New Years Eve App

Here is a demo video for the awesome New Years Eve mobile application.  The app gives users the ability to check in, submit photos, access a customizable countdown clock, and (coolest of all in my opinion) view live streaming from Times Square.
To give full disclosure, I helped with the development of the application on behalf of Livestream LLC. 
Here is Mashable's article on the application from yesterday.

Google Buys its Own Building for $1.9 Billion

The old Port Authority building at 111 8th Avenue in the Chelsea district of New York is huge.  It takes up the entire block from 8th to 9th avenue and 15th to 16th street.

The old Port Authority building

 
Earlier this year, Google made a bid to officially purchase the building from its tenant for 1.9 billion dollars.  The building currently houses a range of web and telecommunication companies including Livestream.

This pic is from the 15th floor of the building looking South over the financial district.

This view is looking North towards midtown.

 Google is planning on closing the deal before the end of 2010.  As of now, they have not expressed interest in kicking out any of the other businesses that have their headquarters in the building, but this could change in 2011.  I will stay up to date on the issue.  How will I know?  I work there.

5 Things That Make An Internet Meme Go Viral

These points are all based on my opinion that something goes viral because people want to SHARE it. 

1. Relatable Emotionally- "It's funny because it's true."  If a user is able to connect with an emotion expressed through text, images, or video...especially something that's humorous, they'll want to share it (see post).

2. Topical- If it is related to a current event, than the Internet is the best source to publish in real-time.  Twitter hash tags and news-worthy events can sky rocket a meme to viral status at lightning speed (i.e. the BP oil spill).



3. Informative-If new information is presented in a creative way, than people will want to share it.  If you discover that using your cell phone while it charges may cause it to self destruct (not true) then you may want to forward the info onto the people you care about.  (Even though these people will be pissed that you are spamming them with false information).

4. $- Something that offers a financial incentive (like Groupon) can take off because people want to share it because it saves them money, duh.

5. Uncommon- Something thaat catches a viewer off guard or make he or she say "what the hell?"  can be an easy way to get the person to click share.



The above listed things are incentives for people to share.  This article describes some of the technicalities when it comes to getting a lot of views on Youtube.

Best 2 Internet Memes of 2010

This article from Mashable reviews 5 of the Best Internet Memes from 2010.  The article analyzes what aspect contributed to each meme going viral.  The first one mentioned, the one that I think should be the clear winner, is the Bed Intruder Song.



If you haven't seen this video or heard about it before, then you probably aren't reading this thing called a blog on this thing called the Internet. 
The number one reason why an image, site, quote, or video goes viral is because it is relatable.  Viewers can make emotional connections.  Whether it's Antoine Dodson conveying his raw frustration in an over-the-top way, or Bear Vazquez getting overly excited about a "double rainbow" the content conveys emotions that people can recognize.
In my opinion, the "double rainbow" video comes in second place.

Talkwit.TV

 The other night at the NY Video Meetup, I watched Sean Casey (the founder of Talkwit.tv) present and launch his website, described as "The Crowdsourced TV guide where every show across any network is always social"--LinkedIn Page.  Talkwit.TV ranks currently airing TV shows by the amount of social buzz they are receiving at a certain time.  It allows users to interact with their friends or followers and see which shows the people they know are talking about.
When answering questions after the launch, Sean explained that he was an avid believer in the dual device experience of watching TV.  The platform is dependent on the idea that people will not have all of their social media and Internet Apps stored on their TV, but will instead depend on a mobile device or computer while watching.
Interesting idea, but wouldn't it be safer to incorporate this device into a Google TV App, just in case that dual device model doesn't hold up?
Then again, I've just come to realize that I'm writing this post using my laptop as I watch TV.

