5 Tips for New Web Video Producers - From What the Buck

Today I'm at NewTeeVee live in San Francisco and by using Twitter I managed to track down and get an interview with Michael Buckley the Host,Writer and Producer, "What the Buck?"

Michel Buckley didn’t have an Internet connection or any writing/hosting experience when he started the What the Buck Show in the summer of 2006 in fact he was on public access TV but when his cousin posted one of the clips on YouTube he started getting viewers. Now, over 400 videos later, What the Buck? is the 7th Most Subscribed channel on YouTube with over 270,000 subscribers and 95 million views. In July 2008, Buck signed a multi-platform development deal with HBO. He recently left his day job and is a full time Internet personality.

As one of the web's breakout stars of the year Michael's scripted show makes fun of celebrities but making the show is just part of the job.

Here are six tips for new and old Internet video publishers alike:

1. Find a format that works for you
Don't try and copy someone else's show just because their show is getting views. Come up with a show idea that you care about.

2. Enjoy what you are doing
If you don't enjoy what you are working on you are not going to do great job. You need to enjoy everything about your own show so that you can be passionate about it.

3. Don't get discouraged
Don't give up. If you know you have emotionally engaging content keep at it. People will eventually find great content and share it with their friends.

4. Get Enganged
If people connect with your show they will want to interact with you. Be "present" with the experience and engage your audience by replying to their questions and comments so that you continue the conversation and keep viewers coming back for more. Your audience will be glad that you are there.

5. Repost old videos that are good
Don't let dead videos just sit there. If you know you have a video that people will want to watch but they haven't found it yet, delete it and repost it. Remember if they haven't seen it it's new to them.

Tubemogul Launches MRSS Automated Video Upload Feature To Premium Products

Tubemogul launched a new feature for their MRSS video uploads, which is now part of their suite of Premium Products. Videos are automatically uploaded (and launched to video sites, depending on preferences) via a MRSS feed.

This should allow Tubemogul users who have hundreds of videos to be able to upload them at the same time.

MSN is Looking for Independent Producers with Great Stories

I had a chance to chat with Rob Bennett, General Manager of Entertainment and Video Services for MSN and Joe Michaels Head of Business Development / Entertainment and Video Services for MSN at the New York Television Festival's Digital Day this week and they looking for content from Independent Producers who have great stories to tell.

If you think you have an emotionally compelling story you can contact MSN Video via email:

original@microsoft.com

What New Online Video Formats Are Emerging?

In the 1930's and 40's people experimented with creating shows and ad models that would work to make money with the new technology called Television. Radio was king and all the top paid talent like Bob Hope worked on radio shows while new and undiscovered talent tried to hammer out new formats and business models for television.

Sound familiar?

As Television started to take hold radio programs migrated over to TV in the same formats they had been presented in radio but they experience wasn't as good as it was on radio.

Still sound familiar?

Soon new formats developed that took advantage of what Television had to offer and as more smart people from radio learned what worked and what didn't work on TV programs like Twilight Zone were produced and Television got better and better and audiences developed in critical mass. Then people made money. Lots of money.

My Damn Channel's You Suck at Photoshop recently won two Webby Awards - A People's Voice Award for Comedy Long Form or Series and one for HOW-TO AND DIY. You Suck at Photoshop should have won for Best New Online Video Format but I don't think that was a category...yet.

You Suck At Photoshop is a new online video format that breaks new ground by using old theater of the mind tricks from radio and a well crafted comedy subtext story. If you haven't seen You Suck at Photoshop don't be scared that you are going to see a "How To" on Photoshop even though they do cover valuable information about the photo manipulation software but that is not what this online video is about.

You Suck at Photoshop is a breakthrough comedy is presented as a "How To" screencast video series but what it really is, is a trip through the life of a designer who has lost his wife of seven years and is trying to cope with it by teaching Photoshop to strangers online.

You Suck at Photoshop is pure genius. I hope to meet the real "Fat Brian" sometime in the near future. Maybe at the New Media Expo in Las Vegas?

The Lone Filmmaker

He's armed with 10,000 pounds and he's going to make a film all by himself and his girlfriend is going to shoot behind the scenes for The Lone Filmmaker Vlog.

That's right from acting to best-boy, he's making a feature film and this is the first time you will be able to witness the struggles and set backs, highs and lows of one man fighting to make a full-length movie entirely on his own!

"I am a filmmaker and so this is my passion, but this project will require me to leave home and venture out into the wilderness. My girlfriend has agreed to film the whole process My girlfriend is NOT helping me make the film by filming me. She is filming the video blogs - if she was, then I wouldn't be making a feature film entirely on my own. :-)"