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

Comedy is in Brevity: That Guy With The Glasses Goes Viral

An online film critic and founder of the "(Film) in 5 Seconds" internet phenomenon, That Guy With The Glasses (TGWTG) has made countless movie lovers, and haters come together in laughter at the spoofed and satirical renditions of films in their shortest form. Of course these films are either summarized in the most critical but comical manner but at the same time summarizing their value in their visual and stylistic aesthetics and poking fun at them by leaving most of the plot out.

The video below is one of his videos on Amadeus, a critically acclaimed film with an elegant and stylistic aesthetics. Instead of embracing them, TGWTG decides to use only the parts in which Mozart cracks his most contagious and nerdy laugh (which he does often in the film) and end it with his abrupt and gritty death. This struck a huge chord for me because upon first seeing the film and reflecting upon it those were the parts that I remembered, and like many others I nodded at my computer screen and thought That's pretty much the whole movie.

Since his videos became viral, many people have made other "5 Second" summaries of films not yet done, often crediting TGWTG in the very abrupt and quick end credits.

This culture of re cutting or critiquing a film through its key themes, or elements of style and script which could make it funny has also led to the internet phenomenon of re-cutting films into genre-specific trailers. 10 Things I Hate About Commandments (Based on Footage from Heston's The 10 Commandments) is an absolute favorite and prime example of how movie lovers engage in post-production activities to pay homage and have fun with their favorite good, or bad film.

Christian A.V. Petrozza




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