Fit for the Media

StumbleUpon Spam Worthy

2009-04-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone using stumbleupon lately has noticed a large number of stupid and poorly designed sites popping up more than sites with decent content and design. Too many shitty Web 1.0 style travel sites and self promotional shitty architectural sites.

It is obvious that stumbleupon is suffering from the wikipedia effect of self interested people using the system to promote their own crappy websites, which of course devalues stumbleupon and my use of it.

I predict that stumbleupon will not last long, people are not willing to put up with spam. digg and other sites will gain ground because stumbleupon will be viewed as a tool to be exploited by companies with shitty advertising strategies.

What's wrong with SNL

2009-03-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

In a quick word, ditch the cue cards.

in the 70's what made the for the best Carol Burnett episodes?
- The Tim Conway and Harvey Corman chemistry made for great entertainment. We never knew when one would throw the other off we waited for it and usually were rewarded once or twice per show.

What made the best Kids in the Hall episodes?
-bizarre unexpected cuts to tragic characters in distress

What made the best SNL episodes?
-Comedians performing well honed characters and impersonations, fake TV commercials, and show openers that are politically and socially timely and cutting.

What made the best Johnny Carson shows?
-the unscripted and unpredictable moments with guests, along with his opening monologue and precise comedic timing.

MAD TV ?
-pop culture parodies galore from running gags like Spisshack and Lowered Expectations, Kenny Rogers, Stephen Segal, Oprah and wild Dr Phil impersonations

For SNL, i have a feeling that the rigours of executing a safe and predictable live show along with the desire to keep employed at a high profile show, and fall in line with the acceptable limits of NBC's humour are enough pressures to bevel the edge off any performer.

I wonder what would the show look like if the current cast owned it and had full control of its content without corporate breathing down their backs?

Tracy Morgan, I watched him on SNL years ago and i wasn't sure what i was witnessing. A funny guy mechanically reading cue cards staring at them like a life line. Similar to what he did tonight.

Watching him on 30 Rock has been pure joy, he is hilarious and over the top. On Jimmy Fallon last week i could see that the crazy character he plays on 30 Rock is a subset of who he really is. Why did it take Tina Fey's admiration of Tracy to give him the justice on screen he deserves? Why SNL failed Tracy Morgan points to a long history of the cardboard box execution of the live show and heavy reliance on cue cards.

On the Fallon Late Night Show Tracy said going back to SNL was like going home. No doubt, I'm sure the whole week developing the show with co-writers, comedians, familiar staffers, and Executive Producer Lorne Micheal's is a fantastic and celebratory High School Prom Night experience, topped off with a night long Saturday evening post show party on the town. I assume the creating of sketch ideas and characters is like a frat house of pranks, inside jokes, and all the good stuff that makes for lifelong friends and memories, but the night of the show, as a viewer I often feel that the final product is probably more important to the performers memories of the week making the show than to the audience who tunes in expecting to witness a history making performance or two as it happens live.

As a kid i watched the first episodes on TV. I don't remember all the episodes but in particular i do cherish the memory of John Belushi impersonating Joe Cocker, even though as a child i'd never seen Joe Cocker. Intense, electric and over the top, a slow walk in the park turned into a run for your life tornado all in a short performace. Later in life i did meet Mr Cocker in person when i worked at Kingswood Music theatre in 1987, the insane impersonation from Belushi still lived with me and i chuckled quietly to myself every time i saw Joe and his organized clipboard notes speaking in his prim and proper soft, educated English voice, while discussing performance particulars with the brass section, i waited for him to freak out in a spasm at any time, it never happened then and only briefly during the performance did he stand on his toes and clench his fists, thanks SNL for dementing me at a young age.

When i watch the show more often than not i feel that most performances are stale and teleprompter driven combined with old fashioned stiff directing and unionized switcher operation.

As a viewer/observer this is how it appears: the switcher/show director will punch in the person about to speak, the actor will clearly be staring into the distance at the cue cards or teleprompter, standing or sitting still, they begin a stale delivery with a 'look-at-me-everybody' smile, finish the sentences then the switcher will punch up the second person, a brief pause occurs while the second person finds their spot on the teleprompter and they begin reading their lines with a similar 'hello mom' smile. Out to a brief two shot, back to the reader, out to a two shot again then back to person #1 to deliver stale teleprompter lines again. If there was a need for a prerecorded flashback there is almost always a 2 second delay of uncomfortable silence combined with the source not cued to the proper point. This is a digital world people, BAM it should be ready to go like a keyboard player hitting a sampled note.

Am i alone or is the "VTR" or playback operator clearly a union employee with a malicious obedience problem?

