And The Winner Is…

They screened all five videos in front of the crowd after the break from the previous segment. It seemed that most stayed on. Minor audio issues, sorry for Erin and his video, they had to play it twice. Worse though, the audience passed over all but one of my jokes. Anna Kournikova got a laugh but tough crowd for the rest. Remember these guys are not the usual geek crowd but black and grey suits types. (I like the BarCamp crowd better)

After all five went, mine was last, the judges moved from the audience to the panel area. Then the discussion began.

While it began with small explanation why the contest by Esther Dyson on her idea for the contest and then Jeff Chester cranky about the narrow focus (mainly wanting a two minute video on all the issues related to behavioral advertising techniques that properly warned and skewered the businesses involved), they soon moved on to how we missed a lot of points. I seemed to get a few jabs, mainly because mine was last but my humor as left little room for balance.

They got the point that we all had similar views but was varied in concerns and approaches to how to handle the cookie thing. Chester had a lot of issues with the whole thing and rather we had spewed venom against the ad man. Most on the panel seemed hip on the idea that this was consumers talking and that this was a start to something that needs to continue.

What was striking was that the consumer advocates were really concerned about the lack of options we presented in dealing with cookies but really cover the what, how and why is really three videos maybe even six.

I would like to see more contest to spur on this kind of thing. Maybe not as big a deal, less prize but get more videos and more people researching. A point was made that we were better in aggregate than individually. If the Berkman Center can keep it going they might get a great encyclopedia of info on Youtube and create enough conversation back and forth to keep it going organically. Chester can make his own video then.

We got to speak a bit on inspiration and approach. I was able to point out that two minutes is hard on the comprehensive thing and that several of us had commented that we left many segments on the cutting room floor that dealt with the concerns we had heard in the pro’s discussions. We (consumers) were worried about the opposite of the panelist.

Weirdness came with the audience vote. Felt strange watching the people vote for us. Schaak (Got Cookies?) took that one hands down (I got second). But the big prize went to …

Cookies by Clayton Miller. It was deserved. Most balanced and straight forward. Very tastefully subtle and most like what they really wanted. A great video but cool guy too. Matter of fact all of the finalist were very cool and it was a great time meeting them an sharing notes. It was cool we all got to come and experience this.

Any rate, I got a great trip, a cool dude goody bag and a reimbursement check for expenses coming that makes it a net positive by a long shot. I am happy. I am going to hang with the brother in law for the rest of the weekend and fly back on Sunday.

**Oh Wait, I did make top 5 videos of the week at TechPresident.com. Some one dug it. Yahoo!! Plus YouTube created a Privacy page and my video got to be the lead video and thumbnail for the group. At time of posting 534 views and better rating than the one star a week ago.