Internet Cat Video Film Festival Round Up

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Last night was the highly anticipated Internet Cat Video Film Festival at the internationally renowned Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. I sent Glogirly and Flat Katie to cover the event on my behalf, and was I EVER glad I did! Just LOOK at this crowd!  The Walker is reporting that over 10,000 people were in attendance!!!

Whoa, this kitty likes her fame, but I don't even like the cat sitter. So you can imagine how I'd respond a crowd this size!  Despite my recent PRESS COVERAGE, not a single person recognized Flat Katie. Ok, it was getting dark so I'll cut them some slack.

Glogirly and I were texting back and forth. She provided updates regarding people wearing cat ears. On the lookout for some REAL cats, she ran into my summer fling, Spaghetti Bob Registered Therapy Kitten.  Unfortunately, Bob was disappointed in Flat Katie. He prefers a more rubenesque girlcat. Someday we must meet in the fur.

As you know, I submitted a number of videos from my private collection for consideration in the event. When Glogirly got her paws on the program she perused the long list of videos looking for a familiar name. Sadly it was not to be.

So while Glogirly tried hard to enjoy the rest of the show, I plotted at home. What kind of revenge would befit an oversight of this magnitude?  Who must this revenge be directed at?

Sure, there were bigger names than mine. But come on, just how many videos of Maru can you possibly watch in a lifetime? Cute cat squeezes into diet soda box. Box gets stuck on cute cat. Cute cat slides around on floor in said box. Woo.

Just when I was about to rip the Keyboard Cat a new one, the garage door opened and Glogirly came racing up the stairs. She beelined it to her computer and was tap-tap-tapping away. Seems the Walker people put together a collection of Honorable Mention videos. All paws were crossed as we waited for the page to load.

AND THERE I WAS!!!!!!!!!!!  OMC! The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere (season 2 episode 2) MADE THE LIST! I'm honorable! I'm honorable!

Ok, what's honorable? What? No prize? No guest appearances on Animal Planet? The phone hasn't even rung yet.

I guess I'll just have to lay my head back on my pillow and plot some more.


Glogirly here -
Not that Katie would tell you, but the Cat Video Film Festival was a smashing success!  HUGE crowd of people chanting, "CAT - CAT - CAT."  By the end I'm certain everyone's faces were hurting from laughing so much. It was extremely well done with the video clips all organized into fun CAT-egories.

And despite her "remarks," we're huge fans of Maru and Keyboard Cat. : )

The famous Henri won the People's Choice and the first "Golden Kitty Award" for Henri 2 Paw de Deux. If you haven't seen Henri before, you MUST!  

But the best part?  YOU can watch the whole program!  Just click these links:
Internet Cat Video Film Festival MAIN PROGRAM
Internet Cat Video Film Festival HONORABLE MENTIONS

UPDATE UPDATE! My Photo IS In The City Pages!

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Last night when I wrote and posted my Above-The-Fold-Famous | International Cat Video Film Festival article, I had not yet seen the ACTUAL City Pages paper. So this morning (after Glogirly FINALLY got up) I pushed her out the door and said, "Get to the coffee shop!  HURRY!!!!! Get your paws on some City Pages!"  I don't often talk, so she knew I meant business.

This kitty is seldom (ok, never) wrong. But last night, when I wrote that there were no photos of me in the article, I hadn't seen the print version. Puzzling yes, since KATIE is the first word of the article, right under Ms. Erika Wolf's byline. Well guess what?!

Here I am in FULL COLOR!  Right smack dab on the front page of the article. Me and my salmon pasties and everything!

If you're just tuning in, check out my earlier Above-The-Fold-Famous blog post.
You can check out the whole City Pages article here. (but alas, you won't see my picture unless you have your paws on the real thing.)

Ok, I gotta go find my salmon pasties. Might have to let Flat Katie wear them to the film festival.

Above-The-Fold-Famous | International Cat Video Film Festival

Hi everyone Katie here.

I'm just too excited to let this Wednesday be wordless.  Tomorrow night hundreds, maybe THOUSANDS, of people will gather on the lawn outside the internationally renowned Walker Art Center in Minneapolis for the first ever Internet Cat Video Film Festival.  Glogirly and Flat Katie will be in attendance and all paws are crossed that a clip of one of my videos makes it to the BIG screen!

But according to the local news, I'm already famous!!!  Today the Minneapolis City Pages (that's the cool newspaper of the Twin Cities for you foreigners) published a front page article about the festival... and guess what the FIRST word of the article is?  KATIE!  That's right kitties, I'm not only above the fold, I'm right under the byline.

A very nice reporter named Erika Wolf (no relation to dogs) talked with Glogirly a few weeks ago about the festival. Here's what she wrote about me:


Internet Cat Video Film Festival Purrs Into Minnesota 

By Erika Wolf

Katie Glovatsky lives the glamorous life of a breakout reality-show star. She and her fellow cast members Zoey, Hakeem, and Callie spend most nights traveling by limo, swilling martinis, dancing on tables, and dodging the paparazzi. She knows the bouncers at the hottest clubs, including the Glitter Box, and she always receives VIP bottle service, though she secretly would rather drink milk than Moet.