Ya... shows like Mad TV, and Comedy Inc, do a zillion takes and let comedians go nuts which makes for a great package after the editing process. But... if Lorne Michael's is listening i would urge him to let down his hair in his old age and allow for some unscripted shenanigans during performances in the spirit of Carol Burnett, Harvey Corman and Tim Conway.

What would happen if actors knew that one sketch would be steered off track gradually into an all out improv but never knew when or who it would happen to? What is wrong with watching actors experience uncomfortable moments not knowing how to respond to surprises then waiting for an even better comeback or being rescued by others? We are all having fun then aren't we? The viewers, audience members and cast are all part of a flowing performance that we know ends with a break to a commercial, but take us there in a Ferrari on a roller coaster please.

General show observations.

Tracy Morgans safari sketch could have used some more prerecorded prep materials, more flashbacks, less lip makeup, and better stage setup with both actors positioned more closely instead of appearing to be performing in different rooms. I thought it was at first promising but quickly became stale, badly timed delivery, interaction, and cueing of premade elements made for an all round dud.

Killer John Malcovich impersonation on the News Segment.

Suppress-ex was well done with the exception of Tracy reading cue cards held too high. Sitting still with little animation, hands on knees.

One of the things that Chris Farley did very well was that he always appeared to be moving and doing something within character that contributed to the performance regardless if it was his turn or not to read cue cards.

So where does SNL consistently shine?

#1 the News Segment. Allows for everyone to bring their A game impersonations, musical talents and comical observations to the viewers. The News spawned and showcased many people that went on to great career successes, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtain, Gilda Radner, Norm MacDonald, Adam Sandler, and Tina Fey to name only a few.

#2 Killer character(s) that are allowed to milk it week after week.
Eddie Murphy doing James Brown, and the Kill my Landlord character in my opinion was the ultimate pinnacle of SNL, also Will Ferrel cheerleader sketches, Chris Farley doing Coach Ditka, the motivational speaker, Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin and others who have finely crafted comical clones.

#3 Game show gags.
When all else fails fall back to a game show parody with clued out contestants, pissed off straight man host, and malfunctioning props.

#4 Animated shorts,
from the old Mr Bill bits that were so terrible they were brilliant, to Ace, Gary and their two codpieces, fun with audio, Scooby Do ripoffs.

#5 Prerecorded parodies, fakes tv commercials, and skits, Dick in the Box, I'm on a boat, Colon Blast cereal, and more.

where do you think SNL could do better?

The Rock on SNL

2009-03-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

What do you call a person who has changed careers successfully to acting in the big smoke of LA LA and NYC? What do you say to a person that is extremely tall and muscular, tatooed, can fight like the dickens, and can come out on stage time and time again with a childish smile, a raised eyebrow and a willingness to be vulnerable by trying to sing and dance in old school big time musical style? What names do you call him? or do you do as i did just sit back and watch with amazment at his untapped talent?

Not only that but he is an uncrass polite gentleman in his delivery and performances. He is a team player who lets everyone share the spotlight. Much like Barack Obama.

The Rock Obama sketch was a huge hit for him and SNL. I sincerly hope they bring him back to more of these episodes like SNL has done with the MacGruber/MacGuyver small hits between sketches. On a side note this Mad TV style of ongoing gags is a receipe for success - remember the fake Spisshack product ads that Mad TV would run, or the Lowered expectations gags?

It was truly a stand up horray performance in your own living room to see the Rock become the angry Obama throwing knuckle headed Rebulicans through a window. We all want to see in real life Obama do the same to these people who put us all here in the first place, esp John McCain.

I was struck by his own knowlege of power and respect for women when he chose to carefully place his female rebulican adversary gently through the window rather than tossing her throught it like Rebublican adversary #1. What a gentleman. I'd like to see him perform beside Hugh Jackman not on a battle of muscle but a battle of style and chivalry.

The camera likes the Rock. Everything he does seems faultless and enjoyable. The Rock is in the moment and aware of what is going on, seeing the whole picture and he never misses a cue.

Take a look at the Huffinton Post comments on his SNL performance and you will see nothing but praise for all his efforts with his greatest accolades for his incredible impersonation of President Barack Obama.

My prediction is that from this SNL appearance his popularity will skyrocket and i sincerly hope to see him do some very innovate comedy musical productions in the future.

Rock: it looks good on you

SNL: congrats on a great show

BTW as a kid i watched the very first SNL and have been a follower for a long time, good and bad. This show feels like you are back on track.

To all of those heavy hearts who have been affected by the economy, this is the kind of entertainment we need the most now.

