It was a massive year for online video in 2011, which saw our community’s content from Spidvid exceed 1 million views on UnleashVideo in 2011.

This is my 4th straight year making predictions for the online video space. If you want to see how my predictions fared in other years here’s 2009, 2010, and last year’s 2011 list. For my 11 predictions last year, I rate them a 8/11 which is pretty decent. Let’s see how I fare this year.

12 online video predictions for 2012

1. Yahoo invests $250M into original video content – Yahoo has a new CEO and seems to be getting more and more focused on online video. I think that Yahoo takes a big step towards re-establishing their corporate identity and it’s in the video space.

2. Standards for views and ad creatives are finally implemented – There is still lots of confusion as to what constitutes a video view online, and 2012 will be the year where a standard will be set. Some people think that if a video starts that’s a view, while others think a whole video must be watched for it to count as a view, clarity will come in 2012. Every video ad company seems to have their own formats but this will end as ad standards will be put in place for video, much like display banners abide by now.

3. Mobile video explodes – I’ve been predicting this for a few years and every year mobile video traffic seems to double it’s viewing audience thanks to increased penetration of iPhones, Android based phones, and tablets.

4. Apple’s “iTV” makes OTT mainstream – There are a bunch of great “over the top” products out there for your TV including; Apple TV, Roku, Boxee, and others, but as Steve Jobs says they are just hobby businesses well at least for Apple to date. But in 2012 Apple is going to be releasing TV’s in the 30″-50″ range which will sell like crazy to Apple’s raving fans, and these iTV’s will dramatically increase consumer’s use of iTunes for purchasing video content.

5. Social TV - More and more people are watching TV and sending out tweets about what they’re watching, their perspectives on what they’re seeing, and engaging with other passionate viewers. Social TV will be huge in 2012 as Twitter and Facebook create tighter relationships with the TV networks.

6. HTML 5 – This seems to be the format of choice long term even though it’s still in its infancy right now compared to flash. This format is much more dynamic than all the others and will ultimately become #1, but not until 2015. HTML 5 will see more growth than ever before in 2012.

7. YouTube will buy a company – The world’s largest video sharing site continues to build out its ecosystem both through building features internally, and acquiring technologies externally. YouTube is growing up and is stepping outside of Google’s shadow, and 2012 will be the biggest year ever for YouTube. If you are tired of YouTube coverage now, you haven’t seen anything yet!

8. Hulu gets acquired – There was a ton of speculation that Hulu would be acquired throughout 2011 but it never happened, but in 2012 it will. I’m going to double down on my Yahoo prediction and say that Yahoo buys Hulu to become a serious online video player.

9. Netflix gets acquired – There was also lots of speculation that Netflix would be acquired in 2011, but again much like Hulu nothing happened. Netflix has seen its subscriber base and stock price dramatically decrease since its pricing model changed, but it’s still a strong brand in the streaming video space. I’m going to call Netflix is sold, but not at a price that its CEO, board of directors, or investors are overly happy with.

10. Google Plus delivers big views – Facebook and Twitter drive huge video views as social video emerges. Google Plus’s social network is exploding and as a result it will become a major player in delivering video views, especially to its toddler site, YouTube.

11. More online video stars get movie deals – Famous Fred of YouTube got a deal with Nikelodeon to star in “Fred the Movie” which did quite well from what I heard. There will be more of these kind of deals happening in 2012, mainly to the YouTube partners who have strong character personalities like Fred possesses.

12. Remote video collaboration takes off – With more and more cloud based video editing platforms emerging, along with matchmaking sites like Spidvid emerging, 2012 will be a year that many video creators and talent open up to the possibility of bringing on external talent to their teams and using new tools to help manage those projects.

If you have a 13th prediction to add then please add it below!

Cheers to 2012 which will be online video’s biggest year yet!

Other online video predictions can be found on Media Post, VidCompare, ReelSEO, TubeFilter, New Media Minute, and Streaming Media.

