Wired Magazine has a fantastic article giving an excellent update on the LonelyGirl15 tale.

Over the past few months, LonelyGirl15 has changed from a simple “stepping stone” into Hollywood to a full-fledged international serial thriller. The story has taken on a darker theme, and it’s exciting to see this new medium fall into place. The article offers a new look at the conception of the series and gives us a look at why things are going how they are.

It’s amazing to see how the internet has so drastically changed entertainment - things are so much more interactive than they used to be. Users can simply suggest where they think the plot is going, and amazingly, the writers accommodate it. Even the sheer number of page views that they experienced moved LonelyGirl15 from a future film to a permanent web institution.

I’m definitely following LonelyGirl and its creators. This is a new media experiment that’s doing quite well for itself.

Amanda Congdon has been a busy person lately. Since she’s left Rocketboom (which she still claims 49% ownership in), she’s founded Oxmour Entertainment, completed a videoblog (AmandaAcrossAmerica), and planned two more.

Now, plans have leaked that Amanda will be developing a comedy for HBO. She’ll be writing and starring in the series, and there are plans to make this show span across TV and the net.

Details are sparse, but it’s great to see Amanda flourishing after the Rocketboom disaster.

Via Backstage

Streaming Media (West), the conference for streaming video, has begun posting video of their conference for the general public to view.

SMW, which is comprised of thirty-three different seminars covering the video industry, is offering video for at least seventeen of the seminars, with more to come as the conference continues.

Some that YouMakeMedia readers might find interesting include the Flash v. Windows Media seminar(I’m a Flash fan), a panel discussion discussing video advertising on the web, and another panel dicussion highlighting the business model of video and audio podcasting/blogging.

Check the videos and more out at the Streaming Media West website.

Via Scoble.

Over the past few days, Ze Frank and Andrew Baron have had a bit of a catfight over the actual viewers of Rocketboom. It began in Ze’s “the show” two days ago, and was quickly countered by Andrew Baron. The story was picked up in the blogosphere, and was covered by video blogging heavyweights like Robert Scoble.

Today, Ze has updated his site with a full-on offense against Baron’s points, outlining statistics, hypocrisy, and where the current audience measurement technology just isn’t up to snuff.

This is an interesting battle indeed, and it does confirm that “the show” ends March 17, 2007. Ze, you’re killing me!

Apparently, one talent agency have decided to focus on signing talent from sites like YouTube, according to an article from the New York Times.

The talent agency referenced here, UTA Online, spends its time scouring the web for the next Gary Brolsma or similar hit. Like Ajit at DVGuru points out, video is hot- and the talent agencies want a cut of the profits.

Frankly, I’m cynical and skeptical. These agencies are going to be wading through a lot of crap - and even if they do find someone they consider star-worthy, they’re going to have to convince them to completely change their life to take on a public identity that could damage them.

YouTube and the like are certainly fantastic places to find stars, I don’t doubt that - but it’s going to mean work — and lot’s of it. For now, its easier to have the stars come to you… a tad easier in my book.

Via DVGuru

Since video cameras were put into cell phones, there has been a natural interest in creating films with the cell phones. There’s even a dedicated film festival called “CellFlix“, with the winner receiving a five thousand dollar prize for the best cell phone movie!

This is certainly interesting territory. As we becoming increasingly mobile, and cell phones become more like personal computers, we’re going to see content created specifically for them - and why not create content for a phone with a phone?!

Digital Producer has an interesting article chronicling some efforts to create “cellflicks”. This is an interesting medium, and though it isn’t one that I choose to work with, its certainly a niche that can’t be ignored!

Via DVGuru

iFilm have launched a brand new beta site for the next incarnation of their popular video hosting/sharing service.

iFilm, which is owned by Viacom International, has always stayed on the legal, content producer side of video hosting, featuring content by its parent company and sister companies (such as MTV Films, Paramount Pictures).  As such, Viacom’s holdings, such as the music video channel VH1 feature tie-ins with the service, such as the television show “Web Junk”.

This update, however, features a very prominent upload option for those users who are creating their own video.  Users always had the ability to upload with the old iFilm, however it was a relatively hidden option.  The movement of this to the homepage will make it far easier for the so called “User Videos” to permeate through and share equal billing with the Viacom content.

via DVGuru

Cory Doctorow recently made a statement that struck a chord with me:

“Conversation is king. Content is just something to talk about.” via

This is an intriguing statement, because, for so long, I’ve thought that content was the critical element. Cory raises an interesting point though - if stranded on a desert island, you chose to bring a DVD library over a group of friends, you’d be labeled a sociopath. He’s right, content is just something to talk about. Content spurs conversation, effectively crowning conversation as the new monarch.

How do we create a good conversation though? How do we engage our readers, listeners, viewers?

There are many ways to do this. The big media companies are starting to realize that conversation is king as well - they’re creating tools for us to hack up their content (as I’ve covered before), which spawns all sorts of discussion about the media itself. They’re afraid that these mashups will remove the focus from their original creations; they’re just realizing that these have the opposite effect — they put the spotlight back on.

The secret project I mentioned a few days go involves conversation, quite heavily. In our meeting about the project today, the team and I came up with an even more exciting way to keep the conversation up, and I’m extremely excited about it. I think you will be too.

In the meantime, why not start a conversation yourself? Comment below or email me (editor [\at/] youmakemedia [\dot/] com). I’d love to hear from you!

MSN Soapbox is Microsoft’s competitor to YouTube.  As all the tech companies surely know by now, it’s “cool” to have a video sharing site and Microsoft isn’t about to be left behind — especially now with Google’s acquisition of YouTube.  Yahoo has Yahoo Video, Google has Google Video and YouTube, so Microsoft has added their site into the mix.

Soapbox is currently in private beta, however I’ve gotten an invite (via the folks at on10) and I’ll be writing a review of how this service will help and hurt a bit later on in the evening (when I get access to some media that I can upload there!).

Thus far it seems nice, although I will say Microsoft’s clinging to .net is frustrating!