The 5 Worst TV Commericals on TV now

2009-02-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

#1
I am going to start with the absolute worst commercial because
a) everyone must have seen these spots
b) its a high production value ad
c) it is so disgusting that it invokes an involuntary gag vomit reaction that forces me to immediately change the channel, mute the sound, or turn off the TV.

To the ad agency I ask ... WTF were you thinking when you came up with the Purina Dog Food campaign? Big tongued heavy breeds slurping food happily with excessively loud sounds while trying to breathe is not a unique feature to your food. Did you know that dogs will eat their own turds? In fact they will eat almost anything.

Cats on the other hand are finicky and these spots and efforts would be better suited for the little fluffies and kilter owners of the world.

When people hear dogs licking 'something' or gnawing down on something while trying to breathe i wouldn't hesitate to think that a large majority would fill in the sentence with the noun 'balls'. Did you try that little doosey on your focus groups? hmmm?

The Purina Dog Food Commercials are so obnoxious that I will never ever buy any of the Purina products just to avoid thinking about the bad commercials and I'll do anything to avoid looking at the Purina logo. Perhaps people who smear peanut butter on their nads would like these commercials. Perhaps these people work at the Ad Agency that made them?

On a similar note a friend recently told me that her friends (a married couple) recorded the birth of the first baby girl and they wanted to share it with her. My friend told me that she was not looking forward to hearing it. Beh, i said, what is the big deal, it's an after school special for 10 year olds? Then she proceeded to tell me that her friends husband at the time only had an MP3 recorder and he held it next to the vagina as the baby was being born. Imagine your stereo on volume 11, you are listening to all the vivid vaginal liquid sounds as the baby sluices down the canal. All of those sloshing, farting, slapping and dribbling into steel pans, followed by a blurt expulsion of a baby sounds don't make me want to have sex, in fact just thinking about the results of birth protection gone wrong and the consequences is a form of birth control in it self. I can see why my friend is not looking forward to this audio-riffic moment with her friends.

Like I said before dogs are going to eat anything regardless, people are going to have nasty sounding bowel movements regardless, recording them and putting them on TV is not going to make me buy more food, nor will it make me buy your food or product. This is a really shitty bunch of commercials IMO. nuff said. pfffft ooops there's a commercial for beer.

#2
Second worst commercial on TV today:
Discovery Channel sing along
... you know " i love the mountains... " song, but for me .. click tv off.
This commercial is just plain stupid and 30 seconds too long. I can watch this for exactly 3 seconds. This collection of out of tune Discovery Channel hosts singing different lines of the campfire barf-a-long song is pointless and uncreative. This song for 4 year olds is one of those tunes that is verboten once a child turns 5. This is a song that most normal people would never want to sing more than once even at gunpoint. To think that an adult would produce this as a commercial and actually get paid for it is Bank CEO derivative product sales worthy. Truly mind boggling.
Jay Ingram, don't ever sing again on TV please. I would love to have a beer with you but please just don't sing anymore. O-Tay?

#3
Mindlessly bad but with less effort and production values are the Sham Wow spots. On first view, my immediate question is "is that Gary Busey's anemic leather skinned younger brother that just got out of rehab offering to clean up my spills and dry my car as some sort of parole or community service requirement? or is it a mere coincidence the similarities in appearance and shadiness?"

This guy has a smile that crooked politicians and used car salesmen woud kill for.

I'm sure the product works great, i just can't stand looking at the delivery style, the headset, the face, the voice, the fake testimonials. If i ever see anyone using a Sham-wow for a beech towel i will ask this person if i can borrow money from them. Please don't make me explain that joke.

#4
Next up, the couch poncho. Bad product IMO, and even worse imagery.

Most people have a blanket, or comfy pajamas, warm track pants, maybe a fireplace, or spouse, kids, pets or something else nice to keep them comfy and warm while watching late night infomercials. Hell even a cup of herbal tea can work but this idea that people would want to wear a cheap blanket with a hole cut in the middle for your head is hardly even trailer park worthy. Yes i believe that there is a market for this glorified fleece moomoo I'm sure. Who doesn't like to walk around naked while wearing a giant food bib?

The highlight of the commercial is a single shot of a conservative shirt-tucked-in-pants belt-buckled family of rejects all wearing these neon coloured looser comforters at a baseball game in broad daylight. The big surprise to any sane viewer of this commercial is that they haven't been beaten to death yet.

#5
New on the hit list are these Kia Soul SUV commercials that for a month teased viewers with male drug addict alcoholic unshaven sweaty people looking inside a car window breathing heavily steaming up the glass. My first thought is this is a commercial for some rehab centre or a new public safety message on not locking your kids in the car while you shop. But now we see these scruffy males are much better than what we first might have thought. They are people that leave friends stranded in deep wells fighting for their lives. Quickly they run away from their friends in need to seek help although it appears they are running away for alibi purposes, regardless they spot these dirty Kia vehicles and pause and daydream. We assume they forget all about their dying buddies. nice. Where do i place an order? NOT.

