It's been a while since I've shared one of the Library's videos here, but our latest offering is getting a lot of attention. Our spring featurette is a spoof on "The Bachelor," and it's hilarious. The feedback we're getting is that this is one of our best efforts so far.
I'm particularly proud of the consistently great acting our intern team provides. They really put themselves out there and get silly for us.
I am already making plans for SxSw 2014, and it occurs to me I haven't posted any session recaps from this year's festival. In an effort to secure support to attend again, my co-worker and I prepared a report for our Dean about the sessions we attended, what we learned and how it applied to the Library. The final report was 66 pages long. That's a lot of blog posts.
To introduce the upcoming recaps, I thought I'd post a few videos to demonstrate why I keep going back to SxSW, even though it's insanely expensive, overcrowded, and a bit full of its self.
1. Live keynote from amazing speakers you didn't even know you wanted to hear.
In 2013, I heard Elon Musk (among others). Haven't heard of him? Me either. Evidently, he is the guy Tony Stark (Ironman) is based on. I heard the real life Ironman. Wahh?
2. Demos of the Next Big Thing
What will everyone be talking about in social media/technology this year? Whatever it is, they are probably planning to demo it at SxSw.
3. Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
SxSW is information overload. Between sessions, demos, trade show, events, and chats with random strangers I always come back with so inspiration for things to read, do and especially to think about.
One of the best parts of my job is having the opportunity to meet so many different and interesting people. On Sept. 20, I got to meet author Carl Hiaasen. He was super sweet, generous with his time and a great speaker. I will definitely recommend him to anyone looking for speakers.
Before the event I had the chance to interview Carl for O-State TV. This is was an interesting shoot for the team, because it was the first time we did a two-camera set up for an interview. For me, it was a first being on camera as the interviewer. After dozens of on camera interviews as the interviewee, this was a surprisingly different experience.
My team at the OSU Library has been busy at work creating video content for a new initiative at the University. They are churning out some great stuff, and I am super proud. Here's the latest PSA, Textbooks vs. Zombies.
Finals week on a college campus can be a stressful time for everyone. So each semester, we try to come up with something fun we can offer the students. Something that says, "Here, take a quick break and laugh at us being stupid. And, maybe if you feel like it, take a moment to be stupid with us."
This fall we decided to use our new video initiative and give the gift of dance dares. I think the funniest part is the fact that many of the employees who are getting dance dared are talking about this project as it happens to them.
This is what I do for a living. While shooting, a student from another department stopped me and asked, "Um, what's your job here?" It's awesome that's what it is.
Somehow this session was only an hour, but it's going to take me days to recap it. Up today: marketing to your sense of hearing.
Spectra: language translation tool Spectra is an app that allows you translate written or typed passages into a number of other languages. As of now I could only find it in the iTunes store. No android version just yet.
The session was moving pretty quickly, so I honestly don't remember and didn't note the marketing value of a handheld translator, but you have to admit, it's pretty cool.
Responsive Digital Signage If you've left the house in the last year, you probably come across some version of digital signage. I've seen them in malls, convention centers, doctors' offices, restaurants and even our very own OSU Student Union. Companies are now working to make the signs interactive. You can ask the interactive digital signs questions and they'll answer you.
It gets even cooler than that. In development they found the signs "got confused" about who was talking to it and when someone was still listening. So developers added a face recognition component. The digital sign scans for faces looking at it, only listens to questions from the person addressing it, and only answers if that person continues to look at it.
Audio Spotlight We totally need this for our new audio visual displays going in at the library. In fact, libraries and museums were the example the presenter mentioned as ideal locations. This gadget works just like it sounds it might. Imagine a spotlight, one discrete target of light. But instead of being bathed in light, it's sound. When you are in the audio spotlight, it sounds like standing in front of a normal speaker. But two feet away, those not standing in the spotlight can't hear a thing.
Here's the audio spotlight marketing at work:
Turn Any Flat Surface into a Speaker Huh? I'm not even sure where to start with this one. Our presenter had a tiny sticky pad, when he placed it on a large foam core poster, the poster became a speaker. The tiny stick-able speaker uses the flat surface to amplify the sound vibrations. Um, yeah. You kind of had to be there.
