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watch an experiment

sonnyboo

sonnyboo

I am attempting to flat out make a viral video, in terms of a pet (my cat) and see if I can get the hundreds of thousands of views and actually minimize my filmmaking skillz, if there be much that I have of those.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnFMI1f4_g4

I could have gone with just raw footage, but I cannot help but edit this into something and add titles with music.

Shot with a Canon T2i, no lighting and my "actor" was a bit finicky, so it was a hard shoot for about 8 minutes total, and 15 minutes to do the edit and graphics.


This is not indicative of filmmaking, but simply an experiment to see if I can make something that gets a whole lotta views on the youtubes.
 
:lol:

Very nice, sir.

I am putting out a call to all Indietalkers that we should help Sonnyboo in getting this to go viral, by posting it to our Facebook, and/or Twitter accounts.

Funny coincidence -- one of my Facebook friends is the dude who did a shot-for-shot remake of "Raiders". The dude has something like a billion friends. Anyway, the coincidence is that just a few hours ago, he posted as his status-update that he is quitting his job to watch Youtube cat videos all day. I shall post this on his page.
 
It's a really interesting premise. Creating a "Viral" video. Film-makers see it as a waste of time, and constantly undermine their quality. When, more often than not, quality is of little importance.

It's the ability to get a piece of material infront of a huge audience. That's a tough ask. It also has massive advantages. Firstly, becoming a Youtube partner. You can pick up a nice fee. (Which always helps)

Secondly, and more importantly, there's a chance those who view your video may stick around. They may subscribe, and when you post the trailer for your feature, they're going to check it out.

It's fascinating.
 
Papertwinproductions said:
It's a really interesting premise. Creating a "Viral" video. Film-makers see it as a waste of time, and constantly undermine their quality. When, more often than not, quality is of little importance.

It's the ability to get a piece of material infront of a huge audience. That's a tough ask. It also has massive advantages. Firstly, becoming a Youtube partner. You can pick up a nice fee. (Which always helps)

Secondly, and more importantly, there's a chance those who view your video may stick around. They may subscribe, and when you post the trailer for your feature, they're going to check it out.

It's fascinating.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think it's a pretty good idea. I just might have to try it myself.
 
Nice one, old man. :P

I did a similar 'experiment' a while back. Didn't exactly go viral, but it's one of (if not the) most viewed video on my channel.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what I call 'troll bait,' and it worked like a charm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwGl-CXgOA


ps: sonny, if you want I can get you a few hundred views off the bat ;)
 
Cracker Funk said:
Yeah, I think it's a pretty good idea. I just might have to try it myself.
Click to expand...

Seriously, I was speaking about this a couple days back.

I'm thinking...A Cat on rollerblades (and Ice) shooting a nerf gun at Justin Bieber, whilst miming a song, speaking of popular culture, telling you how to correctly maintain your make-up, and covering something Acoustic?

We did have an idea of turning useless, mundane events of everyday life massively epic. Throw in a staple-mate catchy jingle...and 243 videos later.
 
@sonnyboo: I love the idea but here is my thought:

Make another video, different account, just using the raw footage. Rough it up a bit so that it looks like crappy home video rather than DSLR footage. No music, no titles, no 'editing'. Maybe through some idiotic laughter over the top... then post it! My bet is that it will get more hits as a viral video in that format than it would in your current one despite the artistic merit of your current video jobby.

Plus it would be an interesting social experiment into how discriminating or mindless YouTube viewers, on average, are.
 
There's lots of 'cheap' ways to get youtube views. Even as an aspiring film-maker I consider 'fan films' a 'cheap' way to get noticed, taking someone elses hard work and fan base to try get noticed.

I guess I want to be remembered as a film-maker, long after I am gone I want someone to be able to stumble across MY work and see that I did something. I want to leave an impression behind that I can be proud of.

But yeah, cool cat LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!!!1!1!!
 
LastSunsetFilms said:
There's lots of 'cheap' ways to get youtube views. Even as an aspiring film-maker I consider 'fan films' a 'cheap' way to get noticed, taking someone elses hard work and fan base to try get noticed.

I guess I want to be remembered as a film-maker, long after I am gone I want someone to be able to stumble across MY work and see that I did something. I want to leave an impression behind that I can be proud of.

But yeah, cool cat LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!!!1!1!!
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That's very noble. But, a viral video is a social experiment. It's about correctly pin-pointing your audience, and doing so on a grand scale. Something that is essential when marketing your work.

I do see what you're saying. I mentioned it in an earlier post. But I'm sure all of us here -As film-makers- share the same ideals for what it is we leave behind, and what it is we're remembered for.

Take Richard Ayoade, for example. Notorious for mildly-intelligent comedy showings on the "The IT crowd". It was a great show. But he's type cast. His work should now have a ceiling. He has recently directed "Submarine". A low-budget, British feature. It's a hugely respected piece of work. A masterful directorial debut. Although its box-office rating won't reflect it as much. I believe it grossed just under £400,000.

