Archive for the 'Rebel' Category

Filmmakers - The Internet Will Change Your Life! or Web Opportunities for filmmakers - An Overview

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by
Kfir Pravda
on July 9, 2007
in Internet TV, Rebel and Rebel Filmmaking
.

[digg http://digg.com/tech_news/How_can_filmmakers_use_the_internet/blog]Technology and cinema go hand in hand for years. The world of cinema started as a technological invention. Only couple of years later filmmakers created new ways of story telling.

The web, video sharing applications, blogs and social networks can help filmmakers in several ways - if used properly. Here is a short overview of the main Internet influences on filmmakers:

1. Content Creation - the Internet not only helps companies to work collaboratively - it also helps filmmakers to create new kind of productions - participatory filmmaking. Sometimes referred to as open source cinema, there are several amazing projects where filmmakers ask a community to contribute ideas and scripts to a central project. Some of them also have a fundraising element - users can contribute content or funds, and get credits as producers. Great example for that is Swarm of Angels.

2. Distribution - the most straight forward advantage is the ability of independent filmmaker to distribute her own content. YouTube, Blip.tv, Bittorent and Jaman are only some of the options open to filmmakers today. The main problem with this solution in my opinion is the user experience. There is a magical atmosphere in the theater - dark room, large screen, the soundtrack all around the viewer - all of these elements create a unique world, and in a sense makes the life of filmmaker easier. All the above mentioned distribution methods, though in some cases support even HD video quality, will enable viewers to watch the content on their TV in best case, and in most cases on their computer screen. Still, the ability to independently distribute video can improve filmmakers position and attract audience to their work. Which leads me to the next item.

3. Marketing - with all those filmmakers, Indie creators, and kids with webcams - how can you get noticed? This is one of the strongest links between filmmakers and Internet TV creators. The ease of distribution is a double edge sword - cause now content creators need to fight for attention. Lucky for all of us, there are several ways to utilize free and available tools to achieve this goal. Social networks, blogs, dedicated sites, badges, embeddable video players - all can be used in order to spread the word, and get attention from potential viewers. Here are some techniques:

- Allow users to remix your content and let them create their own version of your creation

- Release content to YouTube and allow viewers to embed it in their social network profiles and blogs

- Create online fan material - badges, graphics and logos can help fans express their affection to your creation. The good news - it is cheaper than making T-Shirts.

If you want to see a great example - check the work of Lance Weiler and Head Trauma.

4. Augment your creation - well, this is the tricky part. Remember all the discussions about interactivity, and how you can create content that viewers will decide its course? Well, I don’t believe in it. People want to be entertained - don’t let them decide on the protagonist’s action. But, you can use technology to add new dimensions to your creation. Write a fictitious blog by your characters. Create a Facebook account for them. put some Easter eggs in your film, that can be unlocked by registering to a web site. The sky is the limit.

Tomorrow I will attend the CinemaTech conference in Jerusalem, covering these topics. In future posts I’ll drill down to each of these points.

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New Web Series - Date:Unknown or How Social Media Affects The Battle of the sexes

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by
Kfir Pravda
on May 14, 2007
in Internet TV and Rebel
.

I got a note today from Brandon Fletcher, the guy behind Can You Tube Hear Me, about a new web series he just launched, called Date:Unknown. This is a dating reality show, about people meeting for the first time on camera, after talking online and connecting via various social networks. So it is kind of the hype of web shows, on top of the hype of social networks, on top of the hype of reality shows :)

The production pays for the date, and also offers some safety in first meetings of online friends. The whole show is filmed, edited and scored by Brandon, 20 yrs old New Yorker with a lot of passion for the trade.

I saw the first chapter which can be best described as  a documentary about how social media affect the battle of the sexes.

 

Here is a short interview I’ve had with Brandon today, showing his great approach to life:

 

KP: Where did the idea for the show come from?

BF The idea didn’t necessarily come from a specific thing. I randomly just come up with a bunch of ideas out of the blue. This was just one that I chose to execute because I believe it was different and had the potential to be huge. I was seeing a lot of stories about people meeting others online and then getting killed or abused when they meet in person. So this is basically just my effort in providing a safe way for those who are skeptical.

KP Do you have media background, and what equipment do you use?

 

BF I interned with a media company and learned the basics. I use a Canon GL2, and edit using iMovie (stock Mac video editor).

KP How do you think social media help people meet and interact?

 

BF I think social media helps people meet and interact by providing more info about the persons they communicate with. It makes it easier for people to choose who they want and narrow down the criteria. You also get a sense of how educated they are by seeing how well they type, etc.

