YouTube

Paramount Developing Comedy Based off YouTube Video “Ultimate Dog Tease”

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 14th, 2012 at 8:26 am

Before you even say it, “Yes, they’ll turn anything into a movie.”  Variety reports that Paramount is in talks with Seinfeld writers Alec Berg and David Mandel to develop a movie based off Andrew Grantham‘s YouTube hit “Ultimate Dog Tease”.  In the video, an owner taunts his dog with promises of food only to reveal that he has already eaten the meal.  If that sound stupid and unfunny, that’s because it is.  But it also racked up 93 million pageviews, so here we are.  Paramount will develop the movie through its low-budget label, Insurge, which recently produced The Devil Inside.

In case your parents haven’t already forwarded it to you, hit the jump to check out the video.

YouTube to Add 3,000 Streaming Movies for Rental

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 9th, 2011 at 2:12 pm

On April 26th, we learned that YouTube was “imminently” launching a VOD service.  A little less than two weeks later, that service is going live.  Starting later today, YouTube will be releasing approximately 3,000 new titles from Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Lionsgate.  Some of the films available for rental include Goodfellas, Scarface, Caddyshack, Inception, and The King’s Speech.  New release will cost $3.99 to rent and library titles will cost $2.99.  For most movies, viewers will have 30 days to watch their rentals and then 24 hours to finish the movie once they begin watching.  Most movies will be available for rent in standard definition only.

Hit the jump for the full press release and FAQ.  Click here later today to check out the new rental releases.

YouTube to Imminently Launch VOD Service

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 26th, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Early last month, Facebook got into the VOD game by having Warner Bros. offer movies for rental on the popular social networking site.  Now another online heavyweight is getting into the VOD game.  TheWrap reports that YouTube “will imminently launch a movie-on-demand service charging users to stream mainstream Hollywood movies.”

YouTube has been renting movies over the past year, but never any films from the major story.  The company has been fighting to get those studios on board, but Fox, Paramount, and Disney have all declined (which means Warner Bros, Sony, and Universal have signed on).  It’s worth noting that Paramount and Disney have also opted out of the Premium VOD service Home Premiere over piracy concerns.  TheWrap believes YouTube will launch the service as early as this week or next.  Hit the jump for more on this story.

Trailer and 4 Images for GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR Starring Carla Gugino, Zachary Quinto, and Rosario Dawson

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 17th, 2011 at 12:50 pm

The trailer for Girl Walks into a Bar has gone online.  The film has an impressive cast that includes Carla Gugino, Zachary Quinto, Danny DeVito, Josh Hartnett, Rosario Dawson, Alexis Bledel, and Robert Forster.  Based solely on the trailer, I have no idea was to what the movie’s about.  But Girl‘s hook doesn’t seem to be it’s cast or its story, but rather its distribution method.  Girl Walks into a Bar will be presented by Lexus and YouTube for free, exclusively on YouTube.  The money quote in the press release comes from Lexus VP of Marketing Dave Nordstrom:

“It seems fitting to support this initiative as we launch our most unconfined vehicle yet—the CT 200h hybrid —in a space that we know will reach an unconventional, sophisticated audience.” (emphasis mine)

Clearly, Mr. Nordstrom has never been on YouTube.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer, four images from the film, and the full press release.  Girl Walks into a Bar goes online March 11th.

Live-Action CALL OF DUTY Video by YouTuber Freddie Wong

by Max Lichtig    Posted: December 30th, 2010 at 11:31 am

Earlier this month we brought you a Lego version of the popular video game Call of Duty. Now, here’s an awesome video I found on Youtuber Freddy Wong’s channel that gives us a live-action adaptation of the first person shooter that stays truer to the game than I ever thought possible. If you visit Freddy W’s profile, you’ll be sure to find some of the most innovative homemade videos that make the best out of equipment which is not too expensive or unattainable. You’ll see that he is a huge fan of guns…lots of guns…and utilizes them to create some extremely well developed fight scenes. In fact, his work has quietly been so well received that he’s been able to enlist the help of a couple celebrities to be part of his videos, including Andy Whitfield (Spartacus: Blood and Sand) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men).

Check out his latest video as well as my favorite Freddy W gun-fest after the jump.

Promo Poster and Synopsis for Kevin Macdonald’s LIFE IN A DAY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 8th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

Back in July, we reported on the fascinating documentary project Life in a Day.  Produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald (State of Play), the documentary was compiled from users submitting footage they took on July 24, 2010 to YouTube.  Designed as a time capsule and as an experiment in social filmmaking, the film is scheduled to make its worldwide debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

While Steve was at AFM (American Film Market), he grabbed an image of the promo poster and synopsis.  Hit the jump to check them out.

