Twitter demystified
Okay. I can’t do this anymore. If one more loyal Facebook user laughs at the absurdity of Twitter, I’m gonna punch a baby in the face. Seriously. I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand about social applications such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to ask what the benefits are / how it works / what’s the best use of the app / etc… but when people roll their eyes and can’t fathom why anyone in their right mind would use something like Twitter, I start grinding my teeth. “Hey Chachi, keep in mind that those Facebook status updates you think are so cool actually came from Twitter and then Facebook ripped them off.”
It’s really quite simple. For me, personally, I like to use three social apps: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Three. Not 27. Not even 9. Just three. Three simple-to-use apps that keep me connected to the outside world, allow me to communicate in an easy, non-obtrusive way with my friends and those I’ve never met. It gives me perspective, opens my mind a little more and lets me learn new things everyday. So before you get all stressed out and ask me how I “keep track of all these social websites on the Internet” or how I “find the time to do all of this” remember that I only use three. Also, I don’t “surf the web” like you do (that’s so Fall of 2002). So take the time you spend on your AOL or Yahoo! home page and then add up the links you click on in those emails you get from your aunt or sister or annoying office co-worker and what do you get? About 3 hours more a week than I spend on my apps. Remember, this is the way people are getting their news, watching videos and interacting. It’s not the future. It’s happening right now.
For me personally, I spend about an hour a month updating my LinkedIn page. I’m always updating my summary and old links, finding people and researching them, etc… I’m on Facebook at least 10 times a day. 90% of those visits are via my iPhone while standing in line, waiting for someone to get in my car, the restroom (just being honest) or when I wake up in the morning. I check Twitter via my iPhone probably more frequently than that (I use Tweetie by the way). I’d say 12-15 times a day, depending on how busy I am, whether or not I’m in the middle of doing something with my daughter or driving (it’s the law now!!).
Twitter is stream of consciousness. It’s micro-blogging. It truly is the thought cloud over your head. Plain & simple. Some people have funny little one liners. Some people link up interesting news stories or articles. Others tweet from a plane crash. There’s some celebrities and interesting brands on Twitter too. Twitter’s eclectic, never boring and there’s no limit to the number of people who can “follow” you. Facebook limits you to 5,000 friends. And like all good social apps, there’s privacy settings that put you, not the app, in control.
Think of it this way: I use LinkedIn to find & connect with colleagues. I use Facebook to connect with old friends, share media and see what everyone else is up to. And I use Twitter to see what’s popular, stay on top of trends, meet new people and dialogue. See? That wasn’t so scary now was it? Stop rolling your eyes.
By the way: me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Old TV spots for Ahern Pools
I found an old friend on Facebook tonight and was totally surprised when I visited his company’s website. Years ago, probably around 2000, I directed two TV spots for Tim Ahern’s company Ahern Pools. We did two spots with the Fischette twins and we filmed both day & night exteriors with several kids in and around the Conejo Valley. Scott Acosta was the jib operator and Tyler D’Askquith was the DP. I believe Marc Ritzema was a gaffer and a good sport about getting into the pool to set Hydroflex lights.
Anyway, the spots are pretty bad but I do remember how much fun we had making these and if I ever upgrade my pool, I know I’m calling Tim to do it.
Click here to watch both videos: Cave and Climber.
Fisher-Price did it right
I’m sure it’s not the first time a toy manufacturer has done something like this (and this project was created in 1999), but after my 3 year-old daughter got a present for Christmas this year, I couldn’t help write about it. It’s called Sarah Lynn’s Perfect Party and it’s a LittlePeople™ toy set and companion book. What makes this “toy” so brilliant is the fact that Fisher-Price did it right. They didn’t just make a toy that little girls would enjoy playing with for one or two weeks, they created an environment, wrote a compelling story and developed several interesting characters to accompany the toy. So before my daughter plays with the toy set, I read her the backstory and she enjoys acting out the story from the book with the toys. Suddenly, the characters from the book are right there in front her. She can hold them and move them around, interact with the story which is unlike most books and unlike most toys.
LittlePeople is Fisher-Price and Fisher-Price is Mattel and I have to admit, I have a new found respect for these guys. Miriam Kelley and Diana West wrote a cute little storybook and Judy Nostrant and the folks at S.I. International designed & illustrated the book.
I think I like it so much because it’s a great example of hybrid storytelling, a true “mixed format” of sorts. Book & toy, packaged together. And it works. It’s creative. What are some other examples of mixed format products (other than the obvious movie + merch scenarios like every tent pole movie and their fast food toy tie-ins) that you can think of?
Christian Films: theme vs. genre
I’m really torn on this one. On one hand, I believe a movie can have Christian themes but I don’t believe there can be a Christian genre per se. Typically, film themes center around concepts such as redemption, faith, hope, love, innocence, etc… but these are not genres. Additionally, all of the above themes can be found in a Christian-themed movie. Genres are typically defined as action, comedy, drama, western, Sci-fi, thriller, etc… I do believe that Christian films can fall into a specific format in the same way that Disney films carry a certain “family” genre connotation to them. But on the other hand, and this is where I’m torn, why can’t there be a Christian film genre in the same way that there’s a heist genre? Or an action-comedy genre? When I tell you that The Score is a heist movie, you immediately know what to expect: the desire to “get out” after the next score, planning the heist, the tension, the hook or twist or double-cross, the end. It’s simple. Well why can’t that apply to Christian films as well? The broken man, the search for something real, hitting rock bottom, finding Jesus, rebirth, new life… I have to admit, I’ll probably wrestle with for awhile. What do you think? Are Christian films more thematic or are they more niche genre films?
