YouTube: A Platform for Art?

The verdict is in. Yes, YouTube can definitely be considered a platform for art, at least in my opinion. As independent filmmakers, we know that incredibly talented artists are creating work, often in obscurity, around the world, every day. And now the Guggenheim is validating this incredible work, which can be posted in seconds on YouTube, as museum-worthy.

This year HP, Intel, and YouTube joined forces with the premiere art museum Guggenheim, with locations in New York, Berlin, Bilboa, and Venice, to showcase the best that YouTube has to offer. They held a contest to which 23,358 videos from 91 countries were submitted and from which 25 were chosen as the top. And it's pretty impressive. Check out the videos at

YouTube.com/Play.

According to Nancy Spector, Deputy Director and Chief Curator at the Guggenheim, the mission of the YouTube Play. A Biennial of Creative Video was to showcase "the most unique and innovative video work to be created and distributed online during the past two years." I was intrigued and excited to see a museum honoring the work of unknown artists who use a distribution platform available for free to the world (who has internet access of course).

And the artists were from around the world -- 14 countries to be exact. The U.S. had the most at 9. The jury included (but not limited to) visual artists, filmmakers, and musicians.

It's yet another example of barriers being leveled for artists to express themselves and reach their audience direct. Now there is still the matter of monetizing and earning a living as an artist but step by step. This is a start and let's keep going and building the foundation for allowing art to be a viable means of earning a living.

So thanks HP, Intel, YouTube and Guggenheim for taking your time and resources to honor art that is being posted online direct by the artist. It provides hope to those of us in the trenches who need to be creators in order to live.

The videos will be on view to the public at the NY Guggenheim from October 22 to 24.

Here is a pic from the opening reception, during which the top 25 videos were projected on the interior rotunda as well as the exterior facade of the New York Guggenheim. It was pretty cool to watch. They even had musicians playing live to the video projection. Overall, it was a very inspiring event. Congrats to the winners! Let's keep making great work. And do it together!

YouTube Play. A Biennial of Creative VideoGuggenheim Exterior Projection, October 21 & 22, 2010

Light projection

Guggenheim Museum, New York

© 2010 Obscura Digital, Inc.

Video: Travis Threlkel, Photo: Kristopher McKay

© The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York, 2010

A Relatable Video to Share from YouTube/Play

I am previewing some of the shortlisted films on the youtube/play Web site and I came across a very relevant depiction of our world today. I have a feeling I will be plugged in all night...

Here is a commentary on being Plugged In.

Back in New York -- Where My Film Career Began!

I have a love affair with New York City. I dreamt of New York since I was a little girl growing up in the far away land of suburban Detroit, Michigan -- which is a super awesome place itself. I wouldn't want to grow up anywhere else.

But as I cut the grass and went boating on the Great Lakes, I dreamt of the exciting lives New Yorkers were having in the City. I wanted the lifestyle of walking everywhere and shopping and eating on every corner and actually taking a subway that operated underground -- no disrespect to the above-ground people mover in Detroit.

And when my husband Steve and I moved to Brooklyn from Detroit, I was so happy. I was working in publishing as a writer and editor. I had left a great job in Detroit and even better friends and the warm, cozy womb of my family to move to a city where I had no job, no friends, and no family. And I had to put Steve through graduate school.

Good times! Boy, were they. Steve and I really grew up in New York. We learned how to make it on our own and figure out who we were and who we wanted to be. We fell deeper in love with each other and New York. The people of New York City are actually very warm and loving. We made some of our closest friends of our lives. And it was in New York that I found the courage to make the leap and follow my dream from producing books to producing movies.

So I am back now in the City for a couple of days rekindling my love affair. Thanks New York for all the great times! You will always be in my heart and on my mind! Hmm, maybe I need to make another movie here...next year!

YouTube Play & Guggenheim This Week

I'm heading to New York this week to attend the opening of a new exhibit at the Guggenheim of short films created by artists all over the world. 24/7 Creative invited me and HP & Intel are providing the travel and accommodations.

I'm excited to attend the reception and meet the talented filmmakers whose films have been selected to play at the Guggenheim as a celebration of the growing world of online video.

To check out some of the films, go to www.youtube.com/play. There is some really innovative work to watch.

24/7 Creative has started a great Facebook community for filmmakers, artists, designers, musicians and anyone who supports a more creative world. Enjoy!

How to Beat the Indie Financing System

There is an excellent article in Hollywood Reporter on Indie Financing. Everyone should read it. It's titled "How to Beat the Indie Financing System." Click here to read the story.

Which brings me to my next topic. Entertainment periodicals. If you want to produce films, you need to read either The Hollywood Reporter or Variety -- ideally both. If you can't afford them then go to your friend's office who has them and read them there.

When I couldn't afford them, I would take the old issues from friends and read them a week later.

It is so very important to stay up on industry news. You need to know key players in every field of filmmaking and even TV and Books and you should keep up on what movies are getting made and what talent is being cast, etc. Information is so valuable to your career.

Another good source of entertainment news is The Wrap. And their articles are free to read.

So come on everyone, get reading! Start with the article above.