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1. About Google Video

We are living in a digital world, where pretty much everything gets uploaded online. There are 80 million web hosts according to the stats made in 2006. The growth of the World Wide Web is obvious, it's all on the web - companies addresses, documents, pictures, books, you can buy everything from cars to ships. But it's not just documents any more, pages are far from stating these days. The web is now full with video clips being shared by millions of people around the world.

Google Video allows people to search for video files, download and play them on their computers. Although Google has not released an exact number of the video files available at their site, they claim there are several thousands and increasing all the time. The video material includes just about anything - TV shows, movies, amateur videos, commercials not displayed on US channels, etc. The files are either free of charge or must be purchase online from the Google Video Store. Google Video enables users from all over the world to upload their own content on Google Servers and share it with everyone. The files are in GVI, AVI, GVP and MP4 formats.

Google Video Player lets you watch videos that have been downloaded or purchased from the Google Video website, video.google.com. Google Video Player allows you to watch the videos in full screen as well as browse the video using thumbnails. It also uses OpenSSL Toolkit, QPluginLoader and QLibrary classes.

Some say that Google Video is just an effort of the search engine giant to enter the online video sharing, gathering up a rich archive of moving pictures to be accessed either for free or for pay. Market trick or not, Google Video is here to stay and this article will try to familiarize you with the technology behind it.

The Google Video Player is a piece of software that transfers the paid video content from Google's servers to your computer. There is a version for MAC and Windows. Technically as a video player, it has some pretty cool features. It allows you to browse the scenes using thumbnails, so that one can easily find each and every moment.

The GV player has full-screen mode and the FTP portion of it is on a high level as it supports download resuming, automatically. This is a really nice feature especially for people on a dial-up or other users with a low and unstable connection. Perhaps the only strange thing about this application is that it is made to play paid-content, which is sort of useless, considering the amount of websites with video clips and all the video players, torrents and ftp clients.

The overall success of this software depends on the richness of the library. If it has a lot of interesting content, it will succeed even if the service is paid. But if the library is weak, then it doesn't matter how smart and functional the player is, cause it just won't matter when you don't have any multimedia to play.

In the context of all that, it's important to know that Google faces a strong competition when it comes to online video content, from the likes of YouTube, MetaCage, iFilm and several other websites with a pretty decent traffic. A lot of money are involved in this sector, so that's a big opportunity for any company. The content available at Google Video is mostly amateur, because of the ease with which users can upload their files. Video files can be uploaded at the website video.google.com or with the help of Google Video Uploader, available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

But it's not just amateurs that upload content to Google Video, television networks also participate by making whole shows available and Hollywood studios are also putting up some movie trailers. Because of all that, the video quality is inconsistent, depending on who uploaded it. There are all types of video files, copy-protected or not, with or without ads. Google screens out any sex related material, so Google Video is totally safe for the children.

The paid content is another interesting moment regarding Google Video. Amateur movies might be free, but episodes of Survivor or other TV shows cost $1.99 each, a price set by the producer of the given video.

2. System Requirements:

For playing videos:

As mentioned, you can play the videos with your Internet browser or trough the Google Video Player.

To play videos through your browser on Google Video, your system must meet the following requirements:

- Adobe Flash Player 7.0+

- Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher, all updates installed

- Internet Explorer 5.0+, Firefox 1.1+

- broadband connection with 500+ Kbps for continuous playback on Google Video.

To play videos trough the Google Video Player, your pc must meet the following requirements:

- Intel Pentium III 1GHz

- 256MB RAM

- 16MB Video memory

For uploading videos:

The Google Video Uploader has the following requirements:

- Windows 98 or higher, Mac 10.3 or higher, or any OS that has Java 1.4.1 or higher in order to install the Uploader

- broadband connection to upload video.

3. Installing Google Video Player and playing it

If there is a video you wish to view from video.google.com, then click the "Download" button to the right of the video, and if you don't have the GVP installed, you will be prompted to do so. Of course, you can download the setup executable on your own from http://www.freesecuredownloads.com/free-downloads-download.html#video, or from the official website at http://video.google.com/playerdownload. Once you have it on your desktop, run the GoogleVideoPlayerSetup.exe application to complete the installation. When the installation is complete, the video you've selected will download automatically.

4. Finding videos on video.google.com

Google's video library is expanding all the time. Considering the amount of video clips available, users often need an advanced search technology that will help them find what they are looking for. Google has responded to this need, by developing the Advanced Video Search available at http://video.google.com/videoadvancedsearch. On this page, you can specify all or just some of the words describing it; filter results by duration, price, and genre; language; duration; price; site domain. The Advanced Video Search will output results based on their relevance with the video's title, popularity, and many other factors.

