This week in The Link, I am showcasing someone who could end up being the next member of The Superstar Club. Meet Keri, The Canadian Explorer. I met Keri last Friday at a Twitter meet-up and looked up her site when I got home.
The above video, her show’s intro, sums up what she does (as her About Me page explains) in 18 seconds of song. I was so impressed with Keri’s show that I watched all of her videos over the weekend and had that bloody song stuck in my head for days afterward.
Here is why Keri gets my recommendation:
- True Patriot Love - Every so often we see a little “rah rah Go Canada!” push, but Canadian culture is largely a matter of American companies selling it to us (Hi, Tim Hortons!). Patriotism is a private-label version of an international brand (Canadian Idol, ET Canada, etc.) Keri is trying to document what it actually means to live and be in Canada, on the ground, where the people actually are.
- Doing it Right, Doing it Good - Keri is a very talented visual storyteller, and it’s no surprise that she was picked up as the CBC’s first made-for-the-web show. I absolutely love the attention she pays to the polish of her videos (check out how one of her favorite techniques is the split-screen where you get multiple views of what’s happening). Her videos are very good, in addition to being entertaining and informative.
- She Shouldn’t Be This Good Yet - I get the feeling that Keri hasn’t been doing this very long, but everything is so focused and polished. Her videos are excellent, her persona and image are fully formed right out of the gate, and she’s so relaxed and casual that if I had only seen the videos and knew nothing about her site, I would assume she’s a seasoned television personality and this was a network show. Never underestimate the power of a simple idea well executed!
I hope Keri gets her dream studio and some money invested in her because there is no reason why she shouldn’t have the support of CTV or Corus. I would love to see what she could do with the access that a platform at that scale would afford her. But even without it, she’s one to watch as she explores the country and helps us learn more about ourselves.
Recommended viewing: Exploring Duck Decoys, Exploring Ice Fishing, Exploring Parkour. Visit Keri and watch her videos at www.theCanadianExplorer.com
What do you think of Keri’s show and her approach to Canadian patriotism? Leave a comment below. Do you know of someone who’s doing something cool, fun, unique, and flashy? Let me know about them! Leave their link in the comments!!
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http://www.TheCanadianExplorer.com/ Keri
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http://www.seanward.net SeanWard
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http://revolutuck.wordpress.com/ tuckermike
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http://www.seanward.net SeanWard
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http://casiestewart.com casiestewart