KP What are the 3 biggest challenges you have today.

BF I never look at anything as a challenge. I try to see the most complicated tasks as the easiest, therefore nothing is impossible. The YouTube trip was a great journey (KP - a trip to YouTube HQ, to convince them to feature his content). My main reason for it was to inspire others to take control of their future and to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Video Games/Story MashUp

Comments Published
by
Kfir Pravda
on April 28, 2007
in DIY and Tutorials and Rebel
.

Recently I wrote a post about the importance of a good story, mentioning the amazing book by Robert Mckee with the same title.

Not long after that, Lance Weiler, an independent film producer, director and distributor, who directed movies such as Head Trauma and The Last Broadcast, published a great post about the relation between video games and movie scripts, discussing the same McKee book.

The post, written by M.Strange, and published at the Workbook Project blog, was a real eye opener, and simplified a lot of the concepts in the original book.

Here is a small example, comparing the idea of gradual increase in tension, with difficulty levels of Bosses in most video games:

intensity.png

I wanted to write about Lance for some time, as he is a multidisciplinary person with strong understanding of the power of social networks and online promotion. The Workbook project, one of zillion websites, is a great source for DYI filmmaking and thought leadership.

Lance, if you are reading this post - drop me a line, I’d love to e-mail interview you for my humble blog!

Here’s the song from M.Strange first movie, “We Are The Strange“:

What Old Media Can Learn from New Media Creators

Comments Published
by
Kfir Pravda
on April 24, 2007
in DIY and Tutorials, Internet TV and Rebel
.

The guys behind Something To Be Desired (STBD), Galacticast, and other great shows have one thing in common - they know how to create high quality content on the cheap. Most of them are not making a dime of their work. This is not their fault - it is a market that needs to mature. But still, they create great content in micro budgets.

How can STBD make a show for fraction of the cost of a regular TV show?

First of all they have one camera. Unbelievable, right? With smart editing they manage to make it look as if there are at least two cameras on set. Second, all their actors are volunteers. So, right, it is harder to do it for a long period with professional actors, but it is a creative way to do things. Third, they don’t have separate guys for editing, directing, sound, lighting, and overall production responsibility. It is all the same guy with the T-shirt. And fourth, their actors are involved in the script writing. Now compare that with the set of Studio 60….

As we all know, the world of television is changing. It is harder to get high rating for shows that are not event based. This viewership fragmentation reduces the economic value of single productions, and in time force old media producers to cut their budgets. So if there is one thing the old media guys can learn from these new energetic creators is how, with some creativity, to do things much cheaper than in the regular let’s-have-a-battalion-of-people-on-the-set-cause-everyone-does-one-thing approach.

This is not new. Robert Rodriguez made El Mariachi for 7000$, using the same concepts. Did it change the movie industry? No. but I am certain that when gross revenues will drop, the Hollywood guys will wake up. TV industry can do it now.

Somehow, I don’t believe it will happen…

4 Features That Will Make Ustream Kick Ass (of Live TV at least)

Comments Published
by
Kfir Pravda
on April 23, 2007
in DIY and Tutorials, Internet TV and Rebel
.

In my previous post I’ve discussed Ustream as broadcasting democratizer.

But, in order to create a real alternative to live TV shows, we need several features that are missing in that platform today. I like Ustream, but like in any other web based business, if someone else will provide these features, I will switch without hesitation.

Having said that, we might be able to find hacks that will enable us to do these things without modifying their system.

And please, don’t suggest solutions that cost zillion dollars - we are trying to find cheap ways to look like the big guys.

This is what I am missing:

1. Use green screen on the fly - I have a boring wall in my home studio. If I can green screen it and add a picture of Tel Aviv, it will look much more professional

2. Add video clips on the fly - I want to add, while in a live broadcast, external clips. For example, do a news show, and add a related pre-produced news clip.

3 . Add cameras, and switch between them on the fly - can be useful for both studio shooting and cooperating with other producers and reporters around the globe

4. Add soundtrack and call-in capabilities - so we can have a proper talk show, with professional soundtrack.

If Ustream execs are reading this blog - I’d love to hear your plans about these features. If any of their competitors has a better solution - let’s hear about it.

The rest of us - let’s see how we can do it on our own. If you have ideas on how to solve these problems, feel free to comment or contact me directly.

UPDATE: Chris Yeh from Ustream just left a comment below. Highlights: They are working on it, going to offer 3rd party plug-ins, there is no time frame yet for the features, but they see feature 3 on my list as top priority. Thanks Chris, I appreciate the quick response.

But let’s keep looking for ways to these things.

rik2.jpg

Let’s do all of the above - with one PC