Disconnect - Social Media and the Old Guard

I'm constantly fascinated with the extent to which  "traditional media" outlets are consistently misunderstanding the unique opportunities in the social media platform.

If you're reading this from my blog, you'll notice that I've added to the masthead, "Thoughts and Impressions Exploring the Third Platform."  As I've expressed here previously, I consider social media creation - in particular the most creative YouTube programming - to represent a developing third entertainment platform beyond Motion Pictures and Television.   My new subtitle is just the first part of my developing effort to express this particular concept.

Traditional Media sometimes seems limited in its perception of YouTube as a commercial resource.  In addition to a video sharing site, and a means to promote traditional media content, it might also be seen as a talent pool as well - there have already been a number of musical, special effects and other artists that have been "discovered" on YouTube (i.e. Justin Bieber).   Popular vlogger Hank Green reported on his Vidcon Blog titled "Crossing Over," that YouTube star Michael Buckley was contracted by Fox to host the online red carpet coverage of the Teen Choice Awards, where several YouTube stars were represented  (Shane Dawson, a top YouTuber, took home an award for his work).  

What seems very clear, however, is that, for the most part, traditional media doesn't yet recognize that many YouTubers are in fact successful (by any measurement you choose) not simply because of their onscreen persona, but because of their abilities as writers, producers, directors, camera people, editors and marketers.  Regardless of their objectives in creating on YouTube, they are an extraordinarily talented bunch - and they're uniquely connected to their audience.

When television began, it's worth remembering that the motion picture industry first ignored that platform out of arrogance, then fear of the new "threat"  - acceptance and involvement by the studios in creating television content didn't come until later.    It may be some time until traditional media truly understands and embraces the "third platform" - if they ever truly can.  They may continue to exploit social media - but I believe opportunities will continue to evolve for the individual as well.  After all, can mainstream media ever "create" a YouTube star?  

I recall Charlie McDonnell (Charlieissocoollike), speaking at the Vidcon YouTube conference, expressing his developing experience with traditional media and offline events (hosting live events, etc) - and his emerging recognition that only on YouTube can he truly create freely.   He wasn't giving up on a "mainstream" opportunities by any means, but social media was his home.  

Teens and Social Media: Real Human Contact

As someone who began making films at eleven years old, I have a special interest in the young media creators (the young filmmakers of today) that are creating so much of the content on YouTube, and the most enthusiastic of whom attended the Vidcon YouTube conference earlier this month.

When I was a boy, filmmaking was something with which my friends would participate, but few shared my passion.  Most of my friends would be along for the ride.  When the film was done, I'd present it to family and friends, and that was the end of the story.  We had a fun time, but the process ended there.

Teens who create on YouTube have an entirely different experience. Even the simplest cameras and editing software offer a level of sophistication that I could only dream about.  While many young directors still might work with their friends at hand, they also are part of an exciting worldwide community of like-minded teens like themselves - people with who they communicate regularly through chat, voice and video, and with whom they often collaborate.  The tools are only getting better, and their ability to work together is only improving.  I'm excited about where this will all lead - for everyone.

While many teens still dream of movie and television careers, many of the YouTubers dream of continuing to create online video for years to come.  Some have already reached the status of being a profit-sharing YouTube partner, and many, I'm sure, will take part or even invent new methods of monetizing online content.  

Many of the teens I saw at Vidcon shared a similar sentiment when they posted their summary videos on YouTube after the conference - it was the best experience of their lives.   Why?  As much as they worked with and got to know each other online, the time they spent together at Vidcon was the highlight of their experience.  As much as some adults may worry about the impersonal online world, I believe that most people - especially teens - don't perceive that world quite as disconnected from reality as some fear.

After all, social media is ultimately about real human contact.

[If you haven't seen it already, take a look at my video about making films as a kid, "Crazy Adventures: Why I'm Here!"]

VIDCON - DAY TWO

It's just before the evening concert here at Vidcon, so I thought I would take the opportunity to update my activities today.

This has been another day of bonding with the YT community, talking more with Renetto, while gaining some insight into the evolution of the YT experience over the last few years.  I attended a couple of sessions - one having to do with copyright protection, and another about the convergence (or lack thereof) of social media and Hollywood.

The copyright wandered endlessly without a moderator (or at least without an effective moderator).   The main questions revolved around YT's copyright protection scheme, which allows for copyright holders (or those that purport to be copyright holders) to protect an individual's video, and demand it's removal (or at least suspension) pending investigation.  For those in the profit-sharing YouTube partner program, the removal of a video is an impact on their ability to earn profits; for the rest of us, it's a major annoyance without a easy avenue for appeal.

