http://www.webvideoreport.com/ en Copyright 2008 Tue, 06 May 2008 15:20:57 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Production: Attention Span Media, founded by Garrett Law, A.J. Lewis and Peter White, got its start doing contract work for local TV stations and companies in need of video elements. It was during one of these gigs, where they created 1,200 clips for a mobile phone greetings company, that they met Chris Smith, a UCLA student brought on board as extra hands. In June, the Attention Span guys and Smith began discussing ideas he developed with six members of his college sketch-comedy group. Enter “Dorm Life,” the debut Web series from Attention Span’s full-service production studio. The series, created, written and directed by Smith and his comedy troupe buddies, takes a mockumentary format that follows the lives of 10 college floormates. It’s like “The Office” set in a dorm, with late-night cram sessions, floor talent shows and intramural football. Some of the writers, including Smith, also star. All of season one’s episodes were written during an eight-week period by seven writers, who laid out the whole season before shooting. Pre-production lasted three weeks and the entire series was filmed in 16 days at a local college dormitory during the summer. A two-month post-production period followed, which included editing and Web site design. Production of the series cost an average $8,000-$10,000 per four- to 10-minute episode. The launch of the series’ site, Dorm-Life.com, was put on hold until February to coincide with the beginning of the typical college semester, lending the show a believable time frame. Dorm-Life.com takes the form of a corkboard featuring current episodes and bonus features such as cast photos and Webcam shorts shot during production. The site is intended to be completely interactive; it allows the cast to take creative freedoms with Facebook and MySpace profiles and message board posts, which Brian Singleton, Attention Span partner and vice president of creative production, feels “enhances the whole experience.” Result: Dorm-Life.com launched Feb. 4 with four episodes, with a new episode added every week thereafter. To date the series' videos have been viewed more than 1 million times through the main site and its distribution partners. The series’ content is hosted primarily on Veoh, but also syndicated through other Web video services such as Blip, Metacafe and DailyMotion. Dorm-Life.com has had over 500,000 page views, servicing 65,000 unique viewers. The site's mobile content, available through Radar.net, has raked in 49,000 downloads. The producers hope to generate revenue through strategic ad partners, such as CampusFood.com, that integrate with the series’ collegiate theme. Law said there has been more potential partner response after launch, and they plan to keep placing ads “in a way that makes sense.” The site charges $20-$60 CPMs for banner ads, with rates based on partner specifications. Because the series finished filming before launch, it was difficult for the producers to incorporate product placements within the main episodes. For the series’ second season, which is still in talks, they hope to make more physical placements while keeping the show’s aesthetic intact. “Dorm Life’s” first season—or semester—ends later this month. Updated: Viewer numbers, 5:13 p.m.]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/05/dorm_life_series_spoofs_colleg.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/05/dorm_life_series_spoofs_colleg.php Dorm Life Featured Video Tue, 06 May 2008 15:20:57 -0800 tylergibb.com). Like many Flash creators, Mr. Gibb began animating for the Internet in 1998 as part of a day job, which he hoped to eventually trade for self-employment. His flagship animated-short site, Boneland, turned out to be profitable enough to allow him to make “Minushi” in his spare time as a labor of love. The 2,000-plus sketches that took 7,000 hours to animate were all hand-drawn at his apartment, where the whole soundtrack was recorded in a bedroom closet (“where the acoustics were best,” naturally). After first distributing the chapters in 2007, Mr. Gibb is in the process of releasing a special version of “Minushi” across Veoh, YouTube and Revver, where they have garnered hits in the five-figure range. Asked if he would undertake another project of this type, Mr. Gibb admitted, “Four years is a long time without a paycheck”; he said it probably would take studio interest or outside funding to spark a follow-up feature.]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_labor_of_love_d.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_labor_of_love_d.php Web Video Company Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:10:23 -0800 exclusively on Crackle. ]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/sony_crackle_fish.