Helicopter in the office

Watch live streaming video from cpamm at livestream.com

Film Review: Radio Free Albemuth

Last night, the world premiere of Radio Free Albemuth took place at the Gotham Screen International Film Festival. The film, directed by John Alan Simon, is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi novel of the same name. The setting is a fascist alternative universe that resembles an American 1985. Phil (Shea Wigham) experiences messages sent directly into his brain via purple bursts of light from an earth-orbiting satellite controlled by aliens on another planet. Still following? These messages are illustrated as retro low budget CGI animations (150 CGI shots in film). The shift between reality (in the parallel universe, that is) and the hallucinations is reminiscent of Howl with an Across the Universe feeling of an acid trip.
When Phil and Nicholas are thrown in prison, the film takes a Clockwork Orange turn, as we learn about the brutal fascism ideals that are held by the Nazi youth reminiscent guards.
Robyn Hitchcock's score woks amazingly well with the film's dark quirky feel.
Performances by Jonathan Scarfe and Shea Whigam allow the audience to connect with the human relations as the characters deal with a literally alien situation. Despite some bad editing in the first half of the film, a sub par performance by Katheryn Winnick, and some too-cheesy camera effects and dialogue, the film manages to captivate the viewer.
If you're a sci-fi buff or a fan of Philip K. Dick, then this is for you. If you're afraid of the film being "too indie", then you'll probably think it is.

GSIFF Film Festival

GSIFF 2010 from Triboro Pictures on Vimeo.

The Gotham Screen International Film Festival kicks off today and runs through the 17th of October. The festival screenings take place mainly in the TriBeCa (still not sure about the weird capitalization) Cinemas, and a full schedule can be found here.
Tonight, the festival will open with the world premiere of Radio Free Albemuth, which looks like it will be very good, despite being too much science-fiction for mainstream.

Live Virtual Wine Tasting

On Thursday, September 23rd, I worked on the pilot episode for the Live Virtual Wine Tasting. The show was shot at the Southgate Restaurant just south of Central Park. It was Broadcast via Ustream and the show's website and was made interactive with responses to viewer's twitter and facebook questions. The interactivity provided by the show's digital format allows for viewers to chat with the show's producers and other viewers in real time as the show is taking place. I hope that this level of interactivity, coupled with the niche target audience will allow for the show to be picked up and continue.

More Freelance Work

Last week I worked a job in New York for Progressive Pulse. The Live Video Wine Tasting will take place on September 23rd and will be available to view here. I will be going up to New York again to help with the production.

Recent Freelance Work

Some of my recent freelance work includes producing a video on behalf of Reality Corp for INC Research. The video explains INC Research's digital capabilities in regards to organizing clinical data and testing for pharmaceutical products. Both companies seem to be on the forefront of innovation when it comes to digital technology.

Social Media and Doctors

Image taken from this interesting article.

This article discusses the increasing interaction between doctors and social media. One patient notes that he chose his dentist after following him on Twitter and discovering they shared a lot in common. He states, "I'm more apt to choose and stay loyal to a doctor or dentist I consider an actual human being rather than someone whose interaction with me is purely clinical".
One thing I like about social media is that it has the capability of placing people on the same level playing field. Sure you may have more or less friends or followers, but in the end you're restricted to one profile or 140 characters just like everyone else. From a medical perspective, this balance can alllow for patients and doctors to feel equal and therefore interact differently. If used correctly, social media can allow for more casual or "human" interaction.

Quotations

"If we believe privacy is a social good, something necessary for democracy, liberty and human dignity, then we can't rely on market forces to maintain it."
-Bruce Schneier

"Privacy is not the same thing as anonymity... People have a right to privacy; it's natural; it's normal. It's the right way to do things"
-Eric Schmidt

"Sharing is the 'Social Norm'"
-Mark Zuckerberg


The first two quotes were taken from an interesting article about Eric Schmidt's recent speech at the Techonomy Conference.

Video Resume

Watch new Video Resume with links here!.

Video Resume from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

Mobile Web App

Here is the site for the mobile version (formatted for Android) of Pamm Productions. Basically, it was a simple project that allowed me to test the Android user interface. The site was an experiment in translating a simple web interface into a mobile one.

ScriptSynch and SEO Idea

ScriptSynch is a technology incorporated into the Avid Media Composer Non-linear editing system that editors use to sort footage based on an electronic copy of a script. The technology is used for shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and is capable of taking sentences of text and locating the lines within the footage. This is helpful when actors on the show improvise frequently and often the camera is left rolling to not miss anything. It seems like there would be a way to use this technology on a wider perspective allowing users to search all Internet videos.

Youtube Content; Creators get $, Videos Get More Pixels

This article from AdAge.com makes note of Youtube's new project that provides funding to the video creators that are among the most watched on the site. George Strompolos, who is part of YouTube's business-development group, realized the importance of such video up-loaders, stating, "they are the new class of content creators."
The article goes on to discuss Youtube's new ability to support 4K footage, which contains a resolution that is 4 times greater than 1080p. Currently, when shooting professional video most production companies shoot 4K anyway to allow for exhibition on big screen or cropping before digital compression. But 4K on Youtube? Who has computer screens that big?

