Advertise Free at Largest Ever Online-Video Meetup May 30, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Blogs on Video, Killer Video, Making Videos, Online Video, Video Advertising, Video Business, advertising , 18commentsNYC on ”7.7.7″ is shaping up to be the largest ever online-video meetup. I’m basing that on roughly 300 registrations on the horrendously ugly but informative www.youtubemeetup.com. And the YouTube gathering in San Fran attracted several hundred people with just 2 week’s notice.
YouTubers will converge upon Washington Square Park from 11-8 p.m. on July 7, 2007. Here’s an announcement by “xgobobeanx,” and my response video (Stupid NYC Arch). Seems I misunderstood that we’d be shooting our announcement videos separately. Here’s my video that recklessly started this event, although rest assured more organized people have taken over.
If you’re a marketer or advertiser looking to ingratiate yourself to the YouTube community, then I’d recommend showing up with free goods. You might also want to host an event at a nearby bar and provide free or discounted drinks for a period (the Fizz apparently did this on the west coast gathering). There’s no formal “organizer” of this event, but we’ve established an e-mail address for questions: newyorkcitygathering@gmail.com (I won’t be checking this).
There’s nothing standing between you — dear advertisers — and the community. You just want to make sure that you’re not perceived as blatantly promoting, and that you secure whatever permits you need. The group filed a permit for the gathering of video creators and cameras, apparently, but not for specific logistics like tables. So please check with this site to get information about permits.
What do brands get out of it?
- Access to hundreds (if not thousands) of active YouTubers without having to assemble them or pay annoying conference slotting fees.
- Goodwill if you bring drinks or goods.
- Your brand will end up in countless videos that are broadcast to the creators’ audiences across the globe.
- You can network with some of the well known creators and discuss custom promotion opportunities.
Get creative. Try to figure out a way that ensures your brand takes a cameo in the videos created. For instance… bring a Nalts blow up doll.
The hard part, of course? Who runs with it? The brand team? The digital agency? The PR agency? Or do you debate that until the event has passed?
Raw-Pork Worms Only Like Real Coke May 26, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Diet Coke, Online Video, Video, Viral Video, popular videos, viral videologist , 5commentsYou’ve seen the videos showing how soda poured on raw pork evicts lots of tiny worms. Well in this double-blind, placebo-controlled “Raw Pork and Coke” experiment, we learn why it works for some but not others.
Seems to get the worms out, you need to ensure that you have a) cheap pork, and b) real Coke. The worms don’t do cheap soda. Not their thing.
Mentos Geyser Reaches Record Heights May 25, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Mentos, Viral Video, advertising , 10commentsAfter record views with EepyBird’s Mentos Geysers, the candy is reaching new beights.
A Guiness record apparently. “Mentos Madness” was produced by Dustin Dow, Glenn Hartong, Michael E. Keating and Andy Knight. Says the description on the video:
It wasn’t “500 bottles of pop on the mall, 500 bottles of pop …” It was 504 bottles of Diet Coke on Fountain Square on Thursday. Participants drop Mentos candies into the pop, creating geysers and setting a world record.
For photos see GetFreshWithMentos.
Save the Water Contest (exclusive) May 25, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Contest, Making Videos, Viral Video , 4comments
Every once in a while, your humble WillVideoforFood gets an exclusive. Here’s one.
The folks at Rain Bird Corporation (a manufacturer of irrigation products and services) are doing a film contest to raise awareness of water conservation. “The Intelligent Use of Water” Film Competition seeks short films (1-20 minutes in actual or excerpted run time) that focus on the topic of water conservation. Says a forthcoming release, “Narrative, documentary, animated, experimental and/or student-made productions should explore approaches and ideas to intelligently manage and efficiently utilize the Earth’s most precious resource.”
Filmmakers who submit their short film (in English) on DVD/VHS or electronically via the competition website will have their films reviewed by a panel of judges with academic, professional, industrial or governmental expertise in film and/or water conservation. Finalists will be selected and invited to a screening event on September 30, 2007, in Los Angeles at the LA Arboretum, where the winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes of $6,000 for judges’ selection and $3,000 for audience’s pick.
All entries must be submitted on DVD or VHS in NTSC format or as a .mov, .wmv or .mpg file no later than August 15, 2007, for consideration. Visit http://www.iuowfilm.com for more information on the competition and entry requirements.
See “more” for, um, more.
Your Cube Neighbor Is Blogging About You May 25, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 6comments
A bit off the subject of online video, but too good to ignore. My friend led a comedy troupe in college (and I got free admission and beer by videotaping). Now he’s in a cube, and has decided to blog some highlights of his loud neighbor’s phone conversations. The new blog is titled, appropriately, “A Lot of People Don’t Know That.”
Says my friend:
If you inhabit a cube, this blog is for you. This is a real person, sitting a real less-than-five-feet-from-me, saying real s**t (at near rock-concert level), who is real-ly annoying. If the readership increases, I may fancy it up, but the blog itself is currently small. I should point out, however, that these types of conversations have been going on for OVER SIX MONTHS, DAILY, before I opted to post them. So it’s only going to get larger. Much larger. Because this individual has A LOT to share. Do you suppose it’s a coincidence that everyone within earshot has not only purchased, but brought in noise-canceling headphones?
