I came across this video that I thought was really fun. It combines two of my passions mobile technology and public spaces—in this case iPhones and public transit. Yes, it is a staged ‘viral’ campaign to promote a new album. But, it goes beyond simple commercialism and reminds us of the wide variety of uses for our public spaces. More importantly, it is simply fun, which is part of what makes urban live so attractive.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAllFWSl998
From Youtube:
Directed by Benjamin Espiritu. Produced by Atomic Tom and Benjamin Espiritu. Edited by Reid Carrescia. This video was filmed unannounced on Friday October 8, 2010 aboard the New York City B Train, over the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn and edited from 3 iPhone cameras. All footage is performed 100% live and executed in one take.
If you like the tune, it’s available here.
Download this video on itunes:
I was also entranced by the video because it is reminiscent of Phoenix’s very own Train Tracks series, now in it second season. Train track is a local music series where each week a different Phoenix band performs their songs acoustically for audiences aboard our Light Rail system, or as Train Tracks poetically describes it: “the streaking silver cars that carry our friends, neighbors, hopes and plans.”
I would say they made a video in an attempt to make it go viral, not that it’s a “staged viral” video.
That Train Tracks project seems cool.
Fair enough. I didn’t mean to be critical, it looked like a really cool experience and most seemingly ‘impromtu’ events are staged, such as flash mobs, No Pants Day, etc.
However, it sounds like was part of a larger promotion strategy and I wanted to make a distinction between authentic impromptu urban happenings and pre-planned ones.
Also, to me, true viral videos need to have a bit of authenticity to the, I’m not sure if it is it really ‘viral’ when that’s the intent from the beginning…
I did not know you could do all that with an iphone. Sure helps that it’s an awesome song.
Thanks for the comment! They are a lot of cool music apps for iPhones…