If the blog decides to hate this embed, you can view it via YouTube
I love a good PR stunt, a fact I occasionally document here on the blog. It's difficult to plan a good one, one that goes far enough to get attention and not be lame, but not so far that you damage your reputation by being unprofessional. To make matters more complicated, everyone draws that line in a different place.
That brings me to the mixed reaction I have over the PR stunt above. I read about this in PR Daily. Basically, PR pro, Charlotte Horsfall, posted a video to the company's YouTube channel begging a reporter to feature her client MyVoucherCodes Mobile App. The media didn't seem impressed, tweeting things such as "Clearly only one way I can respond to @charlotteyeti's plea. Video camera is out..." and "@KieranAlger Whatever you do don't feature @CharlotteYeti's client."
My initial reaction: Posting a video plea seems really unprofessional, and if you aren't getting coverage, the better tactic seems to be to ask yourself why. Then I watched the video, and maybe I was wrong about it. She is obviously poking fun at herself, it's not a serious grovel. And I'm left wondering if the fuss over her actions will actually land her client considerable coverage (I certainly opted to give them plenty of linky-love in my description).
Some are applauding the stunt, the first comment on the YouTube video suggests this is award-worthy. Still, was it worth it? When this little stunt blows over, she is going to be left trying to pitch to same the reporters who were slamming her actions on twitter. I think the real test of success lies in whether she burnt any bridges with the media she depends on to get her job done.
What do you think, thumbs up, thumbs down? Charlotte, if you're reading, I'd love to hear your personal take on it.
Between attacking ethics guidelines for state government (or the lack thereof) to leading some of the most active student groups on his campus to running for city office, my darling husband John seemed to find himself on camera fairly often. That's where being married to a PR pro comes in handy for him.
We've done a number of pre- and post-interview media training. Looking at this, I can see so much improvement from his first on-camera interview years ago. The big thing I worked on with John (and that he nailed here) is knowing where they are shooting you (cut at the waist, shoulders etc.) and staying inside your "box."
John talks with his hands, so sitting this still while still seeming so natural comfortable and articulate is awesome. If you are a hand-talker (I know I'm guilty!) then just give it try. Sit on your hands and try to make a coherent point. It's hard!
Each of the Councilmen did a "Quality of Life" video. John's was the first one posted because he was the only one that needed no editing. That's my little media darling.
I have a 40 minute commute to work and that adds up to a lot of time in the car. One way I have found to make that time entertaining and, for lack of a better word, productive is podcasts.
It took me a bit of trial and error to find some podcasts that were worth listening to, but the How Stuff Works iTunes channel came to my rescue. Their first, and still best, podcast is Stuff You Should Know.
This week I listened to an episode about "Fainting Goats." Evidentially, they don't actually faint. It's an abnormal fight or flight reaction. And, super cute factor, it can happen to kittens.
I caught this movie again on the Independent Film Channel the other day. It reminded me of when John and I saw it in the theater.
We showed up and bought our tickets in-person. But, we were surprised/confused by the odd conversation we had at ticket counter.
Me: Two for Pan's Labyrinth.
Clerk: You realize that has subtitles.
Me: Oh, I didn't realize that.
Clerk: ...blink... blink... You know subtitles means it's not in English.
Me: Yep.
Clerk: You're going to have to read it.
Me: Uh, huh.
Clerk: I'm supposed to tell you that.
Me: Um... Ok..
Clerk: So what movie do you want to see.
Me: Ah, two for Pan's Labyrinth.
It wasn't until we were walking in that it dawned on me, people had probably seen two sentences of subtitles and stormed out demanding their money back. That's a shame on so many levels, not the least of which is this movie is awesome. It was one of the best movies of 2006 (it had 6 Oscar noms) and it's definitely on my top ten list.
For the close minded folks who never gave it a chance, I don't feel too bad. But I can't help wondering if the attitude that the movie wasn't worth "reading" turned away any viewers who would have been just as wowed as I was.
