June 26 2006 Newsletter

Are giant online video web sites good for web video or are they the death of creative cinematography?

We spend a lot of time scouring these online sites – places like YouTube, iFilm, AtomFilms, Grouper, Yahoo Video, Google Video, Bombed, etc, trying to find great vides to spotlight at Internet Video Magazine.

Last year this was not too difficult as it took some technical resources and film making knowledge to get a flick up on the net. However, with the plethora of these online video hosting sites without limits, rules or quality standards, most of the videos that get posted are awful.

Between stupid home videos, clips cut from broadcast TV, outtakes from America’s Funniest home videos and commercials masquerading as video, it takes us a lot more winnowing to find the gems.

(OK- I confess, I do put my kids video and personal movies up on YouTube so that my family and their school friends can access them).

Various news outlets and even TV shows have already jumped on the bandwagon and are featuring the best and most popular web and viral videos. However, most just go to the “most popular” section of YouTube or Yahoo Video and simply report on those top videos. They are not concerned about quality or messaging.

What happened to editing? What happened to telling a story? What happened to plot and a beginning, middle and end? Do we really need to be enlightened by good video and filmmaking? Look at broadcast TV over the last 20 years. We successfully survived a plethora of clip shows like America’s Funniest Videos and America’s Car Chases. Even though those kinds of shows still exist, they have been pushed to the fringes of the audience interest.

CNET wants to make you a Tech Video Star - Got a camera and a wish for stardom? CNET TV is looking for people to shoot some videos about their favorite tech. They have three shows you can participate in. Out of the Box is for that newly received gadget you're in love with. Start shooting from the moment you unpack it to that first glorious boot up. Next is Show Us Yours, for the folks who are so proud of what they can do with their gadgets or have done with their setups. And finally, Rage covers that end stage where you just can't take it anymore. Get the submission guidelines and get your (digital) tapes rolling.

Read more

Easy Access Video - Give them what they want - Americas Network article by John C. Tanner - Video iTunes and YouTube clearly indicate there's a surging market for easy-access video, be it downloads, VOC or even personalized video channels more>>

Does your cat watch TV? Does it prefer High Def TV? Checkout this cat versus HDTV article from Phillip Swann. Many High-Definition TV owners report that their pets are having trouble distinguishing the realistic picture from reality itself.

Photographers - Want to win a Big Plasma TV? Symantec is currently offering a contest for amateur photographers. You can submit photos at (http://photocontest.symantec.com/en/) in five categories: people, animals, sports, special occasions, and nature & landscapes. Winners in each category will receive a 42-inch plasma TV; runners-up will receive cash gift cards. Participants can submit entries until July 31^st; winners will be announced in September.

Are you working with Vegas Video and want to become an expert? Checkout the two new Sony Certification programs for Vegas software

Are you working with Adobe Premiere Pro and need more info about how to author and make DVDs? Check out this video tutorial. Creative Cow leader Aanarav Sareen takes users through the new DVD authoring capabilities of Premiere Pro 2.0. While Premiere Pro 2 may not replace Encore DVD, for many tasks it is a fast and powerful way to get client previews and many other jobs, done quickly with a professional look and feel. Here's how in just a few minutes...

Click here for more information.

What are the three rules for a successful online video? Keep it short, daring and exclusive. More from Swami at

Cool Video Contest - muvee has teamed with recording artist, Jason Mraz, to launch an online muvee-making contest that gives fans the chance to create muvees that weave their own footage into the artist's original 'Geek In The Pink' music video. This is pretty cool. Jason Mraz fans can now enter the 'Geek and Me' muvee contest at www.jasonmraz.com/multimedia. Fans simply need to upload their own video and/or pictures, up to maximum combined file size of 20MB. On the back-end, the muveeOnline web service will then automatically blend and synchronize the fan's footage with footage from Jason Mraz's music video to create a unique finished production. The user is then sent an email with a link to play and watch their 'Geek and Me' muvee. They can also opt to have their muvee posted on the 'Geek and Me' muvee gallery for voting, or make more muvees. more

The Sirius S50-TK1 Receiver System Kit includes AC Adapter, Belt Clip, DC Adapter, Car Antenna, Car Mount, Ear Buds, Remote Control, USB Cable and Software - BIG REBATE more

OK - this is not really "a" video, it is more a series of videos (16 so far) that tell the story of what happens when a modern guy tries to do the unthinkable - that's right, he tries to date three women at the same time. It's funny - http://www.soupmovie.com/ - what with the digital world and MySpace, its awful hard to be a successful cad.

