richardsebastian.com

WYSIWYG software like DreamWeaver and Google Pages make it simple for anyone to create their own professional-looking websites. Digital cameras and cheap, easy-to-use non-linear editing software let anyone produce their own digital movies. With a cheap, plastic microphone and iTunes, anyone with something to say (or not) can create their own podcast. And now, anyone with a webcam and a broadband connection can broadcast over the Internet.
Ustream is a free service that lets you broadcast feeds live over the Internet. It’s like a live version of YouTube. You can also record your shows and share them with the public on your own Ustream “channel”. If you want to create a more polished production, you can download free software to your PC or Mac that let’s you overlay text, add PIP (picture in picture) capability, and broadcast a slideshow, computer desktop, or digital movie. You can also embed your Ustream channel’s media player to your website or blog.

Go to Ustream.tv to get a free account.

Tip of the hat to my friend Jill, who sent me a link to the Seeds of Tolerance documentary video contest. Unfortunately, online voting has ended for this, but you can tune in to the site to see which video wins. One of the videos is about the sad, sad history of Virginia’s Native American tribes called Ghost Tribes. Another is an independent video by Richmond resident Lucas Krost called One Nation Under Guard about the swelling population of inmates in America’s prison system

There are some interesting connections here, having nothing to do with this contest. Jill is Native American and replaced me as the ABE/GED teacher at a local jail. Coincidentally, I have a bit of history with Lucas Krost, too. For some reason I remember signing him up for a membership at the independent video store in Richmond where I worked, geez, 12 years ago. I like to believe this made a significant impact on his filmmaking career.