The Daily Online VIdeo Fix: Merry Christmas

Okay, a friend of mine from high-school and fellow eGuider, Nicole Snyder, turned me onto John Roberts' YouTube videos. When I started looking at some of his other very funny Jewish Mom impersonations, this one struck a chord for Christmas. This guy just nails this character. If you're not a kid from Long Island, Miami Beach or some other Jewish suburb, this may be a bit strange. But trust me, this kid brings up some funny and horrifying memories. Thank the good lord for overbearing moms and the comedy they have subsequently produced. As my mentor, David Milch, says - Storytelling is turning the pain of the past is the future tense of joy.

Merry Christmas everyone. Have a piece of honey-baked ham for me!

The Daily Online VIdeo Fix: eGUIDERS.COM BETA IS LAUNCHING

I am proud and honored to present my latest project: eGUIDERS.com. We have great people recommending great web videos. So, stop searching and start watching!

Over the last year, I have been working with a talented team of designers, developers, reviewers, writers and online media junkies who have given their best to make sure we have a successful launch. Today we are one step closer with the beta version going live.

Please take some time to check out the site, subscribe to the newsletter, watch some amazing videos and see what we're about. Please spread the word about the site to friends and family!

Thanks to the team at Plank Design in Montreal for burning the midnight oil to get us up for the holidays. Shout out to CatalystSF for their strategy and support. Evangeline Morphos for her great ideas and super-sharp mind. Adam Klein for saying the right things at the right time. And a huge thank you for all the incredible eGuiders who worked diligently to make sure we are kicking things off on the right foot. But most of all, thanks to David Milch, who with his unwavering support and vision has helped make this all happen!

So, what are you waiting for. Check out eGuiders.com and start spreading the word!

Thanks,
Marc Ostrick

The Daily Online Video Fix: Sarah Palin Turkey Fiasco

Yes, the election may be over, but the fun continues.  I thought for Thanksgiving, I would add this video which became an instant classic as soon as it hit the internet.  Thanks to John Rota for sending this out last week as soon it came online. 

My lord, what a PR nightmare.  No matter how many times I watch this, I can not help but to burst out laughing.  And I still have no idea what she is saying!   This video just works on so many levels.  It captures the drama of life and death, it is a classic comedy of errors, it exemplifies Palin's "blissful ignroance", it couldn't be more topical and ultimately reinforces why this cooky governor from Alaska is not ready for prime-time.

This holiday, I will be giving thanks that John McCain and Sarah Palin where not elected into office.   

The Daily Online Video Fix: Ron Howard on Funny Or Die

My close buddy Ezra Soiferman just turned me onto this video. It has only been up for a day but it is already a classic in my book. If you're like me, whenever I see Ron Howard today, I still can only see Richie Cunningham and Opie. It's hard to see him as the aging, bald director he has become over the last 30 years. That's what makes this web video so powerful. He actually goes where back in time to the most fondly remembered shows in TV history - All in the name of keeping our great democracy strong. You know this election is important when Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Andy Griffith decide to take a trip back to their past characters for this first time in decades. What a treat.

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

The Daily Online Video Fix: Sarah Palin on SNL

Finally, NBC is starting to get the idea of web video.   Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Now you can finally take the embed code and share their comedy gold with others, while SNL still reaps the benefits of having their hit count skyrocket.  I don't know who finally got this going, but they should get a promotion.  And congrats on the quick turnaround.  

The Daily Online VIdeo Fix: Mario Brother Parodies

Since Donkey Kong's inception over 25 years ago, American pop culture has been fascinated with Mario, the hero character from the Nintendo's addictive video game. Soon after the success of DK, Mario was given his own adventure, starring Mario the plumber and his brother Luigi. CLICK HERE to get the full history of Mario Brothers according to Wikipedia

There has been a ton of merchandising, spin-offs and other schlock out there that has furthered the Mario Brothers legacy, but in terms of original online video I think the two videos below are great examples of quality content that have stuck a chord with audiences. Both videos are very different, but each are successful in their own way.

"Mario: Game Over" by POYKPAC was nominated for Best Comedy Video of 2007 in the Youtube Awards. The talented comedy troop had racked up an impressive 9,600,000 views and was originally posted in May 2007. Writer/Director Ryan Hunter does a great job with the cast. The down-home effects add to the charm of this indie production as well. I love that these guys just went out and made this on their own. No branding, sponsors, etc., just some good old fashion talent and determination.

