Google Me Debuts on YouTube
Monday, April 28th, 2008;
-- Janet Meiners |
An Google vanity search launched a movie idea for a filmmaker named Jim Killeen. He searched Google on his name to see what came up. This was two years ago and Killeen’s life was feeling empty. He was 38 and single. So after taking interest in the other Jim Killeen’s of the world, he decided to contact them and make a movie about what he learned.
He put everything on the line to make documentary about his journey which is now showing on YouTube and called, “Google Me The Movie.” Killeen doesn’t say how much he spent traveling and filming the documentary, only that he almost went bankrupt doing it. Making money doesn’t seem to be the point anyway.
Google is part of the movie - it uses Google Earth and he got permission to use Google’s name. He even has footage of Google employees response to his movie in the film. But what he was really after is a connection with others. Google might give information but it’s actual human interaction that makes that information meaningful.
We may tell all on our personal blogs but in real life be lonely and that is news in our society. This story about revealing your personal life online, made the front page of The New York Times. Google Me’s story made the Washington Post.
Killeen’s journey was sort of like live blogging. He convinces seven other Jim Killeen’s to share personal details of their lives on camera. Then he flies them all to Texas for some male bonding.
Here are other films that center around successful tech companies:
Truth in Numbers. The Wikipedia Story (still in production)
24 Hours on Craigslist
Killeen has the perfect name for his idea - not too common or too obscure. It’s surprising the variety of people Killeen meets - from a priest (who has enough decorum to avoid questions about the type of underwear he wears) to a swinger (who is quite open about his lifestyle).
What have you found when you Google your name and what was your response. I’ve used it to remember my accomplishments and as a pick me up. There aren’t any other “Janet Meiners” that I know of. So I’m going to have to seek connections another way - like blogger lunches. Like Killeen I meet a lot of my new friends first online - then in real life.
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April 28th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[...] neat story about a guy going out to meet people with the same name as his. The story his here Google Me Debuts on YouTube and he interviews some of Googles employees and travels around the world finding and meeting [...]
April 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I enjoyed the Jim Killeen - Google Me The Movie It was interesting and entertaining. Seven Jim Killeens, connected yet each unique. I recently listened to Jim Cobb of Google Me Talk Radio interview Jim Killeen. It revealed intriguing thoughts on the making of Google Me The Movie…
Ask John Raines - Google Me
April 28th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
This was done years ago by someone in UK except not using Google. Using Google is just cheating.
Dave Gorman
April 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
This seems like a bit of a ripoff of an enormously awesome Fringe-show-turned-BBC-special:
http://www.davegorman.com/projects_are_you_dave_gorman.html
April 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I’m not sure if it is a rip-off and in any event, it was well worth a watch.
Far better though, albeit in book form, is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Round-Ireland-Fridge-Tony-Hawks/dp/0091867770
April 29th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Hi Janet
Great article on Jim Killeen,I have watched the movie and loved it.Also I listened to his interview on blog talk radio with Jim Cobb(google me talk radio show)What a guy he is a genuine person,you can go listen to the recording on my blog.Our team has did alot of articles about him
Thanks Michael I Jackson
michael I jackson’s last blog post..Google Me The movie
April 29th, 2008 at 4:38 am
yup, rip of Dave Gorman and his amazing show. That and GoogleWhack!
YOu don’t get any miles per Dave Gorman in this movie. Trust me, if you have not seen it, check out Dave Gorman and his work, really really great!
April 29th, 2008 at 6:52 am
I recently listened to Jim Cobb of Google Me Talk Radio interview Jim Killeen. It revealed intriguing thoughts on the making of Google Me The Movie, and enloyed it…..
Gerald Franklin
Gerald Franklin’s last blog post..Google Me Talk Radio Jim Killeen
April 30th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Great Documentary… “Google Me” (the movie) was very well done by Jim Killeen. The only thing that I don’t like is… I wish I would have thought of this!
Scott OBrien - Google Me
Scott OBrien’s last blog post..Google Me the Movie Jim Killeen Talk Radio
May 1st, 2008 at 12:14 am
I saw the movie a few days ago and it was great. It may have already been done but it was well worth the few minutes I put into watching it.
Google Me was Great’s last blog post..Welcome
May 1st, 2008 at 12:16 am
That is a terrific idea and it was well done!
My problem is that I cannot even get to the top page of Google listings for “John Slaughter” because of my more famous predecessors: The real “Texas” John Slaughter, sherriff of Tombstone, and the Disney version of him.