Starting next week, Alex Kalman (he of Red Bucket films) and Alex Rickard will be contributing weekly videos to PAPERMAG from their new user-generated video mapping website, MyBlockNYC. We think this website is going to be a big hit, and love that users can upload video clips they've taken on New York City streets or search for street films through a detailed classification system that divides content into categories including subject (would you like to see a video featuring crime? or pizza? or music?), the age and gender of the filmmaker, the time of day and the season it was filmed in. Neat!

Though the website isn't officially launching until July 12th, MyBlockNYC has already launched a camera-lending program to local schools in New York, encouraging students to capture their lives and neighborhoods via Flip cameras. You can see some of what kids at Metropolitan High School in the Bronx have already produced on MyBlock's homepage.

We asked Alex and Alex to tell us a little bit more about the project, and this is what they had to say:

We're happy to announce that starting next week, Papermag readers will be treated to videos of the bizarre, absurd, sad, wild, and humorous videos of life from the streets of New York City. MyBlockNYC unleashes the creative potential of NYC residents and visitors as street filmmakers. We encourage anyone with a video camera (these days, that's everyone with a smart phone) to film real-life street moments, and share them on the site.

 

Currently in beta, MyBlockNYC already features work from some of our city's greatest characters and creative minds, including Isaac Mizrahi, Jamel Shabazz, Jimmy Justice, Joel Meyerowitz, Charlie Ahearn, Josh and Benny Safdie, and Opie from Opie and Anthony. In other words, users will be in good company.

 

This is also the chance for you to upload your own videos and have them featured in the MyBlockNYC installation at MoMA opening July 24th. Visitors to the exhibit Talk To Me: Design and Communication People and Objects will interact with and explore New York City on a 40-inch, touch-screen display of the MyBlock video map. Approximately 8,650 people visit MoMA each day, so for the 3.5 months that Talk To Me will be up, your videos will be available to approximately one million people from countries all over the world!

We're looking forward to seeing your work, and featuring the most exciting videos each week here at Papermag. Check back each Monday to see a new inspiring moment from the life of this city from MyBlockNYC.