Final Blog Post - Summary

When I first began this project, I had an inkling of an idea, a thought that had crossed my mind and was sitting in the back of my head. By doing this blog (almost) every week, it forced me to spend time thinking, working on and exploring my idea of Clapboard. I am really proud and excited about it, and who knows where it will go! It's really great having it down on (figurative) paper that I can direct people to when I'm explaining it in the future.

My entrepreneurial idea in summary is to create a social network revolving around the film industry, and how people watch and interact with movies. On Clapboard users receive points based on their viewings of movies in a hierarchy based on where and how they see the movie, whether online, in theatres, rented etc. You can also review movies, become a "director" of a movie, use your points towards rewards and much much more, take a look at my previous posts.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this project. I got more and more excited as I fleshed out my various ideas for Clapboard. I also really enjoyed looking at other classmates ideas and blogs. I looked and commented on Tim Cheng's all-in-one gaming device, Julia Pantalone's wireless curling iron, and Jenna Foote's blog review all of which I found very interesting. I'll be curious to see a couple years down the road who from our class will end up putting their ideas into practice, the next RJ Sherman if you will. 

Blog Review Post - GigaOm

The blog I chose to review is a site by the name of Gigaom (http://gigaom.com/). It is this amazing database of blogs about everything going on in the business, technology and innovative world. A plethera of articles are posted daily, sometimes 5-6 a day, about everything from the AT&T merger with T-Mobile, to what's going on with Netflix and Facebook. Every article I saw had something in it that I found interesting or learned about. And that's only the homepage! The homepage has a collection of the all the latest articles posted in the tabs....
   The other tabs on the site are essentially individual blogs. For example, there is an Apple blog about everything happening with Apple like the latest app, the newest device, business deals, problems with apple products, everything under the sun. There's also blog tabs about Broadband (internet), Cleantech (environmentally conscious technology and innovation), Cloud (the growing world of cloud computing), Collaboration (How to's, tips, top 10's of technology), Mobile (pretty self explanatory, phones, tablets, etc), and Video (an interesting section about TV, Movies, youtube etc. and the latest about those).
  Overall the blogsite is phenomenal, really a 7-in-1 blogsite, and has many authors. However, one blogger that caught my eye was Janko Roettgers. He blogs for gigaom and the majority of his posts fall under the Video tab (called newteevee). His posts discuss a wide range of topics, but mostly dealing with TV and film, which I personally find interesting being in that career path. He blogs about Netflix, the latest in online video, startup online shows, the newest sites for posting video. For example, I learned about tout, a site that is like the twitter version of youtube, allowing only up to 11 seconds of video per post. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole site, Janko's articles and recommend you do too!

Brand-Yourself - Week #7

Today in class a Syracuse grad, RJ Sherman, gave a very interesting presentation about individual marketing. He talked about what companies look for in a personal profile, whether on linkedin, twitter, facebook, or your own personal website. He also discussed current trends in the business/marketing/hiring world. For example, how companies look at potential employees online, what they like/don't like, and also important tips/guidelines on what you should do to improve your "brand".
       I found this lecture very intriguing and inspiring as a college student looking to crack into the job world. Although RJ's company is more of a business-oriented website, his story about starting up a company when he was attending SU was very inspiring. I wish I had the technical skills that he does to actually put my idea into action. I think my Clapboard idea is a business booster for the film industry, but more so is for fun/entertainment for the users. It may not be profit driven, but look at facebook, it wasn't originally started with monetary purpose, but rather expanded and expanded until it would be foolish not to.
    Finally, I have more to add to my Clapboard....either using or mimicking the twitter model, fans would be able to follow their favorite actors/actresses/directors and see their opinions on other movies/movies they've seen. In addition, they could update what movies they are working on, post production photos etc. Or say they are at a premier, or going to be attending a pre-screening, things of that nature..

Connection to others....Week #6

Another aspect of Clapboard that I didn't go into detail about is its ability to link with other social media. Most websites, companies, social media sites, youtube...EVERYTHING links to one another. The same would be for Clapboard, so if you purchase a movie, enter a theater/movie, you could connect it to your twitter and it would tweet what you were watching. There could be a box on facebook, showing your recent rated/seen movies, in addition to status updates.
Relating to the week before last's lab, you could also record an audio review of a movie. Instead of typing out on a small touchscreen keyboard on your iphone or blackberry qwerty keboard, you would be able to use your cell phone to record your thoughts/review. You could even do it right after you leave the theater, in the car on the way home, or wherever! Of course, your review would only be published if you had scanned the appropriate movie code etc. You could even make it into a podcast of your own, ebert and roeper style.
Once again, the main hinge on all of this, is big movie companies buying into the idea. But it could also be useful for grassroots movies, independent, amateur films etc. similar to how anyone can get on imdb (including yours truly). It would be an even playing field in some ways, not so much in others (like rewards etc)

