"The fact that we're the entertainment capital of the world, means that we are also the content capital of the world."
I couldn't agree more. We're seeing the birth of a very different establishment here in LA — one led by a democratization of the entertainment machine, made possible by the technologies that are driving down the barrier to entry for content creators. The internet is the single most flexible and personal distribution medium ever invented, and we have barely scratched the surface of what that means. What is happening to the newspaper industry is just a preview of the scale and scope of the changes to come.
Great piece Jenn!
Jackie Peters
· 8 months ago
Thanks for the wonderful post Jennifer!
I've only been here in LA for a little less than two years and in that time I've met some amazing people and really seen the community take off. It's great to start seeing the rest of the country stand up and start to take notice of the amazing things that are taking place here. My money is definitely on LA. The fact that we're the entertainment capital of the world, means that we are also the content capital of the world. I think over the next year or two, as we start to see more collaboration between tech and entertainment, we're going to see the next generation of the internet explode out of Los Angeles.
Sean Percival
· 8 months ago
Why would we want to collaborate with the entertainment industry? Talk about boring.
gruen
· 8 months ago
I don't think entertainment's been all that content-filled as of late, web shows notwithstanding. I'd like to see the entertainment industry do something more with interactive than all this "experiential" crap.
Hope Jackie's right. She writes the future, after all.
Sean Percival
· 8 months ago
I'm just stirring the pot. People seem to be obsessed with these two industries converging into some beautiful unicorn filled dream biz. Good luck!
Karen Loftus
· 4 months ago
Agreed! This industry needs wings, not clips.
robblewis
· 8 months ago
I guess it makes sense given all the video production talent down in SoCal. But is this really social media or mostly independents and aspiring actors that found a new distribution channel online when they couldn't get TV distribution? I've seen some good web TV shows that frankly should be on broadcast TV but there's not a lot of social to it, they're just online videos made by independents (notice I didn't say amateurs because some of them are very professionally done). I think one can say LA leads the way in web TV but I'd question the social media capital part. Just my opin... @robblewis
Jennifer Van Grove
· 8 months ago
There's only three people (and one event) on the list that skew more towards new media/web tv, though everyone mentioned is very much using the web and the power of social media to support their professional endeavors.
dailypatricia
· 8 months ago
There's a big amount of people in social media here. I founded the first ever fashion social media site here in 2004, and now own a multiplatform start up that does all kinds of internet platform/social web related things. Causecast is here, This Next, lots of companies doing social media projects online in all areas.
The reason why really good web TV shows are on the web is because they couldn't get sold on regular TV.
The event series is produced by SocialNotions in conjunction with the Interactive Television Alliance and UCLA Anderson. They happen monthly. Please join us!
robblewis
· 4 months ago
Good points and company examples. I've actually been broadening my scope of what's factored into social media as I've been much more actively involved in using it for both my personal blog and for work @Retrevo.com over the last couple of months. It makes sense too, LA's the model of active social lifestyle. Will be good to see what LA talent can produce.
**oh yea, 4 months later i know...i actually came across this while searching for something else on mashable. sorry :-)
bigtalkers
· 8 months ago
This post is part of Mashable’s Social Media Hub Series, which shines the spotlight on local social media communities, companies and personalities. The series is supported by Virgin America.
Hi there, a bit confusing to try and locate the other cities profiled in this series. Is this the first installment of the series? How many parts to it? I see Spark of Genius series on the top nav, but no "social media hub series" I guess I'll keep clicking around to see if there are other installments...
Thanks!
Jennifer Van Grove
· 8 months ago
This is the first post in the series...
Jessica Wilzig Gottlieb
· 8 months ago
How do you differentiate social media from new media? As a follow up, why should there be a difference?
Also, great article, I think you hit the highlights.
Jennifer Van Grove
· 8 months ago
Hey Jessica, thanks for the compliment. It is pretty hard to differentiate between the two, though I would say that new media is more focused on creating packaged content for the Web, so podcasts, Web TV series, etc. Obviously there's a overlap since most content created for Web audiences can be shared in a plethora ways.
What's happening in LA is that those worlds are colliding, which goes to show that there really doesn't need to be a difference.
Andrew Warner
· 8 months ago
This city's digital cred has been years in the making. One LA event I'm surprised your missed is your own. Mashable has thrown some incredible parties here. Looking forward to having you all back in town soon.
RexDixon
· 8 months ago
LA should be interesting - since the company I work for - ShopitMedia is located there. I knew there was a reason I wanted to work for this crew! :)
mjlambie
· 8 months ago
hooray for LA! so many great people and events. i might want to plug http://mindshare.la
joe
· 8 months ago
Did you do any research at all on the companies down here? You really only read your own blog dont you...
Sean Percival
· 8 months ago
Tell us, whatdoya know joe?