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/sony_crackle_fish.php Web Video Company Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:37:40 -0800 Production: Glenn Rubenstein is credited with several positions for his work with the LonelyGirl15 series, a viral phenomenon. A man of many hats, he wrote, directed, story edited and developed story arcs for the series from October 2006 through April 2007. A fan of alternate reality games and stories, Rubenstein was behind about a half-dozen dead drops, or physical clues or objects strategically placed in certain locations, aimed at giving the story a depth of reality. Around the same time he began developing original stories. Enter RedEarth88, a girl named Rachel at the center of a mysterious scheme to keep her safe from unknown forces. Rachel herself starts keeping a video blog on YouTube chronicling her life and the people in it. The series, which features actress Sara E.R. Fletcher talking to a video camera, relies on simple narratives but is driven by other components in the alternate reality, including her roommate, Aly Zarin, who is on a secret mission to protect her, as well as the “Madison Atkins” series and other elements first conceived in the “LonelyGirl15” series. Since July, the “RedEarth88” series has had 26 episodes posted on YouTube. The videos don’t rely on gimmicks or tricks—they cost little to nothing to create and can take anywhere between one day to one week to film, edit and publish. Result: Although the earlier clips have fared modestly, episode 19, “Opportunity Crisis!,” uploaded Oct. 21, was the first to surpass the 100,000 mark, reaching 113,626 viewers to date. After that, the views really took off for the series, with the last eight raking in almost 1.5 million views combined on YouTube. The success of the RE88 series really signals the power of the fan community, which Rubenstein says is the driving force behind all those views and getting new viewers to jump on board. RedEarth88’s last video was uploaded on January 31, but Rubenstein assures that more content is on its way. What was the cause for the break? Fletcher has been filming a movie and Rubenstein has been occupied in talks with potential advertisers and partners. The series is already part of YouTube’s ad partner program.]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_redearth88_seri.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_redearth88_seri.php Featured Video Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:23:26 -0800 Production: Ross Vorhees may not be the most recognized creator on Metacafe, but he’s certainly one of the most successful. In only a few short months, the Witchita, Kansas, resident has used his science-oriented how-to videos to earn more than $11,000, a pretty astounding figure for a revenue-sharing program. Mr. Vorhees' kitchen-sink approach uses cheap and found materials to turn out kooky, environmentally friendly science projects, such as a passive solar heater made out of pennies, an HDTV antenna fashioned from a coat hanger or homemade biodiesel. He turned to online video to boost his income after a back injury kept him homebound. The father of one son with Asperger’s and one with Down's Syndrome, he hopes to use his videos and the resulting profits to raise awareness and funds for children with disabilities. The videos are all shot on a shoestring using basic equipment and home editing suites. Result: Vorhees’ videos have garnered more than 2 million views on Metacafe, where they are distributed almost exclusively (he’s avoided posting on non-pay channels except to pique interest in his Metacafe page). He will continue producing his series of how-tos, but also plans to try his hand at other Internet cash cows such as social networking and user-edited content bookmarking sites. Through some of the contacts he’s made from his exposure on Metacafe, he’s been able to pick up side gigs, including writing for an online magazine, editing other users’ content and lending his voice and expertise to aspiring Web video DIYers. http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_ross_vorhees_ho.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_ross_vorhees_ho.php Publisher Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:38:19 -0800 Brain Spray Media, the home site of multihyphenate content producer Josh Rachbach. In college, Mr. Rachbach began conceiving, directing, editing, scoring and starring in short films meant to showcase his talents for potential employers. As a result, Brain Spray was presciently armed with a roster of Internet video before the advent of YouTube. Now, with co-creators Lisa Pace and Ross Marquand having joined Mr. Rachbach, Brain Spray aims to put out “home-made creations” with the appearance of exceptional production quality to gain notice by distributors and network talent developers. All work is created and produced in-house. Result: In its first week, “There Will Be Bud” garnered more than 100,000 views on FunnyorDie.com and more than 250,000 on YouTube. Brain Spray estimates a good deal of the traffic driven to its home site has come from aggregators such as CollegeHumor.com that don’t provide metrics. While no specific deals have been brokered, Brain Spray said the excellent response to the video has at least got the producers into meetings “with people who are in positions to reach a wider audience.” ]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_there_will_be_b.