14 DAY TRIAL // This month, YouTube and People.com has launched a contest that offers as prize something every movie fan dreams of - the chance of interviewing some of the most sought-after Hollywood stars. Subscriptions for the contest were originally meant to end on July 21 but, as some users complained that the time given for the preparation of an adequate material was too short, that date was pushed back.
For those who want to get the chance to speak face to face with a glamorous Hollywood celebrity, all they have to do is subscribe a video in which they are interviewing a friend or a family member. On all accounts, said interview must resemble a red-carpet encounter between a professional reporter and a V.I.P.
Both persons in the video must express themselves in English, while the duration of the clip must not exceed 4 minutes, credits included. After a first round of decision-making, 10 finalists must submit another video, based on the same principles. The winner will be announced on August 27, and the prize will consist of a visit to a red-carpet event, celebrated in September. The prizewinner will accompany Michelle Beadle, a People reporter who is an old hand at reporting from Hollywood galas.
The 10 finalists will be chosen by People editors, while the final vote is in the hands of YouTube users. The lucky winner will also receive a makeover, so that the staff at People are sure that he or she will fit just perfectly in the glamorous environment.
YouTube seems to know that, in order to have favorable results, it must interact with the users. Various contests, whether they are related to the entertainment business or to politics, that make people feel like they are fighting for something, are always welcome. If one doesn't consider oneself a natural in video production or, in fact, really isn't, one still has the chance of being taken into account by YouTube. The company's Trendspotting Tuesday, a project where some of the most interesting clips are featured in categories that make them available to a larger audience, is an example of YouTube's attentiveness towards the needs of users.