Parody: Corona Mullet Spoof
Production: Better Duck Studios
8/29/10
New Youtube Channel Notes
I started a new Youtube channel to place videos about fishing and live bait fishing in particular. Its The Mullet Run on Youtube, and I wont bore you with the fishing stuff, just gonna focus on the new Channel and what approaches me and my crew are taking to get the channel out there and to get as many quality subscriptions we can. Something worked, cause this week Youtube notified me that The Mullet Run Channel was the #29th Most Subscribed Reporter channel for the week.
8/5/10
Panasonic HPX 170 | Field Test - In Production
Just spent a week in the field with a pair of Panasonic HPX-170 AVC CAM video camcorders. This camera costs about $5,000 dollars on the street and it records to a single SD card. Yes this camera is in the Panasonic P2 family, but this is the ghetto cousin from the other side of town because it records to a single SD card. I was hired to DP a web series for a Production Company out of Los Angeles, and since they owned the cameras, they demanded that I use them. Trust me I tried to fight for another camera.
Overall the camera is very nice, although the infinity ring used for focus is always a major pain in the ass, as is the very limited color viewfinder. Black and White viewfinders are still far superior to color for determining contrast. The camera is heavy and awkward to handhold for extended scenes and its even worse on the wrist and forearm with the .85 Schneider wide angle convertor.
The Workflow with the SD cards is a nightmare in the field. We have several 32 and 16 gig cards to work with. You fill a card, the card is then transfered to a hard drive and the card is formatted to be shot again. But on 3 different occasions with 3 different cards we experienced Error Codes when attempting to download the cards to the drive. I'm a cameraman, I'm not a digital data engineer. I was glad to find out that the company in LA was able to recover the data from the SD cards. Post production tells me it was a faulty USB cable, which is not a big deal at all, but the entire situation introduced a level of uncertainty regarding the gear. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH TAPE.
My biggest gripe with the limited Panasonic HPX 170 is the single SD Card. With a 32 Gig card, you can record around 4 hours of footage. Horrible odds. One card fails, you lose 4 hours of footage. I spoke with the company and explained what I have explained here and how it is much safer to use smaller cards like 4 or 8 gig cards.
Overall the camera is very nice, although the infinity ring used for focus is always a major pain in the ass, as is the very limited color viewfinder. Black and White viewfinders are still far superior to color for determining contrast. The camera is heavy and awkward to handhold for extended scenes and its even worse on the wrist and forearm with the .85 Schneider wide angle convertor.
The Workflow with the SD cards is a nightmare in the field. We have several 32 and 16 gig cards to work with. You fill a card, the card is then transfered to a hard drive and the card is formatted to be shot again. But on 3 different occasions with 3 different cards we experienced Error Codes when attempting to download the cards to the drive. I'm a cameraman, I'm not a digital data engineer. I was glad to find out that the company in LA was able to recover the data from the SD cards. Post production tells me it was a faulty USB cable, which is not a big deal at all, but the entire situation introduced a level of uncertainty regarding the gear. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH TAPE.
My biggest gripe with the limited Panasonic HPX 170 is the single SD Card. With a 32 Gig card, you can record around 4 hours of footage. Horrible odds. One card fails, you lose 4 hours of footage. I spoke with the company and explained what I have explained here and how it is much safer to use smaller cards like 4 or 8 gig cards.
6/9/10
Youtube's Featured Videos Add Hits
I was going over my Youtube Insight numbers and noticed a few big spikes in views, and it turns out it was because the Youtube engine decided to "Feature" a couple of the videos. I'm not talking about getting on the front page like Hank Green and other mega popular Tubers. I mean the Featured feature that sits atop of the related videos on the right hand side of the player page.I really have no idea how why those two videos were suddenly promoted to featured status but I will take. This is why its a good idea to keep up old videos. About a month ago I thought about pruning some of the weaker performing videos from my channel. Turns out thats not always a good idea. For example: Fishing Report Captain Jeff is a video I uploaded in January of 2009 and it wasn't really getting to many hits, maybe 10 a day. Now that it is a featured video of mine, and it shows up at the top of related videos, the video jumped to get up to 50 views a day. I was able to see this because I check the box that says I want to see Youtube Insight results on my homepage.
