Heard a familiar parable today and thought it applies nicely to the conundrum of web-video and digital disruption:

Two campers are relaxing around the fire, intoxicated from a long meal and lots of beer. All of a sudden, a young, hungry, bear appears. The two campers look at each other. It’s clear that they’re about to become bear food. The first camper starts to lace up his shoes. The second camper says: “what are you doing? You can’t outrun the bear!” to which the first camper responds: “No. But I can outrun you.” (more…)

Despite its cliche, the question of “what is the next version of the web” provokes as intense a debate as you’ll find within digital circles. Web 3.0 definitions vary wildly with any number of partisan descriptions coming from very smart, yet fundamentally biased people.

These descriptions are all forward thinking, yet intrinsically flawed. They neglect that versioning, or defining the next version of the web, isn’t just about software or hardware. It’s about culture.

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Wrong. Very wrong. Unless you like train wrecks. The disconnect between the actors’ guild and the studio positions on new media is one of the major issues gumming up the current (non)negotiations. The AMPTP / SAG talks aren’t getting the kind of press outside of LA that the widely covered writer’s guild strike received, but the concern amongst the theatrical and TV creative communities is widespread. Casting is dead on life-support, actors are at home (not David Lawrence), studio projects are on hold and an agent friend of mine said he is telling actors that “their job is to call their SAG reps and demand that the union give up their losing fight and close a deal.” (more…)

Let’s make a bet.

I’ll bet that by the time you’re halfway through watching the below video your commercial instinct will suggest that what you’re watching is a piece of marketing material. I’ll also bet that you’re going to keeping watching until the video is over. It’s that good. (more…)

Something tragically catalytic recently happened. My mom Facebooked me. She can’t program her VCR, (are we concerned that she still has a VCR?), but she can add me as a friend, tag my photos and superpoke me. This might be bad for my privacy, but it’s good for web economics.

I should qualify the use of the word tragic. It’s tragic only in the poetic sense that despite being an independent adult, I’m somewhat indignant in having my mom knock on my digital door. (more…)

The news that Fox Interactive Media (FIM) was decentralizing, (as scooped by techcrunch and covered elsewhere) and carving out its individual brands, most notably MySpace and IGN, into standalone silos should be welcomed by the technology, creative and business communities.

This is the first step in a maturing process for intrinsically rebellious MySpace, which despite the multiple doom-and-gloom rants about its eminent demise, remains an 800 lb gorilla in the web ecosphere and will continue to do so as long as it moves towards independence from its corporate parent.

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