Online Producing Reality

It can seem like all the odds are stacked against you. You have a video idea that you think is kick ass, but after past performances you just don't know. You have to plan and prep for pre-production, then you shoot the video, and then edit it. After that you have to upload it online, and then put on your social networking hat. A large effort with the hope that it might pay off with tons of views and subscribers. Why? Cause more views and subscribers can help build your brand, and likeness for sustainability for the next go round . True, the power of the internet levels the playing field, but the harsh reality is that the playing field is the size of jupiter. And once you do hone in an audience to your content, the pay CPM model (clicks per 1,000 views) is really low on YouTube. My CPM average is about 40 cents resulting in money that is less than I would make flipping burgers at the golden arches.

I wrote a script for my brother and I to play a sketch comedy on this topic. Enjoy...and remember, keep that camera rollin!

Monetize Your Videos With Youtube

For those of you who are not aware, YouTube has had a program around for awhile that enables video creaters to make money with their videos. This program is called the Affiliate Rewards Program. The program is essentially part of Googles adsense lineup and has become a great addition to my online monetization journey. When I first found out that one could actually make money by partnering with Youtube, I jumped to the opportunity.

To become eligible for the program, one simply has to go to this link below and fill out the required elements. Blogger does not allow embedding links so you will have to copy and paste the url below.
http://www.youtube.com/partners

Not everyone is accepted into the program unfortunately. Rumor is out that they will reject producers unless they have demonstrated that their videos can pull in thousands of views. I have also heard that a producer should have a couple hundred subscribers before attempting to be accepted.

My first time around with attempting to get into the program was a big dissapointment. i was turned down over a dispute of piracy in the past. The dispute was about a video I directed/produced/edited for a client in 2008 named Mehrana. She had reported that I infringed on her copyright and reported me to YouTube. The whole thing was a big misunderstanding, but enough for YouTube to reject my request into the program the first time around.

Here is that video.

"HOME" MEHRANA MUSIC VIDEO (Quality Version) - Watch the best video clips here

I soon found that YouTube allows producers to re-apply for the program every three months. The second time I applied, they accepted me into the program. Once accepted into the program, I recieved an email requesting me to fill out some information. Information like how I would like to get paid was intuitive and fairly straight forward. After three months of waiting, the analytics and money reports finally went online and ChappyShowcase was up and running. I currently am on month number ten since being accepted into the program, and I can happily report that I receive a check month after month. Although the money is nothing to write home about, I can say that it is fair and honest. What Google says they are going to pay you, is what you indeed recieve. That is alot more to say than most of the other user-generated sites out there.

So if you are a video producer, and want to get in on the monetization party, then go for it. Just be aware that you might get rejected, and that it's not a right, but a privelage to be in the program. So piracy and illegal activities won't be tolerated.

Hope this helps!

Chappy

Merry Christmas Everybody

I experimented with flipping the camera 90 degrees and doing this weird jump cut thing while I played the trumpet. Merry Christmas.

JibJab provides the best seasons greetings

For those of you out there who don't like sending cards, or if you would like to save money, postage, and help save the earth at the same time. Try JibJab! For only $1 a month, or $12 a year you can get a membership. The stuff they provide is awesome, and can make you look like the coolest cat in town when you send an e-card.

Here is a e-card i send to my parents using JibJab's "It's A Wonderful Life" spoof.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Video Copilot Action Essentials Rock!

I just finished this video for the Snickers commercial contest on Poptent. I used some of the effects from the new Action Essentials collection by VIDEO COPILOT. Check it out!

Learn how to make a Guerilla Dolly

I've been contemplating this idea for awhile now. Finally my buddy Darren and i just said screw it and thought we would see what would happen. I must say I was pretty pleased with the results.

I went down to the hardware store, and searched the aisles looking for something that might work as a low budget dolly. When i got to the rain gutter section, a lightbulb went off in my head. The results are pretty amazing when you consider that i spent $12.57 and used ordinary items in my garage to help put it together.

Parts list:
1) Plastic Rain gutter (came in 10 foot section)
2) Rain gutter screen that needs to be cut to around 12".
3) bungee cords
4) lubricant of some kind that doesn't eat plastic
5) soft cushion like a bean bag or folded up towel
6) some heavy sandbags or pillow cases full of rocks

Last you will need a flat service that is fairly level.

Enjoy and if you like this blog and my videos please subscribe, follow, rate, comment, etc,etc.