John Noland Marchesini
· 8 months ago
The fruits of the collaboration between the LA tech scene and the big name entertainment companies will be visible very soon. The entertainment industry is embracing social media in a way that I have not seen from other Fortune 500 verticals. Aside from enterprise adoption of Facebook Connect and support for OpenID, we're going to see "white label" social network integration with existing websites.
Sean Percival
· 8 months ago
Thanks for the writeup.
Jim Techfrog Alden
· 8 months ago
I now know most of the LA tech crowd, and although my own pending project is still mostly hush-hush, I can't think of a better place to knock down the double-doors with a launch, than here in LA with these amazing people. Thanks for post Jennifer!
Ana
· 8 months ago
Ugh, really? Did we have to mention cupcakes in the Girls in Tech blurb? I feel like women in tech are perceived as sales and marketing people, but I guess cupcakes and fashion shows are the only way to make an impact in the industry.
dailypatricia
· 8 months ago
I would add to this list EQAL, which did huge things with LonelyGirl to push the concept of professional video content online/web TV. They don't hang around the scene much but they're funded by Baseline if memory serves. You don't get any more SV insidery than that.
Brady Brim-DeForest
· 8 months ago
They come out to the Hollywood Web Television meetup ;)
1timstreet
· 8 months ago
Do I get anything out of being on this VIP list?
Free drinks with Alex Albrecht? A private table at the next Mashable Event with Jackie Peters and Nicole Jordan? A Scottish Fishing Trip or Pub Crawl with Pete Cashmore? A gift bag from Felicia Day ? A toaster from Sean Percival? A Mahalo mention from Jason Calacanis? Or a Foot Massage from Shira Lazar?
Jennifer Van Grove
· 8 months ago
what about a mention on Mashable? ;)
Facebook User
· 8 months ago
Great article! Nice summary!
Tim Carr
· 8 months ago
Great List Jennifer! this is a really exciting time and area of entertainment in LA, I wish more people would run features on it. I work in Social Media for a company called Generate, we do a lot in the web series/content space as well as television production, and we represent about 200 clients who almost all have involvement in web content creation at some level. One of our web series is "Pink The Series" which just won Streamy. You may want to add Kevin Winston in the Digital LA description, he's done a great job with those events...I frequent almost all of the events above, so hope to meet you at one sometime soon.
Look forward to reading more!
LegalHighs
· 8 months ago
not very suprising imo
ahr19
· 8 months ago
Very well written article Jennifer. I agree with you about LA. Each day, more and more people are coming here to learn and copy what we are doing in other places in the country. I think the proximity to Northern California helps us find out new exciting things and then bringing it down to LA to put into work. I have to re-share this on Friendfeed as well along with a few of my clients. Keep up the great work.
Michael Fidler
· 8 months ago
Nice to finally see LA get some attention:-) Nice job! You forgot to mention Summermash in LA! I really enjoyed it last year. I hope this doesn't mean you're not planning another one here.
Talha
· 8 months ago
Great article!
Srinivas Rao
· 8 months ago
Nice to know there are so many opportunities to network out there. As a graduating MBA student, we've all been looking for stuff like this.
Lovin' this thread. It's spot on - totally agree w Brady et al. LA tech is not just about building the next start-up from scratch with a biz plan and programmers...It's often combining that w traditional entertainment companies (studios, labels, etc.) via online/digital to create businesses based on new ways of content creation, development, distribution and discovery.
I founded and run Digital LA to help provide another forum for ent and tech to meet up. Our signature monthly Digital Drinks mixers provides important networking for our attendees from studios (Fox, Disney, Sony, WB, NBC, ABC, etc), tech (MySpace, Yahoo, Google), agencies (CAA, WMA), ad agencies, marketing, PR, creators (writers, actors, etc.) and start-ups (entrepreneurs, programmers) to meet, mix it up, and start to collaborate in the town where who u know and personal relationships are key. In addition, we've started programming topic panels and events including Digital Music, Online Actors, and Band Jam. Future panels will cover Twitter for Entertainment, and Social Video Games. http://digitalla.net
And the other groups and VIPs listed above focus on other important areas in the ent/tech patchwork...Tubefilter owns the Webisode space with its recent Streamy Awards. Twiist up is a start-up party. Kurt's DFR linked LA's web 1.0 leaders w. 2.0 energy. Nicole's SoCalTech calendar and Techzulu help us keep up to date on the dozens of events each month. She, Jackie, Andrew, and Sloane help everyone meet each other to collaborate and cross-promote events. It's a fun ecosystem for traditionals or new arrivals to jump in, and make something happen!
vnvb
· 7 months ago
Because thanks to my friends about this author. every time you enter the site. youtube is always providing the original video. A very good site like facebook siteside. I said I love you. regards...
edsion007
· 6 months ago
really??