5/30/10
Level Grip iPhone Camera Support
You guys want cheap, we got cheap. If you shoot video with an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or a Video Nano, point your internets over to the Level Grip site and drop 10 bucks for the basic Level Grip. The Level Grip is a plexiglass pistol grip that slides over your iPhone providing it with a rock solid support for hand holding the camera phone when shooting video. Its much more natural and ergo form factor for shooting level and steady video footage. I got a Level Grip a few weeks ago and now it goes everywhere with me. The iPhone 3G isn't my ideal camera for acquiring video, but its always with me, and with the Level Grip its alot better to shoot with. And its cheap. 10 dollars.
The Level Grip website also has other supports for flash based video devices like the Kodak Zi8.
Level Grip Website
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter.
The Level Grip website also has other supports for flash based video devices like the Kodak Zi8.
Level Grip Website
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter.
5/28/10
Youtube Moderator - What is it?
Youtube rolled out a new feature called Youtube Moderator and says it enables real time feedback from your audience. And its about starting a conversation. I cant really figure out its purpose. The best i can guess it that it allows you to crowd source suggestions, ideas, and responses from the audience, and it also incorporates a Digg like thumbs up or thumbs down voting system. Based on the popularity and scope up the thumbs up votes, Youtube can make certain discussions popular or featured.
Ok here is the deal. Its a locked system that requires you to link your Youtube account with a Google account. That kinda sucks because its just an extra hoop to jump through and as we know nobody wants to stop and re-register or whatever. Even still I'm happy to test dummy this MF'er to figure out if it is really gonna have any value for a normal Youtuber. Of course it will work for Shane Dawson or Onision who are gonna get 45,000 remarks a day no matter what system Youtube throws into their sandbox, but is there any real value for a normal Youtuber that doesn't have a million subscribers?
You can check out my Youtube Channel and play with my Moderator thing.
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter.
Ok here is the deal. Its a locked system that requires you to link your Youtube account with a Google account. That kinda sucks because its just an extra hoop to jump through and as we know nobody wants to stop and re-register or whatever. Even still I'm happy to test dummy this MF'er to figure out if it is really gonna have any value for a normal Youtuber. Of course it will work for Shane Dawson or Onision who are gonna get 45,000 remarks a day no matter what system Youtube throws into their sandbox, but is there any real value for a normal Youtuber that doesn't have a million subscribers?
You can check out my Youtube Channel and play with my Moderator thing.
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter.
5/27/10
Red One Camera - In the Field.
Got to work with the ever popular RED ONE camera or whatever its called, and we really put it to the test. The shoot was a commercial client that needed some Steadicam work, and in particular extreme low angle Steadicam cam stuff. Stuff we probably should have used a skateboard and a GoPro for, but I digress. Ok, lets get to the rig. We had the Red One camera, and since it was mounted on a Steadicam we didn't have a viewfinder, so we used a Decimator down conversion box to allow the HD signal for the SD onboard monitor. Lets just say that the device wasn't perfect, and production had to stop down several times to trouble shoot why the video signal was no reaching the monitor.
NOTE: Let me say this, I am in South Florida and the heat could be a factor in why some of the equipment was failing in the field. The Red camera we used is not the newest model out, and the heat buildup was substantial. The camera got really hot.
Ok, the lens we used was a gorgeous copy of the Cooke 18mm T2 prime. Great lens; however, the client may have wanted to go even wider, but thats what we had. The lens focuses down to 9". About half of the shots were extreme low angle which means the Steadicam sled had to be flipped 180 degrees vertical to shoot upside down to get the lens as close to the ground as possible. This means the image was also recorded to hard drive upside down, but thats not a problem for any modern post house to flip over with a single keystroke in edit.
The Steadicam / Red One rig was also fitted with a wireless focus system as well as a wireless video transmitter so the producer and the client were able to watch a reference monitor of the shoot in real time. The Red One has two record buttons. One on the back under the menu display and another secondary record button on the side of the camera. With the camera slung upside down it really took 3 people to operate the camera. A Steadicam operator, a Focus puller, and a 2nd AC to press record. Well the record button on the back of the camera failed or got stuck or something about 3/4 of the way through the shoot day. The camera will probably have to be serviced, but it did "fix itself" sometime when we were loading out at the end of the day. Not cool in my opinion.