Jeremy Campbell Lists, Rant Apple, Apple TV, Boxee, film collaboration, Fred, Google Plus, HTML 5, hulu, internet video, iTV, movies, Neflix, new media, online video, online video predictions, online video stars, original video, Roku, social networking, social networks, Social TV, streaming video, TV shows, video ads, video collaboration, video entertainment, video predictions, video views, web video, Yahoo, YouTube

With each passing month, online videos are getting more creative, more fun to watch, and less expensive to produce which bodes well for our Spidvid community. Below are 5 remarkable viral videos from October. There are dozens of others likely just as deserving as these, so if you have a favorite please include the link in the comments below.

1. Duck Sauce: Big Bad Wolf – This gives new credence to the expression “dick head” please watch with caution. This video now has over 1.5 million views. Video production takeaway: Make people think WTF when they see your video. They will be motivated to share the video with their friends and followers.

2. The Bug Circus Generator - Bugs powering a smartphone? Now this is cool! Video production takeaway: Doing something unexpected with the help from animation can make things seem real, and fool the audience (well some viewers at least) to think things are real.

3. Sauna - A relaxing session in the hotel sauna turns to embarrassment for one poor chap. Who’s that lurking behind the steam? Video production takeaway: If you can ever get a celebrity in your video cost effectively, then sign him or her on as an actor!

4. Introducing Siri on iPhone 4S - Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, set reminders, place phone calls, and more. This viral video has almost 5 million views since the iPhone 4S launch. Video production takeaway: A beautiful product sells, but telling its story through video is key to quickly showing people first hand why they should care and how it helps their lives. Sell benefits, not features.

5. The Galaxy Nexus - Galaxy Nexus is the next generation of Nexus devices co-developed by Samsung and Google. This video does a good job showing off the beautiful new features of Android 4.0 – the Ice Cream Sandwich platform, and the phone itself. Video production takeaway: See above, and using lots of beautiful colors and animated characters can really hold people’s attention if successfully pulled off.

Create better quality video entertainment by collaborating with our talented community, be sure to get a Spidvid profile and if you need any help at all just ask us!

Jeremy Campbell Lists, Production Tool, community, resources Apple, big bad wolf, bud circus, duck sauce, filmmakers, filmmaking, Google, Gordon Ramsay, iPhone 4S, October 2011, production tips, Siri, video creators, video producers, video production, video tips, videomaking, viral, viral content, viral video

With each passing month, online videos are getting more creative, more fun to watch, and less expensive to produce. Below are 5 remarkable viral videos from August, 2011. There are dozens of others likely just as deserving as these, so if you have a favorite please include the link in the comments below.

1. iPad Head Girl – This girl walks casually through the Bryant Park in New York City with 4 iPads on her head. This was a viral promotional campaign for Cosmo For Guys. Video production takeaway: Do something unexpected and random because viewers like things out of the ordinary, especially using shiny toys!

2. UFO Over Hollywood – There have been a few sightings of this spaceship across America lately thanks to the clever people from Neuro. Video production takeaway: Insane public events can become massive hits online.

3. Foo Fighters – Hot Buns – This saucy viral video by the Foo Fighters is aimed at promoting their North American tour. 18+ only! Video production takeaway: Sex sells regardless if it’s sexy naked girls or hairy rock stars!

4. Say Something Nice – This social initiative was pulled off by Improv Everywhere in New York. Providing a platform to put smiles on other’s faces is a noble and honorable act. This viral video has now received over 2 million views since August 22nd! Video production takeaway: We live in such a cold world, but doing something nice for society gets noticed if it’s remarkable!

5. OK Go and The Muppets – The Muppets movie is coming to theaters this November, but here’s a little something something to tie you over until then. OK Go rock out with The Muppets in a viral video that has earned almost 3 million views since August 23rd! Video production takeaway: Collaboration is key to success =)

Create better quality video entertainment by collaborating with our talented community, be sure to get a Spidvid profile and if you need any help at all just ask us!