5. Buying Google Videos

Apple's iTunes Store was the first that started selling videos online and from the day they started, internet exprets immediately understood it will be a great hit. TV fans from all over the world bought videos for about $8 million just in the first three months. Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL and Google are the major competitors on the "download TV show for free" market. Google calls its system "the first open video marketplace" because of the idea that everyone is able to upload his content, from professional TV producers to neighborhood amateurs. Everything is available - complete NBA reruns, TV shows from CBS to family videos. This makes the whole market a bit chaotic, as there is a lot of contrast in terms of video quality. Therefore, some videos are copy-protected and require payment, while others are free for download and distribution. Google gets 30% of the fee you pay for a given video.

The thing about Google Videos is that some of them will self-destruct 24 hours after being downloaded, because you buy the rights just for that short period of time. That's how we come up to the three basic categories established:

1) Commercial TV Shows - Star Trek, I Love Lucy, all games played in the National Basketball Association are available for download 24 hours after they are played, for $4 each. Sony Music Videos can be downloaded for $2 each.

2) "Pseudo-commercial" - concerts and third-tier stuff.

3) User submitted material - home movies, just like the ones you see on YouTube.com.

Videos that should be purchased have buttons saying "Buy High Quality" and "Day-Pass High Quality". Buy High Quality is the best option, because the video doesn't self-destruct and you can watch it whenever you want, directly from your Desktop. The Day-Pass High, are once again with high quality, but cheaper, because you must be online to view them and you got only 24 hours to do that. You must be online to view copy-protected content, because to decrypt those files, Google Video Player needs to communicate with Google servers over an active Internet connection.

To purchase Google Videos, you must create a Google Account, by entering your email address, password and payment details.

6. The GVI Format

The Google Video Player reads files in Googles own GVI format. The Google Video Files GVIs are a modified .avi files with an extra layer with additional information, about the type of the file self-destructable or not. GVI video files are encoded in DiVx along with MP3 audio stream.

You can download a GVI2AVI converter from http://www.kultiras.net/programs.html. The program requires the .NET Framework.

Naevius.com is also a website from which you can download a GVI converter allowing to turn GVI into AVI and the opposite. It's extremely easy to use, simple and clean interface.

For a fast and secure download of Google Video, go to http://video.freesecuredownloads.com

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Have you ever been singing around the campfire with friends, wishing that it were you who were playing the guitar instead? Playing the guitar is a skill that will make you someone others look up to, especially if you're a teen. You may be invited to more parties by people who don't know how to play the guitar. Besides, if you are interested in playing a guitar, it could be that your parents won't be inclined to make you take lessons for an instrument you are not interested in.

The Guitar

If playing the guitar interests you, the first thing you need is a guitar. You can find guitars at music stores and sometimes at department stores. If you know someone who knows how to play, bring them with you when you go to pick one out.

Do you want an acoustic guitar or an electric one? Each one has its own pros and cons. While it may be a little easier to learn to play guitar music with an electric guitar, you will also need to buy an amp, a pick and a cable. You'll need to learn to use all those buttons and knobs as well as learn to play the guitar.

While it can be a bit more challenging to learn to play guitar music with an acoustic guitar, this type is a less complicated. All you'll need to purchase is the guitar and an inexpensive pick. If you're choosing one for a child who gets easily frustrated, you may consider an electric guitar only because it is easier to play and they will feel they are making more progress.

Guitar Lessons

Now you need to find a guitar teacher. Ask around and check the local paper and bulletin boards. You may call the music stores in town and see if they offer lessons or if they can recommend a good teacher in your area.

If you only want to learn a few chords so you can play simple songs, it is possible to learn guitar from books, online lessons or videos. However, if you want to learn to play guitar music that is more complicated, or if you really want to master the instrument, you will benefit much more from private lessons with a good instructor. They'll be able to give you personal attention and correct beginner mistakes quickly so you will learn more. You'll also get immediate feedback, which will keep you motivated.

General Advice

Before you begin your lessons, take a little time to learn the basics of your guitar and get used to it. This way, valuable lesson time will be spent learning your beginning exercises and not on things like the parts of the guitar or how to hold it.

Playing the guitar should be fun. Don't do it if you're not really interested and if someone else only wants you to. If you enjoy it, you'll find you want to practice more, which will make you progress more quickly. If you're not enjoying it, maybe you need a new teacher, or need to make changes in your schedule.

Many musicians who play the guitar mention the satisfaction they get from knowing how to play. Sitting alone and playing guitar music makes them feel good. It is also fun to play for others. By having the skills to be confident in pulling out a guitar while surrounded by friends will make you the center of attention.