I went to a YouTube-moderated session about technical improvements, both recent and future, and the discussion about other possible improvements to the site.  I'll have more on some of what I learned in a future vlog.  This session proved to be the most useful, with nuts and bolts information I could apply immediately.

The session on convergence offered - for me, anyway - the coolest moment of the day, as Internet Raconteur  Mikaleh stood up to berate an audience member who asked panelists Charlie McDonnel and Dave Days if they every had to to deal with resentment from struggling actors - the ubiquitous waiters who work for years to make it big - who might resent their "instant" success.  Mickalah pointed out forcefully that their success came out of hard, dedicated work over a period of years, and that anyone who felt otherwise was  simply to be be ignored (to which Charlie and Dave agreed).

In addition Renetto, I made a number of new friends - a couple of which I wanted to mention here.  Will, know on YT as TheCreativeJournal is a relatively new vlogger, like myself, and was having a great time discovering the community - vlogging his experiences.  I've been shooting, but quickly decided that my best bet was to cut together my experiences in one vlog....

I interviewed Camillo, a fourteen year old filmmaker (he'll appear on the vlog) who has been creating on YouTube for the past year as Hoptheborderstudios, and told how he clearly remembers getting on YouTube for the first time in 2006.  His family doesn't own a television - he gets all of his entertainment online.

Now, on to Day Three!

VIDCON - END OF DAY ONE

I'm about to go home and work tonight's vlog, but I wanted to take a few moments to summarize my final thoughts today.

I've had a great time, as you may have guessed from my first few entries here.  I've gotten to know quite a few veteran and new vloggers, and gained some reinforcement about what I'm doing - and where my place might be in this YouTube world.  I seem to be one of the rare exceptions in the professional non-fiction field to take social media seriously, based on the reactions I've been getting from a number of people - so I feel that I'm on the right track working to demystify  the YT community for that crowd.  I also feel that it can work both ways - I also think I have something to offer vloggers out there in terms of my experience in production.  There's a real interest with many vloggers in upping their game - and I think (perhaps) I can help in that regard.

As I said earlier, the kids I see remind me of the young filmmaker I was - kids are taking this seriously, listening closely at the various break-out sessions, and working hard on their vlogs.

I've had some great discussions with a number of people about the future of YT and social media, and I look forward to more such discussions.

I didn't quite shoot as much footage as I perhaps had anticipated - I'll try to work on that more tomorrow.

New subscribers continue to pop up courtesy of Renetto - it helps to have friends in YouTube places.  I've been lucky to have a few good ones, and I'm happy to add one more!  Thanks, Renetto (and all my new subscribers, when you get here!)

VIDCON - SECOND IMPRESSIONS!

The most interesting development since my last entry was a conversation I had with Renetto, a vlogger who practices what he calls "lifestreaming" - recording his day to day life as completely as he can.  Today, that included an interview with me about my perspective on YouTube as a professional documentary filmmaker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkgPoLQz3M8

As is his practice, Renetto posted my video within the hour, and on his recommendation, I've already received a number of new subscribers.  In the YouTube world, that's an important technique in building your base - get endorsed by, or interact with other vloggers.  I'm still developing my technique (as one comment on the channel pointed out), but the growing base allows me to continue the process and receive more feedback.

I'll be looking forward to posting my summary vlog later tonight - and applying all I've learned here (and in other ways over the last few weeks) in the weeks and months to come.

VIDCON- FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I finally had a few moments to send up a report.  It's the lunch break here at Vidcon.

I arrived early - the conference is in a particularly congested part of town, so I made sure i had plenty of time to get here - not so much to get here early - but to avoid the traffic nightmare.

I'm enjoying the experience so far, but I have to admit that I'm not really learning anything I didn't already know.  It's been interesting to observe the crowd - so familiar faces, some no-so-familar, and others that are just wide-eyed kids with dreams.  It reminds me of when I was making films at 12 or 13 years old.

The Vlogbrothers - Hank and John Green, started out the session in the main conference hall, after which YouTube reps came out and discussed some of the recent and future adjustments to the YouTube world, the most dramatic of which is a program for YouTube partners, which will create a $1,000,000 fund to help partners with their more ambitious projects.  I wonder if non-profits should consider establishing similar funds for non-partner YouTubers  - I think there could be an argument for helping some of the more successful non-partners succeed, as well.  There are some great voices out there.

Haven't talked to as many people yet as I would like to - working on that.

All in all, so far, so good.  You can't go wrong when your first conversation of the day is with a puppet!