Antonio
· 5 months ago
OO)) LA is so very beauty city))) I am from Russia, and I have been there)) Many people from our country knows that it is sovery glamour city))))
Komik Videolar
· 4 months ago
Thanks all.
VegasConcierge
· 4 months ago
Social media sites are great. I used Facebook, and Corkin. Corkin actually helped me get a #2 listing on google. Checkout my link. Thanks.
Jiayuan Li
· 3 months ago
I am moving to Los Angeles from New York. Really glad to find this post. Very informative!
youdate
· 3 months ago
venice beach is really cool!! and they have shops along the water and people putting on shows and stuff!...................http://www.youdate.biz/
gironaairport
· 3 months ago
great in depth guide for beginners
quakerkatheryn
· 3 months ago
One thing I really love about LA is six flags, there is an interactive video(s) of all the rides on youtube (CTFxC)
When hearing the words Los Angeles, tech savvy entrepreneurs are not the first genre of people that come to mind. However, in a city where the 'next big thing' is idolized, this ever growing social web culture can become expected. As a result, it is encouraging to know that there are constantly new opportunities being made in this Hollywood world for people to make a substantial mark on the acting and fashion scenes besides having to go through the big name production companies.
All Comments
"The fact that we're the entertainment capital of the world, means that we are also the content capital of the world."
I couldn't agree more. We're seeing the birth of a very different establishment here in LA — one led by a democratization of the entertainment machine, made possible by the technologies that are driving down the barrier to entry for content creators. The internet is the single most flexible and personal distribution medium ever invented, and we have barely scratched the surface of what that means. What is happening to the newspaper industry is just a preview of the scale and scope of the changes to come.
Great piece Jenn!
I've only been here in LA for a little less than two years and in that time I've met some amazing people and really seen the community take off. It's great to start seeing the rest of the country stand up and start to take notice of the amazing things that are taking place here. My money is definitely on LA. The fact that we're the entertainment capital of the world, means that we are also the content capital of the world. I think over the next year or two, as we start to see more collaboration between tech and entertainment, we're going to see the next generation of the internet explode out of Los Angeles.
Hope Jackie's right. She writes the future, after all.
The reason why really good web TV shows are on the web is because they couldn't get sold on regular TV.
Topic: "Social Media Invades Show Biz"
http://www.socialnotions.com/ibreakfastla.com
The event series is produced by SocialNotions in conjunction with the Interactive Television Alliance and UCLA Anderson. They happen monthly. Please join us!
**oh yea, 4 months later i know...i actually came across this while searching for something else on mashable. sorry :-)
Hi there, a bit confusing to try and locate the other cities profiled in this series. Is this the first installment of the series? How many parts to it? I see Spark of Genius series on the top nav, but no "social media hub series" I guess I'll keep clicking around to see if there are other installments...
Thanks!
Also, great article, I think you hit the highlights.
What's happening in LA is that those worlds are colliding, which goes to show that there really doesn't need to be a difference.
Free drinks with Alex Albrecht? A private table at the next Mashable Event with Jackie Peters and Nicole Jordan? A Scottish Fishing Trip or Pub Crawl with Pete Cashmore? A gift bag from Felicia Day ? A toaster from Sean Percival? A Mahalo mention from Jason Calacanis? Or a Foot Massage from Shira Lazar?
Look forward to reading more!
I founded and run Digital LA to help provide another forum for ent and tech to meet up. Our signature monthly Digital Drinks mixers provides important networking for our attendees from studios (Fox, Disney, Sony, WB, NBC, ABC, etc), tech (MySpace, Yahoo, Google), agencies (CAA, WMA), ad agencies, marketing, PR, creators (writers, actors, etc.) and start-ups (entrepreneurs, programmers) to meet, mix it up, and start to collaborate in the town where who u know and personal relationships are key. In addition, we've started programming topic panels and events including Digital Music, Online Actors, and Band Jam. Future panels will cover Twitter for Entertainment, and Social Video Games. http://digitalla.net
And the other groups and VIPs listed above focus on other important areas in the ent/tech patchwork...Tubefilter owns the Webisode space with its recent Streamy Awards. Twiist up is a start-up party. Kurt's DFR linked LA's web 1.0 leaders w. 2.0 energy. Nicole's SoCalTech calendar and Techzulu help us keep up to date on the dozens of events each month. She, Jackie, Andrew, and Sloane help everyone meet each other to collaborate and cross-promote events. It's a fun ecosystem for traditionals or new arrivals to jump in, and make something happen!
every time you enter the site. youtube is always providing the original video.
A very good site like facebook siteside. I said I love you.
regards...
Many people from our country knows that it is sovery glamour city))))
Once I saw it I had to go, so I got some passes (http://www.travelncs.com/rd_p?p=191614&t=9538&a...) and me and my friends went for a vacation, it was great!