Go read more in-depth Guitar Learning Software Reviews at http://www.guitarlearningsoftware.com. You can also grab some cool free guitar software and video reviews while you're there.

If you're excited about your latest TV or film project and are hitting a pitching wall, you may be tempted to grab a camera, call in some favors and shoot the whole thing yourself! Is there ever a right time to do that? Well, yes. And there also are right times to not even consider it. Let's talk about the truth and consequences behind shooting your own reels.

Presentation Reels

For filmmakers, you'll often want to shoot a presentation reel to convince funders to come aboard. That actually is a terrific idea. But not always a necessary one. Start with a solid screenplay first. Shopping a screenplay is far easier and certainly wholly acceptable as a means to get financiers, key team members and even vendors on board. If you're not getting any action from the script, put your next budget dollars towards a professional script analysis. Make sure your script is truly shootable and worth shooting. It costs only a few hundred dollars for detailed development notes from The 1-3-5 System, for example (for info on this system, visit my website listed below). It will cost you a few thousand, at the least, to shoot a reel and hope you can do with pictures what you haven't yet done with words.

EXCEPTIONS: The big exception here is when you have a challenging, non-CGI visual, setting or performance that repeatedly is questioned by script readers. If you keep hearing "Can that be done?," it might be time for a presentation reel.

RULE: Once you commit to doing a reel, hire a professional staff and crew. A shoddy-looking reel may cost you credibility, while excellent production value can really boost it.

Sizzle Reels

For reality producers, your show's demo tape is called a "sizzle reel." And your battle cry is all too often, "I'll just produce the show myself!" Slow down. I had an interesting discussion last weekend with two major reality production and network execs, both of whom were happy to get sizzle reels since they feel reels help them sell an idea to others on their team. But I have often heard exactly the opposite from execs: "Sizzle reels can kill a deal." One concern is that reels often don't match the vision your pitch was building in an exec's mind. Bye-bye sale. Another concern is that a good producer conforms a pitch to work with the brand of each partner s/he meets with. So a sizzle reel you shoot that satisfies one prod co's brand may completely violate the mission of another company, etc. How many reels do you plan to shoot?

For more detailed dissection of when to sizzle or not, read my book, The Show Starter Reality TV Made Simple System, Vol. 1: How to Create and Pitch a Sellable Reality Show (for info, visit my website listed below).

FYI, the general consensus at the end of last weekend's debate was, if at all possible, be sure to ask the exec you plan to pitch how they feel about sizzle reels.

EXCEPTIONS: If something in your show is visually electrifying or conceptually challenging in words, a demo reel of just that portion of your show is a big help.

RULE: Don't cheap out on the shoot! Make it look great; it's also your calling card to show what you can do if they keep you attached to the show.

Performer Reels

No disagreement here. Any time you are presenting unknown talent to an executive, a reel that showcases their ability and brand is a winner. For fiction, that's a casting tape; for non-fiction, that's a talent reel. For a casting tape, invest in real audio, and choose sides that sell your talent in his or her strongest part of the script. For a talent reel, you can include a brief personal introduction (interview set-up is fine), the talent in action in their natural environment and even testimonials. Whatever project you're doing, light this reel beautifully and edit it professionally - this is the face of your project!

Professional Reel

If you are a director, producer, DP, editor or other B-T-S professional, you often will be asked for a demo reel of your work. Note that there is a huge difference between a professional reel...and a professional anthology. You don't/shouldn't/can't put absolutely everything you've ever done onto a tape. Take the following advice - even though it challenges everything you believe in. Make a branding statement with your demo reel. Choose shows and selects that all accent your point-of-view as a content creator. Or that highlight your particular visual style. Or that showcase your big league clientele. Decide what impression you want your reel to leave, what makes you special as a project hire, then play the rough cut for people and ask them to share their gut reaction. If their feedback doesn't match the kind of projects you most want to get - get back in there and re-cut that reel.

All Reels

You have 5 minutes at the most for a reel, but know that an exec really will only look at the first 2-3 minutes. Don't get carried away! If studios can get you to pay $14.00 for a film by showing only a 30-second trailer...well, you get the picture. Now go get that deal!

DMA is a former film story analyst, international runway model and stage performer who is now the executive producer of Tidal Wave TV, a new media and reality TV production company in Los Angeles.

Learn how to sell a screenplay or sell a reality show from DMA's industry guides: "The 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple System: The Nine Essential Elements of a Sellable Screenplay" and "The Show Starter Reality TV Made Simple System: Ten Steps to Creating and Pitching a Sellable Reality Show."

For DMA's national speaking schedule and more insider resources for breaking into Hollywood, please visit Planet DMA. It is our goal to mentor you through your career in the entertainment industry!