Here's the bottom line, great camera, fun to work with, but its obvious the Red company is young aand there are alot of bugs to still be worked out in these low ser. number early models. The Decimator Box failed several times. The main record button didn't work for a large portion of the day, and alot of the time was spent trouble shooting the camera. I would try to keep clients away from shooting on the Red Camera for now until I became more familiar with trouble shooting the camera, and or the Red Camera irons out alot of the bugs. I'm certainly not hating on the camera, but when you have high paying clients sitting under a tent in the South Florida heat wondering why we aren't shooting, its not a good thing.
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter
NOTE: Let me say this, I am in South Florida and the heat could be a factor in why some of the equipment was failing in the field. The Red camera we used is not the newest model out, and the heat buildup was substantial. The camera got really hot.
Ok, the lens we used was a gorgeous copy of the Cooke 18mm T2 prime. Great lens; however, the client may have wanted to go even wider, but thats what we had. The lens focuses down to 9". About half of the shots were extreme low angle which means the Steadicam sled had to be flipped 180 degrees vertical to shoot upside down to get the lens as close to the ground as possible. This means the image was also recorded to hard drive upside down, but thats not a problem for any modern post house to flip over with a single keystroke in edit.
The Steadicam / Red One rig was also fitted with a wireless focus system as well as a wireless video transmitter so the producer and the client were able to watch a reference monitor of the shoot in real time. The Red One has two record buttons. One on the back under the menu display and another secondary record button on the side of the camera. With the camera slung upside down it really took 3 people to operate the camera. A Steadicam operator, a Focus puller, and a 2nd AC to press record. Well the record button on the back of the camera failed or got stuck or something about 3/4 of the way through the shoot day. The camera will probably have to be serviced, but it did "fix itself" sometime when we were loading out at the end of the day. Not cool in my opinion.
Here's the bottom line, great camera, fun to work with, but its obvious the Red company is young aand there are alot of bugs to still be worked out in these low ser. number early models. The Decimator Box failed several times. The main record button didn't work for a large portion of the day, and alot of the time was spent trouble shooting the camera. I would try to keep clients away from shooting on the Red Camera for now until I became more familiar with trouble shooting the camera, and or the Red Camera irons out alot of the bugs. I'm certainly not hating on the camera, but when you have high paying clients sitting under a tent in the South Florida heat wondering why we aren't shooting, its not a good thing.
Follow me on Youtube and Twitter
5/25/10
GoPro HD Smart Car Rig
Another quick GoPro video with Director of Photography Osvaldo Silvera. In the first video he introduced you to the camera and a few of the accessories. In the second video Ozzie shows in detail in person kit that he has used on several well known reality shows and docu-series. In this video Ozzie puts the gear to work attaching the GoPro to the front windshield of a Smart Car using the suction cup mounts. He also puts the camera on the outside of the car with the same results.
Bottom line, this sub $300 specialty camera is a must have for any type of do it yourself Cinematographer or Videographer. The creative possibilities are endless. Just keep in mind that it is a specialty camera with the 170 degree fisheye field of view and is not something that you would want to film an nentire movie with, but for the special shots, or situations that prohibit a standard camera from being used the GoPro is the go to camera. We own a half dozen of them, and are gonna buy more. Now get out there and make videos!
GoPro Website.
Join us on Youtube and Twitter.
Bottom line, this sub $300 specialty camera is a must have for any type of do it yourself Cinematographer or Videographer. The creative possibilities are endless. Just keep in mind that it is a specialty camera with the 170 degree fisheye field of view and is not something that you would want to film an nentire movie with, but for the special shots, or situations that prohibit a standard camera from being used the GoPro is the go to camera. We own a half dozen of them, and are gonna buy more. Now get out there and make videos!
GoPro Website.
Join us on Youtube and Twitter.
5/23/10
GoPro HD Pro Kit - DP Osvaldo Silvera
Here is another video on the GoPro HD Hero camera. This is the personal kit by Diretor of Photography Osvaldo Silvera. He's used this kit on many TV shows including two shows on BET and Syfy. His kit consists of (2) GoPro HD cameras, (2) additional housings, and an assortment of camera supports: Suction cups with articulated arms, and a variety clamps.
We recently used this kit on a commercial job and the client was blown away with the results of the camera and the perspectives you can get by being able to position these cameras in places where a standard type HD would never fit, and if it did it would probably be destroyed.
