One of my favorite uses for YouTube and Internet Video is to encourage and inspire.  A well-crafted video can kick-start the urge in us to be better people, to take action for injustice, to raise awareness about a wide variety of issues, or, in the case of Arthur Boorman, to be the best we can be, no matter what we’re faced with.

For fifteen years, he believed what the doctors told him, and eventually gained a lot of weight, reaching just shy of 300 pounds.

With the help of a very determined trainer and more willpower than most people could have in a lifetime, he began his journey to health by taking one extremely simple baby step – Yoga.

Yoga has been used to treat everything from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, Diabetes, even sleep disorders and depression. The real miracle, here, though is certainly not the magic of yoga or the greatness of proper diet and exercise, though when applied correctly, these things can be great. The real miracle and story here is the triumph of the human spirit and the success of one man through determination and will power. To go onward, to push forward, when all the odds are stacked against you takes much more strength than being able to run a mile in a certain time or benching any amount of weight.

Check out his inspirational story:

Hehehe… get it?

To celebrate, I have an effects-packed new vlog talking about my awesome new car that I’m picking up today, and naming her the oh-so-appropriate title of “The Millenium Falcon.”  Awesome, yes?  It’s a 2001 black Pontiac Bonneville, and it looks awesome.  Anyway, hope you enjoy Star Wars Day, 2012!  Sit back, pop in your favorite episode, and enjoy a nice tall glass of your favorite Mos Eisley Cantina drink!

I mean, you probably knew that, but dang.  It looks like I’m going to have to take out student loans if I want to go to school.  I’d love to get a degree in Digital Media or something similar, which is my passion (obviously.  Look around the website…).  It’s just that I’m running out of time.  It’s already MAY.  Can you BELIEVE that!?  If I want to be in school by August, I HAVE to get going.  Dang, though.  I just hate this feeling.  It’s like I’m going nowhere fast, and frankly, it’s depressing.

So, let’s look at what I want.

I want the ‘College Experience.’
I know it’s bullcrap.  I know that it’s a false romanticized image created by television and movies, but it’s something I want to at least see for myself.  I want to be apart of a community of people my age in the same situation – have no money and going to school.  To live in a dorm or an apartment in the city where I can finally be Matt Walker, and not kid.  Being 19 shouldn’t feel like I’m running out of time to enjoy life, but God help me, it does!  It’s bizarre.  But I’d love to live in a dorm with a roommate or in a apartment near the college I’m pretty sure I want to go to: Georgia State University.

I want to make money.
Simple answer: Get a job.  Difficult answer: How and where?  And, if I’m going to be relocating for school (honestly, here’s hoping) then what then?  Should I look for jobs at all right now?  It’s very confusing.  In the meantime, I’ll be making money by ad revenue on this website and my YouTube.  By the way, click an ad – PLEASE!

I want to grow up.
I wouldn’t say I’m immature – not by a long shot – but I’m still in the kid mindset.  My parent’s house is my house.  I’m not moving forward like I should be.   True, kids are living with their parents longer than they used to.  My mom was married for two years when she was the age I am now.  Kids used to leave home around 18, but it’s getting later, but not by much.  Being 19, I feel like I should step my game up, and start moving forward.  But in which direction?

I guess the only option I have right now is to research and pray – pray my face off that God will smack me upside the head with a plan.  His are typically best, but sometimes I’m too wrapped up in me to see it.  We’ll see how it goes!

-Matt

108.67.41.15

Have fun, and Happy Crafting!

Think about that number for a moment.  901.  MILLION.

That is the population of India.  Holy crap, right?

Now, I personally left Facebook around six months ago because… well, it was driving me crazy.  The unnecessary stress of seeing how idiotic some of your friends can be, in writing.  The drama of seeing people argue back and forth like machines.  Losing the feeling of actually being connected with people, emotionally, and not just electronically.  That’s why I left.

But, there is no denying that it is, without a doubt, a social revolution when it comes to the way people interact with each other.  Sociology textbooks in the future will refer to the creation of Facebook as one of the biggest social-related events of the modern era (and hopefully forget about that dully-acted and painful uninteresting movie, “The Social Network”).  901 Million people, use it, and 526 Million of those users… use it DAILY.  THAT is the big key right there.

Social Media is becoming the #1 way businesses and individuals like advertise themselves.  Facebook opens a door of easy, new, and (here’s the buzzword) FREE possibilities when it comes to drumming up business and potential customers.  You can make fan pages, groups, invite people to events, or, as I discovered, the easiest thing to do is say “Hey, friends!  Check this out!” and like to your website.  Poof.  Profit.

