Animoto love November 9, 2010

Our COM 509 assignment a few weeks ago was to conduct an independent learning project. We were assigned to explore an area of social media we did not have any experience using or perhaps know anything about.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I decided to explore Animoto after I watched a video created using this application and was extremely impressed with its professional look. Since that post, I know you have been dying to find out how my Animoto experience went and I am proud to tell you I succeeded in creating an awesome video.

I began my learning project by researching what Animoto was and whether or not there were any other similar websites available. I found out that anything similar to Animoto was no longer in existence or not as versital. For instance, some just used pictures and others were simply not as exciting.

This SlideShare presentation I created explains step by step how to create a video and a little more detail on my research. The slide share is short and you will be on your way to making your own video in minutes! (The videos did not upload correctly but you can find it at Animoto)

This application is not something to be scared of because it takes no time or effort and if you feel like you messed up or don’t like the final product, they will recreate another one for you.

The uploading process goes quickly as long as your internet connection is pretty fast (thank you McDonalds WiFi). I did not include any video because we did not take any this semester I could use so using video may also slow down the process.

I was so proud of my video I watched the 30 second clip 10 times in a row and instantly uploaded it to Facebook to share with my sorority. This is definitely easy to use and an excellent promotional tool for an organization. In under an hour (it was hard deciding what photos to use) I created an upbeat recap of our semester and it is something we can use at our rush next Spring. This video is also something we can put on Facebook and YouTube for constant promotion.

When I began learning about Animoto I was impressed but thought it would just make my photos move. This was not true. I feel like a professional and I want to turn all of my photos into videos! Making one 30 second video is not enough, it’s addicting. I love this application and I encourage everyone to try it!

Is this real life? October 22, 2010

This week at Campus Crusade for Christ’s Fusion, I was definitely distracted by the fact that I needed to write a blog before the night was over and then out of no where, as though a sign from God, the Fusion team used Animoto to create a publicity video and this blog was born.

This week in class, we discussed video sharing, and though I am familiar with the programs used to post them on websites, I had never worked with any video editing software before. As I watched this video in Fusion I thought to myself, “I wish I was that talented,” but as it turns out, I can be!

Free software, such as Animoto, makes it really easy to download your images or video and give it minimal guidance and it will create a professional looking video to share. Another really easy way to create a simple but professional video in 30 minutes is by using a flip camera. Our professor, Melinda Arnold, created a video ready for upload in a five-minute demonstration during class because the camera comes with its own software. Videos can become viral instantly regardless of how much time or money you spend, or hire someone to spend, creating a video.

Another innovative way to incorporate video into an organization or company is through live streaming. For instance, Mizzou has developed its own channel on USTREAM to stream video of different homecoming activities.

Having the ability to include people outside of the actual event promotes the school, homecoming, the organizations involved and even lets me  watch my best friends dance despite the fact that they are three hours away. USTREAM preserves these files so people who missed the live stream can view them at a later date, and even gives the option to embed or download the live stream.

I find it amazing how anyone can create a video and regardless of its quality, it can become viral instantly.  “David After Dentist” is not any less funny because it was shot in a car on a simple home video recorder. A man simply videotaped his son doing something, uploaded it, and the world found it to be funny enough that poor David is now as well-known as a celebrity.

If you are looking for a way to publicize an event or organization, grab a camera and within 30 minutes, the world will see whatever it is you would like them to see. It is a fantastic publicity tool that takes little effort and time and definitely worth utilizing because it is free!

Spoiler alert: I am going to end this conversation here because our next class assignment is a learning assigment when I will attempt to learn a new form of social media.  Therefore, you can be sure to find a blog update on how my personal experience goes with these tools. Perhaps it is not as easy as it seems? Stay tuned.

In the meantime, I leave you with YouTube sensation, David.