You can see my other GoPro HD review video here.
Join us on Twitter and Youtube!
You can see my other GoPro HD review video here.
Join us on Twitter and Youtube!
5/21/10
Google TV = Biggest, Best, Brightest Video
Google had some kind of a big announcement for an audience of Tech nerds called Google I/O. TV meets Web Web meets TV or something like that. Look, "Video should be consumed on the biggest, best, and brightest screen in your house" so says Google. Blah Blah Blah. Its a new box that you hook up to your TV, it can be controlled by Android phones, and its gonna make it easier to search programming and therefore improve the viewing experience because you will have better access to personalized content. Great. Of course the bottom line here, and because its Google, is ad sales. How can Google sell more ads? One easy way is to get onto your TV in your living room. Since these conferences are usually for stock holders and boards, the focus was on Hollywood partnerships and big money content aimed at global audience appeal. But like that tard Lee Corso say's Not so fast my friend. Buried in the story is a feature called Youtube Leanback. Integrated Youtube on your TV. Sure we already have that but I'll gladly take more. Google announced partnerships with OEM like Sony and Dish Network you can read all about it on Techcrunch.
So what does this all mean to us? It means keeping making videos! Seriously. Hollywood doesnt get it. Sure they can spend hundreds of Millions to make Avatard or Iron Woman but they can only make so many of those every year. And since they swing for the fence with everything they have on those tent pole pictures, they assume a pantload of risk making them. Then they make a bunch of movies that cost between 30 and 60 million which basically suck, and finally they make small 20 million dollar genre pictures like Teen Horror and Gross Out Comedy that can cash in big time if the movie is good. As far as television goes, Charlie Sheen is the highest paid actor on Television. The end.
Thats great news for all us of that make cheap content. Because, when someone is watching one of my videos, that means they aren't watching the crap that the Studios make. Youtube Leanback is a gift to all of us. Its puting our content in direct competition with the crap they spend millions of dollars to make. I can't believe the Networks and Studios are this stupid. Google doesn't care because they just care about ads, they really dont care if their ads are being watched on a Studio produced piece of television or on one of my videos. Critics are saying its Web TV all over again, maybe, we'll see. This thing is supposed to drop sometime in 2011.
So what does this all mean to us? It means keeping making videos! Seriously. Hollywood doesnt get it. Sure they can spend hundreds of Millions to make Avatard or Iron Woman but they can only make so many of those every year. And since they swing for the fence with everything they have on those tent pole pictures, they assume a pantload of risk making them. Then they make a bunch of movies that cost between 30 and 60 million which basically suck, and finally they make small 20 million dollar genre pictures like Teen Horror and Gross Out Comedy that can cash in big time if the movie is good. As far as television goes, Charlie Sheen is the highest paid actor on Television. The end.
Thats great news for all us of that make cheap content. Because, when someone is watching one of my videos, that means they aren't watching the crap that the Studios make. Youtube Leanback is a gift to all of us. Its puting our content in direct competition with the crap they spend millions of dollars to make. I can't believe the Networks and Studios are this stupid. Google doesn't care because they just care about ads, they really dont care if their ads are being watched on a Studio produced piece of television or on one of my videos. Critics are saying its Web TV all over again, maybe, we'll see. This thing is supposed to drop sometime in 2011.
5/20/10
My You Tube - Captain Jeff 5 Years on Youtube
Has it really been 5 years already for Youtube? I guess so its hard for me to get my head around it because i have been making films and videos and TV shows for almost 20 years. All of that changed when Youtube started. Seriously. We had been making longer form fishing videos since around 2000. We would show them to our friends, give away DVD's and that was pretty much it. Once Youtube opened its servers to the public we had to be involved so we started making short form videos and uploading them to Youtube. The gear was a snap. I had a G4 iBook, and Panasonic camcorder and a 3ft Firewire cable, and thats it.
On March 19th of 2006 we uploaded Seawall Lunker Snook. Captain Jeff went down to a well known fishing spot and caught a respectable 15lb snook from land. That video launched pretty well, and the video has 67,362 views 3 Months later we had another video go Viral. Tarpon Jumps in Boat. We were fishing in Fort Lauderdale with good friend Justin Brown from the TLC Show In A Fix, well the fish Captain Jeff was fighting jumped out of the water and into the boat. That video currently sits at 89,719 views.
