Have You Bought Your Muzzler Yet?

Jessica Alba, Hayden Panetierre, and Tristan Wilde get serious about voting.
Find out what happens when you don't vote. http://www.themuzzler.com!

It will be interesting to see if star power takes this voting PSA to viral video status.

I Smell an Online Video Hit

Exective Producers Jason Sklar and Randy Sklar just may have a hit on their hands with Back on Topps the big question is, Will Vuguru make any money? Or is this just a marketing project to relaunch Topps cards now that Michael Eisner bought it?

Who cares?

I think this series could be a big hit.

Daisy Whitney has a great post about the business end of it at Ad Age.

SPECIAL NOTE: Watch Episode 2 First!

How Do You Become an On-Camera Host?

It used to be you would audition and audition to get an on-camera hosting job. Now the rules have change and Revision3's Tekzilla's Co-Host Veronica Belmont shared some insight with me. Hey, with over 30,000 followers on Twitter she just might know what she's talking about.

I'm back on the road this week and in San Francisco again at the Online Market World and the iHollywood Forum Web Video Marketing Summit where I happened to catch up with the intelligent, talented and tech savvy Veronica Belmont the co-host of Revision3's show Tekzilla and I asked this new media maven a few questions about what it takes to be an on-camera host.

Veronica Belmont started out as an intern at CNET Networks producing audio content and six months later was hired to produce CNET's "First Look from the Labs" series, and also began producing Buzz Out Loud.

According to Wikipedia Veronica was originally a sound engineer but soon her role on the podcast grew substantially. She began to inject her own commentary, and, was acknowledged as an official co-host in August 2006. She also was the producer and co-host of two more CNET podcasts called MP3 Insider and CRAVE Gadget Blog, which were both co-hosted by the late James Kim.

Veronica made her video debut on CNET on April 6, 2006, on an Insider Secrets segment titled "Give your PC a Mac-over". Since then, she has hosted videos from Maker Faire, CES, and South by Southwest. She was also the host of the Prizefight series. She appeared for the final time in CNET TV on July 25, 2007, in the"Apple iPhone vs Nokia N95 edition of Prizefight".

I apologize for too much background noise at the beginning of the interview but once I pointed my little Flip Digital Video Camera at the noise maker, Tim Shey from Next New Networks he quieted down. (Wait till you see the interview I did with Tim Shey. He's really quiet when you point the camera at him.) I'm just teasing you Tim. I could have told you to pipe down but this was way more fun. ;)

Online Video Leaders: The Podcast Brothers Tim and Emile Bourquin

Online Video Leaders a series of blog posts to honor those pioneers that have laid the groundwork in getting Internet video to where it is today.

The Podcast Brothers

Tim and Emile Bourquin are known as the Podcast Brothers because they are brothers who have an audio podcast titled The Podcast Brothers. Imagine that? They are also the team who produces the New Media Expo in Las Vegas where a community of online content creators get together to teach, share and learn about making and monetizing online content.

Now you may not think that two brothers who do an audio podcast about the business of podcasting would be likely candidates for leaders in online video but Tim and Emile Bourquin have done more to influence innovation and foster real world community than anyone in online video. They have also been a big influence on me.

I first encountered Tim and Emile Bourquin at the first Portable Media Expo (that later became the New Media Expo) where the big news was that the "Podfather" Adam Curry was ignoring the Invitation that the Podcast Brothers had extended for him to speak at the Podcast Expo and would not be attending. (In later years Curry and his Podshow team would crash the conference and hijack attendees in a limo.)

It was at that first Portable Media Expo (that was going on at the same time and in the same convention center as a Portable Waste Management Expo) where I saw Leo Laporte speak about how he was using Podtrac to survey his audience and monetize This Week in Tech. I walked out of that conference knowing I needed to shoot French Maid TV.

Since then Tim and Emile Bourquin have gone out of their way to find numerous business models that Independent audio and video podcast producers can use to monetize their content.

By building both an online and a real world community as well as sharing valuable information to others Tim and Emile Bourquin have joined the ranks of the people I consider to be leaders in online video.

How Comfortable are You with Taking Risks in Your Online Video?

One of my clients, Chris Christensen of Amateur Traveler sent a tweet out this morning about this Extended Stay Commercial.

It's a 60 second spot that I can't really see playing on regular TV (maybe late night TV) but it is a great example of risk taking, pushing the envelope and doing what you need to do to get views in online video.

Can You Use Online Video To Effectively Market?