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/04/featured_video_there_will_be_b.php Web Video Company Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:25:09 -0800 Little Minx, a group of directors in the stable of Ridley and Tony Scott’s commercial production company, RSA. The series and its title are a riff on a French parlor game in which a sentence, story or drawing was constructed by partygoers, each adding a portion in sequence by either by filling in a blank (a la “Mad Libs”) or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous player contributed. In the case of “Little Minx,” four directors who had recently shot commercials for RSA were invited to create short conceptual films to showcase their talents, within certain constraints. Each had to ground the concept of his film in (1) the last line of the script from the preceding film and (2) the phrase “Little Minx.” A rep for RSA said the films were meant to serve not only as portfolio pieces for their directors (they’re being heavily promoted across filmmaking and advertising blogs), but as a way to “stretch their muscles as short film directors.” RSA also aims to expand its profile as a management company for its directors, who have worked on feature-length films, television and music videos. Result: RSA estimates the videos get around 10,000 views a week across distribution channels including YouTube and Sony’s Crackle. It notes that it does not calculate the number of users who take advantage of their download option for personal media players, (nor does it record or release production costs). A fifth edition of "Exquisite Corpse" by Little Minx director Philip Van begat a partnership with Method Studios, which reached out to RSA to provide animation after the success of the first four films. ]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_rsa_directors_e.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_rsa_directors_e.php Media Company Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:15:01 -0800 Production: Like crocuses, baby animals, and songbirds, Black20’s “The Easter Bunny Hates You” video seems to resurface every year with the spring thaw. It’s an absurd montage of a man in a rabbit costume cutting a swath of violence through New York City, randomly attacking actors with candy eggs, cellophane grass, and knee-socks full of billiard balls. The video was one of the original brainchildren of Black20, the two-year-old broadband production company and comedy troupe who take their name from the roulette pocket on which they won their initial funding. At the time “Easter Bunny” was made, the creators were working as tour guides at a “major network” by day and trying their hands as Web video producers by weekend. “The Easter Bunny Hates You” was the first project they “leaked” online to test the strength of their content. Result: The two-minute video has over 2 million views on YouTube alone, and has been shared and re-posted across innumerable distribution channels. It made numerous “best of” lists in 2006, and gave the group enough brand exposure to give them the confidence and collateral to quit their day jobs and dedicate themselves full-time to Black20.com, which now includes articles, serial shows, and of course, new variations of horrific Lenten violence. http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_the_easter_bunn.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_the_easter_bunn.php Web Video Company Black20 Easter Bunny featured video Featured Video Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:14:52 -0800 nyphil.org, for marketing, fundraising and education purposes through a smaller, more compact video player,” Mr. Ford said. ]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_the_new_york_ph.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_the_new_york_ph.php Media Company Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:51:10 -0800 PRODUCTION: “2/8 Life,” an original Web video series, has found popularity while “quarterlife,” the show it spoofs, deflates like an angsty souffle. It’s one of five original series produced by the Independent Comedy Network, a new-media comedy brand that aims to create Web content that’s worthy of network television. ICN works with talent to develop and distribute original comedy series on sites including YouTube and MySpace TV. They’re also aiming for the iTunes download market. Founder Mark Campbell, a former investment banker, has compared the network to “a farm league” for Web series that want to make the jump. In exchange for a piece of the action of new Web series, ICN.tv adds the polish of high production values and a studio-like development process to the content. The goal is to nurture user-generated content to make it more audience-ready and advertiser-friendly. Whether or not “2/8 Life” is network material, they’re spreading their bets. The company has as many as 40 potential projects on its radar. RESULT: “2/8 Life” has received extensive press coverage across the media, including the CW’s “Morning News,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the New York Post. ICN.tv did not respond to a request for an exact number. “2/8 Life” has received TK hits on YouTube and TK on MySpace. It plays on more than a dozen other outlets. http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_28_life.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_28_life.php Web Video Company Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:04:30 -0800 Production: With the release of its 2008 swimsuit issue, Sports Illustrated debuted an interactive video editing feature on the magazine’s online home. A module allows SI.com visitors to create their own video mash-ups using footage and pictures from the magazine shoot, set them to music and add time-honored cheesecake effects like fades and wipes. The user can then add the resulting opus to a gallery accessible to all site visitors, who have tuned in to view the videos for an average length of about 35-40 seconds. The video module provides a handy embed code that lets users post the clips on social networks and blogs. As a result, the mash-ups have garnered views in the hundred thousands on YouTube and MySpace. The feature, sponsored by Gillette, is free. Result: Sports Illustrated credits the new, interactive features on SI.com for its unprecedented 228 million page views since it was launched on Feb. 12, a 41% increase from last year’s online edition. The most popular mash-up video has pulled in over 11,000 views. SI declined to provide production costs or advertising revenue, but said, “We are happy with how the platform turned out in its introductory year. SI Digital will continue to challenge itself with new ways to further engage users with the SI Swimsuit franchise.” http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_sports_illustra.