remixamerica.org, Express yourself courtesy of Norman Lear

[Mabus]

Have you ever had an idea for a video that mixed historic speeches with modern music? Have you ever wanted to make your own political or issue oriented video but felt stymied because you didn't know how to do it? Have you ever wanted to make a video contrasting what various politicians have said over the years but couldn't find the right video clips? Well, now you do.

Naturally, a lot of the older materials are read by actors, but there are also actual recordings from people like Walt Whitman!

Thanks to http://remixamerica.org you, me and the guy up the street has access to Chief Powahatan's Address to Captain John Smith, Fredrick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" and you can hear Walt Whitman (himself) reading "America".

The site will be fully operational next month. But you can go there now and check out the possibilities.

Here's the blurb describing what Remix America is about. Please take the time to check it out and bookmark it.

About Remix America

This country is a remix, it's what we do. What did Jefferson and Paine and Adams do but mashup history, take a little from the Magna Carta, a little from John Locke, and a whole lot of rebellion. Now, thanks to the web and digital technology, everyone can join in.

This is a unique moment in our history -- We can rediscover the promise of the Declaration of Independence next to the music of Louis Armstrong next to the beats of the Beastie Boys and clips of our candidates talking about "Changes." Every one of us can own our best expressions of liberty, democracy and freedom, remix them as they see fit, and share them with the world.

RemixAmerica.org is a multi-partisan, non-profit website that uses digital technology to give everyone the chance to own the words, the music, the images and sounds of America in digital form; to remix those expressions and ideas with their own; and to send the products of our community's creativity out to the world... where others will come back to us and start it all over again...

There's no telling where this can go – we want to be the place where millions can post their post their dreams, their hopes, their frustrations about our country via text , video responses and remixes...
http://remixamerica.org/about

[Mabus]

1. kick

I don't usually kick my own threads but I think this one is worth it.

[rosesaylavee]

2. What a cool site!

It froze up on me so I bet its getting lots of traffic. Does it cost? or will it be like YouTube?

[Mabus]

3. It's free and it is like youtube plus

It will be better than youtube because they will give you all the tools you need to do your own video. They will provide clips, music and the guidelines so you know what you can do under the "fair use" doctrine. Once you've done a video you are free to post it wherever you want or keep on your own computer and not share it with anyone. I love the idea and hope it catches on so people will use it.

I mean, imagine being able to create your own video on a local issue that uses clips and music that you've never had access to before. You'll be able to see your creation come to life because someone, somewhere is giving you the tools to create first class videos. And it is free. I'm very excited about it. It really opens the door to those of us who are technically and monetarily challenged.

here's a blurb from the remixamerica blog that quotes Lear's announcement/vision at the TBA conference the other day.

Here’s how it works: You go to REMIX AMERICA.ORG. Lincoln spoke of a “rebirth of freedom” in his Gettysburg address. You will find his address at REMIX AMERICA.ORG. Take just that sentence, take that and a bit more if you will, take the whole speech — and wait! Up there you’ll also find JFK at his inaugural, along with Eisenhower’s Farewell address, a speech by Barbara Jordan, Readings of the Declaration and the Bill of Rights by well known actors, remarks on America by everyone from Cassius Clay to Tina Fey.


There will be over 200 such pieces up there in what we call THE AMERICAN PLAYLIST. Toss in some music by Woody Guthrie, Aaron Copeland, The Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne. You’ll find all the tools you need there to do the remixing and the editing, right there, free, on the Remix America site. The power of an entire post-production studio with an amazing digital library of creative assets on every person’s computer. Want to know what progressive is in a new century? Being able to see communication power like this finally moving from the hands of the big conglomerates to the hands and laptops of ordinary citizens, that’s where progressive is.

***

I see a viral explosion of Born Again Americans, Americans of all ages and ethnicities, conditions and backgrounds, awakening to their power as free citizens in a free society. I see them doing it in 3-4 minute bursts, mixing and mashing their stories and hopes and dreams with the words, images and music from the American Playlist, to give us all a glimpse of the America they wish for.

http://blog.remixamerica.org/