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So I just created a Youtube account (had one years ago but the password reset emails I request never seem to arrive in my email inbox), and subsequently subscribed to Rick, screenrider, Michael and George's Youtube channels. Anyone else wants a sub, let me know.
But this got me thinking. And bear with me here because I don't know much about how Youtube works, but what I'm suggesting should be possible, right? Why doesn't someone (I'm looking at people like Mr. Cornetto here) set up a Simplyscripts Youtube channel? It could link to the videos of scripts people have had filmed, or videos that members have made themselves...you could even upload the Simplyscripts Radio episodes, and just have still images to accompany them. Everyone on here could subscribe to it, and we could encourage anyone we know who has any connection to Simplyscripts to subscribe to it, too. More subscriptions all round, and potentially more views for everything that we as a community have made.
We could also refer people back to the original site, and the wealth of great unproduced scripts that are just sitting here, waiting to be made. More traffic for the site, perhaps more members for the community...who knows? Exposure for the site means exposure for all of us members. If, as a collective community, we establish a presence elsewhere online, particularly in a place as teeming with potential and actual film-makers as Youtube, then we could all profit from that. Or at least, that's how I see it. I stumbled on this place pretty much by chance, and I'm guessing a lot of you did, too. But if we could put ourselves out there as a vibrant, talented community, then we can lead people here, and we might reap rewards from that.
As I say, though, I don't know a great deal about how these things work. I'm trying to engage with it, but I'm still learning. So this could be a good idea, or it could suck. Thoughts?
SS members who wanted to, could post their produced scripts on the channel, with links to the actual scripts here. It would also allow for links to any member's own channels, or whatever else they wanted.
...you could even upload the Simplyscripts Radio episodes, and just have still images to accompany them.
I can just imagine there being an image for every single subject said in a sentence. So there'd be quick images that flash by, and repeated images whenever the subject is said more than once. Kind of like the "Powerthirst" video:
1. You tube videos are 10 minutes or less - Simply Radio is 30 to 35 minutes each episode. That means someone has to cut each of these episodes in to 3 or 4 sections that don't end in mid-sentence.
2. Someone would have to take the cuts segments, add relevant images, and convert the whole thing to video.
3. Someone has to upload the video to You Tube.
That's 4-5 hours of work right there and someone will have to do that every couple of weeks without fail, no being sick, no not doing it because you're bored of doing it.
Is anyone out there ready for that kind of commitment? I don't have the time, do you? Do you have the equipment and software that is needed?
On the other hand, I've invested a bunch of time getting CGTV to have at least some audience and insuring that it will continue to grow. There are plans for other shows like The Dark or The Avant-Video-Guarde show (Oops! that's supposed to be a secret). You are welcome to utilise my audience, if you have a video you think is appropriate then let me know.
Okay, so maybe putting up the SimplyScripts Radio episodes isn't a realistic idea.
But I still think that a Simplyscripts channel, essentially acting as a hub for all the Youtube videos that SS members, in whatever capacity, have been involved in, is. Think about it - Rick's work, Tyler's work, your own work, Matt's work and promos for Casting Kristen, the shorts Mike's had filmed, and so much more besides - all in one place.
This is a site for the scripts, that could be a home for the finished films.
Only one person can access a You Tube account unless you share the user name and password. Who is going to be in charge of the user name password and decide who to give it to? Who is going to set up the channel and decorate it? Who is going to answer correspondence that comes to the channel? Who is going to deal with You Tube when they want to take a video down? Yes they are bastards about that. Who is going to accept friend requests? Who is going to go around and favourite the posted films? Who is going to upload films if someone requests to have their film uploaded? How will you obtain a copy of the film they want to upload so that you can upload it? Who is going to take a film down if someone requests to take it down? Who is going to decide whether or not a film should be on the channel? What about the films that aren't on You Tube?
All of these questions I've asked are not meant to discourage you - they are legitimate questions that need to be considered before you go off and do something like this.
I'm not discouraged - I'm not saying there wouldn't be work involved, I'm just saying that I think it would be a worthwhile endeavour. Does no-one else think that it would worth it?
Let me try and answer your questions.
Quoted from mcornetto
Only one person can access a You Tube account unless you share the user name and password. Who is going to be in charge of the user name password and decide who to give it to?
Anyone willing to work on the channel. And Don, obviously. Any channel would need the Big Guy's approval.
Quoted from mcornetto
Who is going to set up the channel and decorate it?
Well, preferably someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to web design. I set up a channel yesterday - it took ten minutes. Granted it's probably not the best looking channel on the whole site, but it's perfectly servicable. How long did CGTV take to actually set up?
Quoted from mcornetto
Who is going to answer correspondence that comes to the channel? Who is going to deal with You Tube when they want to take a video down? Yes they are bastards about that. Who is going to accept friend requests?
Again, if a group of people have the password, they can deal with that.
Quoted from mcornetto
Who is going to go around and favourite the posted films?
I was thinking people could actually submit their films (in a thread, by email, whatever), rather than having to track them all down. If they supply the links, that shouldn't take TOO long.
Quoted from mcornetto
Who is going to upload films if someone requests to have their film uploaded? How will you obtain a copy of the film they want to upload so that you can upload it?
I don't know enough about Youtube to answer that one. I suppose it would be better to have SS members' videos as favourites rather than uploads. Uploads could be things like OWC announcements, or previews from iScript recordings and SimplyScripts Radio episodes, stuff like that.
Quoted from mcornetto
Who is going to take a film down if someone requests to take it down? Who is going to decide whether or not a film should be on the channel?
The group of people who have the password. A film would qualify if everyone involved in making it was happy for it to be on the channel, and the people submitting it could prove they had a genuine connection to SS.
Quoted from mcornetto
What about the films that aren't on You Tube?
Simple. It wouldn't be on the channel.
What I'm proposing here isn't a fully-formed idea. I just wondered if anyone thought it might be an interesting development, and one that could potentially reap rewards. I don't know masses about Youtube, so if any answer I've given is unrealistic, naive or just plain incorrect, tell me.
And just in case anyone thinks I'm talking hypothetically, or looking to pass the buck here: if we can come up with a workable plan of action, I'm happy to put the time in to help make it happen. I couldn't do it alone, but I'd definitely pull my weight. I like projects, and this could be a good'un.
I think the idea is good, but someone with the time to deal with it would have to be the one in charge of it. I doubt Don would take any issue with someone else doing this and being in charge of it, since the site has enough responsibility. And those of us with 10+ minute videos are well aware that the director's accounts were removed by YouTube. 10 minutes is the limit., and there's no getting around that. They know how big they are, and they aren't afraid to show you that if they feel the desire to.
The software to do what Cornetto said in regards to busting up the podcast and such is nothing more complicated than Windows Moviemaker. That freebie will take MP3s for audio and you can overlay pictures in it. It's not the most robust moviemaking program, but it can handle simple things like this.
Still, it isn't a bad idea to kick around. Someone might bite.
1. You tube videos are 10 minutes or less - Simply Radio is 30 to 35 minutes each episode. That means someone has to cut each of these episodes in to 3 or 4 sections that don't end in mid-sentence.
I can show you videos that last more than 20mins on YouTube. And I'm not talking one or two videos.
I can show you videos that last more than 20mins on YouTube. And I'm not talking one or two videos.
Javier
Grandfathered in, most likely. I've scoured YouTube to see if you can do more than 10 minutes before, and I used to have a director account. Just didn't have anything more than 10 mins at the time. Whatever you used to be able to do, you can't do more than 10 anymore.