Following the bloom of Web2.0, the internet offers a range of sites that enable us to watch many short films.
The BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/
Film4 http://www.film4.com/videos/film4-shorts
Virgin Media http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/
Atom.com http://www.atom.com/
TriggerStreet.com http://www.triggerstreet.com/gbase/Trigger/Homepage
Vimeo.com http://www.vimeo.com/
YouTube.com http://www.youtube.com
There are a range of films are being exhibited at these sites. Web2.0 instructs that the users of the internet can become the internet itself and they now have the power to become a part of the media. The videos on these sites are often uploaded by the people who are also an audience to the other videos on them. Many different genres are being uploaded from dramas, comedies, documentaries, animated, experimental and musical shorts.
The audience for each of the different websites varies. Millions of worldwide internet users view videos on YouTube, while many also upload. This is much like Vimeo.com and TigerStreet.com. The audiences for these sites are people that have submitted the films themselves, but who are also interested in watching these entertaining short films from around the globe. The more professional websites, run by leading media companies, such as BBC and Film4, would be considered an entertainment platform rather than a show point for the average viewers. Aspiring producers with little finance backing might look to these sites for writers and directors to collaborate with who are in the same position.
Depending on the site it can be easy or more difficult to submit a short film. For example, on YouTube, TiggerStreet.com, Atom.com and Vimeo.com you just have to create an account, a ten minuet job, before uploading your film. In contrast to these easy methods, to submit onto the BBC website you would have to be an online member first. Even them, a filmmaker has to complete many submission forms before supplying the company with a hard copy of their film.
There can be countless benefits of having your film screened on one of these sites. If you are lucky enough to get onto the BBC page, you get your own dedicated film page with links to your casts and crews profile page. This enables viewers to give you feedback on your film. Even on sites such as YouTube, people have uploaded videos which have appealed to a wide range of people from all over the nation and they have found over night success. Although this is a rear and unlikely occasion, if the film works just right and receives the right viewers, it could open new doors.
There is a very similar presentation in the way all of the internet sites are structured to present the videos and material. The only differences on each site are how they reach their intended target audience. For example, Atom.com is very colourful and flamboyant to appeal to its intended young teenage audience. The BBC has a more mature and dramatic feel which is created with its dark background and regimented structure. YouTube is extremely versatile and can appeal to all ages with its layout.
I personally believe that each site is effective in how they expose the films and their makers to the audience. Each site offers a nice platform for the film. The BBC and Virgin Media offer a respectful higher crust platform for the makers to show their films. Their mature feel is perfect for the people who upload their films onto the site. In contrast, to my knowledge and experience, every video that I have ever seen on YouTube is perfect for that type of site. Under each video there is comment board which enables views to comment and discuss the video with each other. Sometimes the videos caules controversial discussions between the audiences, which I believe is a healthy and fundamental part of film making; film should be created to make us think and by having an argument about the film, proves that YouTube can represent mediated issues and make us think about them. All of the sites show us clearly who the maker is which allows us to give them respect is their film is good.
