Now Everybody's A Director

By Keith Boykin, in movies
Thursday, June 15 2006, 6:40AM

The New York Times ran a fascinating story this morning about new technology that allows consumers to make their own movies on the Internet. I decided to give it a spin. Without reading the directions and with no instructions, no training, no experience and no equipment, I made up this quick 2 minute video from still photos and music that was already on my computer.

I used a web site called Jumpcut, but there are several others out there that provide similar services. I was amazed. If I can do this with no direction and no resources, imagine what you can do when you really put your mind to it.

Not only can you create your own home videos, you can also create music videos, amateur movies, documentaries, commercials, political advertisements and so much more. The technology is really amazing.

I did, however, discover one limitation when I uploaded this video onto my web site. Unfortunately, I don't believe the Jumpcut system allows me to pick which photo shows up as the main image for the video. If I had my choice, I wouldn't have chosen this dramatic photo of the World Trade Center attack for the front page of my web site today. But apparently the system automatically chooses the first image in the video.

Imagine A New World

As a New Yorker who survived 9/11, I understand the sensitivity that many people still feel when they see these images. Although I did not intend to use the World Trade Center image on my web site, I did chose to use the image in my video to dramatize a point that should become clear when you watch it. It's about imagining a world where we are not divided by hatred and fear, nationalism and religion.

All the images shown are from real life events that have taken place in my lifetime. We've built great skyscrapers and destroyed them. We've survived through crisis and catastrophe. Man has walked on the moon, hurricanes have wiped out entire cities, and great leaders have lived and died.

With so much technology at our disposal, we have the potential to learn much more about one another than ever before. This is an exciting time to be alive, but it also brings new challenges. Still, it is sad to see that so many of us still live in fear of one another. If nothing else, I hope we can learn to use our new technology to help connect us rather than to divide us.

To see my movie, click on the play button above or click on this link here.

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