I hear people say over and over that you can't create viral videos. I say that's crap. You can create viral videos, you just need someone who knows what their doing.

Craigslist is a great place to find people who can operate video cameras at rock bottom prices or for free. You can also find people with knives for sale on Craigslist but you wouldn't hire anyone with a knife to perform your heart surgery and you shouldn't just hire anyone with a camera to create a viral video for you.

First and foremost if you want your marketing message to go viral you have to be willing to take a risk. You can't create a safe "TV Commercial" and expect it to go viral. It won't and you will be wasting your marketing budget. So if you work at a conservative company that won't take chances stop reading now. This post will not be of use to you at your current job. Or you can quit your job or get fired and keep reading.

By taking a risk I mean that you are going to have to do something that you can't do on regular television. You are going to have to do what I speak about at conferences:

1. Move 2 or more emotions
2. Have spectacle
3. Have Story

Take a look at the above video with Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens that was shot on location at the basecamp of Disney's High School Musical 3. Sure it has big stars in it but there are other Big Star behind the scenes videos that don't go viral. This video has spectacle, story and depending on who you are moves two or more emotions. Imagine doing a similar video at a political rally. It would go viral as well.

I know, it's easier said than done and that's why you need someone who knows what they are doing.

Well Tim, I don't have big stars and I don't want French Maids in my viral video.

You don't have to have big stars or French Maids in your viral video. Just ask yourself what audience you are trying to reach and what viral videos are already doing that. Chances are you could hire the creators of that video to create one for you or you could ask another viral video producer to create a video that fits your brand and reaches and your target audience.

How do I reach these viral video producers?

Other than sending an email to the producer you want to reach you could ask me or another online video producer who has millions of views if we know them. We have a close knit circle of friends in the viral video world and chances are if we don't know them we will know someone who does have their phone number.

There are also sites like Podtrac and Tubemogul where you can contact producers and advertise on their shows which may be a better way to test the waters in using online video to market your products and services.

It's a lot easier to jump on a moving train that it is to build a train and find the tracks to send it down. Shows that already have the targeted audience you are trying to reach could save you a lot of time and money and could build a stronger bond with your consumers because you are supporting a show that they care about.

If you are looking to reach girls and young women 15-24 I would seriously consider Abigail's Teen Diary. If you are looking to reach boys 12-18 I would consider Ask A Ninja or Retarded Policeman.

If you really want to start your own viral video I would suggest a long term strategy where you create a brand that is going to become it's own train. Take a look at Will It Blend. Blentec's Head of Marketing, George Wright created a online sensation where the cost of the first 5 episodes was $50 and as of a year ago had had over 70 million views and had increased sales 20-30%. Not bad for a video where a guy in a lab coat puts everyday items into a blender. The Will It Blend videos have even generated income from online advertising and DVD sales. Can you imagine having your marketing make you money? I love it.

If you are looking to reach Tweens right now fastest moving train out there is FRED. A quick look at Tubemoguls Top 40 reveals that the annoying high pitched voiced teen has over 105 Million views with 99% of those views coming from YouTube. What a monster.








That's fine Tim but I already have a video message and I just want to get it out there to as many people as possible I don't want to create a new video.

Well if you have a 30 second spot don't go buying any pre-roll time on advertising networks where you TV spot is going to play in front of a video that could be shorter than your ad. You might end up upsetting your consumers. If you are going to go the pre-roll route keep your message short 5, 10 or 15 seconds tops. People don't want to watch an ad when they are expecting their favorite video.

You know Tim, I want to do pre-roll advertising but I don't have a pre-roll video or the money to make one. What can I do?

If you have a good idea of what your video message is and you can create a Google Text Ad them maybe you should test a service called Ad Grinder. For $99 you can create a video ad by uploading your photos, graphics, video and voice over to the AdGrinder website and then you can place your finished ad as a pre-roll where ever you want to buy placement.

Bottom line is whether you build your own or use someone else's viral video series to get your message to your target audience, you will find online video very effective in engaging your consumers.

That's great Tim but online videos are cheap. I only want to spend $1000 and get millions of views.

Well, there's always Craigslist.


If you need some viral video consulting or would like to sponsor 1TimStreet contact 1timstreet at gmail dot com.

How Do You Get a Hollywood Agent?

Every year millions of "wanna bees" move to Hollywood in hopes of being "Discovered", getting a big Hollywood Agent and Making it in Hollywood. Well now you don't have to move to Hollywood to get a big Hollywood agent.

