Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 1 - Premiere Episode

My wife Amie and I have been raising Guide Dogs for the Blind for eight years. We just picked up our tenth dog and the cycle starts all over again. Our new dog is a Golden Retriever and Labrador cross named Ricki. She is 8 weeks old and very cute.

If you have watched any of my videos, the one thing you might find is that they are all over the place. No genre is safe with me, but the problem with that is my audience is very undefined.

In a effort to hit two birds with one stone we have decided to make a Web Show about our Guide Dog Puppy. A show where I can practice working a video series format, and a show where Amie can share what guide dog puppy raising is all about.

Please check out our new series below. If you like it, please show it some love by telling your friends and family all about it. We will be putting a new episode up once a week for the next 16 months so it should be interesting.

Flying Furballs

I was pondering what type of video to make last week, and realized that I have never made a video showing all of our cats. Our beloved Coal passed away last year. This was a reminder of how important it is to get some great footage of the furballs. With that in mind, Amie and I made a video showing them play. The challenge is taking a ordinary home video and figuring out a way to make it entertaining. Not only for Amie and I, but also for cat lovers around the globe. I hope i accomplished that goal. Chappy

Conan vs NBC Debacle

My brother and I made fun of the Conan vs NBC debacle.

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.