The Way We Watch

Ten Creative Videos Worth Spreading From 2009

If you are like me you get a lot of links that come from friends to see this or that video.  I've collected the ten that I still go to again and again for inspiration or that just make me smile.

Enjoy!

1. Her Morning Elegance

I've seen this 10 times and I still get a kick out of it.

2. Birds On The Wires
Thanks to Judith for posting this on her site.

  

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

 
3. A Thousand Words
Lovely short story told on film with no dialogue and an Asian guy in the lead role!

A Thousand Words from Ted Chung on Vimeo.

4. The Hush Sounds - The Lions Roar.

I'm cheating. This is from 2007, but I learned of it from a terrific  2009 post by Web Designer Depot.
There are lots of Kinetic Typography videos but this was a real pioneer and it's still so inventive.

The Hush Sound — Lions Roar from Mig Reyes on Vimeo.

5. Michael Jackson Vs. Mr. Bean

Every video Patrick Boivin makes is better than the last one.  I don't know how he does it.  I'm just glad he's making these wonderful witty artful films for us.  (Couldn't embed. But click the pic).

6. Be Amazing

Maybe the most expensive book trailer, I've ever seen.  But it's so SPOT ON.
Funny and terrifying if it came to be...

7. HBO Cube: "The Affair"

Some really neat narrative possibilities are explored in this cool demo that HBO has put together that shows four different views of the same action.  Most impressive is the sleek cubed housing that the video plays in.  On the coolness meter this is an 11. 

Can't embed this one, so click the picture or here.

 

8. 100 Questions Answered - Vlog Brothers

The Vlog brothers, Hank and John Green, started a video meme last year.  They decided to forgo text based communication in favor of creating video messages to each other.  Lo and behold what they said was informative, funny and hit a nerve with the massive Young Adult literature audience.

They've continued making YouTube videos. Simple ones - talking into the camera - but using jump cuts to keep the message crisp and highly watchable. 

Their YouTube Channel is here http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers

 
9. The Long Haul

Sylvain Dumais was featured here on my post earlier in the year.  I like this video a lot but more than that I like how he used social media to pull in demand for his services.  Using his own money, Sylvain created this video (with a team of talented producers, designers, production crew and actors). He uploaded to vimeo and the blogoshpere went wild as did mainstream media. 

I recently asked Sylvain on Facebook how what he working on and if he was busy.  He said, "Many things! I shot 3 spots for a US client and I'm now trying to sell a viral to a big corporation... I think it could be wicked - stay tuned!"  

Stop Motion | The Long Haul from DUMAIS on Vimeo.

10. Your Video Here.

Yep.  This spot is reserved for your video.  Make it with still camera, a filp, a computer laptop camera, your cell phone....  Just keep making it.  Shoot. Edit.  Post it on the web.  Tweet me.  I'm looking forward to watching.

This post is part of a group writing project from the Daily Blog Tips community to put together the best of 2009 on the web - find out how you can join here. 

85 Bloggers and Sites - These People Rock

On the anniversary of my first year of blogging, I wanted to share the bloggers and sites that I've been plugged into over the last year.

Blogging is just one part of a social media platform.  Getting a good look at who's out there and finding where your voice intersects with others is an important part of the process of developing your social media platform.

You'll need a Google account to see these. All of these sites sit on my iGoogle page. Check them out by clicking here.

Know anyone I should add during my second year?
 
Photo credit: Andrew B.

The Most Fun iPhone App Around...

I'm not a professional photographer - nor do I ever aim to be one - but I sure feel like one since I've been using Chase Jarvis' Best Camera App for the iPhone.  He's created an easy three button app that simulates his editorial photo work.  The full story on Chase and the app is here

I wanted to quickly show you some before and after shots using the app so I made this simple iMovie.  Take a look.  You'll be surprised to know the composer of the music is the marketing blogger Adam Singer who makes his electronic music available to everyone at his site: adamsinger.org. 

Also via the app, Jarvis has created a very easy way to share your pictures with Facebook, Twitter, the best camera app community and your own iphone photo library.  My pictures can be seen at http://bestc.am/photographers/7921. What is neat is seeing how other people are using the particular filters.  If you click on http://www.thebestcamera.com/ and double click any photo you can see what filters and what order they were used.

I've always wanted to be Duane Michaels and now I can be (in my own mind)! 

Makes Me Want To Watch - Makes Me Want To Share

Awesomeness.  My impulse upon seeing this was to spread it.

The stuff that cuts through the clutter gets shared.

Would I buy the camera?  Not so sure.  Will I remember the brand?  You bet.