I had the chance of catching up with ICM digital content Agent George Ruiz and I asked him about what he looks for when he's searching for talent to sign.

George explained that first and foremost he's looking for passion. George believes that you as a online video creator or performer need to be passionate about your work but he also needs to be passionate about your work. He can't sell you if he doesn't believe in what your doing.

Keep in mind that you as a online video creator succeed in helping other people. You succeed in helping people laugh. You succeed in helping people cry. You succeed in helping people with information and you succeed with advertisers by helping them get the message out about their brand.

You also have to have something that an agent can use as a sales tool. An agent isn't going to pick up the phone and say, "Hey I met this great guy who thinks he might be able to make some videos that might be able to get some views."

Agents are salesmen who need to believe in the products they are selling and they need to have sales tools.

Sales Tools? What are you talking about Tim? Agents are cool and creative they don't do sales.

Wake up.

An agent needs to be able to show a studio, network, production company or Web 2.0 company something that will make them believe that you can do something for them. If you are a writer it would be a good idea to have a few really good scripts written. If you are a director it would be a good idea to have a demo reel of really good videos that you have directed. If you are an actor it would be a good idea to have a demo reel and resume of the best work that you've done.

Now the chances of you getting an agent right now if you only do one thing is pretty low. Your best chance of getting a new media agent is much better if you write, produce, direct and act or are part of a team that does all that. Right now agents are looking to sell turnkey solutions for studios and networks. There's very little money flowing in online video right now and people who can do multiple jobs and have already proved it are of the most value.

Already Proved it?

Are you smoking crack Tim?

I need an agent so I can get work. I don't have anything to prove it.

Well you better get off your butt, go make a video, post it on the Internet and get an audience.

Get an audience?

If I had an audience I wouldn't need an agent.

There is a bit of a Catch 22 going on here but the bottom line is that you are going to have to put out for free to get an agent and the bigger your audience is the more studios, networks and production companies are going to want you. Even if you have an audience of millions you can still use an agent to set up meetings for you. Agents are dealing with buyers everyday and know what the buyers are looking for. They can work for you setting up your next project while your working on making your current online video hit.

That's just stupid Tim. If I have millions of viewers I don't need an agent.

Well, I can only think of a few online video creators who are making money with online video content that don't have agents but they do have companies and funding behind them.

Agents don't cost you money on the front end the way a staff sales team does and they could get you more money on the back end because agents know the deals that have already been made, they know things to ask for in a deal that you might never think of and all for the low, low price of 10%.

How Do You Get a Hollywood Agent?

Have something to offer that an agent can use to sell you:

An online series with millions of views
A resume and demo real
Emotionally engaging written material
Passion

Then contact a new media agent by email or contact someone who already has a new media agent and have them recommend you. That's how I got an agent. Kent Nichols of Ask a Ninja recommended me to UTA and after I had been signed awhile I recommended Blake Calhoun who produces Pink. Now there are other people that I've sent to my agents at UTA and for what ever reason they weren't passionate about those people and they didn't even call them in for a meeting even though they had millions of views.

One of the people George Ruiz has been able to sell is Video Blogger Brigette Dale from Lincoln Nebraska who has signed a deal with ABC Family.








For Online Viral Video Consulting or to Sponsor 1TimStreet Contact 1timstreet at gmail dot com.

Why Do Some People Get Millions of Video Views?

The First Couple of Online VIdeos








Over the last two weeks I've been traveling to meetings, events, pitches and consulting gigs in New York for the New York Television Fest, Las Vegas for Blogworld, San Francisco This Week In Media and a VIP Tour of Pixelcorps, San Jose for Streaming Media West, Emeryville for a VIP tour of Tubemogul and back to Los Angeles. 10 days on the road can make you really tired but not tired enough to miss TubeFilter's Hollywood Web Television Meet Up last night at the American Film Institute.

The TF boys rounded up the First Couple of online video Kim Evey and Greg Benson of Mediocre Films and one of Digital Hollywood's biggest power brokers George Ruiz of ICM for an intimate night of Q & A about making a living in online video.

Kim Evey and Greg Benson have a pretty impressive list of online video projects they have worked on:

Retarded Policeman
Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show
Two Hot Girls in the Shower
The Guild
Greg Hits Hollywood
Phone Call to God

Why are Kim and Greg getting millions of views?

Well in my opinion it's pretty simple. They have talent. They have lots of talent and their videos contain the secret ingredients of viral video success.

What are the secret ingredients of online viral videos?

