Links:

This is my list resources used.

Websites and main links:

• http://www.youtube.com
• http://www.vimeo.com
• http://s1.zetaboards.com/NextTopVidder/site/
• http://www.youtube.com/user/thestation
• http://smosh.com
• http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
• http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10281571-93.html
• http://www.videomaker.com/issue/2010-01-01/
  

Success on the Net

Finding internet fame can be a difficult task, but it is a rising trend for new videographers. Many of the popular YouTube users, such as SxePhil, also run websites to generate extra revenue through advertisements. The more popular they become, the more they can be worth to advertisers and this is a unique phenomenon.

One particular internet duo I wish to shed some light on are Smosh. Smosh is a comedic duo starring Anthony and Ian, who rose to fame posting the funny video they filmed at home. The group has expanded far beyond this though. They now run their own website on which they host exclusive content such as bloopers and deleted scenes that are not available on their YouTube channel. They've developed games and contests for the site, and even run an online store. To see for yourself, you can checkout their website here.

The never ending battle...

As mentioned in previous posts, a big issue with YouTube has been copyright claims by major media companies. Claims are being made on music, video footage and other content. For the most part, YouTube has negotiated well. While TV shows and movies are obvious breaches, certain songs have been approved by companies to be used so long as additional advertisements are placed with them. Still, there are constant legal battles going on in the background of YouTube as everyone tries to get their piece of the pie.

Today though a few new battles have been won in court for Google's YouTube. According to CNet News "a federal judge to dismiss[ed] a number of the claims for statutory damages asked for by group of copyright holders that included a European soccer league and music publishers." The claims were dismissed on the grounds that the videos "were foreign works and weren't covered by U.S. copyright law." To see the full article click here.

Nothing is free

Have you ever heard the phrase "nothing is free?" In the world of video editing this is one phrase you'll get to know very well. While the internet may seem like a full, open access portal for music and stock footage, there are quite a few people out there still trying to make claim on what they believe to be theirs.

This is the issue know as copyright claims. While the internet may give you access to a wide variety of music and stock footage, using it in a video is an entirely different affair. Something as simple as adding a music track to one's video can get it banned or taken down from some websites. YouTube in particular has developed internal detection programs for locating audio and video that has been claimed by production companies across the globe. If the program detects an audio track that has a claim on it then the audio could be muted. If the video has footage that has a claim on it, the video will either be taken down or your account could be suspended (or both).

The only way to completely avoid this issue is to only use content that has been recorded and written by you. It can put a damper on one's creativity though if you're not a musician or you wish to make a fanvideo which unavoidably does use footage that you have not recorded yourself. Questions are also being raised regarding music that has been bought legally through iTunes. If you purchased this song, why can't you use it? That seems to be a question yet to be answered.

Abracadabra! It's time to edit!

To become a good digital video editor, you have to have the right tools. A computer, a firewire, and camera are all important components in filming process, but the editing software you use will likely be the most important tool you ever work with. This tool, this not-so-simple piece of software is the instrument that makes all the magic happen. It is a what a wand is to Harry Potter and it is what will make or break a person as a video editor.

This, of course, raises the question of what software do you choose? It would be nice to say that there is one perfect piece of software available that everyone will love but that is unfortunately not the case. Some programs will be too complicated for the common editor while others will not offer enough control. It all depends on the type of editing you wish to do and the hardware that you're working with.

A great site to get some information on all of this is TopTenReviews.com . They offer comprehensive reviews of some of the latest programs as well as comparisons on price. As someone new to the field, price is particularly important to consider as some of the more professional programs can get fairly expensive and may not be worth the investment if you're not serious about editing.

More than just a competition...

Are you good enough to be "YouTubes's next top Vidder?" That's what the creators of this online competition are asking. But strangely enough, that isn't actually the competitions biggest concern.

For those unfamiliar, "YouTube's Next Top Vidder" is an online competition hosted by some of YouTube's more popular video editors. Over the years, these artists have gathered a quite following with hundreds of subscribers from all over the globe. In the competition, they create video editing challenges and act as judges for the new competing artists.

The goal of the competition though is not actually to find the "Top Vidder." While gaining the title would be nice, the point of this competition is to help some new, but talented video editors get exposure in the YouTube community. This may seem like an inconsequential goal to some, but anyone who's posted a video for the first time will realize how difficult it is to get feedback on their work. They're competing with millions of other people uploading every day. This competition is great way to gain exposure, and hopefully, some new subscribers in the YouTube community.

