We were ready as of yesterday to put the Faceplant platform online and let all of you dig in, set up your accounts and begin uploading video – but we realized there were some essential items that needed to be in place so that every beta team member would have the best experience. So tonight, Adam made the decision to hold off a few more hours, work through the night and get some more engaging features added. We’re pretty certain that you’ll be happy.

I want everyone to know that the platform is going to be very simple, with basic functionality in place for the User. Your members will be able to sign up and view your lessons and you’ll be able to monetize Faceplant from day one. But please know that our functions are going to increase every day – with a powerful release scheduled for three weeks from now.

You see, as a grass-roots company launching a product of this size, we can’t afford to over burden our system and risk disrupting our Users data and experience. This entire system has been created by us – nothing outsourced – we need to ramp it up slowly, testing everything along the way. This is how I know we’ll be able to quickly create the best platform for all of you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly through the next month. I’m looking forward to working with you all.

- Peter Milano

1. Break down EXACTLY what your teaching topic is going to be. Not as easy as it sounds. (Below,I’m going to get into more detail on this.)

Then

2. Begin to create a concise catalog of sequential video content (and supplemental files possibly)

Simply put, people do not want to learn broad topics! And don’t be that type of person who says, “Well what I do covers so much” or even worse “You can’t teach that on Video.” Both are bologna. Of course there are topics that can’t be taught on video – but conveying fundamentals, demonstrations and various types of lesson formats can allow learning and growth in any topic. It involves breaking down exactly what you’ll be teaching and how these lessons are going to benefit your subscribers. Refine it.

Here’s a good example:

Today I was re-shooting some video at the studio with Faceplant Director of Video, Mike. As I was sitting on the stool chatting with Mike about stuff, I was taking notice of how he was adjusting one light this-way and another light that-way. He was doing this without breaking his focus on our discussion. The discussion had nothing to do with what he was doing, it was about a music video he shot a few weeks back. In the midst of explaining what the musician’s feedback on their Facebook page was, he adjusted the microphone boom, ran his sound checks and fine tuned a bunch of things completely foreign to me. He didn’t even realize he was setting me up for a perfect video shoot. To him it was really nothing at all, he just did it. Later, I pointed out to him that if I could record on video or in a notebook – just doing his set up process – having him explain what he was doing and why – offering some comparisons and results – just from that couple of minutes he could draft months of quality lessons for amateur video recording enthusiasts. “Really?” he asked. “Yes.”

That is the gold just below the surface. But will need to think it through. And that’s actually kind of fun if it’s a topic you’re passionate about. Realize that Mike’s fundamentals are what people want to learn – Not how to create the next Star Wars. But Mike can’t fall into the mindset of thinking he’s gonna teach people how create stellar movies. Way too broad and when he starts, without proper planning, he’ll get aggravated and guess what… No one is interested in learning a broad topic.

OK, check this out…

Category: Film / Video
Sub-Category: Video Production
Page Title: Video-Pro With Mike Meyerson.
Page Description: With Mike Meyerson as your mentor, you’ll learn the refined tricks and skills of professional video production the pros use – made easy for any beginner.
Scheduled Lessons: September through October Mike will be focusing on the best methods to use XYZ lighting in open, indoor spaces during evening lighting.

Make sense?

Keep it very simple and sequential. Build from one item of your topic to the next. Explain in the first 15 seconds what you’ll be teaching and what the student will learn by the end of the video. Show the result so they have a visual illustration of their goal and then dig into your lesson (more on that later.) Toward the end, offer answers to two or three commonly asked questions and then offer a brief preview of what you’ll be teaching in your next scheduled lesson. Keep it short, informative. Most important – don’t wander. Stay on topic and keep it refined to specifics.

We’re going to get more detailed on this as we go, but let’s get started with a pencil, paper and your ideas. Have fun with it too and don’t for one second get discouraged. – Adam

We have less than 20 days to launch and only 24 hours in a day so lets rock!