Ducati Motorcylce Race at Pike's Peak

My brother once passed out after stepping off the bus at the top of Pike's Peak.
These guys race motorcycles up the steep mountain roads.
The cool thing about the footage, is that it was all shot with the iPhone 4.

Pamm Productions Script Copyrighted, Submitted to FOX

This past Tuesday, I registered a script for a TV pilot with the US Copyright Office. The script is a half-hour comedy that incorporates many new digital and interactive media elements. I co-wrote the script with Eric Valle earlier this year, then completed it for the contest.
The script was submitted through the NYTVF for a contest hosted by FOX (check out the contest on their site). If it wins, we will get $25,000 and the script will be further developed by FOX.
I am still continuing to work full time hours at Digitas Health in Philadelphia and have been in the editing suite a lot.
The mobile app is close to being finished, and hopefully will serve as a platform/prototype for future Pamm Productions endeavors.

Demo Reel

The reel has been posted to the main Pamm Productions website for a while, but I just uploaded it to youtube.

Also, I am currently working on an Android based mobile web application along with other projects.

Pics from Recent Shoots

Pamm Pro 2.1

The updated version of the website is now up. Pamm Productions version 2.1.
Updates include a new "Other Sites", "New Media Portfolio", "Demo Reel", and "Contact Form". Some of the changes may not seem obvious, but the main change is that they are all consistent with the Flash template.

New e-mail

Through google's new e-mail/website service I realized I can access my own personalized e-mail account chris@pammproductions.com and have the back end of the account remain in my already customized g-mail format. So now, I have an additional e-mail address that allows me to send and receive mail, while still maintaining all of the original g-mail/documents/sites components.

Digitas Health

About Digitas

Currently I am working as Associate Video Developer at Digitas Health in Philadelphia.
I am doing all types of work associated with the video production side of digital marketing.
Last week, I got to go on 2 shoots and work as a PA helping the grips with lighting, props, and everything else.
I am working a lot with final cut and learning about the managerial side of production when I'm in the office.
It's an awesome company and great experience.

Main Website

I'll be working as a production freelancer for Digitas in Philadelphia starting March 29th.

Click here to go to the main website for Pamm Productions (this is just the blog portion).

Short Reel

Short Reel from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

Search Engine Marketing

Here is an interesting blog about SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and the need for a website to "create value or die."

SEM
What is it: The strategy of having your website appear first in google searches and having a widespread Internet presence.

Why do I care: "With most customers today going first to the web before making any major purchase decision, you need to make sure they are finding, and choosing, you!"
-ANLA of Louisville, Kentucky

How: Get a lot of visitors and a lot of links to your site.
1. Create valued content
-write copy, produce videos, create applications, post pictures....anything viral or useful that would make users want to link to your site

2. Create a conversation with the user so they feel valued.
-correspond via comments/forums/personal messages
-incorporate a social network
-interaction
-have users create content for the site

3. Use valued or easily remembered words
A. your domain name
-purchase all variations of the name (.org, .tv, .net) and redirect them to the same place
B. website title
-your html title tag is one item that google uses to determine its search
C. meta tags
-list key words in your meta tags in the html, google uses these keywords for their search too
-use independent meta tags for different pages

4. Keep it user friendly
-easily navigable design
-no information overload

Tatnall Swimming

Here is a video for the DIAA state championships for boys and girls swimming & diving. Here it is on Tatnall's site.

Tatnall Swimming from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

Tatnall Ice Hockey

Here is a video that documents the Tatnall School ice hockey team and the state championship game. The game was played this past Friday (2/26/10). Click here to see it on Tatnall's website.

Tatnall Hockey State Championship from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

Geo Apps

"Location-based advertising is poised to be a huge money maker with local and national advertisers alike looking to target consumers based on location and indications of purchase intent."
-Allison Mooney of Advertising Age

This article at Advertising Age introduces Socialight, which is a new platform that allows companies to create their own communities and geo-apps. The platform is set to launch this week. The article describes integration of LBS (location-based services) applications as a way to better connect with a customer through an advertising campaign. However, it does note that a company still needs to be doing more than just creating an app in order to connect with a customer.

