Paramount opens their vault to YouTube. Will other studios follow suit?

(embedded above: all of Masters of the Universe! For free!) Major movie studios are usually extremely protective of their copyrights and lead the charge against video piracy. So it comes as a surprise that Paramount Pictures has opened up a great deal of their film archive for consumption on YouTube. The Paramount Vault channel, which … Continue reading “Paramount opens their vault to YouTube. Will other studios follow suit?”

(embedded above: all of Masters of the Universe! For free!)

Major movie studios are usually extremely protective of their copyrights and lead the charge against video piracy. So it comes as a surprise that Paramount Pictures has opened up a great deal of their film archive for consumption on YouTube.

The Paramount Vault channel, which opened about a year ago, includes over 100 films from the studio’s history. These movies are free to stream, with ad breaks interspersed roughly every 15 minutes. These types of studio archive-sponsored YouTube channels tend only to include older, black-and-white films, the Paramount Vault has a few comparatively recent movies as well, like the Wachowskis’ directorial debut Bound and 2009 Australian horror movie The Loved Ones.

The quality of the films included is all over the place (we don’t have any expectations for American Ninja), but Paramount’s willingness to release all these movies into the wild is a good sign for an open future of film distribution. We’re happy knowing that The Man from Rio Grande is available for anyone with a phone within a few seconds for no cost.

Whoops! YouTube accidentally pulls NASA videos

Sunday’s impressive Mars landing somehow continues to be relevant for Media Services – this time in a less fun and exciting way. NASA broadcasted live footage of Mission Control as the Curiosity rover landed, and to commemorate the occasion, they uploaded the clip to YouTube. But because of a snafu in YouTube’s copyright enforcement software, … Continue reading “Whoops! YouTube accidentally pulls NASA videos”

Sunday’s impressive Mars landing somehow continues to be relevant for Media Services – this time in a less fun and exciting way.

NASA broadcasted live footage of Mission Control as the Curiosity rover landed, and to commemorate the occasion, they uploaded the clip to YouTube. But because of a snafu in YouTube’s copyright enforcement software, NASA’s videos were taken down. This apparently isn’t even the first time the video sharing website has accidentally thrown out one of NASA’s videos.

The situation was fixed fairly quickly, but its implications for the future of copyright enforcement in the digital age – and the permanence of online video – are a little troubling.

Filmfest DC begins Thursday, April 12 and runs through Sunday, April 22!!

Welcome to Filmfest DC: April 12 – 22 The 26th Annual Washington, DC International Film Festival…for people who love movies! Featured this year will be: The Lighter Side – A series of international comedies. Politics isn’t the only funny thing in Washington. Caribbean Journeys – New films from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, the Dominican … Continue reading “Filmfest DC begins Thursday, April 12 and runs through Sunday, April 22!!”

Welcome to Filmfest DC: April 12 – 22

The 26th Annual Washington, DC International Film Festival…for people who love movies! Featured this year will be:

  • The Lighter Side – A series of international comedies. Politics isn’t the only funny thing in Washington.
  • Caribbean Journeys – New films from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, the Dominican Republic and more.
  • Justice Matters – A series exploring issues of social justice.

Advance Tickets Now On Sale

Opening Night: April 12

Starbuck (Canada), directed by Ken Scott

As seen on the Filmfest DC website. For a list of theaters, showtimes, and more info, check out FilmfestDC.org

Movies and Munchies with ATV – Wednesday, March 28th at 7:30pm in Wechsler Theater

Wednesday, March 28 in Wechsler Theater (MGC 315)7:30pm – 10:00pm As part of SOC Week, AU ATV is screening Night of the Living Dead in Wechsler Theater. They will also screen some of their latest productions. On top of all that there will be some free food and schwag: AU SOC t-shirts and more. Don’t … Continue reading “Movies and Munchies with ATV – Wednesday, March 28th at 7:30pm in Wechsler Theater”


Wednesday, March 28 in Wechsler Theater (MGC 315)
7:30pm – 10:00pm

As part of SOC Week, AU ATV is screening Night of the Living Dead in Wechsler Theater. They will also screen some of their latest productions. On top of all that there will be some free food and schwag: AU SOC t-shirts and more. Don’t miss it!

For more info, check out the ATV site.

