For better or for worse, some of the most popular videos online are basically commercials.
The best thing about commercials in the online video arena is that they put monetary value on the medium. Everyone in online video, from the studios to the youtube stars, are trying to figure out how much online videos are worth. Even if viewers generally don't pay for online video, at least advertisers agree that they are valuable. This is an important step toward legitimizing the industry, attracting more creative talent and bigger budgets to online video. I would venture to say that online video has benefited from commercials. Commercials for TV or pre-roll cinema are very conducive to the online video format. Some like the Nike commercial with Kobe jumping over car are just fun, popular, made-to-be-viral videos:
Others like the Sony Bravia commercials could be called art:
If a video is well done, and gives people enjoyment then I think the advertiser deserves the attention.
However, there is something depressing about it. I think commercials have their place, but where is the quality are that isn't commercial? It would seem that the most popular non-commercial art is newsy and comedy. I would think that short films should be huge on the internet. I live in New York, I know that there are tons of film schools with tons of students making short films, and tons of out of work actors. So where are they?
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