The article reminded me of myRamsey, the mobile web application (just a promo-type) a group of students and I designed at UGA (see previous blog post for video). Our mobile web application didn't include any type of location based content, but it could have easily. If users were given an option to check whether or not they were at the Ramsey Center, or far from it, it would have made our goal of finding a work out partner at the click of a button simpler.

Sundance Trip Recap

Here is a video that recaps the start of our trip to Park City, Utah for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

The Sundance Trip from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

Tatnall Indoor Track Team

The Tatnall School participated in the Indoor Track State Championships this past Saturday. I was there to film the event for them. The boys team ended up winning the state championship, and the girls team placed 2nd in the state. Here is the video on their site.

Tatnall Sledding Video

My video of the day...I went out in the snow during recess at the Tatnall school and found some lower schoolers sledding. Shot and edited the video and it was up on Tatnall's website before school was let out.

Tatnall Sledding from Tatnall School on Vimeo.

Here it is at Tatnall's site.

Americans Consumed 33 Billion Internet Videos....This Past December

That's the claim of this article on downloadsquad.com. The article goes on further to note that 40% of the videos were watched on Youtube, and Hulu claimed second place with 3%. For each of these video websites, advertising is the main form of revenue. For now, companies that make their revenue from subscriptions (Netflix) are nowhere near as competitive (in terms of viewers, not total profit) with sites that depend on advertising. Does the winner in the battle of subscription vs. advertisements need viewers or profit to succeed?

Snow

Me in front of my Honda Accord (it's somewhere under there)

I'm sitting in Delaware right now in 25 inches of snow. Also, working on editing a final video recapping the Sundance trip. It will probably include a lot of the footage from the previous video (see previous blog post) but will also include interviews and more of a story. I'll post it as soon as it's done.

Paul Revere

I was walking down Main Street of Park City, when a reporter from CNN approached me. She had a laptop, which was playing a video from the "Drunk History" series. She filmed my reaction to the video and asked me what I thought about it. I told her I thought it'd be funny for people to make their own. So, last night Eric Valle consumed 11 Natty Lights, 4 shots of Jager, 1 shirley temple, and 1/2 box of Cheez Its...

Drunk History Paul Revere from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

This morning we attended a round-table discussion on documentary production and are now waiting outside the theatre to see Welcome to the Rileys.

Sundance Part 2

http://vimeo.com/9014170

Sundance 1/25/10 from Chris Pamm on Vimeo.

We just got out of the hilarious film called Douchebag. We are now on our way to Shorts Program 4.

Sundance Photos

I took this picture standing on a chair over the balcony at a bar on Main Street.

JP, Hannah, and I outside one of the theaters


Main Street in Park City



The mountains on the way from the SLC airport to Park City

(all of these pictures, plus many more can be found on Jp's facebook page).

Sundance Days 1-2

Just in case the previous video post isn't working, here is the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkrRQV7NwGw

Just ran into Pauly Shore on Main St. He was hammered.

At the fray concert

I passed the guy from Supersize Me (Morgan Spurlock) in the street. After barely getting in via waitlist, JP and I are now in the theater to see Howl.

Sundance Days 1-2

Spike Jonze's short "I'm Here"

Sheldon recharges after a long day

This article gives much praise to Spike Jonze's new short I'm Here. The film is a love story about two robots that live in a world similar to the present, but where humans and robots coexist. The protagonist, a male robot named Sheldon, finds himself falling for an accident-prone female robot. In a way that seems like a one sided Gift of the Magi, he sacrifices his limbs to replace hers, leaving him with only a head.
The film is quirky and the storyline is simple, but the viewer is always glued to the screen waiting to see what will happen next. The editing and mis en scene seem typical of a short romantic comedy, yet there are little subtleties that make the characters and story unique. Overall, I didn't think that the short lived up to the praise it receives in the LA Times. The special effects were amazing, but I expected Spike Jonze to push the boundaries further than he did.

We were just messing around with an interactive 3D map in the New Frontier Center. Robert Redford walked up and we zoomed in on his house in Utah.

JP, Hannah, and I are sitting in the Eccles Theatre waiting for Shorts Program 1 to start.

Rode back to the place with a taxi driver/ski bum who last summer was air lifted out of Pakistan after a wipe out. Hittin the hay after shots with Brazilians.