Even More Features! - Week #5

For this week's post I will be discussing more of the features of Clapboard as well as some things relating to class this past week. First as far as more features of Clapboard goes, I forgot to mention the ability to watch trailers for upcoming movies. Similar to how Apple has a database of trailers on their website, it will feature current movies in theaters, and for future movies. In addition, the site would be linked with IMdB to provide information on actors and movies externally.
Another similar feature to foursquare will be the various "levels" you can achieve by racking up points with Clapboard. In Foursquare, you become a mayor of a location if you visit it x amount of times more than the rest of the of the people who have been there. With Clapboard, instead "mayor" it will be "director", and in this case movies.
So for example, if you see Iron Man 2 twice in theatres, rent it on Netflix, then buy the deluxe box set, you may rack up enough points to become the "director" of that movie. Unlike foursquare though, anyone can be a "director" and there can be more than one. There are also lower levels (i.e. grip, cinematographer, stunt double etc).

More Features of Clapboard - Week #4

This week I thought I would go more in depth about two key aspects of Clapboard: the reviews and rewards. First the reviews, users of clapboard would be allowed and in fact encouraged to review the movies they had seen. Once you punch in your ticket stub number, Clapboard will ask you to review the movie. There will be different types of reviews, for example those who have seen it in theatres vs. at home, 3D/not, etc. In addition, by seeing a movie multiple times you can add to your current review. Other users will be able to agree with your review (similar to the "like" button on facebook) or if they disagree and have seen the movie they can post a review of their own. This eliminates the "you can't know unless you've seen it" problem. You will also be able to browse through your friends recent reviews, or top rates etc.
The rewards side is also very key to Clapboard, this gives users more incentive to use Clapboard. The rewards will work on a point system, very similar to other rewards programs but with a few key differences. First, there are many different ways to acquire points, and will be a extensive chart/guide to exact values. Ways to get points would include: writing a review, having a highly viewed review, adding a new friend, seeing a movie in theatres, buying a DVD, renting it online/otherwise, OnDemand, etc. etc. Now based on the specifics, some things are more valuable than others. For example you would get way more points for seeing a movie in IMAX than online from Netflix etc. As for the rewards themselves, they will be provided by the theatres, production companies, etc. essentially the people who make the movies/distribute them. Some rewards you will be able to straight up buy with your points (i.e. free popcorn, free tickets to theatre, free rental etc.) but other you will be able to bid on like eBay. So rewards in this category would be like actual props from a set, signed posters, advanced screening tickets, etc. This gives the user more control and entertainment with the excitement of bidding. And finally for the not so adventurous, there will also be sweepstakes where by simply being an active member you are entered into (i.e. tickets to a premiere, meet the actors, take part in an upcoming event etc.)
This week in class we also talked about RFID chips, which also could be useful for this app. Clapboard could send their users an RFID sticker with a chip implanted that could go on their phone or wallet etc. so that when they walk through the theater doors to their seats, it would automatically sync with clapboard saying that you had seen that show. You wouldn't even have to type in your ticket stub, it would automatically be aware of your entrance into the theater.

Post #2 - Week #2

To continue from last weeks post on my idea, Clapboard would have to be run a certain way in order for it to be legitimate in the eyes of the public. A key part of social media that I think users really appreciate is their objectivity. In other words, the ability to not have it be strictly controlled by one company's agenda. For example, on facebook there are countless political groups, events etc. created by the users that are quite controversial and span a large range of opinions. Facebook does not intervene in these or take sides in any sort of conflict of interest, unless it is exceptional (i.e. threats, inappropriate material, impersonation etc).
     Clapboard should have a similar agenda, obviously not as large scale (yet) as facebook, but with the same idea in mine. It should not be sponsored by one film company, or media branch, but rather allow anyone to add/subtract to it, also known as open-source material. It would be user driven when it comes to ratings, checking in etc. and the film companies would be allowed to make their own prizes, creating healthy competition. Hopefully this will make the site more appealing and benefit the users.
   In regards to how class material could help my product, the use of spreadsheets in programs like excel would be essential. To be able to compile data and sort it regarding which users go where, who is more likely to see which kinds of movies etc. would be invaluable data for both Clapboard and movie companies as well. This information would need to be organized and processed at rapid paces, a perfect application for this is excel and some of the techniques we learned in class.