Soccer - Soccer - Soccer. So, the US got eliminated from the world cup early. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy this great collection of soccer bloopers cut to a classic Monty Python tune. This is some funny stuff - especially if you are a soccer fan. Watch this during the game break.

You got to share this video clip - especially if you like animals and dogs. I don't really understand this movie but it is incredible. Flying and levitating dogs - laser beams and cool music. And it is called Birds.

Where did sushi come from? Why do we eat raw fish with silly names while using chop sticks? Its all a big conspiracy. The Sushi Conspiracy. Watch this before you go out to lunch.

In this Episode Three New Sexy French Maids Demonstrate How To Trade or “Barter” DVDs, Video Games and CDs Online using Barterbee (http://barterbee.com/frenchmaidtv). They also have a question asked of them by 88 Slide Host Rachel (http://www.88slide.com), pick out one of their favorite movies, spend time playing with new “Toys”, jump around and, of course, have a good old fashioned French Maid TV Pillow Fight.

How did we get here? Where did the earth come from?

Explaining the Universe
The one with the science that's simply beyond the scope of the layman brain.

Have you been taken over by World Cup frenzy? To celebrate the event, AtomFilms just released a new Aardman Animation video, “Handbag” featuring the notorious Angry Kid rapping and taking a swing at his mates – granny style. Have they suddenly gone soft on us? Oh, and in case you’re confused –the reviews of this video on the AtomFilms website will give you the 411 on British humor, including the explanation of terms like “handbag”: a lame fight, wimpy, prissy - as in "did you bring your handbag http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/angry2_handbags

The Corruptibles - 02:12
Hollywood wants Congress to give it new super powers over your TV, radio, and computer. Find out more in this animation, and go to http://www.eff.org/corrupt/ to learn more, take action to stop these proposals, and download the animation.

Have you ever wanted to sing "We can't afford our gasoline, the prices have become obscene". If so, if you want to share the pain and maybe try to laugh it off, take a few moments to watch this short little animation from AtomFilms - I Can’t Afford My Gasoline

If you need to laugh, take a moment and visit "It's JerryTime! (http://www.itsjerrytime.com), the first podcast ever nominated for an Emmy Award. He just posted the debut of its latest episode 7, called "The Brute". The current webisode features a salute to street hockey in which Jerry, a hapless fortysomething, is confronted with the problem of a Golliath who freely drinks out of his water bottle without permission

In this hilarious and well made parody of James Blunt's song/music video for "You're Beautiful," Kevin Sage (as Blunt) reminisces about making out with a transvestite. (Note: Not based on actual events...)

Check out the new and improved National Lampoon web site - NationalLampoon.com will continue to feature its award-winning NL Original content including the first-ever “comedy blogosphere.” NL Blogs will feature humor--from the funniest online writers, Max Burbank and John Saleeby to well known comedy authors Harmon Leone (“Republican Like Me”) and Rubin’s own (“Saddam Dump”). Even Paul Goebel (Comedy Central’s “Beat the Geeks”) will join in with his humorous take on Hollywood. In the coming months, NL.com will reach out to its renowned National Lampoon alumni and have them blog as well. The blogs will also feature the “National Lampoon College Party School Rankings” hosted by college party maniac Mitch Higgins. NL Blogs will also feature special guest comedy character bloggers, this month showcasing former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein.

10 Star Wars Fan Film Award Finalists
Checkout the best from ATOM Films - Star Wars Fan Film Awards. Watch the 10 brand new finalists and cast your votes

If you are into technology - especially telecom, IPTV and the latest cell phone developments- you will love xchange TV. The premiere edition offers a multimedia window into GLOBALCOMM 2006, which took place June 4-8 in Chicago. To watch one of the video interviews xchange’s editors conducted with industry leaders at the show, click here.

That’s it for this week. And as usual, if you don’t want to get this newsletter ever again, just hit reply and put Take Me Off in the subject area.