Pete

Peter Steeves, Intl. Training Director with Founder, Curtis Sliwa

Peter will be using Faceplant’s technology to train Guardian Angel Chapter members from 140 cities in 14 countries around the world. By doing so, Peter will bring a stronger sense of awareness to their cause and help every volunteer of the Angels be better prepared to fulfill their mission.

Founded Through neighborhood safety patrols, school programs designed to prevent bullying and raise gang awareness, and the award-winning CyberAngels program, The Guardian Angels has, for 30 years, helped communities around the world to be proactive in realizing the possibility of violence prevention. The organization was founded February 13, 1979 in New York City by Curtis Sliwa.

Intl. Training Director of the Guardian Angles teaching Safety Patrol members.

To learn more about the Guardian Angels and their Mission, please CLICK HERE

Mike Meyerson from Absolute Motion in New York offers some basic tips for anyone not skilled with a video use and editing, but wants to begin creating their video lessons in preparation for the Faceplant.com launc.

The time is NOW to begin gathering your instructional media, videos and documents. Begin coordinating your lesson plan calendar and start telling all of your contacts about your new membership page coming soon. (Beta Team in 3 weeks from now!) …. More about that later.

Mike has been instrumental during the development of Faceplant. He’s here to help anyone create more dynamic and interactive video content for their membership pages. Post any questions that you have for Mike here in the comments section. – Adam

Bill Gordon is the Director of Niche Relations for Faceplant.com. Back in the early 90s he was a bass guitar player for a popular hard rock band out of Boston. In this video, Bill talks about signing autographs for his fans. Or something like that.

Bill went on to becoming a successful SEO professioanal working for the likes of David Bowie and Guitar Magazine. Bill still gigs locally. – Adam

Peter Milano is the workhorse at Faceplant.com. He began studying internet development and learning media delivery at 15. He didn’t have a choice. Back then, we had a website for our Dojo, but when my Sensei in Japan asked us to communicate with a couple of martial artists in different parts of the world…We figured it out how to deliver rich learning media to these students with live classes and a sonstant flow of interactive resources so they could study our style of martial art. It worked! Soon, with Pete running the system, our small Dojo in New York had students from around the world and I had fulfilled my duty to my Sensei in Japan… Pete’s not so young anymore.

As the Faceplant concept grew and I decided to make an effort to bring this system to the masses, Pete stood firm every step of the way. The years passed as we worked tirelessly each day. When something needed to get done, Pete did it or figured out how to do it. Today he runs his own Dojo in Newport, Rhode Island. When he’s not working on Faceplant or throwing people to the mat, he pedals tourists around town to make ends meet. Among other things. – Adam

My goal is to have the video online the following morning for everyone to see. But, getting three kids packed and in a truck while trying to edit video and blog is no small feat. It’ll get done.

So what’s with going to the Cape? Gonna teach the kids to do some blue crabbing and rake some clams. Probably some surf casting too depending on conditions. My wife and I are planning to catch a ska show the first night we’re there. Good times ahead, only getting better! – Adam

This video was taken at today’s after meeting meeting over a couple of pints. The final criteria for our Beta Team were discussed, set and the form is now in place. It’s time to get started! – Adam

In this first video, I’m announcing that Faceplant.com is taking on only 500 members to team up with us and test the platform before we go live in October. User-ship will be closed to the general public for the exception of the Beta Team members. Of course subscribers to the Testing Team pages will open September 5th.

During this time, stay tuned to this page or sign up on the RSS. I’ll be adding updates each day of August so you can see first-hand what goes into the creation of Faceplant.

Back when I was a kid and we wanted to do something, we created our own scene. We made our own promotional flyers, fanzines and even recorded our own music on cassettes to sell for $2. That spirit has stayed with me for twenty-some-odd years and and that spirit of DIY (do it your self) has led to the creation of Faceplant.com. Let’s build this together! – Adam