No Choice: Twitter is the New Media Networking 'Man'

Some of You May Remember my old post about Twitter ruining television during an episode of Fringe and my hatred for a site that resembled an elaborate Facebook status that has celeb appeal. Well it seems after years of resisting this bird that looms over the media vein that is the internet it has finally pecked its way into my necessities, in the same way dirty cops force drug dealers to give them a cut in Superfly, twitter has made me cave in. I have an account.

It all started with Charlie Sheen, as most good stories do. His controversial and viral tigerblood internship got my opportunity clock ticking and I knew I would have to get the account if I wanted to be his media intern. So just like one in a million people, I gave it a shot.

Twitter is still not my favorite thing in the world, for me it is a networking necessity, a tool, not a means to communicate casually. For myself it is to find the media and film workers I have dreamed of working with, and follow them, keep in touch with how they network, and slowly but surely network with others in the same position as me. It is also a wonderful way to self promote, now another necessity. After Twitter has come into my life I realize posting links and videos on facebook is near useless when I could post them somewhere where potential employment interests are waiting to follow and get follow-backs. Posting shout outs to those looking for new artists and interesting online channels, blogs, and film makers makes getting viewers and fans very easy. All because of one little virtual blue bird.

I will admit I have made lists to help me keep in touch with friends and such, and it is fun to Tweet about how you liked the last film you watched, or how your film project is going, but you see? When it comes down to it, it's all about branding yourself for all to see and potentially take interest in. I hate to say it boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen.....If you are contemplating a job in media....Get Twitter!

Christian A.V. Petrozza

Human Virality: Kevin MacDonald and Ridley Scott show us 'Life In a Day'

On July 24th 2010 Director Kevin MacDonald and Producer/Director Ridley Scott posted an international challenge on Youtube for anyone, with any camera, to film that exact day, morning to night, and show us, Life in a Day.

The objectives for those filming around the globe were prompted by questions like "what do you fear?", "What do you carry in your pockets?", "Where do you work?", and so on. This footage would be edited down into a 90 minute film to be screened at the Sundance film festival.

Vidcred- Christian A.V. Petrozza

Photocred- Christian A.V. Petrozza

I had personally partook in the venture and filmed a few tapes of footage upon the designated day. In total, the amount of footage that was collected from around the world consisted of over 4,500 hours. Although I was happy to find out one of my clips made it into the top 100 hours, it did not make it into the final cut, but their end product was impressive.

Last night, Life in a Day was screened at the festival and was also live streamed on their designated Youtube Channel for the whole world to see. The concept and ability to simultaneously show the world people, places, and opinions they had never seen or experienced before made the "eventness factor" of watching it on my simple laptop mind-blowing. The film was intended to be a way of developing human interaction and understanding of different people, classes, cultures, dreams, and beliefs. From the gardener of an oil prince in Dubai, to a living-large American speeding in a Lamborghini, the film as captured by countless people around the world, makes us laugh, cry, cheer, and fall in love.

The intention of using virality as a means of international unity and understanding was used to its full potential by the team of Life in a Day and much like the films made by Ridley Scott, convey a fair, engaging, and loving view of all people, places, and things. This new avenue of producing a mainstream production through a viral vein has given a whole new interaction with Hollywood and the world, rather than Hollywood versus the World.

Christian A.V. Petrozza