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Technorati Tags: Chris Anderson, Wired Magazine, business model, future of media, new media
Archive for the ‘future of media’ Category
Short Shorts For Sale Online — 2 bucks each
In filmmaking, future of media on February 25, 2008 at 1:21 pmThe online demand for short films has been growing and growing.
While indie features continue to struggle to find distribution, short film makers have a better chance of making some cash by putting their films on sale via iTunes, Xbox, and Netflix.
A recent entry at the Circuit Blog at Variety.com notes the irony of the situation — short filmmakers at Sundance 2008 may do better financially than their feature film counterparts.
The Circuit – Blog on Variety.com – 1390000339
The key reason for this: bandwidth. Greater bandwidth and faster internet access has turned the Web into a viable distribution system for short films.
Films in the “under 10 minute” category also play well to the internet audience, notorious for having the attention span of a flea.
In response, a slew of online film festivals have sprung up, trying to capitalize on the opportunity of Internet distribution:
- Babelgum Online Film Festival — This short film festival, championed by Spike Lee, has received considerable media attention.
Selected works will also be aired on a internet TV channel called the Babelgum Channel
- Pangea Day Festival
Do you have a short film that stands for social change? Pangea Day Festival is the place for you.
It is backed by Participant Productions, the same people behind the films, An Inconvenient Truth and
Syriana
Closer to home, specialized short film distributors such as, Objectifs Films, have carved a niche by bringing Asian short films to a global audience.
In the age of viral video and online short film festivals, film makers have to be ever more succinct.
If you have a film that will change the world, make sure it is under 5 minutes.
Technorati Tags: movie marketing, online distribution, video distribution, Sundance Film Festival, online film festival, Babelgum Online Film Festival, Pangea day Festival, Participant Productions
Life Cycle of a Blog Post
In future of media on February 7, 2008 at 2:58 amHave you ever wondered what happens after you hit the “publish” button to release your blog entry into the world wide web?
Wired Magazine maps the life cycle of a blog post in a series of elegant flow charts:
The Life Cycle of a Blog Post, From Servers to Spiders to Suits — to You
What’s NOT a Blog?
In future of media on January 31, 2008 at 2:19 pmI must confess I am a laggard when it comes to the World Wide Web.
I only started writing this blog consistently since November 2007. To my chagrin, by the time I hopped onto the Web 1.0 bandwagon, the train for Web 2.0 has already left the station.
All across the Web, I hear voices pronouncing the death of the “blog”.
With the emergence of social media such as Facebook and micro-blogging tools such as Twitter,
Jaiku and Pownce, it seems the “blog” has become an ‘old school’ construct.
But then again, it depends on your definition of what a blog is.
Of all the definitions I have read, I like the one articulated by cartoonist and blogger, Hugh Macleod, the best.
He describes the blog as “a simple device to stay on people’s radar screens in a hopefully meaningful way.” You can read his full blog entry here.
If we define the blog in this way, the question that begs answering becomes “What is NOT a Blog?”
Any tool or device that helps us amplify the ideas we find fascinating or meaningful could and would qualify as a “blog.”
Technorati Tags: blogging, Web 2.0, internet marketing, Seth Godin, Hugh Macleod, Gaping Void
Links for 19/1/2008
In future of media, raves on January 19, 2008 at 8:51 am1) …My heart’s in Accra » Scoble, Kenya and learning to connect
Heartfelt and insightful post by founder of Global Voices Online
about blogging, the Kenyan crisis and learning to connect with the developing world.
2)China Close To Becoming World’s Largest Internet Market By Users
China is likely to become the nation with the largest number of Internet users in the world. But US tech giants still have a hard time cracking the China market.
3) Michel Gondry guest edits YouTube | Media | guardian.co.uk
Movie director, Michel Gondry is curating Youtube.com during the Sundance Film Festival period. Another sign that Web 2.0 is influencing one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
4) http://www.youtube.com/nonprofits
Stumbled upon the web page for You Tube’s Non Profit Program. All US 501(c) registered charity can apply and enjoy online marketing and branding capabilities on Youtube for free. Wonderful way to make a worthy cause go viral.