Do you want to share this? 

Can't see the video. Click here.

19 Social Media To-Do's

If you are a new reader or an old one, thanks for stopping by.  What I do here is help readers with video, social networks, vlogging, and converse about the changing nature of marketing/PR and communications within the social web.

Let me know if what you see and read is helpful with a comment or tweet. Click @chrismingryan.

Today is a great day to:

• Start using RSS to make yourself an editor-in-chief of the social web.
• Send a Tweet.
• Be in the social networking game because Obama did it and look where he is now.
• Become an expert.
• Make a subtle change that makes something more truthful.
• Recharge your batteries with a classic film and tell someone about it.
• Interview your kids or a friend on what they reading, watching, and playing (you will learn something).
  
  

• Spice up your blog.
• Write a rant and share it in an email or post.
• Produce video - it's easier than ever before.
• Publicize others (hint: it's the secret of the social web) and help your tribe at the same time.
• Get the person who works for you a promotion by doing this.
• Make something beautiful. 
• Direct a video classified
   

• Surprise your audience.
• Develop an analogy.
• Create a Wordle and share it (they are fun).
• Introduce yourself with a joke.
• Encourage a blogger by subscribing to their blog.

photo credit: robinn.

11 Posts From Around The Web To Motivate Your Blogging

Blogging can be a treadmill.  I always have a little dread after writing what I think is a good post.  Have you ever said to yourself, "What will I do next?"

When I am stuck, I turn to these 11 posts and bloggers to help me get an idea going, give me confidence, or just push me to blog another day.
 

1. 45 Blog Post Ideas That Always Generate Buzz - Adam Singer
   I kid Adam that this post of his is my "playbook."  But time and time again, I've looked to this list as a guide to create buzz worthy content.  Adam also writes on inspiration and his body of work here helped me and countless others to start a blog of my own.
    
2. How To Write Fast - Problogger
   Darren Rowse is a prolific and talented blogger.  His first 3 steps out of the 5 here are sometimes all I need to get my mind in the right frame of mind.
    
3. 31 Blog Post Ideas for Small Businesses - Mark Hayward
   We don't blog in a vacuum. Most of us are expert at something and make a living from it.  This list helps you to see all the content that is out there at your job - ready to mined.
    
4. My Best Advice About Blogging - Chris Brogan
   Chris has archived his best "how to blog" posts in one category.  In these eleven great posts, there is always something to get my mind racing. One line always resonates, "Pretend you are the reader.  Is this worth their time?"
    
5. The Secret of the Web (hint: it's a virtue) - Seth Godin
   I re-read this post when I want to quit blogging.  One of Godin's most popular posts, it's a nice reminder that if you keep plugging away - you will outlast the other guys.  And win.
    
6. My Gift To You - Hurry, Offer Ends Soon - Danny Brown
   I have a tendency to get serious when I blog. We all do. We want to have that "expert" voice.  I have to remind myself that communicating can come in all forms.  In this post, Danny Brown shows that humor can be just as effective to get your point across.  It just so happens that this is one of Danny's most widely read posts as well.
    
7. How To Write Headlines That Work - Copyblogger
   Sometimes a great headline is all I need to start the writing juices flowing. 
    
8. Alltop
   Alltop is an online Magazine Rack of popular subjects.  Type in the subject of your niche and in seconds hundreds of blogs and news sites will appear with up to the hour updated material. Great for taking the pulse of what is happening right now in your field.
    
9. My Social Media System - John Jantsch 
   Ever wonder why great ideas come to you in the shower or while driving? It's because muscle memory is doing all the work and your brain is free to dream.  This post is one way to make your social media automatic - so your brain can be freed up to do way more important things. When I'm wasting too much time on the computer and not being productive, John's post reminds me to automate.
    
10. Viral Marketing Review: Using and Identifying Design Patterns - Ship's Biscuit
    I like how this post aims to be exhaustive.  I'm sure it gets tons of hits a day because the thinking is clear and they make great points.  The post is about deconstructing what a lot of people are trying to do on the web right now: have a viral hit.  If it's not in your niche, I think you can still admire how they found as many examples as they could to define what constitutes a viral ad.
     
11. Sasha Dichter's Blog
    Reading someone else's blog that has nothing to do with your niche is sometimes the best way to be inspired. There are thousands out there. As the Director of Business Development at the Acumen Fund, Sasha works in a completely different world than me. However, Sasha's on my motivation list because I really like the way he brings his every day life and observations into his posts. 
    
    Let me know what posts motivate you...
    
    (If you liked this post, please let me know by commenting below or subscribing by RSS here or by email here).