If you’re not advertising on Facebook, now it the time to start.  Within the next year, when Facebook hits ONE BILLION PEOPLE, you want to be sure that you have 1/7 of the population of our planet at your business’s disposal.

Seriously.

To check out my video on Facebook Hitting 901 Million people, Click Here or Watch Below!

Be sure to check out the video bloopers, too!

So, with every category, I’d like to offer my favorites/predictions/whatever.

~Best Picture~
My Favorite: Hugo
Second Choice: The Artist
Least Favorite: The Tree of Life
Prediction : Honestly, no idea.

This is the first time in a while that I really have no idea where the Academy might be leaning for Best Picture.  There are so many equally good films up that I don’t know where to begin.  Obviously, some are, for lack of another phrase, ‘higher tier’ than others (The Descendants, The Artist, Hugo), then you have the mid tier (The Help, Moneyball, War Horse) and the rest, but honestly?  It’s anyone’s game.  I pick Hugo because it trulyis the love letter to filmmakers and movie lovers that is just so lovable and amazing.  The spirit and care that went into crafting Hugo is unprecedented.  The performances were amazing, the music was lovely, and the special effects were extraordinary.  I picked The Artist as my second choice, really, for the same reason – it’s a love letter to the movies.  Those always seem to be my favorites.  The Artist is great, albeit a bit ‘gimmicky’ with the whole silent film thing, but they executed it with absolute perfection.  I would love to see either win.  Absolutely.

Tree of Life is not a film.  It’s a boring, three hour-long screen saver with no story or redeeming values.  I mean, Brad Pitt was in it, and is nominated for Best Lead Actor… for Moneyball, if that says anything.  I do however pick it to win a certain award.  Stay Tuned.

~Actor in a Leading Role~
My Favorite: George Clooney
Second Choice: Jean Dujardin
Least Favorite: Brad Pitt
Prediction: Jean Dujardin

George Clooney might seem like the pithy choice because, heck, isn’t George Clooney always the nominee for everything?  I don’t really like George Clooney to be honest.  He’s an idiot most of the time, he’s pretentious, and politically backwards.  But he was fantastic  in ‘The Descendants.’  I mean, usually, Clooney shows little emotion when playing a role.  I really hated ‘Up in the Air’ when it was up for awards a few years back.  But this time, he really grabs you as a character that is brilliantly represented.

My second choice, and prediction, goes to Jean Dujardin.  This man is brilliant, because not only is he playing a character, but he is charged with playing a time as well.  He has to convince the audience that he is an actor, playing an actor, from the 1920′s.  And he pulls it off with flying colors (or lack-of-colors, as the film is in black and white.)  He says only two audible words in the entire 90 minute film, and if he can secure a nomination, that is something to be celebrated.  ’The Artist’ is another love letter to Hollywood, and it surely bears Jean Dujardin’s signature.

Also, I like Brad Pitt – I really do.  He is a great actor most of the time.  For Moneyball, though?  He had a very underwhelming performance.  Like, he was great, sure!  But Best Actor material?  No.

~Actress in a Leading Role~
My Favorite: Viola Davis
Second Choice: Meryl Streep
Least Favorite: Rooney Mara
Prediction: Viola Davis

Viola Davis was convincing.  She wasn’t as extravagant as Streep or Williams.  She wasn’t a pathetically controversial as Mara.  She was a dude, like Close.  She was convincing, which is what an actor must be.  She brought the role of a woman living in the Civil Rights era to life.  One might not even have thought she was an actor – she is so authentic in her delivery that you would have thought she was actually the character she played.  Brilliant, brilliant woman.  Coupled with her performance in ‘Doubt’ a few years back (also starring Meryl Streep), she has long deserved this award.

Rooney Mara was trash.  I mean, her character was pathetically executed, and her acting was one of the most sub-par performances I’ve ever witnessed.  Most Academy members have gone on record saying that he presence on the ticket must be some kind of fluke, and I agree.  She was awful.  ’The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ was okay, but I was thrilled to see David Fincher absent from the ticket.  One of the most over-rated pieces of purposefully controversial celluloid I’ve ever seen.  Rooney Mara is the exact opposite of what women in this department should be.

