A video that Saatchi Moscow created and produced for Google to attract more Russian people on GMail.
Visually, it's a bit like our videos, but in a giant format. Instead of pieces of paper, they are using giant pieces of pre-printed fabric. The video is quite artful and well done. Isn't it funny too, that it's by Saatchi and Saatchi instead of Lee and Sachi?
Kent Nichols is the co-creator or Ninja Master of Ask-a-Ninja, which I'm quite sure you know about. I recently discovered his Twitter feed and blog and since, I've learned a lot from his perspectives on disrupting Hollywood, the business of new media, and the web video industry.
His no-nonsense and opinionated style really makes it clear where he stands, and I often agree. Plus, he's full of smart advice for content producers. Recommended.
On a side note, the story of my connection with the Ninjas is rather strange. The other co-creator of Ask-A-Ninja is Douglas Sarine (on Twitter too). Douglas lived on my hall our freshman year of college at Appalachian State University - that was 1991. We were good friends, but lost touch after we graduated. As Ask-A-Ninja became popular, I saw Doug's name and couldn't believe it. Since then we've reconnected and hung out a few times. Hopefully we'll see those guys again soon. Keep up the great bloggin' Kent!
CBS is starting to integrate whiteboard-based explantions into the news. We first heard about it being used on the show Sunday Morning, where I imagine the lighter content seemed more appropriate. Thanks to Ron for the pointer to this video.
Just recently, the same team of Josh Landis and Mitch Butler were paired with Katie Couric on the Evening News to explain the superdelegates. You can see the video on this post.
It will be interesting to watch how the mainstream media reacts to these presentations. The New York Times published an article today called "Dumb or Just Fun?" and started the article with this paragraph:
Critics who regularly bemoan the dumbing down of television news would most likely have been enraged by the sight, on a recent weekday, of animated characters on an evening newscast explaining the political power wielded by superdelegates.
Dumb or Just Fun? Those are the only two choices? What about effective? What about innovative?
Personally I'm happy to see CBS experimenting with the whiteboard-based style. Of course we wonder if Common Craft was an inspiration, but we're not going to assume anything. If anything we're excited to see the format take shape.
We're believers that we all (including the evening news) need better explanations and more levity. Josh Landis and Mitch Butler, whose speaking style reminds me a bit of "Troy McClure" from the Simpsons, are raising the visibility of simple-yet-powerful explanations.
If you look at DataPortability.org, it's obvious they have an explanation problem. I'm not likely their target audience, but "Turnkey Reference Blueprints" don't exactly make me want to get involved.
That's why I like this video by Smash Cut Media - it focuses on the pain of having to keep up with data across mutiple web sites - and how the Data Portability workgroup is helping to solve the problem. It's a bit flashy, but effective and fun to watch.
This video is a masterpiece in my opinion - especially if you're into Japanese culture (Sachi is half-Japanese). It's just so culturally real, so bitingly satirical, so truly funny. It won awards at the now defunct Resfest in 2003, and now it's on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.
Give it a little while to get rolling - it starts slow and literal.
Wouldn't it be nice if every author actually lived in the world that they wrote about? It's one thing to be an observer, but yet another to be a resident. That's why it's my pleasure to point you to a new ebook by Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo of Capulet Communications.
It's called "Getting to First Base: A Social Media Marketing Playbook". You can learn more (and purchase it) at SocialMediaReady.com. This video provides a quick overview too.
I've known Darren and Julie for years and there are few people whose words I would trust more regarding social media marketing. Why? Because it is their world. Through their work, their blogs, their goofy satire sites and sites like DearRockers, they've been there every day for years.
As part of the roll out, they created a Common Craft inspired video called "Blogger Outreach 101" with Sachi and I in starring roles - as horses (I think!). You'll just have to watch it and laugh...Darren reminds us that he think it's "just awful." We are flattered nonetheless.
[Disclosure] I provided a quote and some very small input as a part of the ebook's development.