Earlier today, we announced a major initiative with the Guggenheim called YouTube Play: A Biennial of Creative Video. Basically, we're looking for animation, motion graphics, narrative, non-narrative, documentary work, music video or even entirely new art forms. The point is to garner some of the finest video-based creative work from across the globe and then to showcase it in a first-of-a-kind exhibit at Guggenheim museums in New York, Bilbao, Venice and Berlin later this year. There's lots more detail on this competition in the main YouTube blog.
And if you've seen the cool call-out video...
...there's also a neat behind-the-scenes video about how they achieved the special effects. It's worth checking out!
Join the worldwide cheer emanating from around the globe: the ecstatic, long-winded "Gooooooooaaallll" that comes when one's beloved team scores. Visa is inviting you to submit your best expression of the world "Gooooooooaaallll" on video, kind of like this guy:
On the channel, you can sort by country to hear the cheers from people in that part of the world, played back-to-back, if you like.
Filmmakers may want to take note of this contest from Philips, inviting you to create the sixth film in the "Parallel Lines" series. Watch this video for details:
Ridley Scott will choose the winning videographer, who will get a home cinema system from Philips and one week's worth of work experience at RSA Films in New York, London, Los Angeles or Hong Kong.
There will also be a public vote winner who'll get some cool stuff, too.
You've got until August 8, 2010 to enter. Official rules and more details are here. Good luck!
When it comes to opportunities to make videos and win cool stuff (from exposure on YouTube to cash to appearing on mainstream TV), there's a lot going on on YouTube right now. For this week's Weekend Project, a roundup of some current programs, their deadlines and what your participation might earn you:
Video Volunteers: Make a video supporting a women's organization and you could be featured on our homepage alongside Diane Von Furstenberg. DUE: May 26, 2010
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel wants you to wrap up a "thoughtless and cheap" gift and videotape your mom's reaction when she opens it on Mother's Day on Sunday. Title the video "Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Gave My Mother a Very Crappy Gift" and Kimmel will air the best ones on his show on Monday night.
This one's for all the teens out there with nothing to do this weekend. AFIScreenNation is teaming up with YMCA Y-Arts for a contest called TEENDOCS. The top three films will be screened at the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs International Documentary Conference held in June 2010 in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The task is simple (sort of): make a video about something you have an emotional interest in.
Outside of that, visit TEENDOCS.com for the official rules, but right here, right now you should also know that:
- It's open to all 13- to 19-year-olds living in the U.S.
- The films must be 10 minutes or less
- You must upload your film to YouTube, and then submit the link to your film at TEENDOCS.com
- You may enter as many films as you wish
- Films are due by May 1, 2010
For inspiration, check out some of the powerful films submitted by teens so far, as well as the "how-to" videos on the AFIScreenNation channel:
Over at PhotoJojo, they've got detailed instructions on how to make video panoramas from your digital camera's video clips. Video panoramas are like wide-angle moving collages. You kind of have to see it to see how neat it looks.
If you do try this out this weekend, we want to see how it turns out! Please leave the link to your video in the comments below. If we get enough cool landscapes, cityscapes and other videoramas, we can help promote them to a wider audience.
Videographers who are also good cooks might want to use the weekend to start thinking about this cooking video competition sponsored by Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Queen of Southern cooking Paula Deen is hosting a contest to find recipes that incorporate Philadelphia Cream Cheese in new, creative and, of course, tasty ways. During the next eight weeks, she'll be launching weekly competitions, giving aspiring chefs a chance to win a trip to Savannah, GA, and become one of the "Real Women of Philadelphia." (Sorry, guys. Deen says: "We're only looking for female chefs, but to all my men out there, you are welcome into the community.") Each Monday, she'll post a video of a side dish, appetizer or dessert to inspire your video submissions. All you have to do is submit a video featuring a recipe that includes cream cheese by that Friday. You can enter each competition as many times as you like, for as many weeks as you like.
If you're new to creating cooking videos, Paula's made a series of tutorials to help:
The first round starts on Monday, March 29, so be on the lookout for the latest video from Paula at http://www.youtube.com/user/LoveMyPhilly and get ready to show off you cooking (and video producing!) skills.
