Videogum Home - designed by Guilherme Rosa

 

October 28, 2008

This Is That Guy Who Wins All The Lame Corporate Video Contests

Today the NY Times profiled a guy named Joel Moss Levinson, who makes his entire living (over 200k so far) by entering those usually-lame corporate user-generated video contests. He brilliantly figured out that since most people who are good at making advertising videos are too busy making advertising videos in their jobs to make free advertising videos in their spare time, most of the entries were going to be shit. So he made entries that weren't total and compete unwatchable crap, and so he won. Genius. Here's the video that won him the Klondike contest. (Note: I'm not saying it's not extremely dumb, I'm just saying this dude has a smart strategy):

Joel uses Facebook and Twitter to get people to vote for his videos, which makes sense, but this part of the article didn't really make sense:

He even calls 24-hour customer service lines at night, when he thinks the representatives are bored, and asks them to vote for him.

No, New York Times, he was either fooling you or he did that exactly once, because that doesn't make sense. (Thanks for the tip, Scott!)

Posted by Lindsay at 1:30 PM in ,
Tags:  |




9 Comments

CarolineA

If I didn't know that this guy was a douche-nozzle who is a career contest enterer, I would have actually liked this commercial
But.....no, lame. I have friends in college who can make video's as creative and clever, and yet, they're about to start real jobs.

Posted by: CarolineA profile link at 10/28/08 1:58 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

"No, New York Times, he was either fooling you or he did that exactly once, because that doesn't make sense. (Thanks for the tip, Scott!)"

Hi, Videogum. Trust me. He does that. Imagine if "making sense" was some kind of illness. Now imagine Joel as the vaccine, full of tiny dead bits of making sense. Just...just trust me.

Posted by: shekb at 10/28/08 2:13 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

He had the time/money to travel to the arctic to see polar bears, but not the time/money to visit his family?

Posted by: kristen at 10/28/08 2:40 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

this guy worked with me at summer camp one year. he sucks.

Posted by: justin at 10/28/08 3:44 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
I PEE GOLD

One time I was hanging out with this guy and he said that he hated the kid from Jerry Maguire.

HOW?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWaWKQqoyu4

Posted by: I PEE GOLD profile link in reply to justin's comment at 10/29/08 12:19 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Zingers

Instant hate

Posted by: Zingers profile link at 10/28/08 5:28 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Thank god people are making the effort to write in about what a horrible human being this guy is for writing silly songs and winning lots of stuff. He seems dangerous!

Hopefully, with enough negativity sent his way via website comments you guys can either stop him from committing these horrible acts ON YOUR INTERNET, or at least make him feel self-conscious about using some of his ADD energy to write songs about Klondike bars and earn $100,000 for it.

I'm not saying this guy is better than you; I'm just saying you're way worse than him.

Posted by: todd at 10/29/08 1:15 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Elliot

"I'm not saying this guy is better than you; I'm just saying you're way worse than him. "

I don't think you understand how logic works, todd.

Posted by: Elliot profile link in reply to todd's comment at 10/29/08 3:56 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


Staff

  • Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Scott Lapatine
  • Senior Editor: Gabe Delahaye
  • Executive Editor: Amrit Singh

Info

Contact

You Can Make It Up logo
Gabe loves fan fiction. You Can Make It Up features his own personal alternate adventures starring some of our favorite characters.

You Can Make It Up: People Tell Carrie Prejean What An Asshole She Is

Carrie Prejean turned the video camera off, put on some clothes, and stepped out of her house. It was a beautiful day outside. The air smelled like apples, and the late morning light hit the world in just such a...

MORE »

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time logo
After watching Death Sentence, a terrible movie starring Kevin Bacon as a father in search of vigilante justice directed by Saw's James Wan, Gabe embarked on The Hunt For The Worst Movie of All Time. This is his sad journey.

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: In The Land Of The Women

If you are a sassy and sarcastic young man in an American sitcom who represents the sitcom writer's desire that a nerdy Jewish teenager can somehow be the desirable romantic hero in this world, then eventually you will get a...

MORE »

Monsters' Ball logo
This week's five highest rated comments as voted on by you, the lowest rated comment as voted on by you, and the editor's choice.

Monsters' Ball: The Week's Best Comments

I shouldn't even be here right now. I SHOULD BE GETTING INTO MY COSTUME! If I don't hurry, my facepaint won't be dry before I get to the MOONVIE theater, and everyone will be like "hahah, you look like you're...

MORE »

Double Dog logo
Blogging about TV and movies isn't all fun and videogames. Every week, Lindsay or Gabe will be presented with a physical or mental challenge that tests their bravery,patience, and taste.

Double Dog: I Took A TV Bus Tour Alone In A "Just Jack" Tshirt

The Challenge: I had to go on a 3.5 hour bus tour of totally random TV and film locations in New York City. Alone, and wearing a specific ridiculous tshirt. And I had to find someone to take my picture...

MORE »

Videogum Movie Club logo
Let's all go to the movies, and let's all see the same movie, and let's discuss it here.

The Videogum Movie Club: 2012

Uh. OK. Well, first let's address what this movie did well, like the disappointed parents we are (or at least that I am), recognizing that the negative feedback won't be useful or constructive if it isn't preceded by something positive....

MORE »