YouTube Increases Time Limit on Videos from 10 Minutes to 15 Minutes

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 11:01 am

I’m happy to report some great news for filmmakers who like to put their work on YouTube.  According to YouTube’s official blog [via Business Insider], the website has now increased the time limit on videos from ten minutes to fifteen minutes.  Having an extra five minutes to play with is fantastic and while it doesn’t seem like a lot, it will allow filmmakers to create works they couldn’t make before or were forced to break into parts.

YouTube does note that “If you’re uploading a video that was previously rejected for being too long, you’ll have to go into “My Videos” and delete it before attempting to upload it again.“  I’m not sure how many filmmakers will do that since it would change the link and reset the view-count to zero.  But for future work, filmmakers will be able to create longer short films and that’s what’s terrific.  Also, video bloggers will get more time to talk about stuff no one cares about, which is less terrific.

Ridley Scott, Kevin Macdonald, and YouTube Join Forces for LIFE IN A DAY, “The First User-Generated Documentary”

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 6th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

If you’re not busy on July 24th, you may want to get your camera and your YouTube account ready for an ambitious filmmaking project.  THR reports that producer Ridley Scott, director Kevin Macdonald (State of Play), and YouTube are teaming up for Life in a Day, “the first user-generated feature-length documentary.”  The idea is that footage shot on July 24th and submitted to YouTube for the project will be compiled a feature documentary that will debut at next year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Hit the jump for more details on this fascinating project.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE as an 8-Bit Interactive YouTube Game

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 30th, 2010 at 8:54 am

If you’ve read my review of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, then you know I didn’t care much for the film.  However, if it had been in 8-bit form, then I think I would fall in love with it.  Interactive Station has turned Eclipse into a tongue-in-cheek 8-bit parody.  If you have a sense of humor about these movies, then I think you’ll like it.  Also, when presented with a decision, you can click on the video to make your choice and it will lead you to a new video that carries the story in that direction.  May I recommend playing baseball with Edward?

YouTube Has iTunes Envy: Wants to Offer New Shows for $1.99

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 1st, 2009 at 10:58 am

While YouTube has been a problem for movie studios and television networks in the past, now that everyone is working together to monetize internet viewers, it seems they might be new BFF’s.  That’s because mediamemo is reporting YouTube wants to offer what Apple does with iTunes: television shows, without commercials, for $1.99 an episode, the day after they air on broadcast or cable.

But there is one big difference.  Unlike iTunes, which lets consumers own the shows, YouTube will only stream the episode, and not let you save it.

While I believe YouTube is going to cut a deal with the networks, they’re definitely going to have to adjust the price tag, or offer more than the one episode for the same price.  Perhaps they could cut a great deal for a season pass, or find other innovative extras to make it more attractive for consumers.

Although everything I just wrote is based on a rumor, a deal with YouTube makes sense for all parties, so I’d imagine it’s just a matter of time before it’s officially announced.

Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Makes High-Priced Deal with Fede Alvarez Based on His Low-Budget YouTube Short, PANIC ATTACK!

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 29th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

Heat Vision reports that Fede Alvarez, a Uraguayan filmmaker who created a YouTube hit with his low-budget sci-fi short, Panic Attack!, has signed a deal with Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures to develop and direct an original genre project.  While Panic Attack! only cost several hundred dollars, his deal with Ghost House is reportedly in the six- against seven figure range (meaning that he’s being paid $X00,000 and if the film gets made he gets a bonus amount which would bring his salary to $X,000,000).  The same day Alvarez posted his video, Hollywood came calling as they were impressed with what he was able to accomplish with such a low budget.

Alvarez’ short is less than five minutes long and is about robots invading and attacking the city of Montevideo.  That’s all that happens in the movie.  The robots invade and then they attack.  The end.  I do understand and congratulate what Alvarez on his success and his movie is technically impressive, but the story here isn’t Alvarez.  It’s the power of YouTube to create a calling card so fast and powerful that you can nab such an incredible deal.  The reason that’s the story and not Alvarez is because I’ve seen far better YouTube short films and Ghost House seriously overpaid this guy which is ironic since the whole point of hiring him is for his low-budget chops.  I’ve included the video after the jump and while I think it just looks like something a Lil’ Michael Bay would make, maybe you’ll feel differently.

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