Isn't it scary how much2002.05.04

Isn't it scary how much power Hollywood has. If you're not scared, you should be.

When the corporate shenanigans of the Web begin to depress me, there's only one place to go... back to the land of independent content. It's truly amazing to see the wonderful things that can be done on the web when lawyers and marketing departments and CEO's aren't involved in the creation process. You get web sites that communicate, really communicate to the users. Web sites that actually provide valuable information, great entertainment, a sense of community. It's why I'm always drawn back into creating my own site (current obsession).

That's not to say that there aren't smart companies out there doing smart things. There are. And I'm sure that there are many intelligent companies out there that we rarely even hear about, trying to do their best on and for the Web. Still. The number of companies who don't get it is mind-boggling. I had always believed that the key to success for any company is the ability to adapt and change as new trends, new social beliefs, even new technologies emerge. But it's not always so. The crass actions by some companies — and crass really does describe it perfectly — smacks of desperation. They don't know their customers, they don't know how to get them or keep them, but they're going to keep throwing something out there, by God, until something sticks. Sort of like hurling Gummy Bears at the ceiling.

If only they realized that customers are like wild animals, and can smell fear and desperation a mile away.

Which brings me back to independent content. When I'm in search of truly mind-boggling, heart-soothing great stuff online that will reassure me that the web isn't going to hell in a electronic shopping cart, I often head over to Rustboy. It's an independent animated film project, created by one fabulous animator and a handful of his incredibly talented associates. The film is still a work in progress, but I check in every so often to see how it's coming along. You can watch film clips, see storyboards and rendered single-frame shots, and savour the anticipation of the day when Rustboy is a full, finished movie. All done without corporate sponsorship, huge budgets, big-name actors, or a marketing department. It's good stuff. You should pay it a visit.

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