Our videos that went Viral on Youtube:
Shark Attacks Snook - 72,720 Views
Tarpon Fishing With Captain Jeff - 86,348 Views
Big Tarpon Fishing - 115,653 Views
Check out the Channel to see more.
Happy Birthday Youtube you are only 5 and we are only just getting started. The video embedded below is for My You Tube, a celebration gallery of videos uploaded by Youtubers talking about their Youtube story.
On March 19th of 2006 we uploaded Seawall Lunker Snook. Captain Jeff went down to a well known fishing spot and caught a respectable 15lb snook from land. That video launched pretty well, and the video has 67,362 views 3 Months later we had another video go Viral. Tarpon Jumps in Boat. We were fishing in Fort Lauderdale with good friend Justin Brown from the TLC Show In A Fix, well the fish Captain Jeff was fighting jumped out of the water and into the boat. That video currently sits at 89,719 views.
Our videos that went Viral on Youtube:
Shark Attacks Snook - 72,720 Views
Tarpon Fishing With Captain Jeff - 86,348 Views
Big Tarpon Fishing - 115,653 Views
Check out the Channel to see more.
Happy Birthday Youtube you are only 5 and we are only just getting started. The video embedded below is for My You Tube, a celebration gallery of videos uploaded by Youtubers talking about their Youtube story.
5/17/10
Happy Birthday YouTube You're 5
Can you believe its been 5 years? Crazy. 10 years ago I was still cutting 16mm motion picture films and trying to get into film festivals, and failing. And even if you did get in, you were gonna get at the most a dozen film nerds to maybe look at what you shot. Thankfully that system died. Youtube changed all of that. Now anybody could get thousands, even millions of views. Be sure to check out the 5 Year Youtube page and see some of the videos of the SuperTubers. Those arent the only stories. Make your story and upload it.
5/16/10
GO PRO HERO HD Camera Review
One of the coolest HD cameras out there right now has to be the Go Pro HD Hero camera, and I was fortunate enough to get Osvaldo Silvera to do a video review of his Go Pro kit that he has used on several national TV shows including The Michael Vick project for B.E.T. as well as un upcoming series for the SyFy channel. Ozzie Silvera is one the top DP's working in television today and has as many as a half dozen TV series on the air at any given moment. That means if the Go Pro camera is good enough for him and the demands of Network engineers, its definitely more than enough for those of us working on online videos.
Go Pro markets their cameras as "wearable" cameras for the extreme sports world. You can attach the small cameras to surfboards or helmets and or anything else to get unique point of views recorded. Check out their website to see some amazing stuff people are doing with the little cameras.
Since these cameras shoot in full 1920 x 1080 HD Ozzie has modified his to kit eliminate the use for a big standard broadcast camera in situations where a full sized camera just wont fit. Like in the front seat of a car when shooting footage of the driver and passanger talking. Check out the video to see what he has to say about the camera and different methods of supporting the camera for production.
This is a small series and there will be more videos with Ozzie Silvera. If you are a camer person or videographer or even just a person that is thinking about buying one of these amazing cameras you will want to check these videos out.
GoPro Camera
Osvaldo Silvera S.O.C.
Go Pro markets their cameras as "wearable" cameras for the extreme sports world. You can attach the small cameras to surfboards or helmets and or anything else to get unique point of views recorded. Check out their website to see some amazing stuff people are doing with the little cameras.
Since these cameras shoot in full 1920 x 1080 HD Ozzie has modified his to kit eliminate the use for a big standard broadcast camera in situations where a full sized camera just wont fit. Like in the front seat of a car when shooting footage of the driver and passanger talking. Check out the video to see what he has to say about the camera and different methods of supporting the camera for production.
This is a small series and there will be more videos with Ozzie Silvera. If you are a camer person or videographer or even just a person that is thinking about buying one of these amazing cameras you will want to check these videos out.
GoPro Camera
Osvaldo Silvera S.O.C.
5/14/10
Youtube Update - Unlisted Videos
This week Youtube rolled a small update to the Privacy control of users uploaded videos. The new feature is called Unlisted Videos. In the check box where you used to just be able to designate a video for public or private distribution, users can now opt into Unlisted Videos. Basically it means that viewers need a direct link to watch a particular video. The old way Youtube did this was to allow up to 25 people to be invited to watch a video. Now its link based meaning you can send the video to anyone and anyone that has the link can watch the video. Youtube cautions users to share Unlisted Video links only with people that they trust.