On the other side of the spectrum comes Seth McFarline's short, which is part of his new original online series CAVALCADE. The series are a bunch of humorous shorts that are made for those with severe ADD. The pieces are quick, funny and have that McFarline flair. In case you have been living under a rock, Seth MacFarlane is the creator of Family Guy and American Dad. This online venture is sponsored by Burger King, which I think is a very smart move for the burger flipping giant. This Mario video has reached 6,100,000 people in one month. My only issue with the video is I wish it was longer.

Nintendo, thanks for giving us Mario. Hopefully, someone will soon make a few online videos with Activision's PITFALL hero. That guy was nuts, too!

The Daily Online VIdeo Fix: Dove & Dove Responses

I wanted to share some of my favorite original online videos with you. Dove's incredible video campaign to help spread themes of self-confidence, inner-beauty and empowerment to girls and women were truly powerful. The videos were professional, poignant and cut to the core of how images from the media can be damaging to women and girls everywhere. I also thought this is the type of content that is defining what makes this medium unique. Please visit DOVE'S SITE to get the full impact of their endeavors. It is nice to see a company try to do some good in the world.

Then when I started to dig a little deeper, I found two films that were a response to a couple of the Dove films.

The first, a comedy, mocks the do-good nature of the Evolution short by going in the opposite direction. Let's show a decent looking guy becoming an obese pig. It's funny how on-target the video is with aping the tone and style of the original. A pure parody.

The second, a video created by Greenpeace, points the finger back at Dove for their forestry practices for collecting palm oil, one of the main ingredients in Dove Soap. It is an equally alarming and scary film. It definitely creates an emotional impact and makes you think about issues facing branded entertainment.

Unfortunately, this content can be a double-edged sword. It begs the question - When does entertainment begin to become propaganda? As videos try to appeal to media-savvy audiences, what kind of techniques are being used to win fans? What are the motives behind some of these videos?

I think the motivation to make the Dove's videos were honest, but we will never know if the endeavor was more public relations than good corporate citizenship... Maybe it's a mix of both. I'm just glad they were made and it inspired such feedback in the online video community.

The Daily Online Video Fix: A Shot of Jewish Humor For The New Year!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!   I thought it would be appropriate to share a couple of memorable online videos that relate to the new year of 5679.

PHONE ATONE is a new comedy that ties in the current race to the white house, while HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH is a hip-hop animation that is meant to get you grooving to temple.  

Both videos were produced by BIRTH-RIGHT, a Jewish organization that funds educational trips to Israel for teenagers and young adults, free of charge.   I think these videos serve as an excellent strategy to get young people interested in Jewish traditions in a fun, modern context that is relatable.   It also shows how original online entertainment can target specific audiences and succeed.   HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH (made in 2006) has over 150,000 views, while PHONE ATONE has over 730,000 views.   

Check out these videos and let me know your thoughts!

Shalom...

The Daily Online Video Fix: So Bad It's Amazing

I wanted to share a couple of videos that could be filed under the category - So Bad It's Amazing.

First up is Jonah Sky's "That's What Friends Are For".  It's a piece of classic inadvertent Jewish humor.   The VHS tape of Seth's Bar-Mitzvah was found at Jonah's grandmother's house (she is in the blue/green dress).   I'm not sure if the whole family is tone deaf or everyone is just loaded on Manischewitz and Xanax.   You be the judge.    And if you think I am just some eccentric video junkie who's overdosed on too much online content, there are over 240,000 other video addicts who experimented with the addictive new comedy sub-genre of So Bad It's Amazing.

Next up, is "Who Needs A Movie?", a video that now has over 850,000 views.  John Waters would be proud.  This takes the So Bad It's Amazing sub-genre to another level.   A combination of low-rent graphics and a performance that would make Steven Wright seem jovial, sends this promo video into the comedy stratosphere.   It may almost be worth it to hire these guys just to make sure their "signature voice" gets heard by millions.   I'd love to see some of their finished wedding or business promo videos.  If their clients didn't have a sense of humor, they may have blow their brains out.   Hopefully, no one got hurt and they will be uploaded soon for the world to enjoy!  

