How to make a water gun alarm clock

July 8, 12:52 PMEducational Short Videos ExaminerMel Aman

While working an event this weekend, I was happily reunited with an old friend, Denver Animation specialist Randy Boyum (see some of his stuff here).  While working, we updated each other on the past few years of lives and I asked him what he was currently working on.  He replied, calmly, “I'm working on an animated piece explaining ‘How to survive a Bear Attack.”

What?

This led to my introduction to Howcast.com and I'll tell ya folks, it's rad.  It's You Tube meets My Space meets Discovery's "How it's Made" (heroin for crafty folks) meets Mental Floss Magazine (another addiction of mine).  On Howcast.com one can find cleverly written, high quality 'how to shorties' ranging from the very practical - "How to clean your grill with minimal effort" to the very helpful - "How to get paid for donating plasma."  While browsing the site you'll find a wonderful buffet of filmmaking styles - live action, animation, claymation (Randy Boyum’s animated ditty "How to survive a bear attack" coming soon!), with profiles of the filmmakers.

The grooviest part is for aspiring or accomplished filmmakers.  Much like You Tube or My Space, you can post your own content to broadcast to the masses, but on Howcast.com, you can also apply to be part of their production team and if hired, be paid to produce their content.  Check out the How cast Network here.

So take a sec and click on over to Howcast.com and check out some of my personal favorites: "How to create a baby headed dancing frog," "How to build a giant floor mat Nintendo Controller" and the answer to my long suppressed desire to learn "How to survive your mother's menopause."