I work on a college campus. Every day I want to pull a oblivious student aside and have this discussion. Check that, on a good day I want to have this discussion. On a bad day, I want to put them in an "unenviable position."
My friends over that the OSU Foundation are full of interesting ways to secure donations and then pass those dollars on to students. This newest project is so fun, I'm kind of a little obsessed with it.
OSUccess.com (see already how clever it's title is?) began last week and runs until Feb 20. Students enter for 10 chances to win a $1,000 scholarship. Students answer a question "How do you define success at OSU?" with a 300 word blog entry, a 30 second video or a high-resolution photo.
Easy, right? Where were these kind of scholarship applications when I was in school?
Winners will be announced on Feb. 26 (more about this special orange-letter day, later), and they receive the scholarship that day. So, even graduating seniors can enter. The best-of for each category will be selected (3), then one randomly drawn entry from each campus (4), then the remainder are drawn randomly from all entries (3).
Here where the obsession comes in. You can watch the entries as they are submitted via a live feed. Too fun.
This week, John and I joined Kiva.org and made our first "microloan." I learned about Kiva from Stuff You Should Know.
Kiva is an online community that connects individuals willing to back small loans with entrepreneurs around the world (mostly in third-world countries). A Kiva Field Partner (the financial institution administering the loan) pre-distributes the money, then Kiva members backfill the loan. The entrepreneur pays back the loan, and the Field Partner pays back the Kiva members.
If that's not cool enough for you, you get to pick your businessperson. You can search by gender, industry and region of the world. You can see a short bio and description of the loan need. You can also see the other Kiva members financing the loan.
Loans start at $25. It doesn't seem like much, but a dozen or more members come together on each loan. John and I contributed $25 toward a $1200 loan to tailor in Lebanon who needs to buy a new sewing machine to meet the growing demand of her business. Her repayment starts in February, so I'll let you know how it goes.
Here, Josh and Chuck (my favorite Stuff podcasters) taunt the Cobert Report. Whose Kiva will make it to $100,000 in loans first?
At SchipulCon '09 I learned about so many great things I want to share here, but I decided this one needed to come first because it's actually coming up really fast: October 24!
The International Day of Climate Action is coming to communities all over the world thanks to a group called 350.org. This is what they do:
"350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand.
Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet."
It's a pretty awesome movement and it is everywhere even here in Oklahoma. So maybe next Saturday I'll see you at one of these events:
Local Food Dinner for 100: 4-10 pm 5900 CR 90, Red Rock, OK, 74651 100 people will gather at Turtle Rock Farm Retreat Center to eat local foods along Doe Creek. We'll raise a glass of local wine and a 350.org banner to a healthier planet and take a photograph.
350kies Take a Stand for Climate Change: 2-4 pm 6th & Peoria Centennial Park,Tulsa, OK Fun activities planned, such as bike ride at 2 p.m. around downtown Tulsa and an interactive art project. Learn ways to reduce carbon emissions and take action by contacting your legislators. Join the picture at 3:50 p.m and show your support for this momentous international day of climate action!
350 Climate Action Festival: Muskogee, OK, 74434 Jean will wear her Polar Bear costume, she has 2 other Polar Bear caps...Hold signs that say "350" outside the electric power plant..Wave, smile and be friendly.
I don't know what I was expecting when I finally got to see my friend Amanda perform with her string quartet, The Stringents. I'm pretty sure I wasn't expecting a selection of rock hits from today and yesterday.
The gals played Beatles, Coldplay, The Cure and Led Zepplin. They were even taking requests. They definitely rocked. And you need to go see them perform the next chance you get.
I love summer. It is my favorite time of year. I love the heat, the slower pace at work, time off, vacations. I even love the hot humid weather we get here in Oklahoma. Another thing I love is the summer blockbusters. Memorial Day is just around the corner and that means the summer blockbuster season is about to start.
Here are a few on my must-see list. Wolverine-May 1
This is not lazy blogging. It's an experiment to learn how to post my own video to the blog. During the 30-day blogging challenge, you're also likely to see me learn to mobile blog and learn to post a youtube video.
Awesome. What other blogging tricks should I learn?
