IndependentFilm.com

FOLSOM, Calif., February 7, 2006 — Targeting the millions of people who blog around the world today, Serious Magic, Inc. announces the immediate availability of Vlog It to help users quickly and easily add video to their blog, or create a "vlog," in minutes.

"Text blogs have given people a great way to share their personal thoughts, opinions and news with others online," said Mark Randall, president and Chief Magician of Serious Magic, a leading developer of next-generation video software and communications tools for business, consumer, educational and professional markets. "Vlog It adds a new dimension by letting bloggers share sights and sounds- instead of just text - with audiences."

How it Works

With Vlog It, users combine media video clips, digital photos and music with narration to achieve a video. To create a vlog, users:

Drag & drop photos, video clips and music into Vlog It!
Add cool TV-style transitions and sound effects. Bloggers can even go for the complete newscaster look, using Vlog It's live webcam recording and teleprompter to add narration.
Click Publish and then drag and drop the video thumbnail into their blog. When visitors to the blog click on the thumbnail, their video will automatically play.
Takes the Complexity Out of Video Creation

Vlog It introduces a new, simple process for video creation that is unlike any video editing software. With Vlog It, events are tied to words and ideas instead of seconds and frames. Vlog It drastically cuts the time required to capture, edit, render, compress and upload video, making it a radically easier and faster way to share video on the Web.

Powerful Newscast-style Features

Vlog It introduces consumers to the vlog-creation process with a three-step Wizard so novices can access a variety of newscast-style themes. Each theme includes coordinated graphics, titles, lower-third graphics, backgrounds and music so videos look as if they were created inside a television newsroom. Experienced users can go directly into the advanced interface for greater control and more sophisticated options.

For those that wish to appear on camera, Vlog It takes live input from standard webcams and camcorders. To put themselves on camera, users simply place their camera on their computer monitor and plug it into their PC. When reading their text blog from Vlog It's on-screen teleprompter, it appears the user is looking directly at the camera while they are reading.

Vlog It also offers the ability to replace a background with an image or video. This is perfect for the blogger wishing to appear "on location", such as in front of the White House discussing political views or in an actual newsroom commenting on the day's events. To utilize this feature, users place any green or blue fabric behind them or purchase an inexpensive green screen backdrop from Serious Magic's Web store.

"Because Vlog It lets people make their own online videos quickly and easily, we expect bloggers to create personalized mini documentaries, video diaries, news shows, reality-TV shows - and even entirely new show formats that they'll conceive to express themselves and share their world with others," explained Randall.

Availability

Vlog It is now available via electronic download or CD at www.seriousmagic.com and through resellers nationwide for $49.95.

About Serious Magic

Serious Magic, Inc. was founded in early 2001 by a team of industry veterans to create the next generation of visual communication tools. Award-winning products include Visual Communicator 2, empowering non-technical users to create stunning videos and presentations that captivate audiences, deliver key points, and compel action and Ovation, companion software for Microsoft® PowerPoint® that instantly turns PowerPoint slides into highly-polished, professional presentations. The name Serious Magic was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's observation: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." For more information, please visit www.seriousmagic.com.