Last night, Google hosted a Meet the YouTube Filmmakers event at the El Rey Theater. This was the second Google party we've thrown at the El Rey (the first being our Old Vegas holiday party in 2006), and they are a great venue to work with!
The program's panelists included YouTube filmmakers Arin Crumley, Javier Prato, M dot Strange, Ben Shelton, and Francis Stokes who talked about their experiences with YouTube and the alternatives it offers for distribution and marketing for independent filmmakers. A couple Google engineers also talked about the behind-the-scenes machinations of the site. 
The highlight of the night for me was meeting Vincent Libretti from Project Runway. Vincent was my favorite cast member of his season, and I wrote a tribute to him when he got kicked off. It turns out he's the neighbor of one of my colleagues, who doesn't have a TV so wasn't familiar with the show but thought Vincent was an interesting fellow.
Vincent was super-friendly, and we chatted for a bit about the reality TV experience. It sounds like it was stressful but ultimately worth it. He described many long days and tough working conditions - they were filming in NYC in the summer in un-air-conditioned workspace where the windows had to be kept shut to block the traffic noise for filming - no wonder he had some tantrums! Of course, tantrums make good reality TV. He's developing several new TV projects and still running his store.
We also talked about the everyday woman challenge he won, where the designers had to make clothes for their fellow designers mothers or sisters, many of whom did not look like models. I said the designers acted like designing for plus-sized gals was torture, and he said they were over-reacting and that he felt he was able to win that challenge because he is good at reading people and recognizing their taste and personality.
He laughed when I told him my friends and I still like to quote his catchphrases: "That turns me on!" and "That gets me off!"
I have to say - these Google parties turn me on!
Photos by Brady Walters
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Meet the YouTube Filmmakers...and a Project Runway Legend
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2 comments:
I also met Vincent. I knew nothing about his PR experience, but yeah, he was a fascinating dude and I really liked the time I spoke with him. He and I had different perspectives on success and it coming from luck, hard work, or just having it come to you, but I felt like he was respectful of our differences even without agreeing; I hoped he felt that I was being similarly respectful.
Just from looking at the photo, it must have been one amazing event! I've only watched one episode of PR (the one that guest starred SJP), but I thought it was very good.
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