Amanda Congdon graciously gave us this interview after we read about her in a recent New York Times profile.
Ask a New Yorker: Hi Amanda, Tell us about your New York Times article and what you do.
Amanda: I host and co write a three minute daily internet show that often has a comedic slant. We have correspondants all over Europe and America. We are hopefully expanding that number and creating more video blogs.
Ask a New Yorker: What’s the name of your site?
Amanda: Rocketboom
Ask a New Yorker: What’s the difference between streaming video and a vlog?
Amanda: Well what we do is a video blog and that differs from streaming video because it is not in real time. So it is something that is a file. A video blog has comments and links and it’s interactive. It’s back and fourth in between your viewer and you.
Ask a New Yorker: What is RSS?
Amanda: It’s really great technology. It stands for Real Simple Syndication that enables you to subscribe for free to different videos, audios, podcasts so that you can do everything on demand.
Ask a New Yorker: I read in The NYT that you recently were in Mexico City?
Amanda: We were in Mexico City with Intel and Televisa. It’s really exciting. They’re joining forces to create this video blogging contest so that Spanish speaking countries vlog more. Prizes include things like lap tops, server space and cameras.
Ask a New Yorker: That’s a great. Random question, who do you most look like in the celebrity world?
Amanda: Probably Heather Graham and sometimes I get Alicia Silverstone. But I love Heather Graham.
Ask a New Yorker: Where did you go to school?
Amanda: Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.
Ask a New Yorker: And what did you study?
Amanda: I majored in Organizational Communications, which is a pre business major and I minored in English Literature.
Ask a New Yorker: Chaucer fan?
Amanda: (laughs) Not the biggest fan. I’m more interested in contemporary literature.
Ask a New Yorker: I grew up in Manhattan on 106th and Riverside. I lived there until I was 10. Then moved to Connecticut until I was 18. Then I went to Chicago for 4 years for college. Now I’ve been back for 2 years in New York
Ask a New Yorker: O.K let’s just say hypothetically you’re 95 years old. You’ve had a terrific life but unfortunately you only have a month to live AND you can’t move your neck because it’s in a brace AND you can only look in one direction. My question
is: If there was just one tree you could look at, what kind of tree would it be?
Amanda: A Ginkgo tree. I grew up with Ginkgos outside my window. So that’s always been my favorite tree.
Ask a New Yorker: So where are vlogs headed?
Amanda: Well I’ll tell you, I think having a weekly show in New York is a great idea. One that’s covering just New York events. Whatever is going on the city, meeting people, interviews etc. There’s just not enough of it. There are so many things going on everyday in New York that I can see lots of this popping up and there being no problem with that. Everyone is going to have their own particular slant. Their own particular types of events they like to cover. I think people are really craving that video blogs vs. television coverage because it’s a way to get a more intimate feel of things and people.
Ask a New Yorker: I’m a fan of Rocketboom and watch it regularly. It looks like your having a blast. How much fun are you having?
Amanda: I’m having a lot of fun. It’s really just so much work that it’s hard to really enjoy all the really cool things that I’m doing. Although when I take a little break I’m like, Whoa! I just met this person, and Wow! I just got to go to this place and it’s really wonderful.
Ask a New Yorker: Your zest for life is contagious and it shows! Keep on vloging and we look forward to hearing more about you in the future.