Election USA, Banks, War, WTF just happened?

2009-02-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

OK i know that for more than 2 years while house shopping I've thought that ... this craziness can't last. I've read articles about impending economic implosion based on 'money from the sky' relaxed lending policies. And I've also at the same time heard deep heartfelt flaky rants about GlobalWarming, and the Peak Oil crisis from over caffineated underachieving hype gobbling doomsday dominated brown bearded modern day hippies while trying to walk away backwards, slowly. War Images and terrorism on TV, fear mongering from the media and politicians, Canadians dying in Afganistan on a weekly basis are heavy news indeed. Fresh imagery of a hostile world with fast internet is greatly helping to create culture clashes and fuel power struggles, (yes we already know this).

It feels like the early 1970's all over again. Vietnam, hippies, gas crisis, Mary Tyler Moore, and Richard Nixon.

With the sudden and dramatic changes over the past 6 months all i can say is WTF just happened in a blink of an eye?

Last i remembered it was August/September mostly everyone is happily steaming along, gas in Canada was $1.25 a litre and to fill my tank was $80 or $90. There were rumblings about American looming mortgage crisis, GWB was on his way out but still everyday we heard his voice somewhere on TV news or comedy shows or the web, and I’m sure that simultaneously people all around the world shook their heads with disbelief that the worlds most powerful nation still lets this moron lead the country. The Canadian dollar was near par to the American dollar, it had been above for months, and colleagues, fellow freelancers were buying iPhones with stupidly expensive monthly packages, and renting out new more expensive apartments.

And then within about 3 weeks in November the shit literally hit the fan. The American economic 'free money to the banks with no strings' TARP rescue plan had been half implemented with no changes in the economic landscape and, still the economists refused to say 'recession' or the 'r' word.

After going thru the deep recession of the late 80's and early 90's with personal experience of hardship finding work fresh out of University, I'll say this; sure as shit it’s a recession if the popular media economists say roughly that they are not yet willing to use the 'R' word. My advice to you is SELL SELL SELL ! they are lying and buying time to save their own asses first.

December was dismal, nobody really knew what was going on except for the fact that people, seemingly unrelated to the banking crisis, started to loose their jobs. Gas prices were falling, a door to the WTF! information was opening slowly but, because of the retail power of xmas, and not wanting to spoil any 4rth quarter potential profits, most lips were sealed tight. One positive thing, gas was $.66 cents a litre, a tank was less than $50. un-f’n-believable, and to boot the CDN dollar was .15 cents lower than the US dollar. Confusing since Canada does not have the huge deficits that the US has, i think in December we were still operating with a budget surplus. So why all these dramatic changes? Read on.

January in Canada like all over the world, we stopped being productive for a day and watched the Obama Inauguration with a huge sense of relief and pride for Americans, I photo scanned the front page of the Toronto Star with a picture of Obama and the caption " A Dream Fulfilled". A nice memory for my pictures folder.

I can say that as a regular listener to NPR ‘This American Life’ and ‘Planet Money’ podcasts i do know a bit about what is going on in the financial world and it’s effects on the ordinary American, (and myself a Canadian). Clearly what i can say now after hearing Wednesdays ‘Planet Money’ podcast about saving the banks its like getting hit in the gut with a baseball bat. LINK Suddenly now it makes sense. I've heard Ira Glass struggle with the financial crisis and the election, and I've been following 'top' economists on a regular basis, esp the NPR people and now i will say that these people are now no longer struggling with what is happening and what has just happened.

A Dream Fulfilled has become a sudden screaming cold-sweat wakeup from an 8 year nightmare that most of us never knew the extent we were in. Yes liberals squrimed with GWB, the war, abomination of the Constitution and other suspensions of rights and freedoms, and uhh tax cuts for the uber wealthy. But people never really knew or thought about where all this would take us and the world.

The drop in the Canadian dollar? a result of panicking American investors getting out of the stock market and into US Gov't t-bills.

The drop in gas? Simple. A big drop in US demand as wallets slam shut on bad economic news, job losses, and home foreclosures, creates a sudden surplus.

The banks? simple, the biggest banks in the world are insolvent. They cannot pay pensioners monthly 'guaranteed' incomes, they cannot loan money or move money around because they have more liabilities than assets, and remember that every country around the world is affected because of individuals, public and private investors global portfolios.
A failed major American Bank means that Americans will lose their savings account balances, mortgages, pensions, AND any other country or individual who has financial interests in these institutions will also loose 'everything'. 8-) And if word got out what is going on, like 1929, there would be a run on the banks. That means thousands of people running to the bank, in person, to take their money out before everyone else does. close their accounts before the banks run out of money.... which is how Bernie Madoff go caught. People started asking for some cash back that he didn't have.