Project: Report, our video journalism contest in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center, is already in full swing: 10 finalists have proceeded to the second and final round of the competition, during which they'll vie for a $10,000 travel fellowship.
That said, there's still an opportunity to get in on the action, to win a Sony VAIO notebook. Here's what you have to do:
Report on a compelling topic or subject of any nature which you believe has not been sufficiently and/or accurately covered by the national media. All entries must be less than five minutes long and shot in High Definition.
Submissions are due by 12 p.m. ET on April 4, 2010. More details about the competition are here, on the Project: Report YouTube channel.
For our fifth birthday this year, we're looking to highlight unique stories that bring out the humanity, creativity and wealth of information found everyday on YouTube. To that end, we're hoping you can make a video that tells your "YouTube story" in two minutes or less: how has this platform changed your life, business, career, outlook, skills, sense of community or other? We'll be featuring some of these videos in our blog and on our homepage later this year. Please tag your video myytstory so we can find it. Happy weekend!
We'd like to highlight some of the funniest parodies of this year's Best Picture contenders; some examples are below. So if you've got some time this weekend, try your hand at one of these, then tag your video with "ytoscarparody" so we can find it on Oscar Day.
The 25th anniversary edition of "We Are the World" just debuted at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and is live now on YouTube. Producer Quincy Jones wants you to get involved -- not only by donating to help Haiti, but by making a video in which you record your own version of a classic verse from the song. Read more here in our interview with Jones, then upload a video response to this clip:
Paper hearts and chocolates are nice and all, but nothing says true love like a video valentine. Here are a few examples to get you in the mood for l-o-v-e.
Is there one issue facing the world today that you feel passionate about? Have you always wanted to take your cause directly to people who have the power to do something about it, but lacked access to have your voice heard? Now is your chance to make your pitch -- and win a spot at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where world leaders will gather to hear what you have to say about the issue that matters most to you.
There is just one week left to submit a video for the opportunity to go to Davos. Each year, heads of state, business leaders, and social entrepreneurs gather at the World Economic Forum to discuss the most critical challenges facing citizens and nations around the world. And this year, one of you will get direct access to a special panel of these leaders at the Forum, to let them know why your cause matters.
The submission deadline is Monday, January 4, 2010, and all videos should be no longer than three minutes. Speak clearly and from the heart. Five finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprised of Paolo Coelho, Arianna Huffington and Muhammad Yunus. These finalist videos will then go to public vote on January 8, with a winner announced on January 19.
This is the chance you've been waiting for... unprecedented access to the world's most powerful leaders who can make a difference for your cause. Visit the Davos YouTube channel to submit your video and make your pitch to the world.
Some people say that you're more likely to complete a task if you make a public commitment to do so. With that in mind, today's Weekend Project challenges you to make a New Year's resolution video. Let your friends and family know what you've sworn to do differently in 2010, and you might find the extra motivation to stick to your guns through the start of the year -- even if that motivation comes from some good old-fashioned peer pressure.
Once you've made your video, tag it "yt09resolution" and you might find yourself featured on the homepage at the end of the year.
How you express your resolve is up to you. This New Year Resolution song from RhettandLink reminds us all that resolutions can be tough to keep. Hopefully a video commitment will make it a little easier in 2010.
There's a ton of holiday-themed videos on YouTube, but one fun niche seems to be all the brickfilm expressions of holiday cheer and religious introspection.
We're planning to feature a selection of brickfilm holiday videos on our homepage on Christmas Day, so this weekend would be a perfect time to put those Legos and other building-block toys to work to tell holiday stories and spread some warm-and-fuzzies. Please tag your video with "yt09xmas" so we can find your creation and consider it for the homepage. Thanks!
With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to think about what form your greeting card will take. Let us suggest a video as fun (and generally inexpensive) way of letting family and friends know you're thinking about them. If you decide to incorporate pictures of the kids growing up over the year or snapshots from your '09 vacations, services like Animoto and One True Media can help you convert your photographs into a compelling video. They use YouTube APIs to make uploading to YouTube a breeze, too.
Here are some examples of "video cards" out there to get you inspired.
