May 2005 Newsletter

New Articles and Cool News

Check out this article by Doug Dixon of Manifest Tech - all about the advantages, features and capabilities of the new Windows Media Player 10 and two cool portable media players - the Samsung Yepp Portable Media Center and the Creative Zen Portable Media Center more

Also - check out Doug's round -up of Portable Media Devices

Digital Video Hacks - Tips & Tools for Shooting, Editing, and Sharing

By Josh Paul - First Edition July 2005 (est.)

This is a really cool book if you want to take digital video to the next step. According to the author Josh Paul, "Some of the (100) hacks include: creating a video that changes its ending based on the time of day, building and using a blue/green screen, and using your DV camera to backup your computer. Of course, there's also information on vlogging. I sincerely hope there's something in there for everyone, amateur and professional." more

InterVideo Offers Free Multimedia Software Suite for Download - For a limited time, InterVideo is offering a free download of MediaOne SE at www.intervideo.com. InterVideo MediaOne SE is the ideal solution for anyone who wants a powerful media suite in one package. This broad digital media suite allows users to perform several multimedia tasks including photo management, editing/authoring home videos to CD, creating music CDs and burning compilations and slideshows to CD for playback on a PC or on a consumer player as a VCD. more

Sony unveiled a high-definition camcorder that is small and light enough to allow consumers to shoot high-resolution video comfortably with one hand. The new camera rests easily in the palm of the hand and weighs 680 grams without battery. It is less than half the size and one-third the weight of a previous model that Sony introduced last year as the world's first HD video camera for consumer use. . more

CNN.com will make its existing online video offerings available for free beginning June 20 as it prepares a new video package that will cost money to watch. CNN is redesigning its home page to prominently feature the free video, which currently can be found by clicking on small links marked "video." more

How to create Movie Clips using FlashMX - This tutorial will show you the basics of creating and using Movie Clips in Flash MX. Most of the information will also be applicable to Flash MX2004.

Video Blogging is Hot - check out the article. This is your chance to rant and rave on the web. Also check out free and cheap places to host your video blogs and videos

The Smart Money behind Video Blogging - Business 2.0 article- You've heard it for years: Digital video and the Internet will make everyone a filmmaker, and their films will be everywhere. Prognosticators of the next big thing were fond of quoting Francis Ford Coppola on the subject: "One day a little girl in Ohio is going be the new Mozart and make a beautiful film with her father's camcorder. For once the so-called professionalism about movies will be destroyed and it will really become an art form." more

In the new book,"iMovie HD and iDVD 5: The Missing Manual" , David Pogue explains iMovie's and IDVD 5's big-ticket features and improvements as well as the finer points--the intriguing little enhancements that typically go unmentioned but, "taken together, will make a big difference in your moviemaking career. more

JVC has introduced another industry first with the SR-DVM70-US three-in-one digital video recorder. Nobody else has anything like this. I'm sure there are a lot of electronic designers at JVC competitors scratching their heads asking themselves , " Why didn't I think of this? Incorporating the all-digital format of MiniDV, 160GB hard disk drive, and DVD burner in a compact, easy to use package. more

Great Online Films and Videos

Over the last few weeks, for some reason, this clip has become a very popular "viral" video, especially in Europe. This spoof video of pop song "Is This The Way to Amarillo" filmed by soldiers in Iraq caused chaos when it crashed computers at RAF Strike Command. Colleagues back in the UK were so keen to view the four-minute funny that the email server at RAF High Wycombe in Naphill collapsed under the weight of demand. But Ministry of Defense chiefs played down the level of disruption caused by the 52-megabyte attachment, refuting rumors it brought the entire defense network to its knees.A spokesman for the MoD told the Free Press: "It's a bit of morale-boosting fun and shows the British Forces are able to keep their chin up. All units have now been asked by the MoD to stop forwarding the file." You can see it here.

Have you ever wanted to surf a REALLY BIG WAVE? If so, then check out this video from KnowItAll Video. Yes, you have to sign up but its free and its worth it. Also at KnowItAll, check out KIAV - Save The Antelope

Just in time for Father's Day, check out this tale from Australia. If you are a dad with your own little princess or princesses, you'll really love this. Directed by Jackie Schulz, written by Greg Waters and featuring Tony Barry, Brendan Cowell, Anna Lise Philips, Claudia Silvia. This 8 minute film tells the story of how fixing cars becomes a conduit for an irresponsible dad to reconnect with his daughter and learn the ultimate lesson of love. Clutch

Do you love Britney Spears? Do you like making fun of her? Check out this new parody animation -Preggers: The Life of Britney Spears From Justin Timberlake, to Kevin Federline's bastards to Britney's impending "Baby Baby" -- the life of America's once-teen-pop-queen is given the satirical spoofing of a lifetime... in song!