So that is why there is no option to let the banks fail. they have everyone over a barrel.

The only plan is (A) either the previous GWB Administration/Sept Henry Paulson plan: just give the money to the banks for free and let them continue in the same business fashion or (B), make them accountable for the money by giving them a loan, which is called Nationalization. This is what people want, they just don't like the real dictionary defined name for it. I hope they can make the connection and accept the unpalatable word for their own sake. Also along this rant is a note of how people use the word democracy. USA is a democratic REBUBLIC. Helping others in need does not mean SOCIALISM or a drop off the cliff to Marxism. Words seem to have so much power over people and these touchy words create a cognitive dissonance that breaks from reasonable societal practices, like republicans that don't want to nationalize the banks but want the banks to be accountable, you can't have both. its like dipping your toes and believing both creationism and darwinism exist simultaneously.

Take your pick because letting them fail is going to suck. Oddly enough it might be the quickest way to recovery.

A new president, that can speak English, an entirely new economic cloud and dismal future for the next few years, possibly a depression.
And my hopes for steady income or buying a home anytime soon have vanished as lending rules have just snapped shut with an audible.

WTF just happened indeed.

The rich repugs got away with a pot of gold and an extra bonus of taxpayer billions just before their paid for president leaves office, taking weeks to sift through the rubble to find the answers. Now we have them. We are Fucked.

For the uber rich and market smart that is one sweet victory after another.

Huffington Post - Spam worthy

2008-04-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

I read the Huffington Post website on almost a daily basis, got involved in some of those comment frenzied days where GWB clones would reply with government speak. The page was simple there were few blogs by few people.

Now like comedy central i get these fukking HuffingtonPost updates in my email. The site itself covers garbage gossip issues, that appeal to the lowest common denominator and the quality of posting is poor.

I have no motiviation to visit the site anymore because it is just one blogger trying to outdo the next with speculation and prediction.

Give me ONE fukkin person that i can constantly read and enjoy ok?

Like the comics in a saturday paper... give me one. ok.

Otherwise i have marked you as spam.

Social Media Break

2008-02-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

For a while before xmas 2007 after the VON Conference and Podcamp Boston i was all revved up with social media, twitter networking, seesmicing, blogtv-ing, and blog reading, but not working at a paying job. Those are the downfalls of being a freelancer. And at some point right around those stressful xmas days when i realized that i wouldn't be able to afford the xmas getaway vaction i planned, and with no work on the horizon, you could say that i was feeling less than 100% happy.

So with my tail tucked between my legs i started doing construction work with my brother in the bitter cold weather, framing, and renovating a century home in my old home town, across from my old high school, and near my parents house, just enough emotional buttons and childhood memories and thoughts of coming full circle with my career... ending back at high school doing construction work again, just like i was 16. That was not a great feeling for a while, until i discoverd how cute my brothers kids were to be around during lunch break and after work.

And then shortly the phone began to ring, and i found myself freelancing for the highest profile daily show in Canada. Another ring i found myself working back with my #1 corporate client during the day, and another ring came a big budget freelance job producing, shooting and editing.
Followed by Podcamp Toronto, DemoCamp Toronto, and the Coaching course i am taking with Jason Van Orden it seems like i am slowly getting back on track again.

Maybe this second time around i will sit back a bit more and be more observant and less participatory as i try to figure out where i want to be in the social media mix.

I certainly have lots of opinons, ideas, and energy for how others can promote themselves and their products but as of yet, i am unsure of myself and what i can offer, how i can generate a living from social media consulting, businesss consulting, or products and services i can sell outside of brodcast and corporate video editing.

One day at a time for now, maybe a ski vacation or two, hopefully with time i will figure out a few paths to "fail forward" with.

Thanks for reading!

scott

Jeff Hibbard : the shot heard around the world

2007-12-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight marks the worlds first ever Live BlogTV show from Canada to the US via a moving truck in Manassas, North Virginia.

Witnessing the event was Greg Cangialosi, and Julia Roy. ( i forgot to press the record button on blogTV )

In an impromptu question i asked greg how to bring up another user like in Operator11, he obliged and Jeff Hibbard, appeared on our screens, and told us he was in his truck, on a custom built PC for 12volt power, and a web cam, using EVDO thru his wireless cell phone provider. (6 gigs per month for apx$60 USD)

Then he did the unthinkable, he started to drive.

