Slick corporate website by Lexus that offers many high quality web video / series.
I’ve been watching Web Therapy staring Lisa Kudrow. Even Ray Manzarak (of The Doors) is featured in the series Break it Down.
Initially, I was skeptical of a slick upmarket brand going after some Internet buzz, but after spending some time on the website and with an open mind I believe their mission statement;
Inspiration for innovation
Lexus has always been inspired by finding unique ways to look at the world: searching, discovering and studying until we find the unexpected approach that gives rise to innovation. This exploration compels us to look beyond automobiles, to study nature and observe people as they move through the world.
L Studio is an eclectic collection of unique perspectives meant to inspire you. We’ve chosen surprising, intelligent and original work from the worlds of art, culture, design, science, entertainment, architecture and beyond. We hope that what you find at L Studio will spark new ideas and help you innovate in your own way.
In my opinion, this is an excellent way to fund and develop high quality content made for the Internet.
By now - most people have heard of the Webby Awards - and their five word aceptance speaches.
This year I like Jimmy Fallons speech (I’m a fan of Conan’s & Jimmy’s);
“Thank God Conan got promoted.”
But, to give a good sample of a winner’s website - I thought the Personal Website category would be best - and this one won both the Webby and the Peoples Voice awards;
This is a great site that many would have seen - it’s been published for about 6 years (since 2003). The publishers describe it as;
The Real News Network is a non-profit news and documentary network focused on providing independent and uncompromising journalism. Our staff, in collaboration with courageous journalists around the globe, will investigate, report and debate stories on the critical issues of our times. We are member supported and do not accept advertising, government or corporate funding.
The cool thing I’ve done is embedded code to display their latest videos;
BIG pictures that hang in a gallery, made by digitally ‘pasting’ thousands of images.
Hard to explain - so you should visit Chris Jordan’s website… but I’ll try;
On a 5 foot square image is a cool black & gray 3D looking sphere… when you look closer you see the sphere is made up of what appear to be cans. In fact, the image is 28,000 42-gallon barrels, the amount of oil consumed in the United States every two minutes.
So - each image also relates a frightening fact too.
Lots of large image files on the page - but worth the wait.
A couple years ago I remember reading about GenC (Generation C)… where “C” stands for content.
In short, with low cost digital cameras, video cameras and cheap (or free) software to edit content - there will (has been) an explosion of high quality user generated content.
I believe video in particular is only going to get better (faster Internet / more people creating it).
The ‘vlog’ revolution - is a big part of generation C (content creators). One of the most popular vlog is Rocketboom, as wikipedia says;
Rocketboom is a daily vlog produced by Andrew Baron. It was launched on October 26, 2004.
Last year (Aug ‘08) Rocketboom signed a reported 7 figure deal with Sony Pictures - goes to showhow serious ‘Free Media’ is being taken by the established media industry.