~Actor in Supporting Role~
My Favorite: Nick Nolte
Second Choice: Max Von Sydow
Least Favorite: Jonah hill
Prediction: Kennith Branagh

Nick Nolte played the father of both leading characters in ‘The Warrior’ which was surprisingly an astounding movie.  I hate sports movies (and sports books, sports video games, sports in general…. sports drinks are good, though…), but this movie was fantastic.  I loved it, I really did.  Though I would have loved to see it up for more, Nicn Nolte certainly deserves this nomination.

Jonah Hill… has his place.  It’s not in the Oscars.  I’d rather see the dog from ‘The Artist’ or the dog from ‘Hugo’ get this spot than Jonah Hill.  I mean, the kid from Superbad is… up for an Oscar?  Come on.  Just… just come on.

I’m predicting Branagh because he seems like Oscar material.  Just saying.

~Actress in Supporting Role~
My Favorite: Berenice Bejo
Second Choice: Octavis Spencer
Least Favorite: Melissa McCarthy
Prediction: Berenice Nejo

Give this woman an Oscar.  I was surprised to see her in this category.  Why?  Because she certainly was not a ‘supporting’ role in ‘The Artist.’  She was as much of a lead role as Dujardin was!  She was brilliant, beautiful, talented, and pulled the role off with perfection.  Let me reiterate: perfection.  I couldn’t imagine her giving a better performance for the role.  Octavia Spencer was heart-warming in her role in ‘The Help,’ and I’m a sucker for heart-warming, although her counter part Jessica Chastain is equally deserving.

I swear, if Melissa McCarthy gets this, I’m through.  I’m… I’m just through.

~Animated Feature Film~
I haven’t actually seen ANY of these this year!

But, and I hate to say this, I’m glad to see Pixar is not automatically up.  Why?  They did not deserve it this year.  I LOVE Pixar – I truly do.  They are some of the best filmmakers in the industry to date.  But Cars 2?  Pathetic cash cow.  It was totally an unskilled movie that seemed to be created for the sole purpose of selling Lightning McQueen toys to little boys who saw the movie.

~Cinematography~
The Tree of Life
I hated this movie.  I really did.  On Terrence Malik’s part, it was more self-indulgent than a six-hour masturbation session.  It really was ridiculous.  But the cinematography?  STUNNING. I cannot stress that enough.  To look at, it was absolutely gorgeous.  Every single shot was expertly crafted to the highest degree.  It was the sole reason I finished the film at all.

~Art Direction~
The Artist

Loved Hugo, and loved Harry Potter, but they can’t hold a candle to the brilliance of the Artist.  Hugo was whimsical and lovely, and Harry Potter is here probably because it’ll never have the opportunity again, but this has to go to ‘The Artist.’

~Costume Design~
The Artist
 The 1920′s getups of ‘The Artist’ are, again, so perfectly done that it’s amazing they were made in 2011, and not in the 20′s.

~Directing~
Martin Scorcese – Hugo
Martin Scorcese is hit or miss for me, but after ‘Shutter Island’ and now ‘Hugo?’  He has captured my heart.  Love this man and his work.  He did just an astounding job with Hugo – every aspect of it.  I’m so glad to see him win the Golden Globe, and I am hoping to see him claim the Oscar, too.

~Documentary/Documentary Short~
Didn’t see any of these, unfortunately.  I love a good documentary.

~Film Editing~
Hugo
The editing in Hugo was truly magical.  The cutting and pacing and timing of everything was just extraordinary.  I would also like to see The Descendants win.  The Artist, though I loved it, was well edited, but nothing special in the editing department.

~Makeup~
 Harry Potter  and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
Voldemort.  Enough said.

~Music (Original Score)~
Hugo
Hugo was my choice, though I was impressed with the authenticity of The Artist’s soundtrack, too.

~Music (Original Song)~
The… the Muppet song?  I guess?  Slim pickings this year.  I miss ‘Jai ho’ and all that.

~Short Films~
Didn’t see any of these, despite being QUITE the enthusiast.   The Fly Books animated one looks great, but other than that?  Not educated enough to make a fair guess/opinion.

~Sound Editing~
Drive
My goodness.  Drive should be up for a LOT more than this.  Drive is Best Picture Material.  I’m sad to see it snubbed.  But the Sound Editing was amazing.  I remember the scene in the parking lot with the gunshot?  My goodness.

~Sound Mixing~
Hugo
It was extraordinary.  What can I say?

~Visual Effects~
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
The scene at the end?  The battles?  The CGI work?  Visually stunning.  Absolutely amazing.

~Writing (Adapted)~
The Descendants
Hugo, my favorite, was well-written, but Writing wasn’t one of it’s obvious strengths.  The Descendants, however, was emotional, hilarious, dramatic, and it hits home.

