The 501

Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: News

Have you ever posted a video onto the widely popular website YouTube?  How would you like to get college credit for doing so?  Well, Towson University offers a class that does exactly that.

Film and Media Analysis: Viral Video is in its second semester of existence and professor Daniel Mydlack is hoping to empower students to take advantage of all the opportunities that exists in online media and video. 

“Internet video and Internet media is a window that is open now,” Mydlack said.

The class itself focuses primarily on “imagination and communication.”  While the technical side of capturing video is definitely covered, Mydlack prefers to teach his students how to attract an audience and how to make a moment worth sharing. 

“I prefer to focus on how to be authentic, original and connect with strangers,” Mydlack said. 

Throughout the semester students are graded predominantly on the “successful and timely completion of all seven assignments.”  Assignments include instructional and how-to videos as well as news reports and rants.

EMF 475 is an innovative, unique class and its professor has been at the forefront of technology and online video. 

Mydlack has been involved with computers since the late 1970s and even owned one of the first Macintoshes.  He also developed applications for Microsoft’s Windows operating system before it was even released to the public.  “The PC has been second-nature to me,” Mydlack said.

Mydlack also recalls how the web as we know it today was foreseen.  “I can’t tell you how much we predicted stuff like YouTube and Google Video back in the 70s,” Mydlack said.  “Online gaming and social networks, this was all anticipated.  The aesthetics were already developing and I grew up with artists and innovators who experimented with this minus the advanced electronics.”

With the current state of online video being what it is, Mydlack also foresees many changes.  “I think there are a number of overlapping waves emerging,” Mydlack said.  “I think persistent online video presence will explode with cheaper portable video glasses and better wi-fi coverage.”  Mydlack also predicts a separation of “major and not-so-major players” as Internet television emerges.

Film and Media Analysis: Viral Video is open to anyone who has taken EMF 221, Principles of Film and Media Production.

- Professor Mydlack's favorite videos...
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=bPx266rGw3E
    http://www.joshleo.com/
    http://www.zefrank.com
- Featured video is of a student who is currently taking Mydlack's class.  Below is another one of his videos...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COk6yQhXD1I

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