TV series are often perceived beneath Cinema, and therefore, those judgements are carried to those involved, the Directors, Cast. Modern times are slowly changing those views. What with "Boardwalk Empire", "The Pacific".

Like I said, it's not the importance of the material within a viral video. It's reaching the audience. It's-atleast for those who attempt this with the idea of going viral- a grand achievement.
 
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Dreadylocks said:
Nice one, old man. :P

ps: sonny, if you want I can get you a few hundred views off the bat ;)
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Thanks little girl. And thanks for the re-post on Facebook too. And thanks a 3rd time for letting me know that MEL BROOKS already linked the video on Facebook on his fan page. Pretty damn cool.

NickClapper said:
@sonnyboo: I love the idea but here is my thought:

Make another video, different account, just using the raw footage. Rough it up a bit so that it looks like crappy home video rather than DSLR footage. No music, no titles, no 'editing'. Maybe through some idiotic laughter over the top... then post it! My bet is that it will get more hits as a viral video in that format than it would in your current one despite the artistic merit of your current video jobby.
Click to expand...

I debated that for a while. I agree with you that the raw footage, no editing, no music, and no titles version is more likely to score the viral hits. It's a calculated risk I am taking. I do not think my old account will have any affect. Besides, I WANT to steer people to my other, real clips.

In all honesty, I expect this little experiment to take about 2-3 months or so. It's about pushing a snowball down a hill and seeing if you can create the avalanche.
 
LastSunsetFilms said:
There's lots of 'cheap' ways to get youtube views. Even as an aspiring film-maker I consider 'fan films' a 'cheap' way to get noticed, taking someone elses hard work and fan base to try get noticed.

I guess I want to be remembered as a film-maker, long after I am gone I want someone to be able to stumble across MY work and see that I did something. I want to leave an impression behind that I can be proud of.

But yeah, cool cat LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!!!1!1!!
Click to expand...

That's a good point about "fan films". Something I might consider.

As for your point about wanting your work to be remembered, well, you can always fake name in the credits. Or, you can just hope that future-people are able to differentiate between one of your "serious" projects, and something that's just quick-and-fun.

I once directed a short that was made to be intentionally bad (and oh, is it ever bad). We shot a 6-page script in 1.5 hours, and the results are as you'd expect. If someone were to run by this, and it's the only thing they ever see from me, then they would think I'm an idiot. But hopefully it might actually lead them to look at something else I did (like sonnyboo's web address at the end of his video), and then they'll know that I'm actually kinda awesome. ;)
 
Cracker Funk said:
you can just hope that future-people are able to differentiate between one of your "serious" projects, and something that's just quick-and-fun.
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this could be a problem now. say i don't know who sonnyboo is, i watch his cat vid and then see he also makes films, i can't say i would say oh wow i gotta check out his films, maybe that's just me though.

i've thought about fan films too, in fact i seen someone from here get upset in another forum because a fan film was getting attention and his original film wasn't. i mean fair enough, people complain there is no originality in movies but would rather watch a fan film or the 27th 'saw' film than something original.
 
This is pretty good idea for an experiment. I'm def going to be watching this to see if it works. Let us know if snowball does roll and ends up sending more hits towards your real vids.
 
LastSunsetFilms said:
this could be a problem now. say i don't know who sonnyboo is, i watch his cat vid and then see he also makes films, i can't say i would say oh wow i gotta check out his films, maybe that's just me though.
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It's not just you. I'm not worried about people who watch the cat vid who might be a serious investor or what have you. If this video goes viral, then I'll have money coming in from ads, and also something with 1 million views. I would alleviate any concerns by pointing out that it's monetized and also shows I create something with the tastes of the public.
 
sonnyboo said:
It's not just you. I'm not worried about people who watch the cat vid who might be a serious investor or what have you. If this video goes viral, then I'll have money coming in from ads, and also something with 1 million views. I would alleviate any concerns by pointing out that it's monetized and also shows I create something with the tastes of the public.
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Yup.

Hoity-toity taste and class are fine and dandy and all, but cash is cash.

Joe Francis and his Girls Gone Wild franchise may be a tasteless endeavor but that little "side project" from his previous activities made the guy a fair buck or two offa girl
titties
.

Likewise, Mr. Ross - I hope you make a fair buck or two offa yerr
kitty
.

GL


(BONUS!: I have a vision of Kitties Gone Wild!)
KittiesGoneWild.jpg
 
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OMG, Kitty Porn!
When I did "Scare Tactics" for the competition a few years ago, I posted on youtube and have gotten over 100k views... entirely based on the title (brilliant mr. Gelder, brilliant). Almost every viewer who comments is pissed that they have been "Duped" into watching the short... they were expecting crappy video of someone getting that crap scared out of them.
 
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