~Writing (Original)~
Midnight in Paris
Well, I thought it was well written, given the fact the film was kind of bland.  I swear, though, Bridesmaids?  Really?  Are you even kidding me?

—

Well that is IT!  My thoughts, opinions, hopes, dislikes, bitter hatreds, etc.  I am looking forward to tweeting it up on Oscar night with you folks!  Be sure to follow me on Twitter By Clicking Here!

In my most popular YouTube video, now having received over 11,000 views and well over 100 video responses (15 of which are still active), ‘How to Make a GOOD Vlog,’ I talk about some of the basics on how to make sure that you’re vlog doesn’t, to put it frankly, suck,  I didn’t call it ‘How to Succeed on YouTube’ or something like that, because these tips are the very minimum of quality you need to get started.

Today, I want to talk about a question that I get a LOT from fans and fellow YouTubers that I only briefly touched upon in my video: Where do I start?

A lot of people have the passion, ability, patience, equipment, and drive to video blog, and that’s great!  But one thing that ends up stifling a lot of people’s creativity is they have no idea where to begin or what to talk about.

That’s what we’ll be talking about today.

Where Do I Start?
First, you need an idea.  Something to talk about.  Something that is not only interesting to you, but potential viewers on Youtube.  If it’s a popular subject, make sure to present a reason why your video is different than all the other vloggers talking about the same thing.  No one wants to hear your opinion if it’s the same as everyone else’s or if it’s old news, or if it’s obviously just, pardon the term, an attempt at ‘whoring’ yourself out to get more viewers.  Traditionally, there seems to be three types of Vlogs.

- Diaries
- Opinions
-Reviews

Diaries
Diaries are the vlogs that talk about you, you, and more you.  What you’re doing in school.  How work is going.  That oh-so-interesting trip to the grocery store you took last week.  Stuff like that.  The one problem with these kinds of videos, though, is that unless the viewer is just really interested in what you’re saying (it helps to be attractive.  Guys, smile and squint a lot.  Girls, bite your lip and giggle.  Bam  100k views over night.), people aren’t going to care – at least not until you build a fan base.  If you’re new at this, unless something just incredible happened at the hair salon or you just saw the freakiest-looking spider or something not totally bland, no one is going to care.

Opinions
Everyone likes to have their opinion known.  Vlogs are an excellent opportunity to get your voice out there.  Politics, Social issues, gripes, praises, sermons, lectures – things like these have the ability to stir up either controversy and hatred, or support and love.   You’ve got to have some thick skin if you’re going to pursue an opinion-based vlog.  People are going to hate you because you might think differently.  (One time, I brought up how disrespectful Senator Barbara Boxer was to an Army General one time, and I was called a ‘fatass faggot.’  Not only does it make them sound like a middle schooler, but neither insults have anything to do with the topic. )

But along with the hate, you’ll find love, too.  When people find someone else that shares an opinion with them, it makes them feel special, smart.  Valued, even.  People say to avoid Religion and Politics in polite conversation, and if you want polite conversation on YouTube, you probably should avoid opinion-based vlogs.  If you want Subscriptions and Views, though, you’re gonna have to step up to the podium.

Reviews
One thing I really enjoy about the Youtube community is how we look after one another with reviews on products, services, movies, games, music, etc.  There is no incentive for a YouTuber, even a partner, to give a biased review on something.  We can all be honest with what we like and don’t like.   If you play a lot of video games, make a review on the last game you played!  Even if it’s an old game, like from the SNES or N64 era, label it ‘Retro.’  People eat that up.  If you saw a really good (or really sucky) movie recently, film a video review and put it online!  Read any good books lately?  Muse and ponder the finer points of a literary endeavor by speaking into the camera for two minutes.

There are many different ways to vlog.  Unless you want to be known as a specialist, be open to all three of these vlog types.  If you are passionate when speaking, and have a personality people can enjoy.  and topics worth speaking about, you will be on your way to succeeding on YouTube.

These ideas are just a springboard to get you thinking – there are no rules when it comes to what kind of video you want to make.  (Okay, don’t put up porn.  That’s kind of frowned upon.).  The first and most important step, though, if to GET GOING!  You’ll never be able to make a good video without practice, and you won’t get practice if you’re afraid to make a video.

Hope you enjoyed this helpful little article.  If you enjoyed it, please consider donating to Major Motion Studios by clicking the link to the right or the ‘Save the Website!’ link up top.  If you can’t donate, click an ad!  It’s a  hassle-free of showing the indie community of Youtubers and video makers you care.