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Reflections of An Inapt Blogger:Lessons from the MacBook Air
In future of media on January 17, 2008 at 3:52 pmIt is confession time: I am a newbie blogger aka traditional filmmaker with an active lust for Apple’s new ultra thin laptop, MacBook Air.
Like many people in the media industry, I suffer from Mac snobbery,defined as “irrational belief in the superiority of Apple computers.” As I recently scoffed to a friend, ” I won’t be caught dead with a Dell computer!”
So it is, that I followed with bated breath online, the keynote address of Steve Jobs at Macworld 2008, as he pulled the bunny from his top hat, or I should say, the slim and sexy MacBook Air from a manila envelope.
But the unveiling of MacBook also brought unexpected lessons for a bumbling blogger like me. With 7000 blog posts about the MacBook Air in less than 24 hours, how do you write in a way that will separate you from the teeming masses of bloggers?
I found some answers in this Problogger’s entry on 5 Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd When Covering a Popular Story:
How to Stand Make Your Blog Posts Stand Out From the Rest – Lessons from the MacBook Air
I like especially #2 Translate for Your Audience — tell them what it all means for them
and #4 Use Humor.
This blog entry is my stab at #4 Use Humor.
Will my blog entry stand out from all the other blog posts about the MacBook Air? Or will it become one drop in the vast ocean of blog entries thus far?
My guess is the latter.
Hence, if I might add point #6 as an addendum to the Problogger’s advice — one way to make a blog stand out is to stay away from madding crowd and write only about the things you are uniquely passionate about.
Such passion would also be another form of madness, but at least it would be a madness about matters close to your heart.
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Seth Godin Says It All in 20 Words
In future of media, raves on January 15, 2008 at 6:58 pmShort. Simple. Succinct. That is why I enjoy reading marketing guru, Seth Godin’s blog.
Seth’s Blog: The more people you reach the more likely it is that you’re reaching the wrong people
“Who vs how many” — In just four words, he sums up the trade-offs confronting all marketers.
I dig this post.
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BBC goes web 2.0
In future of media on December 16, 2007 at 2:26 amPersonalization. Customization. Localization.
The British Broadcasting Company has launched a beta version of their new homepage.
You get to drag and drop content modules as you wish. Sounds familiar. The homepage cites as its sources of inspiration, Netvibes and iGoogle.
It is another piece of evidence that traditional media companies are taking more cues from Web2.0 than ever more.
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Baidu vs Google: Chinese vs English Internet Users
In future of media on December 14, 2007 at 4:59 pmWhat we search for online might well reveal our deepest desires.
In fact, one can attempt to construct a hierarchy of values based on the most frequently searched keywords and questions.
If so, this China Digital Times story, contrasting the top ten most searched questions on Baidu, China’s top search engine and Google, is sobering.
Original Chinese article can be found at:
http://blog.donews.com/keso/archive/2007/12/14/1236576.aspx
Mutual fund, warrants, stock-index futures, stocks, e-commerce top the lists for Chinese internet searches.
While the English users show a greater concern about health and emotional issues, with words such as ‘love’, ‘autism’,'lupus’ near the top of the list.
Unfortunately, these lists play into worst stereotypes of China and the West. The Chinese seem to be preoccupied with money and wealth while the Westerners are obsessed with health.
While they say, there is a grain of truth in every cliche, I certainly hold out hope that the softer , more human side of China can be found if you dig just a little deeper.
After all, “what is love?” is number 6 on the most searched list on Baidu, sandwiched right between “what is e-commerce?” and “what is 3G?”
There is hope yet.
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TV 2.0 Content in a Micro-audience World
In future of media on December 1, 2007 at 4:51 pmI love this term that has been coined to describe the future of multimedia content — “micro-audience” world.
TV 2.0 — a micro audience world? « Scobleizer — Tech geek blogger
It succinctly describes the immense opportunity and the intractable difficulties confronting content creators.
A micro-audience world implies that anyone can create their own media platform, using a combination of tools that are widely accessible– YouTube, Flickr, blogging and the web.
But it might also mean that the audience base for each segment is so small that the content creators cannot profit from it.
How will the economics of the “micro-audience world” differ from that of traditional media?
