SAN DIEGO, CA – The Content Symposium on the last day of Cybernet Expo consisted of a panel of experts of a variety of content, including Niko Bimini from BiminiBucks, Don Mike from World Wide Content, Dan from Camz, and Big Lou from BigLous.com. Moderator Farrell Timlake from Homegrown Video introduced himself and his company, then asked each of the panelists to introduce themselves and explain their role in content production in the industry. Each panelist had a different perspective to offer on content: Dan from Camz spoke of the live content offered by their cam feeds, whereas Big Lou and Niko talked about producing picture and video content, and Don Mike spoke of the variety of content available for webmasters and paysites through content brokers and providers.
The first question put to the panelists was about plug-ins, and the amount of original content needed on a site versus plug-in feeds.
Dan explained how a plug-in works. “A plug-in is content provided by another provider, and considering the latest 2257 issues, a live content plug-in like ours doesn’t turn webmasters into secondary publishers, so there aren’t any issues there for them to worry about.”
Don Mike suggested that along with live content like the plug-in from Camz, webmasters should also consider adding a strong selection of video content to balance the site’s content.
The next several questions centered on producing content, specifically the costs of production and potential sale prices for sets and custom shoots. Answers varied, and Big Lou quoted the standard fees paid to talent in Los Angeles. Niko offered comparative prices for the Phoenix area, which, he emphasized is a college town and has plenty of talent to scout.
Niko offered this advice for new content producers, “You have to remember that the end result is a product that you have to sell. It’s not just an easy fantasy, and if you don’t have any talent or skill in selling your product, you’re not going to be successful.”
Questions from the audience about lighting and equipment were met with a variety of answers, some from the panelists and others from various members of the audience. Most everyone agreed that the equipment used would depend on the type of content being shot, amateur or professional, and that extremely high-end cameras and lights would better suit professional style shoots. To capture the real amateur feel, middle-range equipment and lights would be enough to do the job.
Niko summed it up this way: “You need a style, a distinctive look. Like every guitar player has his own sound, as a content producer, you need your own style.”
Questions about recruiting models and talent were also fielded by the panelists. They agreed that ads in local print media resulted in a fair amount of new talent, although there is always a weeding out process needed to find models willing to do what the producer is looking for.