"French Toast Sticks" is a short film, sort of a commercial ad parody but not really, that explores the inter-relationship between consumers and commercial icons. OK, it is goofy, funny and has a bit of mature content. Another great pseudo pilot from www.blueribbonpanel.org.

Superteam makes great Stargate fan films. Superteam didn't just want to copy Stargate - they wanted to add their own style and it's the style that's got them noticed. "Call it a Stargate" is the 4th episode in the series and they are currently making a 5th. These flicks have been shown at conventions, in magazines & websites and they have even had emails from the makers of the Real Stargate show saying how much they loved them. You should also check out Starship Troopers - Smoothnecks". They shot it in 3d and a standard 2D version simultaneously. You can see the 2D version online or buy the 3D version.

Some videos spotlight music - some promote a business and some are just for fun. Check out this video poem from Elmer Lang that contrasts Los Angeles versus New York in a clash of civilizations. Beware - it is form a New Yorker's POV. And if you like that, check out the other 16 video clips form his NYC Cable Show - From Homer to Elmer. "I'm a spoken word guy trying to innovate a poet's approach to video." If you really like the edgy and political stuff, check out "Dangerous Enough" where Elmer pontificates on the need for the US to have a National word like the national anthem and the national bird.

Do you know Vitalic? http://www.vitalic.org An original fearless new talent Pascal Arbez, the Frenchman behind Vitalic is not just another dance mix producer but a visionary artist. "My Friend Dario" released March 28, 2005 has been sucking up the bandwidth ever since, earning this weeks Internet Video Magazine Video of the week. Hot babes in metallic boots, bikinis and football helmets? A band with "air" instruments? Well this is just one you have to check out for yourself. Great use of flash and expert presentation. Lots of attitude and a cool video.

Cool Online Video & Film Sites

Do you shoot and edit music videos? Do you have a cool music video of your band or yourself performing? You should set up a site to promote it and your video/music talents. Check out the "Latest Music Videos" sites to see music videos created by Roy Roberts. His newest creation is Camilla's "Don't Say Never." Not a big budget production, he did all the effects, video and editing. Also check out a few of other music video as well as his links to other music video sites.

Do you like hamburgers? Do you like Paris Hilton? Do you like sexy commercials? Put them together and you get the new commercial for Carl Jr's new Spicy BBQ Burger. In addition to the TV commercial, desktop images, and "I Love Paris" theme song, you can also download a special Internet video version of the commercial that is too hot for broadcast, as well as a 3 minute "making of the commercial" video. Plus, you can also download a $1 off coupon for the burger.

There are hundreds of sites that collect video files and clips from all over the universe. One of the most amusing is KontraBand. Many of the collected clips here are in bad taste, some border on disgusting and crass, and some are just hilarious. Your choice. Go take a visit to the world of KontraBand but remember, we warned you. Really, we did...

Do you watch the news on your computer? If you are in the telecom or Internet industries, you might want to check out the online TelecomTV network - cutting edge newscasts of special interest to those in the worldwide ICT community. If you are just nerdy and looking for the latest in what's happening with telecom, wireless, communications, etc., this is a great site.

Are you thinking of making a short video or movie and don't know where to start? Do you want to improve your acting, directing or producing skills? Maybe you are already making a flick and you need some help? Check out the online site - StrongEyeContact - they have lots of links for casting, networking, production and even dating. (Who would want to date a fellow film maker and share the glory?). Tons of very interesting info - especially for beginning and guerilla filmmakers.

Have you visited the Tribeca Screening Room at Amazon? They are showing all the films that were submitted by filmmakers across the country in the Tribeca Film Festival / Amazon Theater Short Film Competition. Through May 20, please visit this page (www.amazon.com/screeningroom) as often as you like to watch films and provide ratings, which will help determine the finalists for the competition. The more films you watch, the better your chances at winning a trip to New York City to see the world premiere of the five finalist films at Tribeca Cinemas.

This is a real hoot. Have you ever wanted your own TV show but nobody would hire you? Create your own web based Internet Video news or sports show. Checkout MKYwebTV - not only does this guy get to be funny, he gets to do his own sports show and interview football stars and other leading athletes in Canada. You can do this. This guy is really good and could make it on broadcast TV.
That?s it for May 2005 . We hope you enjoy this newsletter. If you have any suggestions, feel free to send them to us at newsletter@internetvideomag.com

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Copyright SRS 2005