Category Archive

This is a still from the first ever live web video broadcast of Stranger Than Fiction improv comedy. Suggestions for scenes were taken exclusively through live audience interaction in a chat room. My experiment was a big success. We used Mogulus to produce the show. We are pretty sure this is the first time the web has been used in this way by improv comedians. Everyone in the cast was excited by the positive response. The audience demanded we do it again soon!

Tags: improv comedy, John Herman, mogulus, web video

The Center for the Book at the NH State Library awarded “The Future” for best capturing the essence of the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I directed the movie with improv comedians Stranger Than Fiction for the 451 Degree Filmmaker Challenge hosted by the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival.

UPDATE: Steve Garfield featured “The Future” in his latest episode of Vlog Soup. Steve’s take on the future is a must see!

Tags: 451, filmmaking challenge, steve garfield, stranger than ficiton, vlog soup

In honor of Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, and in association with the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival, I directed a new video last night with the improv comedians of Stranger Than Fiction. It is called “The Future” and I get to wear my favorite costume again! Look closely for two books by excellent New Hampshire authors (James Patrick Kelly and Ernest Hebert). Enjoy!

And here is a response video from the vlogfather Steve Garfield!

Tags: 451, ernest hebert, improv comedy, james patrick kelly, ray bradbury, steve garfield, stranger than fiction, youtube

The energy conservation reality TV pilot I am hosting will begin streaming online at The Energy Smackdown site and on Myspace. The Boston Herald printed an article entitled Cameras roll as Medford residents strive to conserve ‘Energy’ today covering the documentary series.

Tags: climate change, energy smackdown, reality tv, video on the net

In my continuing work with New Hampshire Public Radio and the Primary Place weekly segment, I will be leading a team of video bloggers through the streets of Exeter to interview citizens on the Presidential Primary. Here is an excerpt from an article in today’s Boston Herald called Candidates for Change: ‘Vlog Squad’ puts NH in online election spotlight:

It’s citizen journalism at its best - though learning how to vlog still takes a little know-how. That part’s been left to Exeter and Epping High School teacher and new-media guru John Herman.
“The first stage was teaching residents - young and old . . . some very, very old - how to shoot video and upload it to the Internet,” said Herman, who’s volunteering his services to NPR. “The philosophy is that if New Hampshire is to retain the first-in-the-nation primary, then the residents need to earn it. But it is really paving the way for future elections and how people will communicate their opinions.”

Tags: boston herald, exeter, John Herman, new hampshire, presidential primary, video on the net, vlog

As some of you may know, my (newlywed) wife and I have been struggling to buy a house for the past four months. The stress of multiple purchase deals falling through possessed me to stall many projects. Well, it looks like we have finally found a place, but the problem is that I will be living out of a suitcase for much of the summer. To deal with all this stress, I have decided to make a solid effort to win a contest. Yes, this is how I deal with stress.

The challenge is to make a video that explains why we deserve to have a new home theater. I haven’t owned a TV in years, so a home theater seems amazing. The contest is called The Makeshifters, and the results are announced shortly after we will have moved into our new home. It would be amazing if we won, but I can’t win without your help. Support us by watching our video (CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH OUR MOVIE). Vote by clicking on a number on the voting dial. You can upload your own video and compete before July 20th, but if your video is better than our video… then we must battle!

Tags: circuit city, devon, home theater, lazy boy, the makeshifters, video on the net

I have been working with Jon Greenberg of New Hampshire Public Radio on bringing user generated content to his wonderful Primary Place segment. The goal is give a national voice to NH citizens that have the extraordinary opportunity to meet and greet candidates for the presidency.
Here is an article covering our efforts:

From New Hampshire Public Radio hosts presidential forum in Exeter

“It’s really neat to see that people, community members, will actually get to voice their opinions about a presidential primary in a whole new way. Four years ago no one had this opportunity and four years from now, every state will be doing this,” (John) Herman said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing, from a historical perspective in technology. It’s not exactly Alexander Graham Bell using the phone, but it’s a milestone seeing people use technology that can affect real things.”

From a Letter to the Editor from Jon Greenberg:

Exeter resident John Herman deserves special thanks for single-handedly coordinating the video portion of the program.

Tags: jon greenberg, nhpr, presidential primary, public radio, user generated media, video on the net

This past week, my video blog The Eye was featured on Blip on Blip Episode #8 hosted by Dina Kaplan of Blip.tv. the show covers cool picks of the week. Other shows featured in the episode are Spices of Life and Space Geek.