Official Blog
The Vancouver Film School/YouTube Scholarship Competition: 10 Days Left!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Back in March,
we announced an exciting partnership
between
The Vancouver Film School
and YouTube to award full-tuition scholarships to three YouTubers from around the world. The May 9 deadline for the competition is now 10 days away, so consider this your final (gentle) reminder to enter.
The Vancouver Film School's motto is "Results Matter," so
we challenged you
to create a short film, animation or creative pitch addressing the theme "What Matters To You" and to name the Vancouver Film School program you wished to attend. The competition is open to filmmakers, directors, actors, writers, animators – anyone who can seem themselves benefiting from programs like Acting Essentials, Classical Animation, Digital Design, Film Production and Writing for Film and Television (to see the full list, visit
www.vfs.com
).
For those of you who still haven't entered, here are some thoughts to consider. First, this competition is about finding students with creativity and drive, not with a perfect set of skills. If you already knew how to make a film, write a screenplay or design a game, why would you be going to school? So don't be intimidated by the competition - if you have a great idea, express it!
Second, this competition isn't about why you want to go to Vancouver Film School. It's about what matters to you in the world. Is it family? Is it peace? Is it the environment? Is it love? Is it travel? Tell us a story through your film, animation or pitch, and let this question inspire you. If your work shows you have creativity and drive, you could find yourself in the top 10. The YouTube community will then vote for three winners.
It's not often you get a chance to go to a prestigious, international film school for free, so stop reading this blog and start creating. You have 10 days left!
Good luck!
Sara P.
YouTube Film
Trendspotting Tuesday: For Those About to Mock...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Welcome to
Trendspotting Tuesday
, week four, in which we take a not-so-straight-faced look at the genre known as "mockumentary."
From quirky pseudo-sports to rock bands that go all the way to eleven, countless subjects have been given the mockumentary treatment. Filmmaker Christopher Guest is arguably the master mockumentarian, having perfected many of the genre's conventions in films like
Spinal Tap
and
Best in Show
, while the Ricky Gervais-created British TV show
The Office
has spawned international spin-offs in America, Germany, France and Quebec.
Online video makers have not been slow to document – or perhaps that should be mockument – the antics of characters who take themselves, and their hobbies, a bit too seriously. With over 9,500 videos on YouTube tagged as "mockumentary," you can expect plenty of deadpan voice-overs, fictitious "facts" and painfully embarrassing interviews.
YouTube users have posted mock-docs created as film-school projects, high-school projects and no-frills backyard productions. And while they don't all reach the giddy heights of hilarity that Christopher Guest can wring out of an over-earnest interviewee, it's obvious that people are having fun with the format. We've gathered together some of our favorite mocks for a Trendspotting Tuesday homepage takeover and this misinformation-packed playlist. Perhaps it will provide you with the inspiration to create a mock-classic of your own.
Tune in next Tuesday for another take on the trends that make our video community unique. And if there's a trend you'd like us to highlight, leave a comment below or drop us a note on the
Trendspotting Tuesday
channel, where you can find playlists from our previous trendspotting features.
Cheers,
The YouTube Team
You Choose '08: Energy
Monday, April 28, 2008
Energy independence has been one of the most talked-about issues of this election — and if you've filled up your gas tank lately, you know why. With oil exceeding $115 a barrel, and gas prices expected to reach a national average of $4.00 a gallon by the summer, the need to reform our current energy policy is no longer just an environmental issue, it's becoming an economic necessity.
Most Americans agree that we should decrease our dependence on foreign oil, but precisely what steps should be taken? Should we begin drilling in untapped oil reserves in states such as Alaska? Should we invest in alternative forms of energy, such as corn-based ethanol? Should we concentrate on developing more hybrid technology? Or, as some suggest, is the energy crisis really an economic crisis in disguise and so should strengthening the dollar be our first priority?
Senator Joe Biden was among the first politicians to bring the conversation about reforming U.S. energy policy to YouTube. Back during his moment in the You Choose '08 Spotlight, he
asked voters
what they would do to break America's dependence on oil. He received many responses, including
this one
from
Razela
, who suggests that the government offers tax incentives to automakers based on gas efficiency standards. Check out Senator Biden's
response
to Razela's video.
To learn a little about the economics of oil, watch
this video
from
CBS News
, in which Josh Landis and Mitch Butler of the
Fast Draw
team give a quick but thorough overview of what factors determine gas prices—complete with pictures.
Addressing the issue of alternative energy, Ethan Block of
WhatShouldYouKnow
offers some interesting facts (and opinions) about
corn-based ethanol
. Meanwhile, hoping to dispel the
stereotype
that oil companies only care about profits, John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Company, presented one of the
keynote speeches
at the first Low Carbon Fuels Conference in Sacramento this April.
Michelle Kaufmann's YouTube Channel
is dedicated to helping individuals make their daily lives more "eco-friendly." In
this video
, Kaufmann shows us how to make eco-friendly candles from renewable resources like soy and beeswax.