This title is also available in the Media Services Home Use Collection:
Night of the Living Dead – HU DVD 600

Screening TONIGHT: “The Witches of Gambaga” Documentary

Monday, March 26 at 8pmMGC 200Part of Women’s History MonthSponsor: Women’s Resource CenterContact: Jen Holthaus, jh3740a@american.edu, 440-623-9337Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-University-Womens-Resource-Center-WRC/174447272597690Witches of Gambaga Trailer:


Monday, March 26 at 8pm
MGC 200
Part of Women’s History Month
Sponsor: Women’s Resource Center
Contact: Jen Holthaus, jh3740a@american.edu, 440-623-9337
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-University-Womens-Resource-Center-WRC/174447272597690

Witches of Gambaga Trailer:

SPC Films and SG Events Present Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Tuesday, March 20th at 11pm in Ward 1

Free Screening: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of ShadowsTuesday, March 20th at 11:00pm in Ward 1 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as the iconic Holmes and Watson. Sponsor: University CenterContact: Sarah Mostyn and Hoai-Tran Bui, sm2272a@student.american.edu


Free Screening: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Tuesday, March 20th at 11:00pm in Ward 1

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as the iconic Holmes and Watson.
Sponsor: University Center
Contact: Sarah Mostyn and Hoai-Tran Bui,
sm2272a@student.american.edu

Check out these Code of Best Practices in Fair Use videos from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL)

This webcast introduced the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries on the day of the Code’s release, January 26, 2012. The Code facilitators—Patricia Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media at American University, Brandon Butler of ARL, and Peter Jaszi of the American University Law School—delivered a brief presentation … Continue reading “Check out these Code of Best Practices in Fair Use videos from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL)”

This webcast introduced the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries on the day of the Code’s release, January 26, 2012. The Code facilitators—Patricia Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media at American University, Brandon Butler of ARL, and Peter Jaszi of the American University Law School—delivered a brief presentation on the contents of the Code, followed by a question-and-answer session. To read the Code and view related resources, visit http://www.arl.org/fairuse

This video answers questions that librarians often ask about fair use. The video supplements the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries, developed by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in partnership with American University’s Center for Social Media and Washington College of Law. To read the Code and view related resources, visit http://www.arl.org/fairuse

This short video introduces the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries, developed by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in partnership with American University’s Center for Social Media and Washington College of Law. To read the Code and view related resources, visit http://www.arl.org/fairuse

Part 1 of 2 videos from the ARL #librarianscode event at UCLA Library on Feb. 3, 2012. Peter Jaszi discusses the fair use doctrine and codes of best practices. See Part 2 for discussion of the ARL Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries. To download the Code and view additional resources, visit http://www.arl.org/pp/ppcopyright/codefairuse/

Part 2 of 2 videos from the ARL #librarianscode event at UCLA Library on Feb. 3, 2012. Brandon Butler discusses fair use in libraries and he and Peter Jaszi discusses the ARL Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries. See Part 1 for more general information about the fair use doctrine. To download the Code and view additional resources, visit http://www.arl.org/pp/ppcopyright/codefairuse/

Eco-Comedy Video Competition Spring 2012 **$1,000 Prize**

Eco-Comedy Video Competition Spring 2012 ** $1,000 Prize ** Sponsored by: Sierra Club and the Center for Environmental Filmmaking The contest is open to anyone who prepares a short, funny video for YouTube, which communicates a clear message about clean energy and/or green jobs. Submissions must:-Be humorous!-Address the issue of clean energy and/or green jobs-Reach … Continue reading “Eco-Comedy Video Competition Spring 2012 **$1,000 Prize**”

Eco-Comedy Video Competition Spring 2012 ** $1,000 Prize **

Sponsored by: Sierra Club and the Center for Environmental Filmmaking

The contest is open to anyone who prepares a short, funny video for YouTube, which communicates a clear message about clean energy and/or green jobs.

Submissions must:
-Be humorous!
-Address the issue of clean energy and/or green jobs
-Reach a broad audience beyond just environmentalists.
-Be an original production.
-Be less than three minutes.
-Posted to Eco-Comedy Video Competition 2012 YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/ecocomedy2012.
-Submitted by 11:59pm on March 2, 2012.

There will be six judges representing the Center for Environmental Filmmaking, Sierra Club, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Mill Reef Productions, and EcoSense. The decision of the judges is final. Awards are based on overall merit of the entries. Judges reserve the right not to grant an award. The organizations listed above reserve the right to post submissions on their websites.

Submissions that are not received by March 2, 2012 will not be judged. The winner will be announced at American University on Tuesday, March 20 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.

For more information regarding submission guidelines and contest rules, visit: http://www.american.edu/soc/cef/eco-comedy-film-competition.cfm

If you have a question, please e-mail Chris Palmer at palmer@american.edu.

Excerpted from an email announcement from Chris Palmer.