Amanda UnBoomed: For the Record
Amanda bares all in the now completely open mudslinging about the fracture at RocketBoom. She actually starts by praising Andrew Baron:
[from Amanda UnBoomed: For the Record]
I've repeatedly expressed my respect for your many gifts. Especially:
1. You are an exceptional executive producer. Your instincts for what will work or not, and your general vision for the creation of content and distribution for videoblogs is, I believe, unparalleled.
2. You are an exceptional speaker. Whether at conferences, in business meetings or during consulting, you excel at describing the power of Rocketboom and the medium.
3. You are an ingenious curator. Your extraction of outstanding content from all resources is, again, unparalleled.
4. You are a superb navigator of the blogosphere. Additionally, I have always entrusted you with the final decisions of the physical design of Rocketboom.
But then the blow-by-blow devolves. But I am amazed to hear her say that Baron is a gifted orator: I think he is among the worst I have ever had to sit through.
I think both of these folks should continue this discussion through the help of some cool-headed surrogates, even lawyers, if necessary. I don't see how this could be easily patched up, unless Baron can swallow his pride and ask her back.
By the way, dividing stock into two piles of 51% and 49% is a recipe for disaster. Best is to actually have a board of directors, whose interests are to serve the shareholders as a whole, and to insulate them from power politics by annual appointment or election. Diluting the founders by doling out even a few percentage points of stock to cooler heads, and allowing somewhat less hot-headed types to negotiate employment deals (like relocation) might have led to a completely different outcome here.
No matter what happens, we are all learning something from a small company that is exploding before our eyes because of ... what exactly? Is this a passion play about greed? Or is it about power? Or is it respect at issue? Is there some thread of desire behind all this? Who is this Mario guy that Amanda is trying to bring in as a director? Her boyfriend, I guess, since they are cohabiting:
5/05 Amanda told Andrew she was serious about moving to LA by 10/05. Andrew agreed and said that was completely reasonable, since current technology allows Rocketboom to be produced from anywhere.10/05 Amanda and Mario stored their possessions, gave up their apartment and took a sublet in preparation for the move. Andrew was fully aware.
10/05-4/06 Amanda and Mario continued to sublet. The move was repeatedly delayed, long beyond the original "completely reasonable" time frame. Finally, with Andrew's consent, Rocketboom moved forward to actual transition.
4/06 A plan was implemented for Andrew and Mario to co-direct shoots, gradually transitioning Mario to be interim director. A new professional director was to be hired in LA. What actually happened was that Andrew attended shoots infrequently and by 5/06 had stopped attending altogether.
5/21/06 At this time, the term of Amanda and Mario's sublet was up. Andrew had not attended shoots for nearly a month, and there would be no Rocketboom paycheck for June. Nevertheless, production continued by Amanda and Mario at Amanda's parents' home in Connecticut.
6/16/06 Andrew, Mario and Amanda agreed upon a departure date for LA within the next couple of weeks. Within the next few days, June 30th was chosen. Andrew's assistant had a list of possible editors in LA (which was never delivered to Amanda despite numerous requests). Zadi and Steve were excited to have Amanda nearby to better co-produce Rocketboom's project, The Jet Set Show.
6/23/06 Mario received a call from Andrew in essence saying that Mario and Amanda must either move back to New York or Rocketboom was over.
Andrew nevers mentions Mario, which suggests something, I guess.
He also never mentions what his replacement for Amanda might be, although I spent a dinner with him in Toronto at Mesh, where he was holed up with Amber MacArthur, the host of TechTV. And Amber is certainly talented enough to sit where Amanda sat, and very photogenic (see pictures at right). No reason to believe anything specifically happening, and Andrew's interest in Amber might have been completely social. Still... if that hook-up is announced, remember you heard it here first.
[Update: Amber mentions mentions another dinner with Andrew at Vloggercon in her blog. And Dave Winer, Andrew's new confidendant.]
I guess the various threads of dark emotions boiling here can't be decoupled. But, I hope that the no doubt soon-to-be-published novella and the eventual made-for-TV movie tells all.
After reading the email andrew wrote to Amanda, I would bet my car and two dogs that Dave Winer either wrote it or helped with it. Rewriting history is an art--or a disorder--whichever. Andrew's email reeks of it. Good luck to Amanda, and: The web has come to this?
Posted by: jeneane | July 06, 2006 at 06:31 AM
My goodness: who says star drama only happens on network, prime-time shows?
Posted by: Jack Yan | July 06, 2006 at 06:59 AM
Nice summary Stowe. I like the way Amanda wrapped it up too, "I’m closing comments on this post. I’m exhausted. Think I'll head to the beach :)" You're right about Amber MacArthur, Baron's choices are finite.
Posted by: Brian Solis | July 07, 2006 at 08:40 AM
HAHA
You guys are sooooo off it's not even funny :):)
Posted by: No Name | July 07, 2006 at 10:10 AM