Filmmaker's Tool Kit: Creating a Movie with Web 2.0, by Josh Catone

In this post I will show you the tools you need to go from idea to finished film using as many web 2.0 products as possible. In June, I wrote about 8 online video editors that could be used to slice together your masterpiece. But there's more to being Kubrick than editing. You have to write your film, cast it, shoot it, edit it, and distribute it to the masses. Web 2.0 applications and services can help with (nearly) all of these phases.

The tool kit below will help you take your idea from start to finish and fulfill your dream of winning an Oscar (okay, maybe not, but you have to start somewhere). This is film making on a budget.

Writing

Every great movie starts as a screenplay. Writing a screenplay generally requires specialized software to help you adhere to a set format. A copy of popular professional screenwriting software like Final Draft will run you about $180; my favorite screenwriting software, Sophocles, costs $120. Fortunately web applications and opensource are here to help.

• celtx is a great opensource screenwriting suite that runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux. It feels a lot like more expensive pieces of software, and includes a web service that lets writers share and collaborate on screenplays.
• If you want something more web-based, then Plotbot may be more up your alley. Plotbot is an online screenwriting application that allows you to share your workspace with as many other writers as you'd like. This means, for example, that your film's producers could give notes to the writer while working on draft revisions in a completely online environment.
• For Mac users, another low-cost solution is the elegant, downloadable Storyist software, which costs $59.

Cyberian's Note: This is only the beginning of a great posting. Please read and pass along.
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Filmmaker's Tool Kit: Creating a Movie with Web 2.0, by Josh Catone

Mrs. Mo's Networking

Cyberian's Note: For our many readers in the Princeton, New Jersey area, here's a "great blog about stuff".
-Wdk

Mrs. Mo's New Jersey

Fashion, Food, and Fun. All things New Jersey...and more!

This past week or so I've let up on the daily blogging. Partly because we are switching from Verizon to the Comcast Triple Play and haven't had Internet for a few days (I am at the library now on my new laptop). I've also had a less than exciting few weeks giving me even less to blog about.

Rob and I are in major money saving mode right now. Since I am not working full-time in the fall and have yet to pick up tutoring clients, our savings are in top priority right now. Normally, I'd be out and about, scoping out new places to eat and widow shopping. But all of that is too hard, especially when I can't spend the money. I am hoping that once school is back in session, parents will also want to get a jump-start on their children's success and give me a call! I'm also at work thinking of low cost ways to advertise my tutoring services.

I have put business cards up at whatever supermarkets allow it. I have been in touch with the private school heads in the Princeton area. I have an ad in St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church bulletin in Princeton. I even sent out 15 flyers to random professionals in the area: Lawyers, realtors, wedding planners, CPAs, etc. My next step is Direct Mailing. I know you have to spend money to make money, but I'm hesitant to dish out $300 for mailing addresses. However, the benefit of direct mailing is exactly what it sounds like. I can send flyers directly to the homes of families with students in the age range I want to work with. If I were to use this service, I can send out a flyer when the first round of grades go out and then again at the holiday break. Private schools get 2 weeks off and you know parents want to keep their kids busy, especially if grades are low. I definitely have my work cut out for me. I just hope it's not gong to be as hard as what it seems now. I hope that once the school year starts, I will start to get calls. I realize that's a passive approach, but it's one way. Another way is networking, which unfortunately, require more money.

My husband belongs to an international networking group called BNI (Business Networking International). It's actually THE largest networking organization in the world. There are numerous groups here in the Princeton area and there are a plethora of professionals who are members: lawyers, accountants, insurance reps, realtors, painters, electricians, chiropractors, etc). I have visited with Rob a few times and tried out a soon to be chartered group based out of Robbinsville. The group has many benefits and is a great way to pass your business around. Our chiropractor, Allison Scharf, is a fellow member. I can definitely get a lot out of joining, but the only problem now is the money. All groups have a member fee and right now, I need to save my money. Maybe in a few months, if business is building. But if you are someone who can afford the opportunity, look into at least visiting a chapter in your area. Networking never hurt anyone.

