In June, the founders of Node101, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the word of videoblogging, created a new project called Have Money Will Vlog. The idea behind HMWV is to create a funding model not unlike an arts grant that would allow videobloggers to ask for funding from the vlogging community to help them with special vlogging projects or ideas.
This seems, to me, to be an excellent idea, particularly if you want to stay away from direct corporate sponsorship.
And now, the shameless promotion: The vlog pouringdown
is one of my favorite vlogs of all time. I mentioned it several times in the book as being a high-value art vlog with great, insightful commentary in voiceover. Daniel Liss, the creator of pouringdown, has a HMWV proposal up right now, to take audience-suggested challenges and push his videoblogging limits. He has 14 days to reach full funding on it. If you’re interested and have a spare $10 in your wallet, check out his proposal on HMWV, and consider sponsoring him here.
You can read all about it at the HMWV website (even if you don’t want to donate), read his project wiki, or even subscribe to his project’s feed.