Techno Translations

There has been a lot of talk in this blog about what videography is and, more specifically, where to find it. But where does one get the tools? And what does one do once they have those tools? It's good to decide that you have an interest in the field but knowing where to start can get tricky.

A good place that I'd recommend is VideoMaker.com . The site is a great resource for editing tutorials, software reviews, and introductions to the hardware that you'll need when starting a video editing project.

Also, though it seems a bit out of character given the field, if you're still not as comfortable reading off the internet, the company also publishes a magazine. Just as on the website, the magazine allows you to read up on current reviews of the latest technologies and softwares available to an aspiring video editor.

The rise of the independent videographer

A case study:
The Station

Now that you’ve taken a look at one of the main video hosting sites, it might be a good idea to look at your competition. Video editing doesn’t have to be a competition of course, but one does make their videos so that they can be seen and the only way that can happen is to gain a bit of fame. A prime example of this is a Youtube group called “The Station.”

What started as a group of scattered, independent bloggers has turned into an online phenomenon. The Station, for those unfamiliar, is a Youtube channel comprised of almost a dozen bloggers and videographers. All the members have their own channels and all have risen in the Youtube world through their own work. In contrast to this independent streak, The Station is a channel dedicated to the collaborations of these artists. They are a modern day Group of Seven. They are the online artists capturing the modern day world and sending it back out in parody.

20 years ago, a group like this would not have been possible. The technology simply did not exist. But increased availability of video editing software and an easily accessible platform for sharing these videos has created an online revolution. Film makers who might not have had the resources can easily and cheaply share their work with the world.

Youtube... more than just a website

Movie trailers, singing cats, and yapping bloggers are just three of the things Youtube.com is known for. For those unfamiliar with the site, it is, in short, a video hosting site where users can post and share videos made by them. The name itself says a lot about the mission of the site. It is a platform to share videos by “YOU” with the world.

The site itself provides various features. With an account, one can rate and comment on the works of other users. If one likes the work of a user, they can subscribe to this user’s channel and receive updates every time there is a new post. The most important feature though is the speed. The fast loading videos and decent video quality have made it an attractive platform to internet users.

Not surprisingly, the quality of the site has made it a breeding ground for new online subcultures. Editors and artists can gather and compare their works and when one knows where to look, they can find some very impressive pieces of digital editing, far beyond that which they would see done by the common blogger.

For an aspiring video editor, this is great site to check out.

A strange new world...

Videography... this is a word that most people outside the film world have rarely heard of. So understanding its role on the net can be strange for the casual visitor to the digital world. If you’re feeling out of sorts, don’t feel too bad though. This new concept has actually only spawned within the last two decades. Before this time, the technology to dabble in this field simply did not exist. Film makers were still filming and digital video editing had begun, but there was simply no outlet for independent film makers to share their content. Then came the internet.

This interconnected web of programs and documents has not only been the catalyst but also the means for the rise of a unique subculture. Sites like Youtube, Veoh, and Vimeo have provided video editors across the globe with free and accessible outlets for sharing and gaining critique of their work. The increased availability of editing technology has also made the field far more accessible to the average person.

So where do you fit into all of this? I may preach about the accessibility of this field but knowing where to start can still be a challenge. The answer to that depends on you. Is this going to be a hobby or a career? Are you interested in making films or music videos? How much about digital editing do you already know? Finding a starting point can be a difficult task, but the hope of this blog is to provide a platform for diving into this strange new world.

About me...

When it comes to a topic like video editing, one should probably know a bit about the person they're taking advice from. So let's start...

My name is Caitlin. I'm university student majoring in journalism with a background in communication studies. I started video editing when I was 11 years old when my family bought their first video camera and now, at age 21, I have learned much about the topic of modern digital video editing.

I'll admit, it was not until five years ago that I even knew anything about the concept of a "fandom", "fanvid", or the video editing craze that would explode across the internet with the creation of Youtube. But I have since been sucked into this artistic world and have experimented thoroughly with many of the tools that modern technology has to offer.

It is my hope with this blog to give you an insiders look into the world of digital video editing and subcultures that have arisen around this art. Though you may not believe me right now, you'll soon see this is a far more controversial and exciting topic than any non-geek would have expected.