If you're environmentally conscious and looking for a laugh, watch this
"eco-parody"
of the film
There Will Be Blood
, made especially for
Earth Day
. And finally, watch
this video
from
shiftinaction
, in which environmental advocate Van Jones reminds us that energy independence isn't an isolated issue — it's connected to every issue facing America's future.
Yours,
Steve G.
Placing Videos Into Google Docs Presentations
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Last month, we
posted
about our efforts to make YouTube as open as possible and shared a few examples of partners who were integrating YouTube content into their applications. Today, we'd like to point out another example.
Google Docs
is a free, web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application that allows you to share and collaborate with others in real-time. The Docs team just
announced
on their blog that you can now search for and insert YouTube videos into your presentation slides. This means that you'll be able to insert your favorite videos in your presentations and play them to your audience when you're giving your presentations.
To see this new feature in action, check out this
published presentation
.
Haven't heard of Docs? Watch this video that explains what Google Docs is in plain English:
The YouTube Team
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Announcing the First "Guru Challenge"
Friday, April 25, 2008
We are constantly amazed by the YouTube community's creativity and skill, so we wanted to create something special that showcases all of the crafters, chefs, artists, techies and other masters that fearlessly share their genius on the site. Enter the Guru Challenge, in which a variety of experts ask you to show off your creative instincts (and do a little showing off of their own). Take them up on the challenge, and you might find your video featured on the home page for all to see -- not to mention the props you'll get for being favored by some of the best in the business.
Our first Guru Challenge-er is
Zoo York
, a cutting-edge skateboarding and apparel outfit. These guys seem to have endless imagination and came up with a clever way of spreading the word about their product (hint: it involves throwing cockroaches on suit-types). But now they want to hear from you. Make a response video and show them how you use your creativity to publicize yourself and what you love.
Influential designer, street-style maven and Zoo York supporter
Marc Ecko
kicks things off with his own response video:
So accept the challenge and show these guys how you spread the word about the things you care about most. And remember: Play it cool, don't disrespect, and you just might find your video blowing up in a New York minute.
Spread it!
Sadia H.
YouTube HowTo & Style
Tribeca Film Festival on YouTube
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Today, the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival kicked off its seventh year in lower Manhattan. Like YouTube, the festival is known for its eclectic mix of content, with a little bit of something for everybody. Which is why we're excited to let you know that
IFC
, a long time member of the YouTube community, will be bringing you red carpet coverage, celebrity interviews, Q&As and more. Another reason to pay attention to this year's fest? YouTube's own
ArtieTSMITW
, aka Brandon Hardesty, will be making his big screen debut in the official Tribeca selection,
Bart Got a Room
.
To hear more about other films and events taking place, read on...
For lovers of independent cinema, the 24 films in competition represent filmmakers from 18 different countries, more than half of whom are at the festival with their first ever feature film.
For those who prefer bigger budget fare, Gala screenings include the Wachowski Brother's much-anticipated adaptation of the 1960s animated series,
Speed Racer
, and the comedy
Baby Mama
, from Manhattan's own Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
For music lovers, there's the Breaking the Band music showcase, curated by Grey's Anatomy and The OC music supervisor superstar, Alexandra Patsavas, featuring performances by
The Hold Steady
, The Virgins,
Republic Tigers
and Bad Veins.
For sports fans, the festival is teaming up with ESPN once again to present a showcase of films focusing on the spirit of competition.
Sound good? Then stay tuned to the
Film & Animation Featured Videos page
for IFC's daily coverage.
And to any YouTubers lucky enough to be there in person:
send us
your videos so we can share!
Ah, the ease of festival-going these days…
Enjoy,
Sara P.
YouTube Film
Trendspotting Tuesday: It's Easy Being Green
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
It's Earth Day today, and as part of our ongoing Trendspotting Tuesday series, we're marking the occasion with a round-up of videos that reflect grassroots environmental action in the YouTube community.
Whether it's by showing you how to
update your home in a more sustainable way
, talking about
"must-have" green items
, or sharing tips on
how you can be more ecologically responsible
, the YouTube community is bursting with advice on how to alter your lifestyle to help the environment. Take the Earth-loving boys of
GivingItAGo
, for example. They have been working towards being self-sufficient for almost a year now, with their backyard doing triple duty as a vegetable garden, compost heap, and chicken coop. (They've even named their sunflowers after YouTube users. How sweet is that?)
Or watch
aaron333
's "
veggie car
," in which an Atlanta couple tells the story of how and why their car runs on vegetable oil. You might also want to check out
Bulletprooffilm
, who interviews the ffounders of Noon (a company that makes
bags with solar panels
which generate on-the-go power for iPods and cell phones), and green architect
Michelle Kaufmann
, who demonstrates
a creative alternative for disposable chopsticks
.
And that's just the tip of the ever-shrinking iceberg. If you're looking for ways to show our planet some love on this Earth Day and beyond, this playlist on our homepage will give you a great place to start:
Seeing green,
The YouTube Team
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