Roll Over Ebert and Roeper… It’s “F%@# the Movies” October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 3commentsF%@# the movies is a new anti film critic show, with what it says are “blunt, ridiculous, hilarious, profanity-laced reviews” delivered courtesy two Hollywood comedians Ben Hoffman and Craig Anstett. In this pilot episode our intrepid critics tear a new one for Infamous, The Marine, Man of the Year, and The Grudge.
Note- WillVideoforFood readers tend to disagree. I confess to not being patient enough to get to the alleged “hilarious” part, but I was intrigued by the concept of to everyday jerks reviewing movies. It reminds me of when the web first surfaced and everyone became a film critic… and some clown with a website would get quoted on movie posters because he was the only one that liked the movie.
“That was the best film of 1996,” said Kevin Nalty, a guy who figured out how to watch a movie and publish a website.
Cheating YouTube October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : YouTube , 19commentsLittleLoco identifies some “YouTube” cheaters. Gaming the system by downloading software that replays their own video over and over. Creating multiple identities and rating yourself. And somehow getting 100 subscribers a day even with no new videos.
Things that make you go “hmmmmm….”
(LittleLoco’s video courtesy of Matt from EndlessEurope.com).
MySpace Busts Copyright Infringers with “Audio Fingerprinting” by Gracenotes October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : copyright , add a comment
MySpace is going to automate the process of filtering for copyrighted infringements — according to a WSJ article today. “The technology enables MySpace to identify copyrighted music audio recordings in the Global Media Database for designated rights holders, allowing MySpace to block the uploading of such works,” says a release by Gracenotes, the company providing the technology.
It’s called “Audio Fingerprinting” technology. Continues the release:
Gracenote’s technology is broadly used in the digital media industry and has several applications, including content filtering, broadcast monitoring, mobile music recognition, music file recognition and rights clearance.
No more lip synching (God rest its soul). And may I recommend that the next time you sing a tune in your video, you sing off key?
What’s the Difference Between Google Video and YouTube? October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Google, Revver, YouTube, google video, metacafe , 3comments
Why would Google want to own two video sites? Oh, silly. They’re not two video sites. Their differences are becoming apparent:
Google Video
- Objective: create a video site with no discernible character or features. Keep it as an entirely different entity, and let it stagnate as the market changes. Don’t promote the video site on Google homepage until emerging player has surfaced.
- What it Could Have Been: The one-stop shop for all videos (just as it is for content and images). A great search tool for any video on any site. The king of linking video content to relevant ads. A way for small creators to distribute content and get paid a portion of the ad revenue. Turns out, however, TechCrunch is reporting Google Video will hoard ad revenue unless you’re the media elite. I’m really disappointed about that… those of us with less than 1,000 hours of video content will have to look elsewhere.
Target Content: Stuff you can find on cable, television, video on demand or your local Blockbusters… brought to you by fat guys with cigars.
YouTube
- Objective: Invent an easy way to share videos, which evolves organically into an incredibly popular community of viral content… mostly stolen from television and posted in direct violation to copyright laws. If you get objections, blame the submitters, and provide their home phone numbers when lawyers call.
- What it Could Have Been: A new distribution channel for video creators that have great imaginations but low budgets. A method by which “big media” could promote and discover new talent. A bridge between “lean forward” and “lean back” television– connecting with networks and bandwidth providers to change television.
Target Content: Anything ripped from any source. Until the attorneys come. Then it will be mostly videos of stoned skateboarders, babbling teenagers and commercials masquerading as “viral videos.”
It’s a great day to be a smaller online video site with lower costs, greater revenue sharing and content you’re allowed to post. Watch the Revvers, Metacafes and Brightcoves. They’re meeting unmet needs and will be spending money on ad representatives instead of attorneys. They’ll also forge partnerships with surprising companies that will change our view of the landscape.
As YouTube is cleansed and commercialized the small creators will follow the money, and the eyeballs will follow the creators.