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Is Piracy all bad?
In future of media on November 18, 2007 at 1:01 pmThe ways in which content is created and shared has changed so radically, it has left many traditional media players confused and bewildered.
I can imagine many jaws dropping when they read this effusive thank-you letter, written by an indie film producer to Releaselog. The cause for Eric D.Wilkinson’s gratitude: internet rankings of his movie,”Jerome Bixby’s The Man From Earth” have gone through the roof, thanks to an act of “piracy.”
Releaselog | RLSLOG.net » Piracy isn’t THAT bad and they know it
http://www.rlslog.net/piracy-isnt-that-bad-and-they-know-it/
I do feel that we should abandon some of our cherished notions of ownership and control. Perhaps the Web is the medium through which you need to give away some in order to get a whole lot more in return.
TED: Cool Channel
In filmmaking, future of media, raves on November 7, 2007 at 3:39 amIf I could start a TV channel from scratch, I would format it like TED . Originally a conference of technology and entertainment trends, TED has broadened its content to cover many contemporary themes. It has also started putting its video archives online.
Here is why I love TED as anexperience:
- Great content: inspiring and often entertaining talks by the movers and shakers of our times.
- Clear focus: Powerful ideas — that is what TED has to offer and you’d find it on the site consistently.
- Intuitive: It is easy to view videos, leave comments and participate.
- Enlightened: Content is licensed under the creative commons and you are empowered to spread the ideas far and wide.
- Good-looking:
By that I mean the visual aesthetics of the site are pleasing…and
most importantly, no technical glitches to interrupt the experience.
Kylie Gets Her Own Social Network
In filmmaking, future of media, raves on November 6, 2007 at 5:16 amAnd now you really can’t get her out of your head… Kylie Minogue has an entire social network dedicated to her.
http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/11/an-entire-socia.html
It is clear that the social network is going the way of the blog. Soon, everyone can get his or her own and host it anywhere they’d like.
The question is: will your fans and/or friends follow you?
Cory Doctorow: Why Giving Away Books online make sense
In future of media, raves on November 5, 2007 at 3:10 amHow do you defend your intellectual property rights when technology makes it so easy for just about anyone to copy and distribute your creative work online?
The music industry, the publishing industry and now, even the TV industry have to grapple with this question.
Some musicians, most notably Radiohead, is allowing fans to buy direct on the Web at a price they see fit. Others think the answer is to give it away online FREE.
I have been fascinated by the creative commons movement and what Cory Doctorow science fiction writer and BoingBoing.net founder has achieved by giving away his e-books free.
Kotkke.org has this interview with Doctorow.
http://www.kottke.org/07/11/cory-doctorow
I particularly like what he says about the role of serendipity in this new way of distributing: “So for one thing, the free online distribution of my work has created new opportunities—it’s like dandelion seeds blowing around that find all the cracks in the sidewalk that I never would have been able to find just by walking around and planting them.”
The idea of dandelion seeds blowing in the wind is almost poetic.
DIY video summit
In future of media on November 2, 2007 at 3:15 am
We live in the era of DIY media.
The boundaries of the media industry is melting all around us. In the old days, you could define precisely who is a filmmaker or a journalist, now anyone can be self-appointed member of the media industry.
Reflecting this seismic shift, the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts has organized a 24/7 – a DIY Video Summit.
Speakers and participants transcend industry silos. This new breed of DIY filmmakers include academics, activists, installation artists and tech geeks. For them, video is often a means towards some other end, rather than an end in itself.
Check out the eclectic program offerings here.
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Death of TV as We Know It
In future of media on October 31, 2007 at 12:32 am
Have you noticed that people don’t really watch TV on TV anymore?
It is little surprise that TV networks are scrambling to re-invent themselves. More often than not, they burn a lot of cash and get themselves entangled in knots.
Throwing money at the problem is not the solution. Starting from scratch could be. Check out what Al Gore and his Current TV team has pulled off with the launch of the new current.com website.
Al Gore’s Current: Re-defining TV, Using the Web
Personalization and contextual engagement are the keys to the new TV experience on the web, on TV, on your mobile phone, in fact on just about any screen near you.
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