Isn’t this what Social Networking is all about? July 8, 2008
Posted by Mario Sundar in Miscellaneous, Social Networking.trackback
This is a bit away from the norm and the closest I could identify with the topics I normally blog about was “social networking”, but it’s one of the most fulfilling videos you’re ever going to see. I don’t want to give away anything with an intro, so I’m gonna ask you to trust me on this one. You’ll not be disappointed.
Trivia: 14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands… and it just seems so worth it.
Thanks to CK for drawing my attention to this video. Here are some rave reviews, not only from marketing bloggers but from some of my favorite movie sites too. This could be the viral hit of the year, if you pass it along.
CK says in a post simply entitled Joy:
Actually, maybe I don’t want to think about why…but rather how much this piece moves me. Watching it I had tears (of joy) streaming down my face.
Ben Barna of Joblo.com (one of my favorite movie sites) in a post entitled “Best Movie ever?” says:
I’ve posted it BELOW, because it is indeed wonderful. Is this the start of a viral sensation?
Minn Post raves this is a “high-definition commercial for Hope“
But this one is no YouTube vanity trip. This one is different. This one feels important, necessary, and artistic; it’s a concrete manifestation of the change that the world’s leaders have been preaching at a time when the human race could use a little pick-me-up, a little jig in its step.
Scott Weinberg of Cinematical too calls it the best movie of the year:
I’m not even going to spoil this simply beautiful film with an introduction, except to thank film critic Erik Lundegaard for posting it on his blog.
Film critic – Erik Lundegaard in a post called “Best Movie of 2008” says
This thing is so beautiful it made me cry. It made me want to travel and dance.
He goes on to define what could be the very definition of real social networking:
Tears began to well in my eyes at this point. Traveling isn’t just about seeing new places, it’s about making connections. Life can be this way: big and together and uninhibited. If it’s wish fulfillment, it still beats any wish-fulfillment fantasy coming out of Hollywood. But I don’t think it is wish fulfillment. He made it happen, so can you. So can I.
Pass on the video to others and make their day. Share This.
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Mario,
I love this. Thanks for sharing it on Twitter (I’m http://twitter.com/patrickbyers). I presented “Using Social Media to Create Social Good” at PodCamp Seattle and wish I would have been aware of this (the deck and links to examples are here: http://tinyurl.com/664xcg.
I’m going to post on my Responsible Marketing Blog and will reference you.
Also subscribed to your RSS feed. Good stuff.
Patrick Byers
Outsource Marketing
http://outsourcemarketing.com
The Responsible Marketing Blog
http://responsiblemarketing.com
Thanks, Patrick, for sharing the message.
I’m following you on Twitter now. I normally share items on Twitter and/or Facebook (social) and if it’s industry focused or professional on LinkedIn.
This video goes on all three + I blog about it
Totally worth it!
Sorry, Mario… I couldn’t actually sit through the whole thing.
With all those quotes, I’m feeling a little sheepish admitting that here. I’ll try again tomorrow… maybe it’s a Monday issue.
Adam
Mario,
Thanks for the follow on Twitter. I’m a LinkedIn Fan (nearly 1,000 connections now) and appreciate your good work there at LinkedIn and in social media generally.
Keep up the good work!
Patrick
@Adam,
It takes a while to get sucked into it. Try again later. Hope you like it.
Thanks, @Patrick!
Thanks for sharing – Mario & Patrick. I may reshare over at ARRiiVE’s blog a http://arriive.blogspot.com w/props. I think I’m already on your twitter but I’ll add you anyway (http://twitter.com/arriive
Cheers,
Scott
That was a great +ve movie after a long sad day. Thanks da
Hey DK,
Long time, no see. Glad you liked it. Sad day? hmm… Hope all’s well.
[...] dancing, gnomedex, mattharding, newyorktimes, pirillo trackback My friend and colleague, Adam, may be one of the very few individuals who actually couldn’t sit through Matt [...]
I had no idea what video you were talking about until I clicked on it. I would like to point out a few things if it hasn’t yet (I didn’t go through the comments).
I first found out about this video by visiting the http://www.stridegum.com web site. After being confused about what was being said over here, I googled and wikipediad him (Can I say that?). According to the Stride Gum web site and Wikipedia, This dancing video (2008) was actually sponsored by the gum company.
This raises a few thoughts in my head… Did this sponsorship work? According to the comments on here, nobody seems to be associating Matt Harding’s Dancing Video with Stride. Also, the general public don’t even seem to know that the last video was actually sponsored by Stride. The video is also “scripted” in a way. By scripted I mean that the pace of the editing was definately thought out – it was not just a bunch of shots pasted together randomly. Having the people rushed towards him and dance is scripted in a way as well.
I can understand how the video can be deconstructed and be seen as a metaphore for social networking but I just can’t keep thinking of where Stride is in all of this.
Just thought I shared my thougths…
@Alphonse,
I did think that Stride displayed enormous restraint for an advertising company to show their lettering (mind you, without their branding – font or otherwise) at the very end (after the credits) must have in itself posed a huge dilemma for them.
Also, having researched the subject I realize how organic this video came about (way before Stride even thought about them).
IMO, what Stride gets out of it are the numerous conversations in the marketplace (from New York Times to this very comment thread) where we discuss their company.
Makes me want to buy some Stride gum tomorrow