2 New Videobloggers

I have had an intense past couple weeks...mainly in my head.
Tonight, I looked up and see that a couple of really strong videobloggers have arrived and are here to stay.

First, this woman popped up.
Lesley James out of Washington DC produces Phatalspin.
Here's a classic video post:

It blew me away...read the text she wrote with it.
She's amazing.
Come on...where else can you find this stuff?
Im keeping an eye out on her work.

The next videoblogger to arrive on the scene is Raymond out of Norway.
He produces a DLTQ.
In the past week, he's posted like 10 videos.
He uses limited tools...a digital still camera that takes short videos...and edits with Quicktime Pro.

He's been documenting his discoveries in short videos.
You can sense his excitement and see the "Click".
Raymond is also very politically active in Norway and may be the first to use videoblogging to organize for a political agenda.

When Peter and I first started the videoblogging group back in May 2004, we really didnt know what to expect.
I never could have imagined so many cool, diverse people coming together so quickly.
I can't believe I can jump on the internet and see people talking to me. (this is how it feels)
This is not TV.
These are videos made by people who are trying to start a conversation.
Videobloggers expect you to answer back.
It's a whole new style.
Usually short videos under 5 minutes. Creative and personal.
What I realize is that many of us have been working towards this..and now we're coming together.
It's just so obvious:
Use inexpensive digital cameras to record life around us.
Use the simplicity of blog software to regularly post video to the web.
Use RSS feeds to easily distribute your videos.
Use an RSS reader like me-tv to bring it all into one place.

We are now free of geographical limits.
Videoblogging is truly an active example of free speech.
And the community that is growing around videoblogging is what makes any video valuable.
We can, and are, talking to each other on much deeper levels.
No exaggeration.

Comments

[Chuck Olsen]

Right on brother.

Global Voices Covenant 0.2
We believe in free speech: in protecting the right to speak -- and the right to listen. We believe in universal access to the tools of speech.

To that end, we want to enable everyone who wants to speak to have the means to speak -- and everyone who wants to hear that speech, the means to listen to it.

Thanks to new tools, speech need no longer be controlled by those who own the means of publishing and distribution, or by governments that would restrict thought and communication. Now, anyone can wield the power of the press. Everyone can tell their stories to the world.

We want to build bridges across the gulfs of culture and language that divide people, so as to understand each other more fully. We want to work together more effectively, and act more powerfully.

We believe in the power of direct connection. The bond between individuals from different worlds is personal, political and powerful. We believe conversation across boundaries is essential to a future that is free, fair, prosperous and sustainable - for all citizens of this planet.

While we continue to work and speak as individuals, we also want to identify and promote our shared interests and goals. We pledge to respect, assist, teach, learn from, and listen to one other.

We are Global Voices.

[JDaniels]

I like both of these videos immensely. The first video gets beyond the painfully narcisstic temptations of the video blog (most of what I have seen falls victim to.)
It goes way beyond a short video blog that I created and Felicia posted at myeye.ltc.org in terms of transmitting culture. Beautiful.

The second speaker is more articulate than most of the American Video Bloggers and brings up may good ideas.

Here are some of my rough thoughts.

I am entrenched in the community media scene it has shaped my opinion that that making the technology easier is important but perhpas not the essential. The work of videoblogging in terms of concept development - production - compression - web maintenance and sustainability are perhaps more than most single individuals want to - could - or should - take on.

Or rather, look at it positively as strength in numbers.

The key might be working together (which is scary for many especially those entrenched in technology) in small collectives. It would be interesting to see the grassroots video movement come full circle and return to the collective nature from which it sprung. The knowledge and ideas and ability to post - it's people working together, like a team of superheros - or the Goonies - a collective effort.

[rmk]

Yes, working together is the key. At the beginning I did not really see the point of "playlists", but now I am beginning to see that it could be a fun way to collaborate.

Apart from that, local content creation is key. Bring those creative forces sparkling..

This is an adventure. Who knows where we end up.