Online Video, Blown Up On San Francisco Bay

Most of the time, we enjoy the fruits Web 2.0 creations indoors. Offices. Dorms. Bedrooms. Even class rooms. Rarely do we do things like consume online audio and video where we can breathe less-than-clean air and commiserate with freshly hatched insects.

The folks at NewTeeVee want to change that. Beginning May 24th, Malik and gang will launch NewTeeVee Pier Screenings. It is a series (four planned showings held over the course of the summer) of online video parties which will take place at a location right on the edge of San Francisco Bay. Location(s) yet to be announced.

Not all can join in on the popcorn fest, complete with bottles of red and some bottles of Bud (for some reason or another they call it beer), but anyone can play the role of voter. Yes, yes, that’s right! The arrangement for each gathering to be held by NewTeeVee and [enter possible future sponsor(s) here] is simple: six videos found on the Web will be chosen among a pool of many. The top picks that everyone agrees are worth showing on the big screen will be shown on the big screen.

Clearly, this is a great project. Similar to the way the producers of Diggnation occasionally favor large, live tapings of the podcast, NewTeeVee Pier Screenings will be a way for folks to get away from their computer screens to flock to one big display.

Anyone interested in making a NewTeeVee Pier Screening will need to RSVP in addition to registering for a Ning ID. (Peer Screenings is a micro social network of sorts. A Ning network was created for the very purpose of conducting these few summer showings.) We advise that you don’t view the top picks repeatedly prior to a Pier Screenings event. Those who do will likely become quite bored and drift off to watch the sailboats and such. Of course, with the popcorn and wine and beer, most are still likely to enjoy themselves. Not me, though. I’m East Coast. Damn you, Om.