Sounds easy, but until I had to design one I had no idea that I would have to get comfy using Facebook Markup Language (FBML) to make it happen. FBML enables you to build Facebook applications that deeply integrate into a user's Facebook experience, such as the photobucket slideshow I added this morning. Thanks to FanPage101for the great instructional video!
I recently revisited this video while doing some research for the web series I'm trying to get off the ground (more on that later!). The video's creators at Socialnomics.net have hit the nail on the head by focusing on how fast the social networking space is changing. While it's true that trying to follow every new development is bound to give you whiplash, the takeaway is that the vastness of the space makes it possible for every savvy content creator to find an audience that can in turn advertise a project via their individual network. For my project, I've decided to bypass traditional approaches to storytelling and plug straight into this network and actively seek my audiences' participation and input in the development process. Due to my project's broad theme, episode ideas collected from a geographically diverse audience will actually help to dynamically define and transform the world depicted within the series as it goes along. By submitting ideas that adhere to a series of narrative guidelines, my viewers can help shape the series' development. In turn, they will be motivated to share their involvement via the social network of their choice, hopefully doubling and tripling the audience.
I was blown away by the quality of this music video, shot entirely on the iPhone. Sure, the video's concept was simple to execute and the resulting picture may not have a lot of depth, but the image is crisp and the colors pop, which for a simple low budget web video like the one here, is all that you really need.
I just read on Variety that Sundance Institute has added a new section called "Next" to the festival to showcase six to eight microbudget films. For a festival that is known (and criticized) for premiering Hollywood's nominally independent fare or films made by a small cadre of Sundance alumni, this decision is a real departure from the past. As funding and distribution options are disappearing for indie productions in the 5-10 million dollar range, lower budget, alternatively financed features are finding success by harnessing the power of the internet (see Arin Crumley's "Four Eyed Monsters"and Franny Armstrong's "The Age of Stupid" ). DIY filmmaking is no longer being looked at as the ugly ducking in a pond full of swans. The fact that Sundance has come calling shows that the swans are now looking for ways to be more like the duckling. Not so ugly anymore!
All of this just goes to further prove that there is enough room for films of all types (and budgets) to coexist.
You can find the Variety articlehere.
