and she was so animated and adorable, I think if she tried some method acting thinking 'if this was me what would I do?' I think it would be better.

I enjoy if for what it is (which is a youtube series started by a preteen, which if you think about it is impressive) but I hope they are taking the critiques seriously because I think it could get some pretty good youtube foot-traffic if the acting was more convincing.

Oh, and more of a side note, about the plot holes, I think one of the biggest ones was the first episode where they find a note saying "mermaids yadda yadda yadda, you have came of age, yadda yadda yadda YOU ARE ONE OF US." Basically finding the note turned her...but that is so confusing. if her mom is a mermaid then she would have just inherited the tail, so, who the heck sent that note? Couldn't be her mom because it said 'one of us' so, it just doesn't make sense, who sent that and why because if she is half mermaid it should have just happened naturally right?

I dunno, I just keep wondering and plot holes have always bothered me.


(I hope I don't sound like I am tearing the show down, I find myself enjoying it surprisingly, but I find that it's valid to say that the acting needs work and the special effects can be cheesy, and I hope they plan to work on that because I would like to see it continue)

[MerEmma]

I think your critiques are valid, and I agree with them. The writing and acting are the weakest points at this time in the show.

[AniaR]

I had to delete the guy who does it off fb because he'd tag me ( and others) a bajillion times in regards to it

[Mermaid Lunette]

0.o;

well that's unfortunate :/

I still hope that maybe they might see the critiques here in a new light and actually act on them. I mean, advice has been given on what they can do to better the show after all.

(I won't say I have high hopes for the lil series...but I must admit...I have some hopes.)