Howcast
Encyclopedia
Howcast is a website that provides instructional short-form how-to video and text content that combines practical information with various filmmaking techniques such as humor, claymation and animation
. The how-to content is created in-house, through its Emerging Filmmakers Program, media content partners and individual contributors
.
Its Emerging Filmmakers Program allows emerging filmmakers to apply to make videos for Howcast.com and are compensated by receiving $50 a video and 50% of the advertising revenue generated from videos that generate over 40,000 views .
The site currently has over 100,000 videos in its library and works with partners like Playboy
, JetBlue, Nestle
and the US Department of State.
Content from Howcast.com spans 25 categories with a wide variety of topics, ranging from "How to Write a Resume" to "How to Survive a Bear Attack."
Howcast.com was launched on February 6, 2008 by co-founders and former Google
employees Jason Liebman, CEO, Daniel Blackman, COO and Sanjay Raman, VP of Product Development and Darlene Liebman, VP of Production, with offices in New York City
and San Francisco .
Its investors include Tudor Investment Corporation .
The site was named one of the "50 Best Websites of 2008" by TIME Magazine and a top undiscovered web site by PC Magazine
.
In 2009, Howcast was nominated for two Webby Awards
in the How-to and travel categories. In 2010, Howcast was nominated as the Finalist in Top 100 Websites of 2010 by PC Mag and became the Finalist in New York City
Hot 125 nominated by Lead411.
Since many filmmakers in the program are film students, the EFP has partnered with film and television programs at Boston University
, Flashpoint Academy, and Charles Sturt University
to expose students to Web-video production, increase student awareness of opportunities online, as well as provide real-world experience working for clients.
Expanding its reach beyond traditional educational borders, the EFP also launched a pilot program in the West Bank
in partnership with the State Department to introduce young Palestinians to Web video.
, iPad
, and Android-powered phones to allow mobile searching and viewing of Howcast videos. The Howcast for iPhone application launched in November 2008 and received more than 500,000 downloads by May 2009.
Howcast for iPhone, was the first how-to video iPhone
application created and was featured in the Apple iPhone commercial "Itchy." In May 2009, CNET
named the app one of "five free iPhone apps that can improve your life."
In July 2009, Times Online named the Howcast for iPhone app one of its ten best iPhone apps.
Howcast for Android launched in early November 2009 with a positive reception.
Additionally, Howcast launched an app for iPad in June 2010.
, Google
, YouTube
, MTV
, the Department of State and Columbia University
to host the Alliance of Youth Movements
Summit in December 2008 that brought 17 youth movements that had used social media to combat oppressive regimes. Participants included Oscar Morales (One Million Voices Against the FARC), Save Darfur and The Genocide Action Network . The Summit resulted in the launch of a 501c3 The Alliance of Youth Movements
and a published field manual: Creating Grassroots Movements for Change, which incorporated the findings from the December summit.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
. The how-to content is created in-house, through its Emerging Filmmakers Program, media content partners and individual contributors
.
Its Emerging Filmmakers Program allows emerging filmmakers to apply to make videos for Howcast.com and are compensated by receiving $50 a video and 50% of the advertising revenue generated from videos that generate over 40,000 views .
The site currently has over 100,000 videos in its library and works with partners like Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, JetBlue, Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
and the US Department of State.
Content from Howcast.com spans 25 categories with a wide variety of topics, ranging from "How to Write a Resume" to "How to Survive a Bear Attack."
Howcast.com was launched on February 6, 2008 by co-founders and former Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
employees Jason Liebman, CEO, Daniel Blackman, COO and Sanjay Raman, VP of Product Development and Darlene Liebman, VP of Production, with offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and San Francisco .
Its investors include Tudor Investment Corporation .
The site was named one of the "50 Best Websites of 2008" by TIME Magazine and a top undiscovered web site by PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
.
In 2009, Howcast was nominated for two Webby Awards
Webby Awards
A Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
in the How-to and travel categories. In 2010, Howcast was nominated as the Finalist in Top 100 Websites of 2010 by PC Mag and became the Finalist in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Hot 125 nominated by Lead411.
Emerging Filmmakers Program
Launched in February 2008, the Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program (EFP) offers film students, recent grads, and up-and-coming filmmakers the chance to gain experience, exposure, and some extra income by creating short how-to videos distributed across online, mobile, and offline platforms. Provided with the guidance of Howcast producers, filmmakers are encouraged to flex their creative muscles while building their professional reels and launching their online careers. Filmmakers choose from ready-to-shoot scripts in numerous categories. Each script includes pre-recorded voiceovers, animated graphics, and music tracks so that filmmakers can focus on the creative aspects of shooting and editing their videos. Every accepted video earns a stipend of $50 and if a video is a success on Howcast.com, there are opportunities for revenue sharing.Since many filmmakers in the program are film students, the EFP has partnered with film and television programs at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, Flashpoint Academy, and Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
to expose students to Web-video production, increase student awareness of opportunities online, as well as provide real-world experience working for clients.
Expanding its reach beyond traditional educational borders, the EFP also launched a pilot program in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
in partnership with the State Department to introduce young Palestinians to Web video.
Mobile Applications
Howcast has developed free, native applications for the iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, and Android-powered phones to allow mobile searching and viewing of Howcast videos. The Howcast for iPhone application launched in November 2008 and received more than 500,000 downloads by May 2009.
Howcast for iPhone, was the first how-to video iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application created and was featured in the Apple iPhone commercial "Itchy." In May 2009, CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
named the app one of "five free iPhone apps that can improve your life."
In July 2009, Times Online named the Howcast for iPhone app one of its ten best iPhone apps.
Howcast for Android launched in early November 2009 with a positive reception.
Additionally, Howcast launched an app for iPad in June 2010.
Projects
Howcast partnered with FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, the Department of State and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
to host the Alliance of Youth Movements
Alliance of Youth Movements
The Alliance of Youth Movements was an event in 2008 which led to the creation of , a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, connecting, and supporting, digital activists....
Summit in December 2008 that brought 17 youth movements that had used social media to combat oppressive regimes. Participants included Oscar Morales (One Million Voices Against the FARC), Save Darfur and The Genocide Action Network . The Summit resulted in the launch of a 501c3 The Alliance of Youth Movements
Alliance of Youth Movements
The Alliance of Youth Movements was an event in 2008 which led to the creation of , a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, connecting, and supporting, digital activists....
and a published field manual: Creating Grassroots Movements for Change, which incorporated the findings from the December summit.