In addition to networking myself, I'm also busy working on ways to network my husband. Call it PR practice. He's trying to market his specialty: Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts. With my 2 semesters of "Writing for the Media" at Rider, I have some tools to help him with press releases, brochures, and the like. In addition to working for Rob and I am also busy planning events for the Bucknell Club and doing volunteer research for the Morven Museum 4th of July party in 2008. I have a lot of my plate, but very little movement at the moment. Summers are definitely slow, but I'm trying to get moving on my new career and waiting is not my forte.

So, going back to my original point of the post. Since I am in budget mode right now, my posts will have to take a little break. My ideal situation would be that I get a part-time job blogging for a local publication where I have to shop or eat or whatnot and then get reimbursed for my services. That would be great! So hey, if you're reading this and can help me out...pass me along! Hook me up! Or just wish me luck!
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Mrs. Mo's Networking

Face Off Orkut, by Parul Bindra

If the messengers of the world (the IM ones) led the way of chatting and finding new friends, social networking provided a better way of meeting people with matching interests. With the rise of social networking sites. Orkut revolutionized the way people stayed in touch.

From quite some time now, Orkut has been seeing a whole lot of popularity all over the world. With more and more people joining in daily I think Google now looks very keen changing the overall appearance of the site to enhance the entire brand image. Just a couple of days ago they introduced some new features like photo and rich content scrap, favourite videos and feeds, making communication much easier with friends and share content. They have also translated the site into 12 languages further making it easier for users to add friends globally.

Why is Orkut changing its interface?

From the past few years Orkut has been dominating social networking. After Orkut claiming the best position in this segment a lot of companies worldwide couldn’t resist grabbing a piece of action.

Today Orkut has realized that it’s not just a game of more features and a better software, but it’s about creating a better platform that gives a rich user experience to internet users.

As the competition soars more and more social networking sites are sky-scraping. MySpace, Linkedin and Facebook have been flooded with more users and also have been pulling a lot of user base from Orkut.

If the software and the content is not appealing, it becomes very comfortable for people to try new networking sites. So the question arised for Orkut, will they stick to their old dull site or will get a more innovative interface for a rich user experience. And there they are taking it in their stride.

How can Orkut increase their user base?

So, it looks like Orkut has changed its look finally!
But will it help them to fit in? After all, its Facebook, MySpace and more other social networking sites standing high.
My opinion is that Orkut will have to make a choice for different services than others, quite like what is not in the market today.

Internet users now look for a rich web experience in this prevailing competition. This richer experience, however, is the USP of any social networking site. The site should carry rich content and information, should be less complexed and less prone to errors.

Users now expect Social networking sites to deliver a more compelling experience with expanded offerings, improved usability, and at an absolute minimum, they expect the site to work properly regardless of their browser and system preferences. Users are growing increasingly impatient, and have zero-tolerance for sites that fail to work as expected. Consequently, when users experience site failures, they more likely try other networks.

And at last, Orkut should carry the most quality, relevant links as it wins the internet. The main aim of any social networking site is to increase their userbase. So Orkut will have to make sure to use all of the methods for enhancing their services to users to achieve reliable and lasting results.

Orkut into the Future

To Internet companies around the world, it has become more than apparent that Internet users are embracing Orkut with great enthusiasm. The Internet is becoming more than just a place to find information - it is now a place to interact, communicate, learn and opine on a wide variety of subjects. Orkut has a forum that has popped up all over the site in order for members to share information, ask questions and even form relationships. This is a trend which is not going to fade away anywhere in near future.

Orkut has a population of teenagers and middle aged people also. Every year new users join Orkut and the chain is ever growing. The bubble of Orkut has not burst and does not look like it is going to burst in near future. There are other social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook but it has kept its feet firmly planted. The trend in Orkut will not only be in social networking but also business networking.





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Face Off Orkut, by Parul Bindra