actors Articles

Based On A True Story: A Brief History Of The "False Document" In Film & Web Series

A powerful technique in the world of entertainment is what is known as the false document. It goes beyond "based on a true story" and invents a history to form a basis in reality. One of the earliest uses of this device was way back ...

YouTube Star Gets Book Deal & He Doesn't Even Know About It

Online video stars are finally starting to be respected by mainstream media, with many landing deals with networks, studios, and publishers that see great potential for viewership and revenue. This month, another YouTube star has hit the big time, landing a new book deal, and ...

Film Featuring YouTube Stars, Chronicles Of Rickroll, Releases Full Trailer

Look out, world, the Internet's making movies now. When we last checked in with The Chronicles of Rickroll, the project was still in the very early planning stages. Since that time, the story has evolved, the producers have landed some talented Hollywood behind-the-scenes people, and ...

Los Angeles Metro Buses Now Running Web Series, "Los Americans"

A new web series is using an unconventional tactic to find popularity: mass transit. More than 1 million daily Los Angeles Metro bus riders are now being exposed to web series, thanks to Transit TV's broadcasting of One Economy's "Los Americans" Monday through Friday.

When To Use A Jib, & How To Make Your Own - Film Riot Video Production Tutorials

In filmmaking, one of the most useful pieces of equipment you can have in your arsenal is a jib. A jib operates a bit like a see-saw, using counterweights to balance the camera, and it allows for unique camera movements and camera angles that you ...

Hulu Will Create Original Content, Hires Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock

Hulu is following Netflix's lead again, and has announced that they will begin creating their own original content. You might remember that Netflix outbid all the major television networks for the rights to House of Cards, which will star Kevin Spacey and represent the company's ...

The Social Video Blueprint, Part 2: It's About Content, Not Ads

This is the second installment of a nine-part series on social video and the impact it's having on branded video marketing as a whole. In part one we discussed the definition and basic characteristics of social video--if you missed it, you may want to check ...

Name Actors Will Drive Viewer Interest In Web Series Content

Name actors are getting into web series in a big way, and it's adding legitimacy to a medium that has been looking to break out beyond a few isolated hits. The question is, "Why would any actor worth his salt want to do a web ...

Comic-Con is the Hot New Place to Launch a Superhero Web Video Series

One of the ways a web series tries to attract attention is by premiering around a certain event, where a core audience is starving and excited for new content. Two web series are about to take advantage of San Diego's annual Comic-Con (July 21-24, with ...

Best Branded Video Ad Campaign - Planet Of The Hoax Video

If you hadn't heard, there's a new Planet of the Apes movie coming out this year. I know, I know... I'm just as surprised as you are that the studio went ahead with it after the debacle that was Tim Burton's version. And yet, it ...

YouTube Video Lands Marine A Date With A Movie Star

Behold the power of YouTube. You might have heard about the U.S. Marine, Scott More, who created a YouTube video to publicly invite Hollywood actress, Mila Kunis, to a military ball. I mentioned it in the weekend round up. It takes guts to do something ...

Video Waivers and Releases For Recording People On Video: Legal FAQs

Many online video producers and marketers today have lots misconceptions about what whether or not they have legal permission to record video of someone and put it up online. If that describes you, then you might be interested in my interview today with Intellectual Property ...

Best Branded Online Video Ad Campaign: DirecTV's Football Cops

There's a movement afoot. You might not have noticed it, because it's been gradual. But more and more brands are turning their backs on traditional video commercials, opting instead for social video marketing. Often, this includes the creation of original branded web series content designed ...

Content Creation & Video Advertising Tips For Video Producers

Online video advertising is poised to grow 52% in ad dollars this year, so how can producers snag some of those brand dollars? We asked Miles Beckett, CEO of EQAL and the creator of LonelyGirl15, for best practices in working with brands in online video ...

More Details On YouTube's Pursuit Of Celebrity Channels & Professional Content

You know those rumors that went around a while back about YouTube courting celebrities and professional content creators to come create videos exclusively for the site? The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on it, and speculated that YouTube was willing to spend ...