Facebook today announced Video Calling powered by Skype. Currently (free) one-to-one but group video chat may be in the near future according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. This may be sooner than later given Google+ introduced video chat for up to 10 people.

Facebook Video Calling uses a Skype plug-in that allows users to launch a video chat session in two clicks. The plug-in is downloaded on-demand so a video call can be initiated without the need to have Skype software pre-installed.

Sarah Kessler over at Mashable put together a nice little How-To slideshow for getting started with Facebook Video Calling.

Aside: If you have been paying attention to your stock portfolio, you’ll recall that Microsoft received FTC approval to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in May of this year. Skype has 145 million users. No doubt the video conferencing service will now get a nice bump from Facebook’s 750 million users.

Baby Inside is the follow up to Evian’s hugely successful Roller Babies video that not only went viral but was inducted into the Guinness World Records as the Most Viewed Online Video Advertisement (over 25 million as of 8/19/09).

Both videos are part of the integrated Live Young campaign created by BETC Euro RSCG, Paris. It includes print ads, TV commercials, and social media.

Watch the video above (best to keep your eye on the T-shirt to get the full effect of the dancing baby) and then participate by adding your own video clip to Evian’s “longest music video” at Let’s Baby Dance microsite (or via an iPhone App). I did.

Commissioned by NYC marketing company Moss Appeal to develop branded content for DirecTV Ad Sales team’s social media  initiative, which included a Twitter page, a Facebook page (with two custom apps), and this interactive DirecTV Perfect Match Game that utilized video outtakes from DirecTV’s popular programming.

The game also featured a Bobble Yourself viral marketing component where participants could upload a photo to create their own bobblehead with a personalized URL that featured them on the game’s microsite. This created greater engagement and encouraged more sharing through email and social media.

Never really believed that sex sells unless what you’re selling is sex(y). It does get your attention though and if that’s the point of advertising then it wouldn’t matter much if the concept was high or low(brow).

These videos for Fortnight Lingerie by Toronto-based ad agency Red Urban not only use sex effectively to raise awareness for a unknown underwear brand but created PSAs that teenage boys will actually pay attention too. In addition to the videos below, there are other “goodies” to be had at the Super Sexy CPR microsite.

Still Fighting It is probably my favorite Ben Folds song but I have to admit that I like almost everything this guy writes/sings (so no small feat to narrow down to one). I feel like I’m late to the party, having discovered Ben Folds through way of Regina Spektor only recently. She is featured on You Don’t Know Me  (those are her lips in picture). Better late then never.

This vid may be a bit dated but it remains one of my favs. The gang over at Connected Ventures (the people who bring you CollegeHumor) lip sync (dub?) Harvey Danger’s Flagpole Sitta in one take (according to the terminally cute Amanda Ferri featured at the beginning of the video). Hey, where are the adults?

This is a short promotional video I did for The Harmony Project in collaboration with Rev. Ann Emerson and Peter van Geldern (of The Harmony Project) along with Jim Jontz of Applebox Studio and composer Robert Farrell of Musicmint. For my part, developed the concept, storyboards, and managed production.

Local cable news affiliate News 12 anchor Becky Surran and I discuss viral marketing trends on 12 On The Money, include Diageo’s ground-breaking YouTube hit Tea Partay viral video (below). I say “ground-breaking” not because the concept is unique (it’s not) but it marks an attitude adjustment with marketing executives at big consumer brands, that is, a willingness to invest (significantly) in emerging social channels.