Jeremy Campbell Lists Apple, Cosmo, Cosmo For Guys, Foo Fighters, Hollywood, Improv Everywhere, iPad, Muppets movie, new media, New York, OK GO, Say Something Nice, The Muppets, UFO, video entertainment, video production, video production takeaway, viral, viral content, viral video

I recently got my hands on the new Celtx iOS App and within a couple hours of downloading it I wrote a script for a 5 minute short film called “Fire.” I was at first hesitant about a screenwriting app for my iPhone 4, but in my first couple minutes of using it I knew I could actually create quality scripts just as fast as using Celtx software on my computer. Now I can write or edit a script anywhere and at anytime which is a very liberating feeling.

Celtx Script 2.0 launched on August 1st, and the product already has positive reviews and a solid 3.5 star rating. The thing I really like is that the app syncs with the Celtx software on my computer, which is a big time saver.

Below are the features included in the Celtx app

• Screenplay, AV, Stageplay, Audio Play, and Comic formats.
• Sync scripts with Celtx desktop software and/or Celtx Studios.
• Smooth and rapid scrolling through long scripts.
• Element transitions match Celtx desktop software.
• Preserves script markup from Celtx desktop software.
• Write in portrait and landscape mode.
• Email scripts as PDF and text files.
• Universal App – can be downloaded and used on all of your iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices.

The cost of the app is $9.99 which is on the high side for an iOS app, but with all the time you will save and the new content you will write (that perhaps otherwise wouldn’t have ever existed) for your projects, I promise it’s well worth the price. If you aren’t ready to write scripts on your mobile device just yet, then if you haven’t already be sure to download the Celtx software for your computer.

Have you written or edited a video or film script on your mobile device before?

Jeremy Campbell Mention, New Project, Production Tool, product app, Apple, August 1st, Celtx, Celtx 2, Celtx App, Celtx Script, film script, filmmaking, iOS, iTunes, pre-production, product, release, screenwriting, script

With each passing month, online videos are getting more creative, more fun to watch, and less expensive to produce. Below are 5 remarkable viral videos from July, 2011. There are dozens of others likely just as deserving as these, so if you have a favorite please include the link in the comments below.

1. Crazy Marriage Proposal – Guy Falls Off Building – We are in the heart of the wedding season, so congrats to all of the new husbands and wives out there who recently tied the knot. See how your marriage proposal stacks up to this one below which has reached almost 5 million views since July 11th! Video production takeaway: Leveraging emotionally moving events and moments is very powerful for telling a compelling story.

2. Netflix Relief Fund with Jason Alexander - Not too long ago Netflix raised their pricing on their streaming/DVD plan from $10 to $16 a month causing a wild uproar throughout the USA. Jason Alexander tells the horrific stories of Netflix victims. A very well thought out video, enjoy it below, and if you have your own Netflix horror story then please share it in the comment section below. Video production takeaway: Create entertaining content that is relevant to today’s controversial news as quickly as possible.

3. Kitten Vs Two Scary Things - With over 3 million views and counting, this stunt kitten is a big time hit in the web world right now. Very well musically scored as well which is uncommon in many other popular viral cat videos we’re used to seeing. Video production takeaway: Kitten’s are huge online, but timing with a camera is everything. If you have a cat (or any kind of silly pet really) be sure to keep a camera close by because you never know when the next viral hit may be right in front of you begging to be filmed.

4. firepower – Got to feature a fireworks video since it was USA’s and Canada’s birthdays on July 4th and July 1st respectively. Here’s a creative one out of Chicago with many camera angles, and good use of visual effects. Visually stunning! Video production takeaway: Visually stimulating events will always be popular with viewers from across the world.

5. Ape With AK-47 – Don’t ever give an ape a machine gun… you’ve been warned! The video below has gone ape on the viral charts clocking in at almost 12 million views since July 6th! Video production takeaway: Unexpected things move us emotionally, and drive us to share the content with our friends and family. 12 million views don’t lie!

Create better quality video entertainment by collaborating with our talented community, be sure to get a Spidvid profile and if you need any help at all just ask us!

Jeremy Campbell Lists accident, AK-47, AK47, ape, Apple, attack, bed, Chicago, entertainment, fight, firepower, fireworks, Fox, Jason Alexander, kitten, marriage, Netflix, Planet of the Apes, proposal, viral, viral content, viral video