The UCLA Library: A Dangerous Place to Read November 17, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video , 1 comment so farThe interesting thing is the crowd watching this blatant abuse of power mostly hung out asking for I.D. numbers.
For more details, check out this NBC11 report from San Fran.
Mostafa Tabatabainejad. The Rosa Park of ID badges.
“Tell Me You Got That” Video Contest by Sony November 17, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , add a comment
A Revver.com ad took me to this octopus eating video that promotes the “Tell Me You Got That” video. It’s a bit long, but very funny (largely based on the guy who delivers the catch phrase with perfect tone). There don’t appear to be any other “Tell Me You Got That” videos on Revver or the site, but the contest (see contest site) seems to be on the fifth rotation.
You can just imagine the process of getting this contest together based on the mistakes.
- The Revver ad takes you to the tellmeyougothtat url, which redirects to Sony’s site. When you go deeper in the contest you’re redirected to an iw.rtm.com site that houses the contest.
- The callout says “download your video.” It reminds me of my dad, mixing up download/upload.
- There are only two entries to date and neither play (at least on my Mac).
And, still, the video is hysterical. I’ve got money this was done by a large creative agency with one “interactive” guy.
JibJab and Weird Al’s “Do I Creep You Out” November 16, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, Revver , add a comment
JibJab launched Weird Al’s latest video, “Do I Creep You Out.”
It appears to be Weird Al (missing his trademark hair and mustache) stalking a Starbucks employee.
Weird Al is back, folks. As you may recall reading here, Weird Al began uploading his own videos on Revver. The Revver folks thought it was someone violating his copyright. Then they got on the phone and… well… it was him.
Mash Photos to Music and Share With “FlipTrack” November 16, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Making Videos, Video Sites , add a comment
Fliptrack, a privately held company in Mountain View, California, today launched a free online service for creating photo-music mash-ups. Users can upload photos and place them into a visual timeline. Even better, the application automatically synchronizes them to the beat or lyrics. Once complete, Fliptrack converts the creation into a flash-video for viewing as a musical photo montage or slide show.
Fliptrack has licensed more than 100 songs, which are free to use without copyright concerns, and will continue to build out its library of music, quick-start templates and photographs in the months ahead.
For a sample, see “Rummy is Out.”
YouTube Addiction Explained: The YouTube Hierarchy of Needs November 16, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : YouTube , 11comments
Something terribly frightening occured to me this morning. I’ve always enjoyed taunting YouTube with prank calls, pizza deliveries and rants. I criticized the GooTube acquisition, and have generally visited YouTube like a parent chaperoning a high school dance.
Most video creators start with a desire to entertain and are only now (1 year later) trying to make money from their work. But I started with a financial goal, and now I’m finding non-monetary perks of video creating.
Unlike most video sites, YouTube viewers provide the most comments — in fact probably half my daily e-mails at home are “YouTube comment alerts.” I like reading them — especially when they’re specific. I’ve interacted with other YouTube creators, and if I cut my son’s hair these viewers notice. This sense of community doesn’t exist on other sites. It’s really odd for me to admit this… but I’m starting to feel like I belong in the YouTube community. It’s like when your new co-workers become acquantances. Work feels different.
So to analyze this frightening evolution, I’ve combined my rusty undergraduate degree in psychology with my passion for online video. I give you the YouTube Hierarchy of Needs. This is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which Wikipedia explains as “a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation. His theory contends that as humans meet ‘basic needs’, they seek to satisfy successively ‘higher needs’ that occupy a set hierarchy.
How does a video submitter progress on the YouTube Hierarchy of Needs? Your first need/desire when submitting videos to YouTube is “view counts.” You check daily like comments are a food supply. Only once this need is satisfied will you consider more interesting metrics like subscribers, comments, and references to your work. Eventually you can move into “social needs” and “self esteem.” For instance, my work has been featured in the videos of other creators (like LouRyder’s “Faces of YouTube” video) and I’ve received several videos of people watching my videos.