We are planning on helping set up shoots, and may get time in front of the camera. Look for us tomorrow on CNN and at www.einsiders.com

Luke and I just left a hotel where we met a film crew for E Insider. They offered us volunteer positions on their crew for the shoot tomorrow so thats the plan

Look for us on CNN. We werew just interviewed watching and talking about an internet short.

Just introduced myself to Joe and told him I lliked what he was doing with HitRecord. He was on his way there

We woke up this morning to tons of snow outside. I was curled up next to a fireplace and JP slept in a chair. Joseph Gordon Levitt just got on the bus with us.

We are in the shuttle and on our way to the festival. We're riding with a writer from milan, italy and a volunteer from san francisco.

We have arrived in salt lake city. I'm on my way to the baggage claim to take the shuttle to Park City. The Sundance trip has begun.

HitRECord, Ted Hope

A little over a year ago, Ted Hope made a speech to the Arthouse Convergence in Salt Lake City. He spoke of the future for filmmakers and film exhibitors. Here is in excerpt from the speech:

"I believe in – and I know you do too, or else you wouldn’t be here now:

- The power of organization.

- The influence of collective action.

- The incredible results of collaboration.

- And all that entire great cinema inspires."

This philosophy corresponds with the same goals and vision of HitRECord.org (see post below)

Ted Hope went on to talk about some of the new tools for filmmakers, "Community, collaboration, and appreciation. These tools are the new tools. These are the good old tools. These tools are where our marketing money also now needs to be spent."

HitRECord

HitRECord.org is an new collaborative production company founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The idea is that any form of media (on the site the call them Records) can be uploaded and edited by anyone, resulting in a collaborative piece of art. For example, let's say one person uploads a song that they have mixed in garage band to the site. Within minutes, another person has downloaded it, remixed their own version, and uploaded it again. Then another person shoots a music video to the song, etc. The end result is a music video that was made by a talented group of people who don't even know each other. Then Joseph Gordon-Levitt comes into the equation to bridge the gap between new media and the old. His production company sells the final product and earns a profit, which is then distributed to the other collaborators of the project.
Sure this new type of production generates a lot of questions, but I think the idea of a bridge between new and old media in general is important. HitRecord.org may not be the future of production, but it at least is helping to pave the way. Check it out.

Sundance Pre-Festival Buzz

Here are four films that I'm looking forward to seeing at the Sundance Film Festival.

1. Welcome to the Rileys

The log line for this film is "trauma transforms us". It's about a couple that are grieving the death of their teenage daughter. The wife battles agoraphobia, the husband cheats on her with a waitress, the wife goes to reclaim him after he leaves for New Orleans. Oh, by the way, Kristen Stewart plays a stripper.

2. All of the Shorts Programs
I want to see as many as possible. Read the previous blog post.

3. Howl
This is the film with the most pre-festival buzz. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, this drama about the 1957 trial of the poem Howl and the life of Allen Ginsburg's is sure to be one of the stand outs of the festival. Gus Van Sant is an executive producer on the film, and the cast boasts names like James Franco, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jeff Daniels.

4. Douchebag
I'm going to see this one for the title. However, it also looks like a story filled with unique relationships, quirky drama, and a roadtrip.

Other films: Hesher, The Company Men, The Killer Inside Me, The Runaways

Info gathered from the B-side Sundance guide.

New Website

Here is the new website for Pamm Productions. It was made using Flash and is completely different from the old site. Check it out.

Short Films at Sundance

"I’ve always felt that anyone who is truly interested in independent film should pay attention to shorts. They are often an indication of what’s coming down the creative pike."

-- Robert Redford, Sundance Institute President and Founder

Here is a website that includes five short films that were made by filmmakers at the request of the Sundance Institute. The films were made specifically for the small screen, which would suggest that they made use of different shot framing and editing techniques that are more suited for smaller screens. I hope to see as many sort films as I can during the festival to gain more insight into "what's coming down the creative pike."

Speed

Here is an article about the marketing strategies of feature films. The article discusses the distribution of marketing funds when it comes to promoting big-budget pictures. The article notes that there is a shift in strategy noting, "studio promo efforts have become more targeted, looking to engage core audiences in key demos more directly and actively."
As marketing strategies continue to shift, they are headed towards much more digital and interactive forms of media. This allows for more opportunities to be creative with an area of marketing that still needs more in depth exploration.