Google Hands Out $50 million checks to Media Companies to “Shut Up and Look the Other Way” October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Google, YouTube, google video , 1 comment so far
This post could be entirely fictitious, but it’s absolutely fascinating anyway. It’s a fantastic scenario that would explain how Google rationalized the $1.65 purchase of YouTube. The source? Mark Cuban’s anonymous but trusted source — who first posted this theory on the Pho List.
Here’s how the saucy story goes:
- Google actually paid $1.15 billion to YouTube, and maintained $500 million to handle the ensuing copyright-infringement battles.
- If you’re a big media company (network or studio) trying to sue YouTube, you have two options: 1) Take a $50 million check and leave Google alone for 6 months… maybe sue some of the other guys, or 2) fight a long legal battle.
- The $50 million check wouldn’t be a payment, of course. That might be illegal. Instead the payment has to be engineered as ANYTHING but a licensing arrangement. Otherwise the media houses would have to (gasp) share the proceeds with creators.
- The transaction, instead, is YouTube granting $50 million in stock to the media house, which Google promptly buys.
- Now Google has the “monkey off its back” for long enough to figure out how to make YouTube sustainable. And gets to enjoy watching the big media players sue its competitors… which, in turn, makes them worse and blemished to potential buyers.
Here are some of the problems I’m having with the story
- Secrets like this are impossible to keep.
- A competitor can claim colusion, and copyright owners will legitimately argue they’ve been shut from a retroactive royalty mayment.
- This is like feeding a dog. He’ll be back minutes later begging for more.
- Someone small is going to be turned away at the $50 million handout window, and they’re going to be pissed and determined.
Said one comment on the blog… Eliot Spitzer would be all over this like a fat kid on a smarty.
Trivia- Why Be Impressed with EepyBird? October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Mentos, Viral Video , 3comments
- Because they make visceral videos- including this new one.
- Because they’ve probably made $50K on their first videos.
- Because they know how to market their work
- Because they’ve got nice financial deals with Mentos AND Diet Coke
Emphatic Yes October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Viral Video , add a comment
A noteworthy viral video creator. He’s Emphatic Yes, and Carson Daly says he “just can’t get enough.” I agree.
My favorite: The conscience pays a visit… crashing on the couch, swilling beer.
I Was Struck by Lightning for Halloween Webcast October 31, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Making Videos , 8comments
How appropriate that the MediaMoGirl weatherman was struck by lighning for the Halloween episode. This piece is a shot at all of the newsroom cliches — from the last-minute “subject matter expert” to the hopeless eyewitness. My sister makes her debut via phone in this episode, but don’t tell anyone. She’s trying to pursue a serious media career.
Video Contests: Even an Amoeba Learns by Repetition October 30, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Making Videos, Video Contests , 4commentsI had an old boss that used to say, “even amoeba learns by repetition.” She wasn’t referring to me. You can ask her. Just don’t tell her I called her an old boss.
Anyway that quote comes to mind as I enter my 5th and 6th online video contest. I keep getting placed as a runner up, but I’ve yet to win.
1) “Eviction Moment.” This Butterfinger contest by NestleButterfinger on YouTube is part of Followthefinger.com’s “Making the Most of Any Moment” video contest. I’m not sure this really captured the “any moment” concept. But I happened to catch my folks in D.C. this weekend, so I wanted to take advantage of their cheap labor rates. I figured they’d steal my candy and blame each other with the finger t-shirts I made from the downloadable Butterfinger finger. I made them in homage to the “I’m with stupid” t-shirts. Then I went ahead and made one for myself claiming “I’m 37 and I still live with my mama” t-shirts. Homemade shirt. Maybe I should sell ‘em.
2) “Balling is Beautiful” is an entry to Carson Daly’s “Bald is Beautiful: Challenge 12″ on ItsYourShowTV.com. I thought it might be interesting to expose the insecurity of a guy who is balding. Certainly charachter acting. Fiction. And of course we decided to ammortize the t-shirt by wearing it in this one too.
Bush Uses “The Google” October 27, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Google , 9commentsBush. He uses The Google. CNBC via Viral Video Chart