Make a Guerilla Dolly from Matt Chapman on Vimeo.

Make a quick change battery brick

All you need is two things.

1) Two camcorder batteries
2) Gaff tape

I can't think of a better tip for every person who shoots video or does photography. Simple and incredibly effective. This tip could really save the day in an event where your battery dies and you need to continue the shot as quickly as possible. Even fumbling around in your pockets to get a new battery could waste valuable time.

Here is the video I made as a demonstration.

Guerilla Battery Brick How-To from Matt Chapman on Vimeo.

Film Distribution: Guerilla Filmmaking Case Study

1. Start simple. Arin Crumley and Susan Buice shot their film from a one-page outline, a crude storyboard, and with small cameras and a small crew.

2. Tell the story behind your story. When they couldn't find a distributor for their film, they decided to do daily video blogs to reinforce their creative talents and build an audience. A result was that people started to feel like they knew the filmmakers firsthand; that, in turn, fueled curiosity about them and their work, and eventually put people in theaters.

3. Involve your audience, part A. The filmmakers actively sought out feedback from their fans via platforms like YouTube and MySpace, and took the advice seriously. It impacted new episodes of the podcasts and the film itself, which they were still editing. In other words, the audience actually shaped the final product.

4. Involve your audience, part B. When determining where to distribute their film, the couple went to regions where they knew they already had fans, thanks to emails and zip codes they had collected from their podcast and other marketing activities. They also created a "heart map" so that people could see the requests for the film to play in their town grow and who was going -- a social network of sorts.

5. Network in the real world, too. Film festivals used to be about getting a film acquired by a distributor or a short into the hands of a talent agent. But Crumley and Buice went to hundreds of festivals around the world and thought strategically about whom they encountered. When they met the guys at Spout, they realized that Spout needed publicity and users. 4EM had those two things, but needed money. It turned out to be a fruitful (and fateful) match.

In this video, the filmmakers behind "Four Eyed Monsters" reveal how they used YouTube, community and the web to erase their credit card debt and get their labor of love into theaters. If you don't have time to watch the whole video (it's 29 minutes long), here are some of the key takeaways:

Raising Guide Dogs For the Blind

Amie and I have been raising Guide Dogs For the Blind for seven years now. We are on our 9th dog. Three have graduated to become guides (Macklin, Rennie, and Prudy), five have not (Clarice, Eli, Piedmont, Dakota, and Lewis), and one is currently in the process of growing up with us (Marianna).

Eli is our third dog, and we were more than happy to keep him when we found out that fateful day that he was not cut out to be a Guide Dog. We think he was too smart, and if he could talk would say that he would have a lot more fun as a pet. Not too mention he has become a pretty good movie dog. His childlike personality also seems to continue to get him into trouble even to this day despite being five years old. John Grogan has so eloquently displayed that all dogs have their pros and cons including our own "Marley".

People ask "how can you give them up? It must be very difficult." I will admit that giving our first dog Macklin back rendered tears out of these dry eyes. That is a small miracle, but it all seems worth it when you see how much your dog can help someone in need. I had the opportunity to film for Guide Dogs For the Blind a few weeks ago. We were able to get Macklin and his partner Jeannie to meet up with us at the campus so I could film them. What a surreal shoot that was. I was so proud of our oldest fur ball as I sat behind the lens of the camera and watched Macklin guide Jeannie around the streets of San Rafeal. It almost seemed like he was showing off; as I could read a big happy smile on his face that was saying "look dad, I'm a guide dog now, and very good at it too!" It was at this moment that any doubts for our charity were kicked to the curb. I will always think back to that moment when I have feelings of doubt for this cause.

Amie and I threw a new video together this week where I let her have some fun in front of the camera. We went out with our Guide Dog group and filmed away.

Laser Triggered High-Speed Still Imagery

My buddy SaskView from Canada made a really cool video involving laser triggered high speed photography. You can check out this url for more detail.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Triggered-High-Speed-Photography/

He put together a little synopsis of what he did below.
"I've been playing with something called Canon Hack development Kit (CHDK) that replaces the firmware on numerous Canon cameras. It allows you to override the normal functions and to even run programs on the camera. Stuff that you normally can't do on an inexpensive, point-and-shoot camera. Using CHDK and a simple circuit that senses when a laser beam has been interrupted, I can take high-speed photo's like those milk drops made famous by Harold Edgerton."