Ze Frank
Executive Vice President of Video at Buzzfeed.com; Internet Celebrity, Entrepreneur and Viral Media Consultant
Ze Frank (pronounced "Zay") is one of the most influential
online entertainers, turning out one online hit after another for years. He brings audiences an experience they will never forget, a truly entertaining and yet insightful look at how technology and creativity intersect, especially in web design, marketing and new forms of media.
Ze has unique experience doing new media design and marketing for important customers, helping them understand how to create contagious and viral media, how to leverage social media, and how to think about creative development in general.
He has frequently appeared at such annual technology events as Pop!Tech and the TED Conference and his online projects have attracted international attention. He created a series of video commentaries for Time.com entitled That Makes Me Think of …
What a genius the man is. #TED
— @TEDChris (TED curator, 2010)
Ze’s latest work:
A Show
‘A Show’ by Ze Frank is the recently revived and crowdfunded venture by Ze. Originally airing in 2006, the show aired 5 times a week. This past April, in order to bring it back, Ze raised over $150,000 on Kickstarter from old and new fans alike — the initial fundraising goal was $50,000. As stated in The Economist, "Mr Frank's show was unique in 2006, and remains remarkable in 2012".
Star.me
Ze is creator and CEO of the new social gaming site Star.me. The premise is simple, even as adults we seek gratitude and validation. Star.me brings us back to the day of goldstars and the simple joy these illicit. Users are encouraged to participate in ‘Missions of the Day’, sometimes guest curated by other social media celebrities.
Young Me, Now Me
Ze’s original social experiment started in 2010 asked participants to reenact childhood photos as adults. The phenomenon resulted in the recently published book, Young Me, Now Me . Photos were not limited to the hilarious but as noted in the Huffington Post, ‘others are poignant reminders of how much people change - and how much they stay the same’
MC or Conference Wrap Up
Ask Ze to host or conclude your event. For conferences with multiple speakers, Ze can observe every presentation and comedically regurgitate each to wrap up your event with a bang. Here are just a few of the reactions to this year’s TED finale:
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Let me explain my 'off the charts' rating for Ze, who is, admittedly, a friend of mine. It gets that rating because he watched every performance, took notes, talked to other people, and over the course of 3 days — probably most of it done in 24 hrs at the end — compiled fantastic visuals and spot-on parody of most of the presenters in a hilarious but not tacky or mean way, with seamless rapid-fire execution ... it was a tour-de-force! WHO else can do that? Unbelievable!
Ze Frank — brave and inspired choice to wrap things up.
And Ze Frank? Wow. Where did he find the time to put that together. He's scary smart/funny.Terrific session - a great way to end the conference!
Ze was smart and funny — hit all the right critiques.
Ze Frank was a hit. He should be performing every year doing the same synopsis of the TED talks. His clever humor really does a good job at a quick refresh of everything we saw. It can get so mind boggling with all the information that is shared. His humor is a great tool to solidify the past talks into memory.Ze Frank was the perfect ending.
Ze Frank was phenomenal — a great way to end our shared experience.
Ze is very funny and energetic as a presenter. He’s full of valuable ideas and is a creative inspiration. Very few speakers so effectively combine style with content, humor with ideas and insight. He is a very effective moderator and host, with special interest in social media, digital marketing, viral media, and online community.
Credentials
- Executive Vice President of Video at Buzzfeed.com
- Advisory board of Bazaarvoice.com and Buzzfeed.com
- Consults numerous of clients on a wide range of issues, from the future of television to online marketing to social media.
- Adjunct at New York University, Parsons The New School for Design, SUNY-Purchase, and has guest lectured at Pratt Institute and the Royal College of Art in London.
Quotes About Ze
"Ze Frank is a rare gem, a brilliant comedian with an artistic undertaste" ~ Jack Black, LA Times
Listed as a "Comic Digital Savant" in The I.D. Magazine 40 to Watch
An "Internet Impresario" ~ The Courier-Mail
"Internet Legend" ~ The Guardian 2008
"An internet fixture since 2001" ~ The Globe and Mail
Forbes Top 25 Web Celebrities
Time Magazine’s Top 10 Video Blogs 2006
Ze Frank’s The Show was the "It's the best sustained comedy run in the history of the Web." ~ Slate (2007)
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