Rootclip

Hi everyone! I'm back again this week with a FungusRidden Postcard to promote my own Chapter 6 entry (I hear clicking the Thumbs Up button also speeds up your internet connection and purges your machine of spyware) and to also get you all ready and excited for RootClip version 3.0, which is landing later this week!

Of course, the site creators/administrators have been reasonably mum about their new developments, but like all great surprises, there needs to be a jerk speculating well in advance about what the new changes might be.

The way I see it, we're fresh out of jerks to leave this to, so I'm handling it myself.

First of all, let's talk about what we DO know: that the Rootclip guys who started it all have gone back to their "roots" (haha, somebody already made that joke) and shot the first chapter themselves. What this means is that not only will the site staff be permeated in the story now, but we'll also be following in their footsteps as we adapt their story and characters for the next five rounds while still trying to stay true to the spirit of their creation. And of course, we've got our top men at Rootclip back into the movies, which is always fun.

"Who?" you ask?

Top. Men.

There's also some speculation about new interaction (aside from comments). Of course, that's strictly rumor (which is now being extra-validated by me blogging about it), but wouldn't it be cool if we could start trash-talking each other in ways that don't detract from the reviews of the films being posted? Golly gee whiz, I can't wait to give David Moon a big face of "Shut up, foo!" without needing an entry to do it on.

I'm also predicting, as usual, some slight obligatory changes to the voting/grading system. Not because there's anything wrong with it; to the contrary, the system has never been more effective as it is today. However, as the site continues to evolve, I expect the scoring options to inevitably continue getting face-lifts and updates. Expect something in the way of new twists or touches, even if it's merely a little panel-swapping with the judges.

Another big speculation has been around the matter of prizes. This I can't comment extensively on, but I can offer this: summer is coming, which means so is the Detroit Film Festival and the traditional Michael Moore experience. If history repeats itself and Moore is still our friend, it seems logical that the Rootclip team could potentially arrange a visit with him (though traveling and festival conditions may become the responsibility of the Clipper lucky enough to win the chance). But to that end, I'd like to post this basic reminder as well: videos aren't hard to make, and they're not painful (usually), so battling for honor, fame, and glory isn't such a raw deal, either.

And may I point out this best-kept secret about Rootclip, too: it's actually about networking.

Yeah, you heard me right. Rootclip isn't just about making silly videos about drunken Santas with faceless people making cynical side-comments from the intarweb (well, really, it is, but only in part). As has recently been exposed through numerous Rootclip videos, the contributors are starting to meet up IRL (that's In Real Life, for those of you not hip on web-lingo) and work together on their entries. And what is it, children, that happens when you meet other ambitious filmmakers face to face?

You make connections. And somewhere down the road, KillerRobotNinja may be looking for an assistant director. Might as well put your best foot forward where he can see it: right here on Rootclip.

Alright. Enough ranting. I know nothing else! Be gone with you! (and go vote for Chapter 6!)