H A P P Y . N E W . Y E A R!

Before we start looking ahead at where web video is going in 2008, I thought I’d take a few minutes to reflect on where it went in 2007.

In 2005 and 2006 it was the average home video “guy with camera at the right time” clips that ruled the web. It’s what put the “you” in YouTube. And all of the great tools coming from companies like Adobe, Apple, and Avid allowed even the most novice video users to produce pro-like productions with relative ease. All this was happening while most of the Pro’s (script writers, directors, videographers, actors, etc) sat on the sidelines trying to figure out how they could jump in and still stand out from the crowd. And even more difficult, how they could monetize the whole thing so that their efforts wouldn’t be in vain.

So it was 2007 when the Pro’s showed up and starting producing scripted segments exclusively for the web. They sold their clients on the idea that this would be a cheaper form of advertising than radio or TV, but would be just as effective. And they could produce work with more interactivity and less restrictions on content. And luckily, for most of these campaigns, it worked. Some even exploded in popularity!

So here are the first 4 videos on my list (with embedded video clips) of the 7 Best Web Videos of 2007 produced by Professionals.

(Warning: Some videos have adult themes and language.)

Best Video to Launch New Website

Actor Will Ferrell teamed up with his friend Adam McKay and decided to launch a viral video website named FunnyOrDie. One of the first videos they did to launch the site was called The Landlord and it starred Will, Adam, and Adam’s little daughter Pearl (barely a toddler). Supposedly this video has been viewed 50 million times, which I’m assuming means 1 million people have showed it to their friends 50 times. If you like this clip, you may also want to check out their Pregnant Jaime Lynn Speaks Out video clip they recently posted.

Best Video Pushing a Brand

The people at Blendtec (or their ad agency or marketing department) are geniuses. Take a nerdy guy, make him sound official, add some kitschy music, give him cheesy things to say, and then turn him loose to destroy things with your product. Sheer genius! And the fact that sales increased 500% proves it. And the best part? The whole campaign is interactive. Anyone can submit a suggestion for what should be thrown in the blender next. Blend an iPhone? No problem. A copy of Guitar Hero III? Absolutely. Basically, anything under the sun can be blended with this blender. And 62 videos later they’re still happy to prove it. The only thing it can’t blend… is Chuck Norris.

Best Commercial

The Cadbury Chocolate Gorilla Commercial. This is one of those commercials that at first doesn’t seem like it’s anything special, but for some reason it catches on with the public and becomes a huge hit. But it didn’t become a huge hit by being shown on TV. Instead it was exclusive to the web… until it got so popular that they started showing it in Movie Theaters and on “Best Commercials of the Year” TV shows. Sometimes I’m just amazed at what a gorilla and Phil Collins music can do — like in this case sell chocolate. The Financial Times said it was the best of the year and millions of viewers agreed. See if you agree by viewing it below. If so, then you may want to also check out this spoof here.

Best Worst Commercial

Ellen danced to it. Millions hummed it. And I repeated the jingle over and over in my head until I almost took a hacksaw to my cranium. It’s the Mini-Mall Rap done by Sammy Stephens at the Flea Market Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama. It’s the best of the worst for a reason people! If you watch the following clip, you’ll hate yourself… but the next time you’re driving through Alabama I bet you stop by!

Check back tomorrow when I’ll post the remaining 3 videos in this list and even add some honorable mentions.

UPDATE: Read Part II here!

Popularity: 42% [?]

Trackback Post

Related Posts