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Journey into the innermost regions of The Daily Reel's "corporate" psyche as we rant, rave, and, yes, reel about online video.
TDR Does NYC, Has Rip-Roarin' Good Time
Delyle here. Michelle and I are kickin' it in NYC. Got in on the Friday nite/Saturday a.m. red-eye (big mistake, but we love jetblue!) and spent yesterday in glorious Washington Square Park for the YouTube meetup.
7.7.7 was pretty sweet. Lots of giddy YouTubers, journalists, and bewildered on-lookers -- even for Washington Square Park, the place was packed. But we had no trouble picking the lovely Steve Bryant out of the crowd.
The http://www.eepybird.com guys were all ready to do a huge Coke-and-Mentos demonstration, but the NYPD swooped in and, citing their lack of a permit for such a large-scale spectacle, pulled the plug on that. They still look great in their lab coats.
Then we headed uptown to The Grand to get our party on. Look who we ran into -- former TDR editor and current YouTuber Felicia Williams. It's like podcast in stereo!
Do You Get Hangovers After Viruses?
Last week's Paul Potts video explosion was a major boon in terms of traffic and quality video -- and a refreshing change of pace from the previous Paris Hilton mania. After all, what would you rather read about four times in three days: an inspiring underdog taking the world by storm with the power of his voice, or, well, Paris Hilton? I also liked the part where the office was filled with opera for a few days. This job is full of perks, but high culture is typically not one of them.
However, the Britain's Got Talent winner hasn't been news for three days now, and no video has yet stepped up to pick up the viral slack. I should have seen this coming, though, as it always seems that after a big thing like Paul Potts goes viral, the Internet takes a few days off. Why? I don't know. Viral videos usually infect people with that gotta-share-it energy -- maybe they need a break afterwards?
In theory, I don't mind the break, especially since with the upcoming launch of ReeledIn we've got plenty of other stuff going on. But it's still a little weird. It wasn't that crazy a party, Internet -- so what's with the hangover?
Dining with Dean
Jeff and I got the skinny today when we had an outdoor lunch and chat session with Howard Dean in Brentwood.
"In politics, if you're playing defense, you're losing." That was probably the defining statement made by Dean today at this little intimate gathering in Mandeville Canyon. He focused primarily on discussing the weakness of his party, and the strengths it plans to come back with come 2008. In person, Dean was incredibly friendly and sociable. He impressively remembered names from earlier introductions, and was able to let his anger, passion and emotion show to the small choir. Jeff and I agreed it was the best when he got visibly pissed.
It's totally clear that this man finally has found the right job path. As much as I love the guy, he's much better as the underlying strength and pillar of liberalism for the party, than a lightening rod candidate. Considering he made his closing arguments about his faith in the youth of tomorrow staring directly at me, I have to say I was quite moved by the experience. Even Jeff, who despite being a former Deaniac, came in a bit cynical about the current state of Dems, felt energized and optimistic.
Most exciting for us at The Daily Reel, was his enthusiasm about the internet and online video. Dean was thrilled about people contributing to the campaign through art, and expressed that the internet was the most important invention since the Gutenberg press and will in fact, save this country.
Amen to that.
(The Daily Reel has no political affiliations.)
This post paid for by Friends of Gore/Obama '08.
TDR BeerFest 2.0
TDR BeerFest 2.0 was a total success, offering a new and improved design (courtesy of Echo Park's The Short Stop) and enhanced features (Pac-Man, a photo booth, fantastic Julie behind the bar).
In attendance were representatives from Imageworks, Studio8, Feed Company, VideoJug, FunnyMovieInternet, NBC Universal, Psychic Bunny, Yahoo, Invisible Engine, UTA, Vosotros Music, and DigiSynd, among others.
Alex and Jeff kicked some serious pool table patootie, Spencer wooed the ladies and gents, Michelle mingled something fierce, and Liz took most of the pictures. Special congrats to TDR Techmaster Alec and his new FIANCEE Michelle! As you can see, it was a marvelous time.
Huge thanks to co-party-organizers Warner Brothers Records, who put together some sweet CD samplers for party attendees (we have some extras at the office, in case you didn't get one and need to rock out). Want to be in on the next upgrade -- I mean, party? Drop us a line!