1TimStreet's 5 Secret Ingredients of Viral Video Success:

1. Don't Suck
2. Move Two or More Human Emotions
3. Have Spectacle
4. Have Story
5. Have Talent

DON'T SUCK
Sure it's easy for me to say that but sometimes it's hard to understand if your videos suck. People don't want to admit they have an ugly baby and people that know you aren't going to tell you that your child could cause someone to gag choke and die.

I know that the little videos that I shoot for my blog aren't going to get millions of views because to most people they suck but I also know that to a small group of people who read my blog and watch my little videos the information on my blog videos is way more important than the episodes of French Maid TV that I create that get millions of views. I also know that even if I spent a lot of time and money lighting, shooting and editing my little interview videos I would never see a return on that investment.

MOVE TWO OR MORE HUMAN EMOTIONS
Examine any viral video and depending on who you are you will find that it moves two or more human emotions. What are those emotions?

The Primary Emotions are:

Love
Joy
Surprise
Anger
Sadness
Fear

Combining any two or more of them will get you views.

You are so full of crap Tim. There are no emotions in French Maid TV.

Sure there are, Lust is a sub-emotion of Love and Humor is a sub-emotion of Joy. French Maid TV is funny and sexy. There are however other people who find French Maid TV surprising. Some are full of anger, sadness or fear when they see sexy women dressed as French Maids explaining products and services to young men for money. C'est la vie.


HAVE SPECTACLE
I written before about how according to Hollywood screenplay guru Robert McKee, when ever there is an advance in entertainment "spectacle" comes first then "story." So go use the search box and to find some ideas for a great spectacle that will fit into your online video because you are still going to need spectacle if you want to get millions of views of your Internet video.

HAVE STORY
We are slowly moving into "story" in the evolution of online video as a form of entertainment and if you want your online video to have shelf life make sure it has a story element to it. Two years from now fewer and fewer people will be watching the Star Wars Kid on a daily basis.

HAVE TALENT
I can give you these secret ingredients but you may just not know how to cook. You may not have the talent or the vision to see what emotions are in a script when you read it. There are people that are tone deaf and I think there are also people who can't hear or see when something just "works" or doesn't work. Talented people have little voices that tell them when something "works" or doesn't work. Talented people know when they need to do better.

Being able to create something from nothing, building onto something and making it better or knowing when something sucks and having ideas on how to fix something when it sucks is talent. If you want to have millions of views of your videos you must have talent.

If you don't have talent you can always hire it.




For Sponsorship Opportunities or Online Viral Video Advisory Services Contact 1timstreet at gmail.com

Online Video Leaders: Leo Laporte

Online Video Leaders is a new blog series I'm doing about leaders in the online video industry who I believe are breaking new ground and leading the way as we build this new industry.

When it comes to online video Leo Laporte is no twit even though Leo runs Twit.tv and Twit Live.

Leo seems to create and monetize more online video content than any other independent producer on the Internet today. Leo is truly the Digital Master of online audio and video community building and has broken ground in areas of relationship building, podcasting, advertising and new business models.

From the independent content creation side Leo creates and delivers more information daily through his Twit network than most people consume in a month and he is an inspiration to other online content creators as well.

According to Leo's website, "It all started in 1998 with a small cable network called ZDTV, a channel dedicated to covering computers, the Internet, and personal technology. The people behind this site all worked on that network as hosts, reporters, or producers."

In 2004, ZDTV, then called TechTV, was sold and dismantled. Former TechTV hosts, Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, and John C. Dvorak, and producers Robert Heron, David Prager, and Roger Chang went on to other jobs, but stayed in touch, with each other, and with fans of the late TechTV. Those fans told them again and again how important TechTV had been in their lives, and how much they missed the channel.

On a rainy evening in January, 2005 a few of that group got together for dinner after spending the day covering MacWorld Expo in San Francisco. Leo, who was working as a radio host, happened to have a microphone and recorder. He turned it on and recorded 20 minutes of idle chatter about the Expo and the tech world in general. He posted that recording on his web site. Within a few days tens of thousands of people had downloaded the recording. TechTV fans began clamoring for more. A few months later, TWiT was born.

I first saw Leo at the Podcast and New Media Expo in the Fall of 2005. Leo talked about Podtrac and how they handled his ad sales and how anyone could go make online content and get it out to the masses. I left the New Media expo inspired and within a few weeks shot the first episode of French Maid TV.

Leo Laporte is a true pioneer of online audio and video and one of my Online Video Leaders.