Adjunct Professor Frank Chindamo attended the world’s largest web video conference, VidCon, this summer. Now in its 6th year, it attracted millions of dollars in advertising and approximately 25,000 attendees. Sponsored by YouTube, Facebook, and other web video companies, the world’s biggest web stars were there to speak on panels, share their latest work, and get screamed at by adoring fans.

Chindamo teaches “The Art and Business of Web Video” and was happy to see many of his former students at the convention. Those students included Christian Viera, creator of the beer-vlog Hoppy Hour, and MCN employee and viral-video producer Alyssa Policarpio, whose version of “Turn Down for What” video earned 500,000 views online and a mention in Time Magazine.

Chindamo was interviewed by Fox News at the Convention as well.

While attending the convention, Chindamo learned 5 valuable lessons that he is going to incorporate into his class.

  1. YouTube is now 10 years old, valued at $70 billion dollars, and has over a billion users. Lesson? No one is even close to trumping them, so deal with it and deal with them.
  1. The CEO of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki, said in her keynote speech, “YouTube succeeds only if you, our creators, succeed. You’re the reason that we’re all here today; you’re the reason that VidCon exists… All of you have invested in building your channels, building your businesses, listening to viewer feedback, pored over your analytics and, as a result, made great content and built strong communities.” Lesson? YouTube cares about it’s content-makers and are even funding their up-and-comers, so look at web video as a possible income stream.
  1. Said Chindamo, “I definitely recommend every Film, TV and Journalism student attends this convention at least once, to see the hundreds of exhibits, speakers and panels.” Lesson? Go to VidCon next year. In the meantime, if you’re studying any media art, business, the sciences, or almost anything, web video should definitely be a weapon in your arsenal.
  1. Susan Wojcicki also said YouTube was focusing on “mobile, mobile and mobile.” Lesson? Learn to make movies for the big screen and also learn to make videos for the very small screen.
  1. Chindamo: “My former students who’ve gone on to great fame, like FreddieW of Rocket Jump and Video Game High School, shared quite a few tricks and tips at the panels, including a look at why to make web series vs. short films.” Lesson? Before you invest a lot of time and money in a big-budget short film, look at the possible returns you’ll get from that vs. a web series with the same budget.

Chindamo met with several other stars who shared knowledge and promise to come to his class as guest speakers including (as pictured) The Fine Brothers, Tay Zonday (Chocolate Rain), and iJustine.

FTV 374 or 574 is offered on Wednesdays from 1pm-3:45pm. Contact chindamo@chapman.edu with questions, waiver requests or ideas.