What Do Underpants Gnomes and Online Video Sites Have in Common? August 28, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, Video Business, Video Sites, YouTube , add a comment
The thumbnail below will take you to a very funny video clip from SouthPark that features gnomes stealing kids’ underpants. The 4 Southpark kids find the secret underpants lair and ask the gnomes about their purpose. The underpants gnomes explain that they’ve orchestrated a three-phased plan:
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- Phase 1: Steal underwear
- Phase 2: ?
- Phase 3: Profit
Does this sound like a few of the online video sites!?
Video Egg: “Pssst. Want to See an Ad?” August 28, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 2commentsAdvertising Age reports that VideoEgg is planning to launch ads surrounding consumer-generated video (via Always On). Interestingly, the site will ask viewers for permission first and charge advertisers approximately $20-$30 cost per thousand (CPM).
Read more and see a Google Video served video of Kevin Sladek, VideoEgg’s founder. His point is that bandwidth costs aren’t cheap and either people will have to pay to watch videos or endure ads. He also speaks about the non exclusive rights by VideoEgg, and says some video sites were assuming ownership on the opt-in statements.
I’m not aware of any video ite that currently tries to own the video except for Break.com (which makes you sign away your first born). We’re obviously giving the site the rights to use and sell the videos, but we always retain rights to take it down or use the video elsewhere. Right?
Uncle Chuck Had His Eye Removed August 28, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , add a comment
I’ll bet you can’t watch this whole video. Uncle Chuck Had His Eye Removed.
Half way through, look into a mirror at your face. Is it as contorted as mine was? If you’re brave, you’ll get to the part where he says he’ll drown if he falls into a lake.
Emallina: “YouTube Popularity is Hell” August 28, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Online Video, Viral Video, YouTube, popular videos , add a comment
Australian’s Emallina, one of YouTube’s first “crossover” stars, has quit her blogging career after being hacked, according to TheAge.com (via Spamroll). Reports the Age, “someone had hacked into her computer and obtained recent pictures and videos from it that had never been posted online as well as “incredibly private files.”
“Every day I logged in and discovered more and more cruel spoofs, harassing videos, death and rape threats, incredibly nasty comments and God knows what else. I can’t take it anymore. YouTube ‘popularity’ is hell unless you’re a f—ing saint with nothing to hide, or you have indestructible confidence,” Emmalina wrote in her last post on YouTubetalk.
Emmalina… the YouTube Viral Video Broker (video link) would like to apologize for exploiting your fame. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug.
Halloween in August and GarageBand O.D. August 28, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Making Videos, Mentos, Online Video, Revver, Viral Video , 2commentsHave you noticed the annual Halloween stores have begun to open? How do these companies survive with 2-months of sales a year? Oh. 95% margins, that’s how.
Anyway… it starts with buying an “old man” mask… which kinda begs for a video.
…Then the candy river begins to flow.
On the musical scores: I splurged on Mac’s Garage Band “Jam Pack” Rythm and Orchestra loops. You’ll hear Rythm in the first video and Orchestra in the second. They’re $100 each, so I’ve been hesitating. But what finally got me was when I was watching my kids play an online video game and I heard part of the exact tune from Mentos Jet Pack (and you’ll see the commenters are acknowledging the use of Garage Band). Here’s hoping that the choices of the new loops keep my videos somewhat distinct for a few months.
To tie these two subjects together (Halloween and GarageBand), I’d say Garageband loops are a lot like candy corn. The first handfulls taste great and then you reach a point where you can even think about either without getting a little ill.
Get Your Name in the Credits of the Shortest Film Ever August 25, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 2comments
www.1secondfilm.com has found a great way to raise funds for The Global Fund for Women. They’re making a 1 second film with about 90 minutes of credits. You can get your name in it for a donation of $1 or more.
It’s a clever fundraising technique and it’s created a competition among celebrity. Here’s a video of the battle between Andy Dick and Tom Greene… who will give more? There’s also a collection of YouTube videos on the event.
P.S. Mention my name (Kevin Nalty) when you donate because if 10 people do that, I get a free t-shirt. And I certainly need another t-shirt.
The Video That Changed My Mind About Mashups August 25, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 1 comment so farI’ve always hated mashups (videos combined with others). Never understood ‘em. This video changed my mind.
What do you get when you combine the omnipresent “Star Wars Kid” video… with “Stephen Colbert vs. Rancor” video?
See this video: Steven Colbert vs. Star Wars Kid. Nice job, MediaBeyonBelief.
