Independence Day–—Fire up that grill, get out the fireworks, and get ready to toast the founding fathers.
The Main Course:
The 4th means it’s definitely time for a cookout. If you’re putting your grill to use, we’ve got you covered with an excellent list of grilling how-tos – anything and everything from How To Grill The Perfect Burgers to even Pineapple.
Refreshments:
Our founding father’s knew how to party. On top of sporting some fab-u-lous wigs, they liked to spend some time tossing a few back. Check out How To Make Founding Fathers’ Planters Punch and guzzle down the glory, 1776 style.
Dessert:
Anything goes as long as it’s red, white, and blue. This year, match your food to the flag and check out the festive How To Make A Flag Cake. And if you need something to help with the heat, check out How To Make Patriotic Popsicles.
Entertainment:
If you’re planning to set off fireworks, be sure to watch How To Set Off Fireworks Safely before coloring the sky with your favorite sparks.
As we witness the protests in Tehran unravel, one thing that is certain : citizen generated video has become a powerful and vital component of the news cycle of our age.
In order to enable citizens to hone their guerrilla journalism skills, YouTube has created “The YouTube Reporters’ Center, ” an one-stop shop aimed at providing aspiring journalists with information and instruction to help them report responsibly. Here citizens will be able to educate themselves about the best practices for reporting different types of stories, conducting interviews, distributing content, adhering to journalistic ethics, and much more!
Although dogs come with character, most of them do not come with manners. This new batch of Howcast vids will turn your rude pooch into a debonair delight.
Once your furry friend has far exceeded refinement, do something special for him—watch How to Make Your Own Dog Treats, and dish out a homemade batch of love.
Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, otherwise known as the ultimate crash course in the military for ordinary non-military folk. Hosted by General Victor Renuart, the Commander of NORAD (think War Games) and the US Northern Command, the experience was absolutely mind blowing. From riding in an Osprey to hearing real stories from soldiers, I have a new found appreciation of the military and the people who protect us. I was given the amazing opportunity to be the first guest blogger on the Commander’s Blog, and write about my experience during the JCOC. Check it out.
Father’s day is just around the corner, and as the day approaches we find ourselves undecided on what to do for our special dads. All dads like ties, right? Well, instead of buying him the same old gift, why not be creative and demonstrate your artistic abilities by learning How to Make a Pop Up Card? Your kids will have fun, and dad will be happy you thought of him.
If you’re on a budget and don’t want to buy him a gift you know he won’t like, cook up his favorite steak dinner with How to Grill the Perfect Steak, and top it off with his favorite drink with How to make a Manhattan.
Fathers want to be with their families on father’s day, so if you feel like planning something special for him, go camping in the woods with the whole family and learn How to Set Up a Campsite.
Father’s day only comes once a year, so try something different and have some fun!
We’ve been watching the current protests in Iran regarding the recent election and are amazed by how citizens are using social-networking sites like Twitter both to organize protests and share news. Seeing technology used to further a cause reminds us about the great discussions we had during the Alliance of Youth Movement Summit in December.
The Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program launched its first contest today — the How-To Video Challenge! It’s a call for filmmakers, web video artists, and inventors to show off their coolest, baddest, flat-out flyest how-to videos. We’re counting on some exciting creative approaches to the how-to format….maybe a new shooting, editing or animation technique; a household hack or tech mod we never heard of; or even a short film that subtly weaves in a how-to lesson.
We lined up a top-notch panel of judges to select our winners including, Peter Baxter, Slamdance Film Festival; Jeff Cooperman, The Colbert Report; Katherine Sharpe, ReadyMade Magazine; Tim Sullivan, Magical Elves (Project Runway, Top Chef). I think finalists will be thrilled to have their work judged by these industry pros, but that’s just the icing on the cake, because our first prize winner will score $2000 and promotion across online, mobile and off-line platforms. (Second and third prize winners will also take home some nice booty — 2nd prize is a Sony Webbie HD camera with accessories and 3rd prize is a Nano and Apple Store gift certificate.)
The contest is the perfect opportunity for us to reward the creativity of the filmmakers we work with and to challenge a whole new community of film and video makers and DIYers. Reinventing the how-to video is a fantastic assignment for these creative folks and we can’t wait to see what they dream up. When we say we want our socks knocked off, we really mean it.
Important Dates:
Entry Deadline: July 28
Voting Period: July 29 - August 10
Winners Announced: August 20
Good luck and happy shooting,
Heather
Managing Producer, Emerging Filmmakers Program
It’s been raining all week here in NYC, and so we’ve been forced to come up with some creative ways to pass the time. To start, get your abstract strategy on by checking out How To Play Othello.
You shouldn’t have to stress about sabotaging your diet every time you eat out. Check out Howcast’s How to Dine without Blowing Your Diet playlist, and you can eat at just about any restaurant without fear of blowing your weight-loss gains.
Howcast’s Emerging Filmmakers Program has teamed up with stateside film schools Boston University, Flashpoint Academy, and now, for the first time ever, a film and television school from way down under – Charles Sturt University of Wagga Wagga, Australia.
CSU’s Television Production Students produced eight fantastic Howcast spots this semester. (CSU students have a leg up with access to a fully operational television studio!) Check out the Charles Sturt Univeristy Channel and you’ll see an impressive performance by a team of actors/comedians, kitchen techniques illustrated in a sleek location, and a unique cocktail recipe beautifully lit and shot.
“The collaboration between Howcast and Charles Sturt University has produced a number of excellent how-to videos. Howcast nurtured the student’s talents, boosting their confidence to produce creative works up to the standard required for global release.” — Bruce Gater, Lecturer In Television Production
Charles Sturt University is proud to be the first Australian university to partner with Howcast and Howcast is thrilled to work with film students from across the globe and looks forward to working with more talented Aussies!
