Documentarian brings tweets to life

If you're a Twitter addict or just learning about this whole "social media thing", you've got to check out Twittamentary! This great new documentary by Tan Siok Siok gives an often touching and frequently humorous look at tweeting and the people who have turned Twitter into a real community.

Taking two years to complete, Siok Siok follows the stories of people across the web. From well-known commodities such as travel expert Stefanie Michaels to the brave AnnMarie Walsh, a woman who was living on the streets in Chicago, the director shows the depth and range of the social platform. Although Twitter is frequently dismissed as being frivolous, and is still misunderstood by a great percentage of the population, tweeting has brought strangers together in all kinds of special ways.

Here's a trailer (although I don't think it really does the film justice): 



Siok Siok will be hosting beta screenings (check the schedule HERE) until she ultimately starts showing the documentary at festivals and other venues. If you love Twitter as much as I do, you'll get a kick out of this flick. If you don't understand all this Twitter stuff yet, Twittamentary is a wonderful introduction to the diverse ways in which the site can be used. News aggregating, customer service, branding, advocacy, citizen journalism, networking, and the joy of meeting wonderful people across the globe while in the comfort of your living room. That's Twitter. And it's amazing.

For more video clips, check out the Twittamentary YouTube channel! And, a special thanks to Social Media Club Los Angeles and Nimble for hosting the LA screening! 

* For those of you who subscribe via a reader, click on the blog post title to see the video that accompanies this piece. 

Twitter conference focuses on humanity rather than technology

The 140 Characters Conference on Twitter hosts events across the United States and in foreign countries. This week, the event came back to Los Angeles for its sophomore outing. Per usual, organizer Jeff Pulver put together an eclectic assortment of speakers and panels which spanned 18 hours over two days. From tech and celebrity to philanthropy and journalism, Jeff delivered yet another worthwhile event to the social media community.
 
If you want to learn the basics of how to tweet, this isn't the place. If you want to hear the step-by-step tactics of how to execute a social media campaign, look elsewhere. However, if you want to hear interesting stories of how Twitter is changing lives, business, culture, and community, there is no shortage of fascinating tales or memorable speakers. The success stories are incredible.

Last year, when I attended #140conf (my review can be found HERE), I wasn't sure what to expect. After two solid days of presentations, my head was whirling. Since that time, I have remained actively involved in Jeff's #140conf movement and have come to appreciate the nuances of what he's trying to do.

Jeff is all about creating community. Moving online connections into real-world relationships. Motivating people to use the real-time web for social good, to stand up for important causes, to shed light on important issues (see my story on the #140conf autism panel HERE), and to prompt positive change in the world. Jeff's goal is to tap into the humanity that is behind the technology, and use online tools and platforms to make the world a more compassionate place. A place where we can learn, grow, and prosper together.

If you want to be inspired by real-life stories of how Twitter is helping cancer patients, the homeless, parents, non-profits, and third-world countries, #140conf delivers. If you want to more fully appreciate how news organizations, small business owners, creative and artistic people, public figures, and real estate professionals are utilizing Twitter, there are a plethora of panels to keep your head spinning. If you want to connect with people who know the power of social media, and those who are just starting their journey, the networking opportunities are priceless.

For those of you who are interested in fully embracing the real-time web, and the people who inhabit it, be sure to check out #140conf when it comes to a city near you. For those of you who have attended and reviewed one of Jeff's events, feel free to post a link to your story in the comments below so others may learn from your experience.

Thank you, Jeff, for giving a big city like Los Angeles the soul of a small town for at least two days a year. Love live #140conf.

How social media gave me autism

I've enjoyed many benefits from social media. New friends, business leads, and great knowledge are some of the most tangible, but the thing I least expected to get is one of the most rewarding.

Last year, I connected with Robert Moran on Twitter (a.k.a. @aspiejourno). I traded occasional tweets with him about journalism, grammar, and TV; he was funny, smart, and likable. Robert quickly became one of my favorite people on Twitter.

One day, Robert and I had an awkward exchange and I visited his Twitter bio to refresh my memory on what this guy's background was. Turns out Robert has autism and Asperger Syndrome. I hadn't even realized it.

In the months that followed, I read Robert's incredibly candid tweets about the challenges that autism brings. He sometimes had what he calls meltdowns, he was occasionally so blunt in his tweets that it made me gasp, he shared blog posts about his life and how autism affected his interactions with people. I read and I learned.