I see a huge possibility for generating Viral momentum via the link sharing. Unlisted Videos have the ability to create a demand for links beyong just stumbling onto someone's Youtube channel. You actually need the link. I predict the big power will use the Unlisted Video links like a ticket to exclusivity and these valuable video links will be in high demand. I already have a few videos that I will probably change to Unlisted. Got links?
I see a huge possibility for generating Viral momentum via the link sharing. Unlisted Videos have the ability to create a demand for links beyong just stumbling onto someone's Youtube channel. You actually need the link. I predict the big power will use the Unlisted Video links like a ticket to exclusivity and these valuable video links will be in high demand. I already have a few videos that I will probably change to Unlisted. Got links?
5/4/10
Netflix App on the iPad: The Woods
I finally got a chance to watch Lucky McKee's The Woods and I watched it on iPad through the Netflix App. The experience was awesome. I will easily admit to being a movie junkie on the iPhone, it works and I have watched alot of movies on the device. I got the iPad as an additional device to watch content on. Stuff like Youtube, TV.com, and iTunes downloads works perfectly, and I can fill the iPad with content just like I used to do with my Ipods and the iPhone. I'm not so much a fanboy of apple as I am a person that must consume movies and shows all the time.
As for The Woods I thought it was fabulous. I'm a huge fan of Giallo, and Dario Argento, and his trilogy of witches movies like Suspiria, Tennebre, and Mother of Tears. The Woods is heavily influenced by Suspiria, and McKee uses atmosphere and dread to evoke a nightmare like experience of horror instead of the boo-gotcha techniques used by so many post Slasher filmmakers. Agnes Bruckner is superb in the role of troubled teen Heather Fasulo sent to an all girls boarding school. Of course we all stand and applaud whenever Bruce Campbell is on screen and he is superb as Heather's Mad Men era father. Other notable parts are Patricia Clarkson as the headmistress and Rachel Nichols plays Samantha, Heather tormentor to prefection and steals every scene she is in.
As for watching the film on the iPad, its a great experience. I will take full advantage of the Netflix Unlimited plan and I expect alot more titles to open up to Instant View on the iPad Netflix App as competition for eyeballs increases. If you already have an iPad and Netflix unlimited, check out The Woods, and oh yeah...Dont Drink The Milk.
As for The Woods I thought it was fabulous. I'm a huge fan of Giallo, and Dario Argento, and his trilogy of witches movies like Suspiria, Tennebre, and Mother of Tears. The Woods is heavily influenced by Suspiria, and McKee uses atmosphere and dread to evoke a nightmare like experience of horror instead of the boo-gotcha techniques used by so many post Slasher filmmakers. Agnes Bruckner is superb in the role of troubled teen Heather Fasulo sent to an all girls boarding school. Of course we all stand and applaud whenever Bruce Campbell is on screen and he is superb as Heather's Mad Men era father. Other notable parts are Patricia Clarkson as the headmistress and Rachel Nichols plays Samantha, Heather tormentor to prefection and steals every scene she is in.
As for watching the film on the iPad, its a great experience. I will take full advantage of the Netflix Unlimited plan and I expect alot more titles to open up to Instant View on the iPad Netflix App as competition for eyeballs increases. If you already have an iPad and Netflix unlimited, check out The Woods, and oh yeah...Dont Drink The Milk.
5/2/10
Youtube Email Subscrition Alerts
Reading the Youtube Blog I found buried in last weeks posting a little note on Youtube Email Subscription Alerts. The posting doesn't really go into detail but basically it gives the subscriber the option of receiving an email alerting the subscriber that a YouTube channel has uploaded a new video.
From the YouTube Blog
Thats it, no link to give further details. The keyword in the paragraph has to be the word "experimenting" YouTube like to do soft roll outs or limited releases on some features so it may just be a beta test, but I kinda like the idea as long as it is easily managed and easy to uncheck either on the homepage or within a click away from that. I sub around 200 channels, and some of those channels are power users that upload several new videos every day. I dont want my email box filling up with alerts from channels that I know update daily or almost daily. So lets hope that YouTube takes that into consideration when and if they roll out the new Alert model as a usable feature.