The Daily Online Video Fix: Will Ferrel on Funny or Die

You gotta love how Will Ferrel is able to laugh at himself.  This video really shows how stupid most comments can be when people have the opportunity to say something.   It's a little sad, but Will always finds as way to turn that frown upside down.

Now, I wish someone would start leaving me comments - even if they are nasty, mean-spitrited, hate-filled rants.  Or you could just say something inspiring...

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die

The Daily Online Video Fix: Atomic Weggie's Bush Bites

While I was working with Stun Creative as the head of their New Media / DVD division, I was fortunate enough to set up a web series I created called BUSH BITES with Freemantle Entertainment's Atomic Weggie.

I think what really works in these animated shorts is Chis VanArtsdalen's clever animation combined with President Bush's embarrassing gaffes.   It's the gift that keeps on giving.   We produced over 20 of these webisodes and luckily there was a lot of audio to choose from.   What was very attractive about this series is that satire/parody is covered under the Fair Use Act and as well as the presidents statements are all in the public domain.    So these were quick and inexpensive to produce while still being very creative and fun.  

Below are a few selections from the series.  I hope you enjoy!

The Daily Online Video Fix: Gay Town on Crackle

Crackle.com really knocks it out of the park with this web-series.  For me, GAY TOWN is a great example of quality, original online entertainment.

Owen Benjamin created and stars in this series about the life of a straight man living in a very gay town.    The success of this simple, high-concept comedy lies in its execution.  The acting is solid, the jokes work while not trying so hard and production value is on par with anything you would see on television.    However, underneath the surface, you can't help but catch the social message that is lurking in the closet. Yes, it's funny to watch a straight man get picked on, bullied, fired and outcast just because he's not like the other guys in town.  But then you begin to realize how it can be at times for homosexuals living in the real world and what they have to put up with their entire lives... Which is why I think GAY TOWN is more that just a funny comedy, it slyly turns homophobia on its ass and gives it a good spanking.  It takes a couple of episodes to get cranking, but I think the overall quality of these ten episodes really sets this series apart from the clutter. 

Congrats to Owen and Crackle.com for producing an excellent series!  Hope season two is a good as the first.

From Crackle: Gaytown: Episode 1

The Daily Online Video Fix: Hallmark Across America

Here's the pilot I produced and directed for the original online series HALLMARK ACROSS AMERICA.   This premiere episode focuses on MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND.   Stun Creative hired me for this great gig.  It's been a long time since I had this much fun on a project.  We were in the beautiful town of Langley, Washington.  The town is about an hour north of Seattle on Whidbey Island.   The people were really nice and everyone was very cool with us shooting there.   

I had no idea what to expect going into this...  It's always harder to try and find the story as it unfolds rather that just covering a simple event or competition.  What I mean is that there were multiple narratives to this event - the story being amateur sleuths trying to figure out "who did it".   There are a ton of stories happening all at the same time because  there were thousands of people in town, all trying to figure out who the murderer was over two days...   We needed to find interesting characters to follow within a few hours of shooting or we had no story.  Other festivals, such as Alaska's ice sculpture competition, doesn't really have an unpredictable narrative.   You know it is going to be teams of people carving ice all in a confined area.  All you need to do was document a few teams carving ice and you were good to go. 

It was important to Hallmark not only cover the event, but reveal the personalities of the people participating.   I agreed totally with this.    Getting into personalities is always more fun.  Luckily there were a ton of great characters who came to Langley and we got a ton of video gold.   We were all over the town, running from team to team, trying to follow their stories...  I think this series can be a real winner.   Please check it out by clicking the link below and let me know your thoughts!

HALLMARK ACROSS AMERICA - MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND  

The Daily Fix: Pressure Drop Online

The Pressure Drop Website is showing the award-winning NYU thesis film.   Ezra Soiferman and I made this film almost 15 years ago and I think it holds up as a classic stoner comedy.   We launched the site in 1996 and still periodically add updates.  I'm so happy that we continue to find an audience for this short and that traffic to the site continues to grow.     Please visit the website, watch the adventures of the original token jew and leave a comment in the "eye say" section!   

Or, if you're too high, just watch below from someone who ripped the embed and posted it on youtube.