So now YouTube is a fourth “place” for me. My routine is including home, work, the gym and YouTube. I look forward to seeing comments and videos from the regulars… Pipistrello, Mark Day, Haynes1994, NutCheese, TrippleHelix, CheezeWizard, Aquadad, and ZackScott. Is that a little sad?
Coke Video Contest Prank Call November 16, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 3commentsWhile Coke is back in the news with its contests, I thought it might be time to dust off this old video. It’s me calling Revver CEO Steven Starr. I play John Doig, an Australian ad agency executive representing Coke.
As I look back at this I’m clear why he busted me. This is, quite possibly, the fakest Australian accent ever.
Still, I like the quote that “Coke is shit-colored sugar water without branding.”
Metacafe Scores “Commander-in-Chief” Producer November 15, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : metacafe , 9commentsVariety reports of a new “strategic alliance” between Metacafe and Steven Bochco, whose credits range from “L.A. Law” and “NYPD Blue” to last season’s “Commander in Chief.”
Variety reports that this is “one of the first “old-guard” scripted TV producers to enter into a production alliance with a video-sharing service.” Under the deal, Bochco will create a variety of content for Metacafe, including a Bochco-branded online channel. Just look at that headshot and try to imagine negotiating that “strategic alliance.” Gotta give Metacafe CEO Arik Czerniak some credit.
We’ve seen the TV/Internet video convergence through various technologies and partnerships. Now we’re seeing mainstream content providers distribute via relatively new online video sites who have captured audiences.
Independent producers will jump into online video with a much higher ease than networks… who will insist on “doing it themselves.”
What does this mean for amateurs? Probably good things and bad things. More eyeballs but more competition. And better competition. Now you’ve got to be better than NYPD not Numa.
Current Buzz Film School November 14, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Yahoo Video , add a commentCheck out the “Current Buzz Film School” on Yahoo Current. Learn how to turn your video into a viral sensation by adding the right sounds and slow mo. Very clever piece.
Remember. No “Dude Screams.”
They’re Watching Too November 14, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 4commentsIf you’re worried that your information technology people are watching your online video habits, you may find relief in a recent MediaPost article by Wendy Davis.
Universal McCann and KnowledgeStorm surveyed more than 5,300 business and IT professionals last month, asking them about online video, social networks and wikis. Nearly all respondents said they viewed online video, and 63% of respondents said they view online videos at least once a week. More than half of respondents–57%–said online video had an impact on work-related IT purchase decisions.
Researchers have not yet determined if IT professionals skew higher than norm because nobody else will talk to them.
When Will Preroll Ads Die? November 14, 2006
Posted by Nalts in : Future of Online Video, Video Advertising, Video Business, Viral Video, Yahoo Video, advertising, google video , add a commentIt was a rhetorical question, but I hope preroll goes the way of pop-up ads soon. This Clickz reports that the industry consensus is that pre-rolls aren’t the solution. Kevin Newcomb reports from AdTech NYC:
At present, many marketers are simply porting their TV ads online to run as pre-roll. They’re doing that not because they think it’s the most effective way to market in the online video medium, but because that’s what their organizational challenges allow them to do, Janet Balis, senior VP of sales development for AOL Media Networks, said during a “TV 2.0″ panel at Ad:tech. “Most are looking to buy 15- or 30-second pre-roll, not because it’s the most interesting thing people want to be doing, but because there are real challenges to transitioning online. A lot of people want to innovate, but it’s challenging to do that on a broad scale,” Balis said.
Daniel Blackman from Google has it figured out. Contextual persistent branding. Say it with me three times. Contextual persistent branding. Contextual persistent branding. Contextual persistent branding.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma!
Common, guys. It’s so simple. Wrap compelling branding and “call to actions” around the videos viewed by your target audience. Compel them to interact, and greet them with an entertaining video. THEN you can hock your goods.
P.S. Steve Bryant is in the same place. See ReelPopBlog.