UPDATE: These videos were BOTH actually a result of Stephen Colbert airing a clip of him fighting on a greenscreen… then encouraging people to create things out of it. Here’s the article about how Colbert has embraced the web — from viral video to Wikipedia taunting.
You Won’t Get Discovered on YouTube August 25, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : AOL, BlipTV, Making Videos, Online Video, Revver, Video Sites, Viral Video, Yahoo Video, YouTube, google video, metacafe , 4comments
I’d like to take a moment to dispel the biggest myth of online video. Since a few “cross over” stars have been discovered on YouTube, people have begun to think that they can too.
Folks, it’s like playing the lotto. You have the same chance winning whether you play or not.
You won’t get discovered on YouTube. You’ll be a waitress in Hollywood taking a lunch break for your 177th audition. It’s not that you’re unworthy. You have talent. You’re even quite funny!
Here’s the problem: While it’s true that YouTube dominates online-video share, it’s wayyyyyyy easier to get yourself seen on a 2nd-tier or 3rd-tier site. Sure the BoobTube gets 10 zillion viewers a day. But there are eleventy gazillion videoscompleting for mindshare, and the viewers only look at the really popular stuff. So you won’t get popular because you’re not yet popular. I’m sorry to let you down. There’s just too much crap seeking the same eyeballs.
Try submitting to the 2nd-tier sites (Google Video, Yahoo Video and AOL Video) and you’ll be surprised how much more traffic you get. Even better, get on Metacafe, Blip or Revver. The deeper you go the bigger fish you’ll be in a smaller pond.
Let me close with this little story… My friend Tony Braithwaite went to LA to become a movie star. He tried for a year, and then got wise. He came back to Philadelphia to do stage theater. He’s now a living stage legend in Philly. That’s you on a 2nd tier site, friend.
Don’t Buy YouTube: Bloggers Debate August 25, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, Video Advertising, Video Business, Viral Video, YouTube, advertising , add a comment
Interesting article by ZDNet’s Digital Micro-Markets (DMM) that outlines the “top 5 reasons not to buy YouTube.”
Here are DMM’s reasons, and WillVideoForFood (WVFF) responses. I wanted to post this on the comments section of the ZDNet blog, but it wasn’t working for me. Watch out- WillVideoforFood (WVFF) is actually standing up for YouTube on a few points. Despite our previous rants (see “YouTube Rant”) on the subject.
DMM #1: No meaningful revenue stream, but $1 million per month in bandwidth costs.
WVFF: Correct
DMM #2: “Home-Grown” user created content lacking mainstream appeal of professionally produced video entertainment.
WVFF: Totally disagree. YouTube viewers are looking for JUST THAT! Look at the most popular videos. Are they “professionally produced video entertainment?” No. They’re home grown. And there is plenty of professional content that is sitting in the bloated YouTube collection that people could have selected.
The whole point of YouTube is that people are sick of “reality” t.v. and want real real stuff. (WVFF)
DMM #3: Pirated Video Content
WVFF: Absolutely a problem. Can’t sell ads surrounding copyright theft.
DMM #4: YouTube users are not willing to pay for content and are deemed resistant to advertising.
WVFF: Nonsense. Eventually there WILL be paid channels, though we’ll only pay for an exclusive selection of really good content (JibJab quality as I call it). And if YouTube was smart, it would start experimenting with how much advertising its viewers will tolerate without reducing their duration and frequency of visits. It’s simple- get a control and three test groups of viewers. Then experiment with 3 levels of intrusion (contextual ads, banners, pre-rolls, etc.).
The real issue is that advertisers don’t want to play Russian Roulette with their placement. They’ll want some level of quality control to make sure their ads are connected with appropriate content that is tied to their target market’s interests. (WVFF)
DMM #5: Broadcast Yourself positioning is not sustainable.
WVFF: Don’t really understand that point.
What Happens When a Comedy Troupe Stumbles Into “Pokemon Day”? August 25, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Online Video, Revver, Viral Video, popular videos , 1 comment so farThis is great comedy shot just weeks ago. A comedy troupe, Olde English, was preparing to videotape a sketch, and they stumbled into “Pokemon Day” in NYC. There are so many different dimensions to this spontanious piece… a spoof on Hulk Hogan, bad Pokemon jokes, hot Pokemon chicks, a hysterical interview with a young Pokemon fan.
We have “cross-over” potential here (the ability to grow beyond sketch and viral work).
Here are 8 more videos at Revver.