Scott McDougall and Jeff Hibbard on BlogTV from scottwitter on Vimeo.

He drove around as we talked live, I was blown away, i couldn't believe this was working at all? i could see all the streetlights and buildings moving around as he talked.

He got gas, closed the door drove away and then he turned the camera toward the front of the truck so i could get a front seat passengers tour. I saw the christmas lights of the town, cars on the road, fancy buildings and decorations, and general layout of the land, all while we talked with a decent clear connection.

Simple, sublime, understated, unfiltered, unadvertised, clear, pure and the beauty of the moment, witnessing history IMO, was incredible.

I am inspired by this.

I believe that we can show the world how easy this is?

Two newbies to the social media and networking world, look at our blog pages, they are virtually identical. ( my hat off to Jeff )

The unbelievable communication feat we have just witnessed tonight is only the beginning for a new era of easy visual instant communication.

Imagine an iPod touch with a swivel video camera?

This is what i propose we do for the next show...

I believe that a Canada / US live meetup on blog TV is in store don't you?

the plan is to do a live show, me driving south from Toronto, and Jeff Driving North from Manassas, with both computers broadcasting live, viewers will see 2 images.

Wherever we meet up will not be planned but we will drive towards each other only communicating by our WiFi through BlogTV.

We will meet up and exchange xmas presents and with happy holidays for everyone in Canada and the US, flag exchange too!

Start the new year with good relations regardless of the political malaise and economic funk that entombs us currently.

This is highly nerdy, exciting, and the time is right!

(note to self, need to find out about EVDO in canada, rates, and if i can get a sponsor to help pay exorbidant canadian data rates and long distance)

Nokia HD announcement

2007-12-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Nokia plans for HD on the internet.

Writers Strike Video from Colbert Report

Writers Strike Developments 2.0

2007-11-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

Check this out,

Blackout Lifted

"When an hourlong episode of television is streamed on the Internet, writers would get a flat $250 payment for one year of reuse. That's $250 as opposed to, for example, $20,000 per episode when it's reused on network television."

wow.

We know from broadband providers that HD Multistreaming is not a problem, I learned this tidbit from the VON 2007 conference, so it is not entirely out of the question that the internet of the future could deliver a full range of shows, even complete networks, high quality shows made just like old media shows, but now the writers are boned by $19,000 or so. Interesting.

You can bet the big media companies are going to keep the advertising costs high and keep the difference for themselves.

nice.

HD on the Web

2007-11-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

This is HDV streamed from VIMEO, its not ABC.com HD, but a smaller company, Next New Networks, Justin is one of the key players. I had a chance to meet him at PodCamp Boston in November on the live BlogTV show with Jeff Pulver.

I ask you this question, the video may not stream instantaneously, you may have to wait a few minutes for buffering, but if Justins video was on traditional TV and was to be shown at 9PM on a specialty channel how long would you have to wait to watch the video?

The other question i ask is how long does it take you to set up your digital recorder to find content, to wait for the broadcasts to happen to record?

The digital solution is RSS.

Click on the orange radio signal button and whenever this person posts a new video it will be ready and waiting for you to watch without any setup, and if you delete it by accident the RSS will restore it if you wish (on demand).

HD QUALITY

Embed quality

(VIDBLOG) A Foot in the Door - New York City, 2007 from justin on Vimeo.

Also check out the free Podcast DiveFilmHD Podcast Video on iTunes

And Canadians hard at work Galacticast :

Goggle Blogger is not handling the fullscreen for this well, go to iTunes music store for the full screen version, or to Galacticast

G-Living channel quicktime HD and FLASH versions Flash version by BlipTV

NON HD Blip Tv Examples

Math Question

2007-11-26T08:31:00.001-08:00

I just watched this kid playing piano.

He has been viewed 4.9 million times.

Hypothetically speaking if he was paid 2 cents per view on Revver how much money did this kid lose by posting his video on YouTube?

Sharing and Payment agreement

The Answer is $100,000 USD.

Writers Strike Developments

2007-11-26T07:52:00.001-08:00

I have been trying to keep up with the writers strike by following the tweets on twitter and the bloglinks. The writers for the LateShow with Jay Leno and Jon Stewart have started videoblogging recording their own messages in the familiar tone of the shows they write for. They are the shows.

After watching the edited and non edited bits it is fairly clear that on their own and with the available technology they could make their own web based shows very easily and quickly have large followings.

Pay check ? It is concievable that some of these guys posting a video on REVVER could make them 5 and 6 figures $$$ just by being watched.

Many people are unaware, posting their videos on YouTube offers no payment for providing popular content drawing people to their site. Now post the same video on REVVER or other similar services and they pop cash in you PayPal account everytime someone clicks on your video.