Hope this helps, and happy YouTubing!

So, video makers, marketers, and advertisers have a great place to promote their product, and the best part of all – it’s free.  Unlike television and print ads, people are encouraged to share videos with one another, make comments, ‘like’ videos, and with social networking like Facebook and Twitter, show others what they are watching, without any cost to the creator.  That’s why companies need to be on, at the very least, the internet nowadays.

But just who is on YouTube?

Here’s some interesting statistics and facts you might not have known, or maybe you never even thought about.²

• Politically speaking, there are 0.2 million more Republicans on YouTube than Democrats, but, overall, there roughly 2.3 million more Independent voters than the Republican and Democrat parties.
• The average median income of American YouTube users is $74,000 a year.
• Just under 70% of YouTube users are college educated. 
• The age of the average YouTube user?  33 years old.
• 70% of YouTube traffic, however, comes from outside the United States – YouTube has been localized in 23 different countries, and in 24 different languages.
• More than half of American YouTube users are from Suburban areas, as apposed to Urban or Rural places.
• The YouTube audience is 53% Male and 47% Female.  
• 47% of YouTube users are married.

STORY = 5/5

I went in seeing Hugo having only slightly an idea in regards to what the story actually was about.  To my surprise, it was an absolute marvel of a tale that really hit home with me.  The gist of the film is this; how magic can exist on screen; in movies and film.  That’s not me talking about Hugo, that was actually the plot of the film.  It is an amazing tale of a retired film director from the pioneer days of the industry and how he lost his passion.  Luckily, through a series of seemingly un-related events, our film’s orphaned hero, Hugo, meets this man and, without spoiling anything, discovers what his former life was all about.  It’s a story of the innocence of childhood (along with adorable puppy love), never giving up on your dreams, and love in a form we just too often don’t see on film anymore.  Spectacular story.

TECHNICAL PROWESS = 5/5

Sheer beauty.  The cinematography, the special effects, the 3D, the animation, the period pieces… all were near perfection.  I didn’t want to film to end, I was so enthralled with the experience Scorsese brought to the screen with ‘Hugo.’  The 3D, like I mentioned, was actually very well done, and spectacular fun to view, without it distracting you from the excellent story, which seems to be the downfall of films made in 3D.  Some of the 1930′s film recreations were absolutely marvelous.

ACTING= 5/5

Every character was played especially well, but most importantly, the two child leads were impeccable in their portrayal of  Hugo and Isabelle.  Asa Butterfield (You might have seen him in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’) and Chloë Grace Moretz  (Vampire story ‘Let Me In’ and Action-comedy ‘Kick-Ass’), were two of the most brilliant young actors I’ve ever seen on screen.  The chemistry they had, even as two children, were outstanding.  Ben Kingsley (whom I’ve always enjoyed) did a spectacular job in his role as well, and, surprisingly, Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Bruno) can play a character that is lovable and not profane!  Imagine that!

SOUNDTRACK/MUSIC = 5/5

The film was filled with silent-movie-style piano music, French violin melodies, and charming, magical pieces that really ties together the feel of being in post-WWII France.  Beautiful and memorable, Hugo’s score will be known as the icing on this already-delicious cake.

OVERALL = 5/5

One of the best films I saw this year, standing next to ‘Super 8′ and ‘Drive.’  I cannot recommend this film highly enough.  Absolutely marvelous from beginning to end.  If you’re not a fan of 3D, though, see it in Martin Scorsese’s best ever.  I really mean that.  Something that must be experienced on the big screen.

CONTENT WARING
Actual Rating: PG
Worthy Rating: G

No sex.  No language (seriously – I don’t think I heard a single ‘what the hell’ in there).  No violence.  The only scary image I can think of is during a dream sequence, Hugo has a scary dream, but really, that’s it.  I think there was some smoking at one point, and Ben Kingsley’s character is kind of a mean old man at some parts, but really, any one should be able to handle it.  Great family movie that isn’t a kids’ movie, if you know what I mean.  Too often, the motion picture industry will market a children’s movie as a ‘family movie,’ when it’s not.  Hugo, though, is a family movie.  Go see it!

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Thanks for reading!  Hey, support Matt Walker and Major Motion Studios by clicking an ad at the top!  Gracias, amigo!

Now it’s the Christmas season!  I want Uncharted 3, a new monitor, Super 8 on Blu-Ray, a new graphics card, and peace on earth and all that.  :)