Webby Awards celebrate original content

5:00 AM PDT 6/1/2007 by Alex Woodson, AP

Original Web content producers are happy with Webby Awards -- but what they really want is to get paid.

"Everyone wants to be a ninja," asserts Douglas Sarine, co-creator of "Ask a Ninja," an ongoing online video serial about a chatty masked warrior who offers advice and information. Ten years ago, such an idea might have garnered a few laughs. But today, "Ask a Ninja" (www.askaninja.com) has become a fast track to Hollywood for its creators, who say their property "gets as many eyeballs as (Cartoon Network's) Adult Swim."