I heard that a local Torontonian, a student at Sheridan, made a cool $20,000 by posting a video of himself doing some gymnastic tricks.

Provide some better editing and a functional blog site and you got your own show, distribution network, viewers that you can track, metrics, and a few areas on your page for tasteful advertising. Not only that but people can consume your media on iPhones, and other portable media devices.

Sharing : Canadians need to talk

2007-11-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

One thing I was struck by at the VON conference in Boston and the preceding un-conference Pod Camp, was the willingness of people from all walks of life to talk openly and share information, I am sharing with you the serendipidous nature of possibilites when people communicate and share.

The day before the VON conference, the end of Pod Camp Boston, I was a participant in a live internet show for the VON conference organizer, Jeff Pulver. It has been the most powerful experience I've had in the digital era for the following reason ; i was asked to help shoot the 2 camera show at the last minute, a gentleman beside me was watching the show live on his laptop connected via WiFi to the internet, I glanced at my camera viewfinder then i glanced at his live stream and then i wiggled the camera and to my surprise it was near instantaneous!

I could see the live image on his screen was cropped differently and didn’t match my viewfinder guides, I began to re-frame my shots based on the live and final webcast stream.

It then occured to me in a WiFi world that any professional cameraman or amateur could use a $200 iPod touch as a field monitor to ensure that both audio and video are being seen by live viewers, and be able to simultaneously and instantaneously adapt for image and audio quality if need be.

I was not only a content provider i was a consumer watching it participating in the conversation having the power to effect the communication. This is the power we hold in both the new media / social media and social networking age.

At the beginning of the VON conference i distinctly remember being amongst the conference organizers elite, industry reps, and other elbow rubbers in a group of 20 or so trying to decide where to go for dinner. Nobody knew each other so we free to talk openly, simple chatter with no purpose other than to kill 30 minutes of idle time at the end of day 1 waiting for Jeff Pulver. Nobody was planning or brainstorming with the intent to change the face of communications or just add a dimple, we were just throwing ideas around.

I was Speaking with the Apple products rep about the iPod Touch and its WiFi capabilities, does it have a video camera like the Apple Laptops? No. A few more people gathered around, Chef Mark was considering a live internet cooking show and would the iPod touch receive it? then our conversation switched to the question, what is the point of live if something can be published instantly and then downloaded like podcasts and RSS feeds?

Who needs a live cooking show? Who needs live radio? Wait a second, I thought, this iPod Touch, we could have the same show live and broadcast it to viewers as they ride the busses and go-trains to work, people can call in and be on the air and be broadcast live via WiFi instantaneously. Going to work or on lunch break they can watch live from their pocket device and call in with their questions, how do i prepare this vegetable for your meal you just showed us? etc, Traditional live morning TV show are now available without the TV to people on the go. And, If the iPod touch gets a built in camera then peoples faces or whatever they point the device to can be broadcast live to everyone across the world.

Little did i know that live internet tv is already occurring just like that but with laptops and desktops.

Hmm.

By the end of the conference this idea was abound, even the apple rep thanked me for my input and asked to wait for the 2nd release in february. I shared my idea with Catherine Jones of SyncronisTV and proposed ideas for shows, game shows, shows suitable for family viewing . Other people got in on the idea as well. We all shared. the possibilities are incredible. Exciting. Energizing.

Since then i have been participating in live internet tv discussions where my images and audio are streamed live across the globe in high quality to simultaneous show participants in San Francisco, New York, the U.K., France, Israel all at the same time and for free. Show participants are added and subtracted to the show like a living breathing organism. Who ever wants the camera, has something to say, clicks a button to request the camera, and the show moderator operates a video switcher-like panel on their computer and lights up the next participant. Anyone with any computer can host a live show on any topic.

Twitter is the same.

People are like bees all following and all leading at the same time. Information is free, bloggers abound, professional writers, and credible sources, and video bloggers are everywhere.

the need for filtered news is coming to an end, esp. if you have cameramen/reporters/news correspondents directly at the events connected to you via twitter, seesmic, or streamed a live directly to an iPod touch.

Canadian broadcasters, consumers, writers and producers need to know what is going on, and especially need to know that trying to keep information about the technology away from he public is not going to be a successful strategy. Educating and leading the drive will develop the profitable relationships needed for Canadian autonomy in the broadcast business.

If we show people how to use the iPods, iPhones, and other WiFi video ready devices, and we provide them with incredible, highly creative Canadian content then we are providing a valuable service to the public. And we are creating demand for consumer electronics and for the content we make. Broadcasters are more in control of the where the advertising revenues are going instead of risking sudden change in income streams. We are also making ourselves relevant in the digital on demand age, and solidifying our industry, jobs, talent pool, writers, editors, keeping Canada alive so to speak.