This is so media worthy. You can’t make this stuff up. Read about the cube mate’s taste for possum.
Who Are You? May 23, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video , 29commentsGot 5-10 minutes to fill out a brief survey so I know who’s watching and reading? Click here.
I couldn’t customize the questions, so here’s what I’m most after (and maybe you can comment below).
- Are you a creator, advertiser, viewer, media, industry watcher, etc? (All that apply).
- What are you interested in most? Contests, creator tips, marketing, new trends, predictions, funny videos?
- Less of, more of. What do you want to see less of on WVFF (or my videos) and what do you want to see more of?
Consumer Divorces Advertising May 22, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, advertising , 6comments
In this very clever video we meet a woman personifying a consumer breaking up with her obnoxious husband, advertising. We catch this subtle analog because the actors’ shirts say “consumer” and “advertising.” It’s kinda like those editorial cartoons that assume you are clueless – so someone is illustrated holding a newspaper showing the headline the toon mocks.
But I digress. It’s still pretty funny and very accurate in its portrayal of the changing consumer and the dinosaur we call advertising. It also is funnier the second time when you can just watch some of the acting- good and bad.
According the ExperienceCurve, a trade marketing manager at Microsoft created it, and his blog is bringbackthelove.com. The idea was inspired somewhat by David Armano’s bit in Business Week titled It’s The Conversation Economy Stupid. You can actually download a Powerpoint that the creator used to pitch the concept internally.
How to Find and Win Video Contests May 21, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Contest, Making Videos, Video Advertising, Video Business, Video Contests , 5comments
How do you make sure you’re not missing video contests? No excuses anymore.
- You can check into YouTube’s contest page
- You can hit this VidOpp for a nice summary of contests.
- You can register on Xlntads.com, which hosts custom contests (and is currently running a contest for itself). Click here to register, and tell ‘em Nalts sent you on the “referred by” drop-down on the registration page. You’ll then get e-mail alerts as contests launch.
Disclaimer: I am helping Xlntads liason with creators (see news).
Top 10 tips on how to increase your odds of winning.
- Make your entry entertaining first, then worry about promotion. Being over promotional looks like you’re pandering and bores viewers.
- Think like the brand leader. Are you giving him something he can show his boss without looking stupid?
- If someone personally reaches out to you, it’s worth more consideration.
- Play odds in your favor. Go for contests with lots of decent finalist prizes instead of one brass ring for the winner.
- Enter brands that fit your own style, and that will add to your resume.
- Watch the entries. If they’re super polished, then think realistically before you invest time. Also recognize that many entries will come in last minute.
- Read the rules carefully. It’s easy to get disqualified over a technicality. That happened with me and a Coke contest because my wife and I were humming a song from the Muppets.
- As soon as you learn about a contest, prepare and shoot your entry. Your initial enthusiasm will fade.
- Try not to give up when you lose or become a runner’s up. It takes persistence and luck.
- Consider the age and style of the brand’s target audience. I learned that putting my kids in some contests increased my placement, but hurt me in others.
Nalts on iChannel May 21, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Making Videos, YouTube , 6comments
Here’s the episode of me on iChannel. I play myself pretending to be the much-anticipated Mitch Morley character. I begged the team for a role because I think this show is an excellent example of a fundamental shift it entertainment:Low budget, great script and audience participation (I’m a klutz but the other guys have day jobs on Broadway). We’re going down a similar path with GooTubeConspiracy, and it was fun wrapping this shoot and watching the first-ever meeting ofthe two directors (Craig DiFolco does iChannel and Kyle Pierson does GooTubeConspiracy). They didn’t know it, but they live blocks from each other in NYC.
It’s amazing to watch one of these iChannel episodes knowing what went into it. DiFolco, the director and co-writer, puts so much time into conceptualizing, coaching, camera setup, and editing. And he jams so much into 3-6 minutes that they breeze by. And the two main characters — i and his brother — are as pleasant as they are talented.
I know a lot of people that aren’t watching iChannel because they don’t know where to begin and have too short of an attention span to watch from the beginning. But here’s the deal- you can start with this episode. You’ll miss some of the context, but you’ll still enjoy it. It’s about a guy that is now surrounded by cameras, and deals with all of the psychological and philosophical nuances of leading his life based on feedback from an interactive audience.
It’s The Truman Show meets Twilight Zone. And it will be looked back upon as one of the pioneers of serialized online video content by amateurs… a trend with popularity that’s not on its way down, and not increasing slowly.
Great Trivia on American Presidents May 21, 2007
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, Viral Video, popular videos , 6commentsA classic video from ZackScott that gives us information about the American Presidents that you wouldn’t have learned in history class.
Zack is one of my favorite online comedians. Watch for the subtle gestures and timing between facts.
Is this hysterical, or is it just the Haldol in my meds? I need to stop buying from Nigerian pharmacies.