Don’t drink the water

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Yesterday Google announced the launch of yet another service: All hail the Google Video (Store). The Los Angeles Times Reports:

Search giant Google Inc. put its own twist on the budding online video market Friday, unveiling an Internet bazaar that allows movie studios, TV networks and any amateur with a camera to sell their wares.

The Google Video Store, launching with 5,000 titles, is the first major challenge to the early lead that Apple Computer Inc. has in the emerging market for online video. It also could help realize the dreams of futurists who have long envisioned the Internet as a creative commons that upends the business models of traditional media.

Independent filmmakers, for instance, can try to bypass Hollywood; dog trainers and yoga instructors can offer how-to videos; and someone who captures a plane crash or other major news event on video can skip the traditional media — all in favor of selling their work as a digital download.

“Now any guy with a camera who believes in what they’re doing can compete with the Sonys and Warner Bros. of the world,” said director Ben Rekhi, who said he turned down a $125,000 distribution deal to instead sell his film “Waterborne” through Google for $4.99 a download.

Rekhi tipped us off about this article in the LA Times, and the fact that his film “Waterborne” was the first independent film to premiere thru Google Video, because of two of the co-stars in his film: Shabana Azmi and Ajay Naidu.

With a contaminated water source, Los Angeles is cast into turmoil. And with a shortage of vital resources, how far with the average person go to ensure their own survival?

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p>Or, to ensure the survival of their loved ones? Using a kinetic and captivating approach, three separate story threads are sewn together in a web of current issues that mirror our modern society.

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p>A Sikh storeowner and her son Vikram become victims of racial discrimination after raising the price of water during the shortage. Two college students attempt to flea the increasingly chaotic atmosphere and in doing so test the limits of their friendship. A duo of National Guardsmen are forced to confront issues of patriotism as they become upholders of the peace during a city wide crisis. Making all of these vignettes collide into a climactic intersection, director Ben Rekhi utilizes jarring personal stories to effectively create a sense of mass hysteria in the mind of the viewer.

If I ran out of water I think I’d go pretty far to ensure my survival. West-side till I die beeyatches. I knew I needed to buy a gun out here. You can watch the full movie here (85 min).

31 thoughts on “Don’t drink the water”

  5. Hmm I’ve been hearing about Google Video (the store) for about 48 hours now, but all links always point to the video.google.com, the regular free video site.

    There was some particular news about being able to purchase video of NBA games that I was interested in, but I can’t seem to find the blackhole they’ve stuck the Google Premium stuff in…either that or it hasn’t been released; though if that’s the case, I have no idea why all the news stories all over the web write the story as if its already up and running and launched.

    If any one has any clue how, where or when this premium content is accessible, can you post it on this thread?

    Thanks, mutineers…

  7. Indeed. Google video has been out for quite some time. I used it to watch Russell Peter’s second special, along with Dat Phan’s special and Dane Cook’s as well. It’s a pretty handy website, though I’m surprised no lawsuits have come about because of it.

  8. the only thing that gets me, about waterborne is it seems sikhs are getting seen as villains again, or is that just me seeing it wrong?

  10. i googled for ‘google water’, guess what? no info on ‘google water’, google is slipping……..gargle that google 😛

  12. ok….watched the entire film. i still find some things disturbing. the sikhs are portrayed as villains till the very end, and even that wasn’t put clearly enough. it just doesn’t set right. and why do they awlays have to have the dog face i’m anorexic, otta show what i don’t have around the sardar look. but the movie was very gripping.

  15. They announced the video store before it went live, without posting any explanation at video.google.com. Oops.

    Now they link to the press release, the store isn’t live yet.

  18. Ok, last link from Google Video, but this spoof on Bollywood is mad funny.

    what’s the song title for that last one? i want an mp3 of that song.

  20. I saw the preview and why didnt anyone improvise a quick distilling kit at home.

  21. sorry screwed up comment 20. I saw the preview and was left wondering why didnt anyone improvise a quick distilling kit at home.

  22. what’s the song title for that last one? i want an mp3 of that song.

    Pyar Kiya To Nibhana from Major Saab

  24. Thanks MJ! issok, Al, you did your best! Besides, you gave the link to the video. And althought the guy didn’t really thrill me, the song was great, so you gotta get some points! Thanks to both of ya!

  26. How does it work? How can someone like Shabana Azmi, who has so little acting talent keep getting interesting roles, and generally be hailed as a great actress all the time?

    Perhaps, in a world where overtly sexiness is equated with lack of brains/talent, it’s only natural that a lot of people will associate a lack of any glamour/sexiness with the presence of some talent. She’s made a career by repeatedly using this formula of

    blank face + “serious” look = great acting.

  28. How can someone like Shabana Azmi, who has so little acting talent keep getting interesting roles,

    By going out of the way to get those roles almost exclusively. BTW most of the art house or parallel cinema is not that interesting either….But every now and then a really awesome movie comes out of that set of folks.

  29. Check out CSI:Chinese from comedy central.

    Ok, i never really cared for CSI, but that was kinda cool.

    and as for shabana azmi, she’s a lot better actress than many in the business these days. she needs more roles with more screen time.

  30. OOKK…i’m prolly late in pointing tis out, but finally figgered out google video. it’s a bit tricky, but worth it. oh, and waterborn is now 3.99. anyhoo…..when you find a video you want, and click the link to view it, there’s a link to the right hand side that says ‘either buy’ or download (for the free vids). it’ll then say download google video player or manually download video. hit manually d-load video, and you’ll get a gvp file. open that with notepad, and look for the link. copy and paste the link in your browser, hit go, and it should d-load. apparently, the heas behind google were putting the cart b’fore the horse when they put ou t a few things. sooo, now all the months i praised and cursed their video site at once, i can look and say reeeallly cool.

  31. forgot to add….when you have the gvp file, make sure that you copy and paste starting at ‘url’, and end with the numbers just before ‘docid:-‘ or it won’r work. 🙂