Internet Video Magazine announces The TEN Coolest Video Web Sites

   So what makes a video web site “cool”?  These sites look good, are easy to navigate and have a certain “wowness” – but also host a bunch of great videos, animations and/or short films, for free. Some of these are big budget web sites with major financial backing from advertisers and media moguls. Others are more amateurish and function on a smaller scale. Here is the March 2003 Internet Video Magazine (www.internetvideomag.com) guide to the 10 Coolest Internet Video Web sites… in alphabetical order

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 7M Pictures – www.7mpictures.com is a small film production company that produces quality entertainment for people around the world. 7M Pictures is dedicated to making Columbus, Ohio the "Hollywood of the Midwest." Not only do they have a bunch of great funny films and video shorts on their site, but their spec commercial collection is wonderful. Check out Tastes Like Chicken, Ray O Vac and Blind Date.    If you have a pet dog, you will love Deliveries.   If stacks really turn you on, check out Expose Yourself

 All Day Breakfast - http://www.alldaybreakfast.ca/   features commercial parodies, media satire, original characters and short films with an emphasis on food. Looking for great short videos that are REALLY funny and exceptionally well made? Then check out All Day Breakfast. They have a wonderful collection of short one to two minute films that amazingly well produced, acted, and directed - and of course - funny. As this is a breakfast themed site, some of my favorite clips are One Bite Burger, All-In-One-With Cheese and Donuts. Take a bite and digest these flicks! 

Apple Gallery for MPEG4 video - http://www.apple.com/quicktime/gallery/mpeg4.html - some of the best-looking examples of streaming video. Also check out the best of QuickTime video with links to hundreds of different sites. I recommend visiting the Recreation, New Media and the Cubic VR Gallery features and Internet videos down to smaller sizes at higher quality levels. Check it out. Download and install the DiVx player; try out a few of the free movies and content on the web site. This is not true streaming media but it is really cool and looks great.  According to DiVX, over 1.5 million copies have already been downloaded from their web site.You windows fanatics might want to check out WindowsMedia.com  which features short films, trailers, features, etc., all created using Windows Media. There are some excellent short films here amid the advertising and promotional banners.

 BMW Films www.bmwfilms.com - features big action, big budget short films with Hollywood stars and filmmakers. BMW Films is the home of really cool, leading edge Internet videos that feature fast BMWs. To view these requires downloading and installation of the special BMW Films viewer. Available films include Ambush, directed by John Frankenheimer, Chosen, directed by Ang Lee, The Follow, directed by Wong Kar-Wai, Powder Keg, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and Star directed by Guy Ritchie

 The Boards’ Screening Room (http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/) streaming video clips that push the edges of professional video and film production for the advertising world. This is one of the best sites to see streaming video clips that truly demonstrate what can be done with lots of talent, creativity and style. The Screening Room consists of four sections - (Commercials, Animations, Short Films and Music Videos) each of which is outstanding in their own right.

 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival http://www.chryslermdff.com - watch great short films and vote for your favorites. The winning filmmaker gets a million dollar feature film production and distribution deal. Also check out their associated site Hypnotic.com.   It is a real find!. It features internet video of various lengths and type s- award winning comedies, animations, action, documentary and even an experimental category. This is an extremely impressive site with quality content. It requires you to register as a member but it is well worth it.

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 Fox SearchLight www.foxsearchlight.com features one short film at a time and hosts a series of streaming video lectures from leading Hollywood moviemakers. Fox Searchlight Pictures has created a new program for aspiring filmmakers. Fox SearchLight Lab is about connection, development and creating an environment that allows for diversity while encouraging new voices and ideas. The Lab works with selected filmmakers each year to create digital shorts. The goal is to help them become the next generation of theatrical filmmaking talent. Each Lab Filmmaker receives a first look deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures. In addition, the Shorts Series site spotlights different short films.

 Instant Films http://www.instantfilms.tv features winning short films that arise from their Instant Film Festivals – where filmmakers write, shoot, edit and produce 7 to 8 short films from scratch in just 48 hours. These films are great. Not only should you visit the web site and check out the winning films, you should participate in their events and make your own Instant Film!

 MP4.com  www.mp4.com – lots of new short films, animations and music videos. Some recent good stuff includes The Ravonettes. This music video combines the styles of the Merging "the Cramps and the Jesus & Mary Chain with the visual style of 1960's girl group movies. The video incorporates some very interesting video styles and editing. While you are at MP4.com, you may as well check out the trailer for the Olympic Greasey Watermelon contest. When the backyard pool game of Greasy Watermelon is finally awarded Olympic status, the unlikely athletes of Team USA come face to face with the Iron Fisted athletes of Gonadia

Trigger Street  www.triggerstreet.com check out lots of great short films on their Short Film Festival. TriggerStreet is also a community of filmmakers and film aficionados that share and critique scripts and short films. Trigger Street Productions, Inc., was formed in 1997 by Kevin Spacey to develop and produce entertainment in a variety of mediums. Realizing that the path to his own success would have been much rockier without the support and encouragement of many outstanding mentors, Spacey has sought out a way to inspire, nurture, and help bring exposure to new and undiscovered talent.

For more great web sites - please visit our Watch Video sections - guide to hundreds of great video web sites to check out!

Internet Video Magazine was launched in January 2002 and has rapidly become one of the most popular video destination sites on the Internet for watching Internet movies and videos, as well as for those who want to learn how to make their own Internet productions.