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_sports_illustra.php Publisher Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:20:40 -0800 Production: “Squeegees,” the first original Web series from Disney-ABC Television Group, premiered Feb. 28th on ABC.com and YouTube. Disney-ABC recently unveiled its new-media studio, Stage 9, an experimental programming initiative that is intended to connect traditional advertisers with Web video. The series is a slapstick comedy about window washers played by members of comedy troupe Handsome Donkey. The group was scouted by ABC and producer Barry Jossen after being featured in a New York Times article on viral video. Anne Sweeney, Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television group president, called the series an effort to “bridge the gap between user-generated content and traditional production.” The opening episodes were sponsored by Toyota, and feature their ads in pre-roll and at interruption intervals. Result: The videos have garnered around 300,000 views on YouTube. ABC does not release metrics for their on-site player, and declined to disclose economic details of the show's production or ad partnership. http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_squeegees.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/03/featured_video_squeegees.php Media Company Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:38:05 -0800 Production: Hub Strategy, a San Francisco-based creative advertising agency, wanted to employ Web video to convey the firm’s culture to existing and potential clients. The agency, which employs a mix of full-time staff on freelancers, was set up to do its own video because it had been doing video projects for clients, said DJ O’Neil, Hub Strategy’s founder and creative director. The shop has three editing suites, and a camera and lighting package in house. The bit was filmed on a Sony HD camera that ran about $5,000, and the lighting set-up cost about $5,000.l They brought in a camera man for the shoot on a day-rate basis. Result: O’Neil says the video has created buzz for his agency, with clients commenting on a site that previously didn’t elicit much reaction. Potential customers are asking about the piece, helping the firm’s marketing efforts. http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/featured_video_hub_strategy.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/featured_video_hub_strategy.php Advertising Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:53:18 -0800 http://www.funnyjones.com. Result: The video was picked up by DailyMotion.com, which featured it in its “news” section. Jonesy estimates the video has garnered around 25,000 hits on the top five sharing sites, but laments that his "Annoying Hot Girl at the Party" video, which lacks a message but has a cute girl as its thumbnail, is still more popular by several thousand views.]]> http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/featured_video_health_insuranc.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/featured_video_health_insuranc.php Featured Video Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:38:34 -0800 PRODUCTION: Inspired by Barack Obama’s impassioned speech on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas produced “YesWeCan,” a musical response video. Recorded over the course of two days at Ether and Record Plant in Los Angeles, the video is a black-and-white reinterpretation of the senator’s memorable address performed by 35 entertainer-activists, including actor Scarlett Johansson, athlete Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and rapper Common. Will.I.Am enlisted director Jesse Dylan and co-producer Mike Jurkovac, both of CyClops Productions, which describes itself as an “integrated film, advertising and branded new media content” company. “YesWeCan” resides at YesWeCanSong.com and HopeActChange.com, an extension of Will.I.Am’s personal blog, DipDive. The aim of the site, according to a press release, is to disseminate non-commercial information about the 2008 election and to encourage users to get involved via message boards and user-generated content uploads. RESULT: The video has reached 10 million-plus views through YesWeCanSong.com and over 4.5 million views through YouTube. It has garnered the attention of television and Internet news outlets nationwide, and has already inspired parody videos (notably, a mashup with Tom Cruise's Scientology speech) and responses by supporters of opposing candidates (a John McCain booster's "No.You.Can't."). http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/yes_we_can_make_political_web_videos.php http://www.webvideoreport.com/featured_videos/2008/02/yes_we_can_make_political_web_videos.php Featured Video Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:38:34 -0800