Robert was so incredibly engaging and personable that I wanted to understand how to best interact with him. I soon learned that he's uncomfortable being touched, so I never hugged him hello when I saw him at tweet-ups. I came to understand that autistics frequently lack a self-editing button in their brains so they can sometimes be incredibly frank, which many people perceive as rude. I also learned that Robert forms bonds very quickly, which he says scares people away.

Robert Moran speaks with moderator Stacey Soleil at #140conf

I've known Robert for about 10 months now and today I was happy to share a very special day with him. He was one of the featured speakers at the 140 Characters Conference on Twitter (#140conf) that I attended at Los Angeles' Music Box Theater. Robert addressed hundreds of social media devotees and shared how Twitter has brought him out of his shell and into a community. He shed light on how Autistics think and act, and I learned yet another helpful bit of information. He has a hard time understanding sarcasm. Sarcasm is a major part of my DNA, so going forward I'll be sure to remember that when he and I speak or tweet.

One of the best things about social media, in my opinion, is that you are exposed to new people, folks you may have never met were it not for the social web. New ideas, different lifestyles, unique personalities. It's all out there, if you want to see it. And, maybe, if you open your mind--and your heart--wide enough, you'll meet someone who changes you for the better. Robert is one of those people.

Congratulations on your conference speaking debut, Robert. I'm proud to know you.

Doctor tweets to help mankind

Dr. Krupali Tejura

This week, at a Los Angeles meetup of Twitter users, I had the pleasure of hearing a woman speak about how she's using social media for the greater good. I've been connected with Dr. Krupali Tejura on Twitter for awhile now, and have traded tweets with her from time to time. However, up until Monday, I didn't fully realize how she was maximizing Twitter to help her patients.

Now, to be clear, this doesn't mean that I ever want to see Dr. Tejura professionally. She's an oncologist (yep, that's a cancer doctor) and I hope no one in my life ever has to enlist her services. However, I am thrilled to know that there are doctors like her out there. She really cares and has used her online presence to help her patients.

Here are two examples I'll share from her talk:

1) One of Dr. Tejura's patients had her cancer spread to her bones, which rendered her unable to walk. She was wheelchair bound, with only months to live. She and the patient talked about how fun it would be to dance on The Ellen Show (for those who don't watch, Ellen dances with her audience in the first segment of every show). Dr. Tejura tried to get her patient tickets to the show, but came up dry. In the meantime, the woman was making progress with radiation treatment and began to use a walker. Soon, she could walk with a cane. At this point, Dr. Tejura turned to Twitter. She sent a tweet to her followers asking if they could help, they retweeted it, and soon Dr. Tejura had VIP passes to the show to give her patient. This woman would now boogie with Ellen Degeneres herself, thanks to Dr. Tejura and the community of Twitter.

2) Dr. Tejura shared another story about a terminal patient who was sad that she'd never get to see the Steelers play. As she finished telling the tale to all of us at the event, the conference sponsor, Jeff Pulver, donated frequent flier miles to send the woman and her husband to Philadelphia. Another person donated a rental car. Then, the most moving thing happened. A man (who I later learned was Bruce Sallan) rushed the stage to give Dr. Tejura a $20 bill to help sponsor the trip. The audience followed suit and passed up more cash. Within two minutes, Dr. Tejura had more than $400 to help fund her patient's dream. (The next day, Yahoo! even donated money to pay for the hotel!). I was moved to tears and am getting a lump in my throat even as I write about it.

Now, for you naysayers, THAT is the power of social media! You can spread your message of goodwill and hope to others, you can really connect with people, and even though social media starts on the web, those relationships translate to the real world. Those of us who use social media, and really get it, are a community. We rally together, we support one another, and when we all come together--we are powerful!

I don't know about you, but in my entire life I haven't ever had a doctor who I felt really saw me. The doctor gets me in and gets me out. He or she doesn't know me, care about me, or even really take a second to see me as a person. I wish there were more doctors like Dr. Tejura out there. Thank you, Krupali, for reminding us to be human and kindhearted. We all have the ability to bring more good into the world, so let's be sure to do it.

NOTE: As I was linking to Dr. Tejura's blog, I noticed she wrote her own account of the evening. Check out her thoughts on the power of community by clicking HERE.