Inventing the Movies & The Future of Web Video: Storefront | ||||||||||
![]() Endorsements and reviews of Inventing the Movies: "For anyone interested in a well-paced, accurate, and eminently readable chronicle of the fits, starts, foibles, and triumphs in the digitization of an entire industry, don't wait for the movie… read this book!"
- Bob Lambert "Hollywood loves a good story, particularly one where the ending remains to be told. 'Inventing The Movies' is a dual-track story about how technology enabled the movie industry we know today, and how technology will either enable, or disintermediate, the movie industry of the future."
- Gary Beach "Inventing the Movies is recommended reading for anyone interested in the history of the movies or in how technological change can get bogged down by the fear of undermining the entrenched business models in any industry." - Kendall Whitehouse Technology Editor, Knowledge@Wharton Wharton School "I thoroughly enjoyed the concise and poignant stories of how such things as sound and color almost never made it to the big screen despite the obvious benefits."
- Russell Wintner "An excellent read for those interested in cinema and a must-read for anyone looking to enter the tech or film industry."
- Lance Weiler
![]() Endorsements and reviews of The Future of Web Video: “The Future of Web Video promises to be an essential resource for independent filmmakers hoping to make some money in the ever-expanding realm of online video.” - DVguru “Few journalists have written as extensively on the business of online video as Scott Kirsner, and in this report he manages to cover all aspects of this dynamic field, from storytelling to producing to monetization. It’s the most comprehensive single source of information I’ve read on our emerging industry and I highly recommend it.” - JibJab Media co-founder Gregg Spiridellis "Kirsner's treatise on the constantly changing face of digital content is extensive and highly relevant. An excellent read." - Matthew Jeppsen, FresHDV "The Future of Web Video is so clearly the ultimate work on this subject, it will be a long time before it reaches obsolescence." - Isaac Botkin, Outside Hollywood "As an independent producer, I was doing all the research on the same topic for myself...To my knowledge, there is no other book about this topic." - Wolfgang Boeck, Aisha Media "For filmmakers looking to get paid for their work, the world of Web video can resemble a terrifying alternate universe where millions of viewers hungrily devour thousands of clips, all without paying a penny. That alternate universe, though, is quickly becoming our own, and for those looking to successfully profit from it Scott Kirsner’s The Future of Web Video is a must-read. It’s a concise and comprehensive analysis of the viewer trends, distribution opportunities, and revenue schemes out there now and soon on the horizon that working filmmakers can’t do without." - Scott Macaulay, Editor, Filmmaker Magazine and producer, Forensic Films "The Future of Web Video is the most comprehensive look yet at the very latest developments in the marriage of filmmaking and the Internet. A must-read bible for filmmakers, producers, and media companies to learn from leading pioneers about the opportunities, challenges, and realities of the digital distribution revolution and the paradigm shifts now underway." - Liz Rosenthal "With all the clutter bombarding Web audiences and the content community alike, Scott Kirsner's The Future of Web Video cuts things down to an accessible treasure trove of information that will whet the appetite of any would-be producer. From reviews of practical resources that will help you get your work out there, to a few cautionary tales, the book is...a telescope pointed at what's down the road..." - Animator and filmmaker Tyler Gibb |
Samples, podcasts, and reviews related to Inventing
- Here's a podcast, in MP3 form, that I did with Harvard Business Online - An MP3 recording of a book talk I gave in March 2008 in Providence, RI - Here's another podcast interview, also in MP3 form, conducted by filmmaker Lance Weiler, who is one of the innovators featured in the book - Review on Kino-Eye.com - Review by Kendall Whitehouse of the Wharton School/UPenn
- The Workbook Project podcast, in MP3 form - DVShow Podcast - WebTVWire calls the book "an absolutely indispensable guide" - Lost Remote review - Kino-Eye review - DVGuru review
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![]() A bit more about The Future of Web Video: - All the material in the book was gathered from 2005 to 2007 (the most recent info is from March 2007). - The book is written for independent filmmakers and TV producers who want to understand the new options for earning a return for their work...advertising and media company executives confronting new challenges...and entrepreneurs interested in building businesses around Web video. - The book contains original interviews with digital video pioneers like Judson Laipply (Mr. "Evolution of Dance"), "Ask a Ninja" co-creator Kent Nichols, the "Mentos and Diet Coke" guys, Brightcove founder Jeremy Allaire, TiVo co-founder Jim Barton, and ad execs from Arnold Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather, and Avenue A | Razorfish. - To my knowledge, The Future of Web Video is the most comprehensive book or research report yet written on the emerging Web video economy.
![]() A bit more about Inventing the Movies: - Covers the technological evolution of the movies, from Edison and the Lumiere Brothers to YouTube and the iPod. - Published in August 2008 - Includes original material from interviews with Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, George Lucas, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Barry Diller, Mark Cuban, and the founders of Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. - It uses Hollywood as a case study about how new ideas and new technologies are adopted (and resisted) in any business. - The official Web site for the book is here. About both books: - The paperback version requires shipping time; the eBook version is less expensive and can be downloaded immediately. (It's in PDF format, and can easily be printed.) Both contain the same content. About the author: I cover the intersection of the entertainment industry and new technology for Variety, write a column called "Innovation Economy" in the Boston Globe, and also write on occasion for Wired, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, and the New York Times. I've written in the past for The Hollywood Reporter, including several pieces for their annual "Future of Entertainment" issue. I edit the blog CinemaTech. (You can sign up for a free e-mail subscription there; it's updated at least once every weekday.) I try to list all of my speaking engagements on BookTour.com. E-mail me if you have any questions about either book. About the images in this column: At top is a still from "The Extreme Mentos & Diet Coke Experiments," a hit viral video from 2006. In the middle is a still from "The Sprinkler Sprinkled," a short comedy film from 1895 by the Lumiere Brothers. |
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