Idealistically speaking wouldn't it be incredible for Canada to be a leader in this cutting edge technology by means of providing Canadian entertainment to Canadian consumers in a portable and easily consumable way?

Or is it the weak approach, to exhibit a resistance to change, to monopolize and legislate old thinking purely for the easy ways of making a buck?

There will be a broadcaster that will step up to this challenge before the others, who will it be? Who will facilitate this new Canadian conversation and communication technology?

Will it be a new player, or will an old player shed its armour and lead the way?

Competing for Eyeballs : Deep Pockets

2007-11-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

In a free web experience for viewers, content providers and content distributors are playing a wait-and-see-the-benefits game. They know the monetization is there, and with new advancements and adaptations in metrics old media thinkers and ad agencies will slowly come around and see the light of WEB 2.0 and the value of targeted relationships. Once and for all the monetization questions will be answered and finished.

Corporations and small content providers waiting to find out how to monetize the web are going to miss the front and middle of the economic wave and its benefits.

People looking into the not so distant future speculating how free communications will impact societies, economics, the environment, and politics are not too hard to find. Take a look at TED tv.

Today most web pages on the internet are Web 1.0. The approach to the customer is old and out moded. Buy Buy Buy! Flashy ads, clutter, nothing personal. Noise = click away.

Web users are offered products to buy that a company wants to sell. Web 2.0 thinking shifts the tables and attracts an audience with free information, and begins to ask people for feedback about the free content they have provided and this begins the conversation between demand creator and consumer, this is the beginning of a trusting relationship.

In the Web 1.0 world...

There is no real communication

In most cases if you do get people to your Web 1.0 site they have no real reason to stay. You are offering content with no substance, you are offering general content when people are looking for specific content and answers, you are offering old style communication, you are not paying attention to the new age of Media Snackers.

This is not about selling product right now, rather

this is about getting the eyeballs

to your site and keeping them, selling products or yourself comes later. Having them come back may mean delivering your content (tv shows, movies, interviews, articles etc) to people automatically via RSS.

Unless you have big understanding sponsers that know the benefits of web exposure without definite metrics your web presence may be a break even or losing proposition for the short run. Broadcasters are not easily willing to reduce costs to advertisers, but advertisers know that internet consumers are consuming because they want the specific media content, the demographic is narrowed greatly therefore reducing costs of getting your message to the right audience. How will broadcasters and cable providers respond to the needs of lower cost, more effective advertising?

Planning for the Web 2.0 World

2007-11-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

Producers of traditional media pay close attention to the elements of production and delivery to meet the needs of the clients. The perfect production is well funded, you have a great script, your favorite camera operators and crew are available, so is your post house, editor, and audio post. Sounds like 5 years ago? Today you are competing with production companies, and individuals that wear all the hats, have all the affordable technology at their disposal and can beat you up with lowered budgets sometimes delivering more for less.

Add the inevitable trend of RSS feeds, on-demand internet TV and Media Snacking viewers and you can be assured that sitting back and waiting for the dust to settle will leave you in the dust.

Did you know that ABC USA is streaming High Def on demand internet TV through their website RIGHT NOW? ( turned off in canada ).

Did you know that at the latest VON conference in Boston broadband providers were not concerned about delivering HDTV on the web because it is already solved and is a non-issue, it is already capable of multi-streaming?

Consider the days of movies with no sound, the elements of change involved to adapt to making talking pictures are considerable. Imagine if you were a producer that had never made a 'talkie' before, put on the spot to do or die, could you successfully concieve and execute all aspects of preplanning, scriptwriting, directing, producing, and editing on the first movie?

Maybe. Teamwork helps.

If your clients wanted black and white movies and couldn't see the cliff ahead what would you do? Try to educate them, or just yourself, what if they didn't listen to you and you had a mortgage to pay, and famiy to feed?

Web 2.0 understanding will not automatically make anyone a financial success overnight, but it is important to understand the fundamental economic changes that are happening under our feet. It is key to understand how people will consume information before media/content producers go out and create it.

It is key to understand how sublte communication/technological advancements in software development, and hardware products are going to drastically change many aspects of what we do, the way we do it and the effects on our financial stability.

Did you know that devices like the iPod touch for under $200 can recieve live video feeds from the internet where-ever you go, busses, cars, trains, planes, depending on temporary WiFi restrictions?

Did you know that there are many live internet shows that not only feed the host but put you on the air from your current location with only a web cam or attached DV camera/mic ?

People are doing this for free.