Lets face it YouTube hasn't made it the easiest way to find videos or follow or subscribe if you will to the smaller channels and filmmakers, vloggers, and videomakers that aren't power users or often featured on the front page. Its still hard for viewers new to YouTube to find buried content beyond the featured and front page videos. I would like to see YouTube open up a simple follow system like Facebook or Twitter that allowed viewers to show more or even hide channels or playlists with a small check box.
From the YouTube Blog
Email Alerts: We're experimenting with a new form of subscription alerts. Now, when you subscribe to a channel (or edit your subscription to an existing channel), you can elect to receive an email the instant the person you're subscribed to uploads a new video. This will appeal to people who check their email more frequently than they log in to YouTube (though we've never heard of such people *wink*) but who also want to know immediately when their favorite content creators upload new work.
Thats it, no link to give further details. The keyword in the paragraph has to be the word "experimenting" YouTube like to do soft roll outs or limited releases on some features so it may just be a beta test, but I kinda like the idea as long as it is easily managed and easy to uncheck either on the homepage or within a click away from that. I sub around 200 channels, and some of those channels are power users that upload several new videos every day. I dont want my email box filling up with alerts from channels that I know update daily or almost daily. So lets hope that YouTube takes that into consideration when and if they roll out the new Alert model as a usable feature.
Lets face it YouTube hasn't made it the easiest way to find videos or follow or subscribe if you will to the smaller channels and filmmakers, vloggers, and videomakers that aren't power users or often featured on the front page. Its still hard for viewers new to YouTube to find buried content beyond the featured and front page videos. I would like to see YouTube open up a simple follow system like Facebook or Twitter that allowed viewers to show more or even hide channels or playlists with a small check box.
5/1/10
YouTube Channel Redesign
Youtube has been playing around with the look of their channel so I decided to make a couple quick and easy changes to my personal channel as well. I have no idea how to use Photoshop or any of the fancy illustration software packages that are out there. All I used was a simple App called Logo Studio. The results are what they are. I'm not a typesetter or a graphic designer but these limited changes I did only took about 15 minutes in total and I think it gives my Youtube channel a fresher look than it had before. I'll be watching the return numbers to see if the new look cause a significant increase in Subscriptions or views.
Youtube has also been rolling out alot of new features. There are 5 new languages available, easy share buttons to Blogger and Buzz, and a tweak to the Post a Bulletin feature that I haven't quite figured out how its actually any different than the previous version. Check out the YouTube Blog for yourself and get out there and make some videos.
Youtube has also been rolling out alot of new features. There are 5 new languages available, easy share buttons to Blogger and Buzz, and a tweak to the Post a Bulletin feature that I haven't quite figured out how its actually any different than the previous version. Check out the YouTube Blog for yourself and get out there and make some videos.
2/28/10
Low Budget Filmmaking: Crane Shot
This is a Qik Video from my iPhone so it kinda looks like shit. If you live in a small town, you might just be able to talk your city into using their Cherry Picker bucket lift to get your camera operator high up and add some decent production value to your film. Its stuff like this that I'm gonna keep to trying to provide for my new No Budget Filmmaking Youtube Channel. Let me know any tips or tricks you got and I'll do my best to keeping adding to the series.
2/14/10
How to Clean Lens
Ok, so you finally figured out that you need to clean gunk off of the front of your lens. First and foremost, dont use canned air. Canned Air is the Ed Hardy of the Lens world, seriously. Get a couple blowers, a rocket blower and a brush blower and use them to remove matter from the front element. If that doesn't work, you need to use a CLEAN, microfiber cloth. If that doesn't work then try a solution. The Only Two I use are Pancro and Rosco. Period. I dont use Nikon, or Ritz or B&H and whatever else is out there. Kim Wipes or Kodak Lens paper if you can find the good shit.
Im gonna do a more detailed video on how to clean a real lens. Until then enjoy this ghetto video.
Im gonna do a more detailed video on how to clean a real lens. Until then enjoy this ghetto video.
1/31/10
LENSWARS: Rocket Blower Vs. Blower Brush
Starting at the very basics we are gonna begin with a very important exercise. Cleaning the lens. First step is to gently remove any visible dirt. For that you need a Blower. I hate canned air. This video looks at the two most popular models. The Giotto Rocket Blower vs. The standard Brush Blower.
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