Michelle’s Recap: Internet Weeeeeek!
By Michelle DeForest.What a crazy, fun, intense, and exhausting week it turned out to be! There were parties, meetups, conferences, and endless meetings to be had, and it all concluded with the Webby Awards. I didn’t make it to the Webby Gala, but I did hit up the Webby Film & Video Awards, and had an amazing time with Tim Shey, Rachel Garcia, Erin Flood, Derek DeAngelis, Roy Weissman, and Vanessa Pappas!!
Vanessa Pappas, Kenyatta Cheese (Rocketboom), Erin Flood
The night started off with a cocktail reception, which I remarked felt like some sort of a high school reunion. Just about every person I adore from the Video 2.0 industry was there, and I felt at home.
We drank champagne, posed for pics (That’s Webby Award Winner Derek D and myself), and caught up with old friends as we readied ourselves for a three hour ceremony hosted by 30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander. As Derek D accepted the People’s Choice Award for Sports, we cheered him on from our seats (which happened to be next to where Lorne Michaels, Michel Gondry, Rosie Perez, and Seth Meyers were seated!!)
Derek D Accepts the FLD Webby Award from Michelle DeForest on Vimeo.
In addition to the awards, we participated in the Mashable Exhibit Hall where Next New Networks and about a dozen other companies (CafeMom, VideoClix, and Magnify just to name a few!) set up booths with crazy amounts of SWAG. While a ton of our staff came out to network with several hundred members of the video and tech community in town for the week, Ben and Amber sat down with Pete Cashmore from Mashable to discuss the future of Barely Political and the release of the their latest video, The Incredible McCain Girl.
The Mashable Exhibit Hall wasn’t the only event we attended in full force. We teamed up with David and Marco from Tumblr to throw an EPIC Rock Band Party at M 1-5. A HUGE thanks to the staff there as they were nothing but pure awesome and the night was deemed a smashing success! Check out our very own superstars Justin Johnson, Lee Rubenstein, Dan Meth and Paul rocking out to “More Than A Feeling.” (via Bill Cammack)
And what Internet celebration would be complete with out a little meme payback:
NNN Rickrolls Times Square!
The Times Square Rick Roll from justin on Vimeo.
P.S. In case you also missed the Webby Gala, the Wall Street Journal captured how awesome the night went. (via NewTeeVee)
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