Her days are spent getting her beauty rest, soaking in the sun, and grooming her jet-black hair — truly her crowning glory. Every so often, she'll go for a run or chase a ball around, but mostly she tries to save her energy for the nightlife.

What most of her fans don't know, however, is that Katie Glovatsky is painfully shy. In fact, when people come over, she scurries under the sofa.

"Katie is not a very social cat," says Debbie Glovatsky, a Minneapolis-based blogger who created a series of stop-motion YouTube videos called "The Real Housecats of the Blogosphere."

In 2009, Glovatsky was curious about social media, though she had very little experience with it. She wanted to start a blog, but wasn't quite sure how to begin until her husband said, "Why don't you have Katie introduce you?"

Glovatsky began writing in what she imagined was Katie's voice — sarcastic and sassy. She quickly discovered that the internet was teeming with people similarly inspired by their own cats. Soon, Glovatsky began creating videos using photos of Katie accompanied by an entourage of her online friends' cats. Before long, Glovatsky was attending cat-blogger conventions.

Glovatsky is self-aware enough to realize that this all might make her sound a little odd.

"I had no idea when I started to write in the voice of my cat that there were others."

Ok, so Ms. Wolf didn't publish any photos of us...
UPDATE: WRONG!!!  Just got my paws on a hard copy of the City Pages and I'm on the front page in FULL COLOR! You can check out my official update WITH PHOTOS here. 

Check out the rest of the article here: Internet Cat Video Film Festival Purrs Into Minneapolis

And if you need your Katie-video-fix, visit the GLOGIRLY YouTube Channel to watch one of your favorites.

Glogirly, Flat Katie and I look forward to giving you a full report on the festival.

Don't worry. Waffles & Cathy Keisha will be providing additional security for me at the film festival. 

You can never be too safe.


Please come back tomorrow (Thursday) for a VERY special post dedicated to 
- Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary -
the shelter we are supporting in the Campaign For A Cause Contest.

International Cat Video Film Festival At Walker Art Center

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Ok, this is BIG. Have you heard??? A first-of-its-kind event is coming right here to Minneapolis!  I'm talking about the International Cat Video Film Festival!!!  The Walker Art Center is inviting people (and cats) to participate in an experiment that tests the social boundaries of the online community with a live, off-line event celebrating one of the internet's most popular phenomena. CAT VIDEOS!!!

The event is receiving WORLDWIDE attention in the media.  FINALLY, the recognition us cats deserve!

This is amazing on SO many levels:  

1. It's an International CAT Video Film Festival = I'M A CAT!!!
2. It's an International CAT VIDEO Film Festival = I MAKE CAT VIDEOS!!!
3. They are looking for submissions = I HAVE CAT VIDEOS!!!
4. They are looking for submissions with a local connection = I'M A LOCAL CONNECTION!!!!!

Submit Your Favorite Cat Videos:
So Glogirly and I have already submitted a few of our videos.  But we thought YOU might like to submit some too!!!  It's super easy.  Just go to the International Cat Video Film Festival Nomination Form and submit the URL's to your favorite cat videos.  You can select up to three on one form and you can submit as many forms as you want.


So "Where do I find the URL's to my favorite cat videos?" you ask:  
Why just go to our GLOGIRLY YouTube Channel, find your faves and click SHARE. The URL for that video will appear. (It's the code that starts with http:// etc...) Just copy and paste. Easey Peasey!

The GLOGIRLY YouTube Channel

If you live in the area, you HAVE to come!  It's on August 30 from 9:00-10:00 pm at Walker Art Center's Open Field. It's free and you can even bring your cat! You can bet Glogirly and Flat Katie will be there!

This is our BIG chance, kitties!!!  Paws crossed...Me and The Real Housecats might just make it to the BIG screen! Ok, I know we'll never be as big as Maru, but a kitty can dream!

Broken record time... Did you know I'm a finalist for Best Blog Post in the 2012 Petties!?

Click here to vote for GLOGIRLY and your other favorite blogs.

You can vote once a day and every time counts. Thanks SO much for your support and your vote. XO

Wordless Wednesday Interruption

Hi everyone, Katie here.

THIS JUST IN: We interrupt this previously scheduled Wordless Wednesday to bring you a special video broadcast. It's ML's (of the Cat Blogosphere ML's) birthday today and The Real Housecats have something to "say."

And a 1,

And a 2,

And a...

Hit it, Housecats!

Click HERE to watch on YouTube or just click below.

"Come what may, she's there each day."

Thank you ML, for keeping the Cat Blogosphere spinning!

SPECIAL THANKS

Ann of Zoolatry

and

The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere

past-present-future

Arty Mouse

Attie Cattie

Austin

Bugs 

Callie

Cathy Keisha

Clooney

Cody

Ernie

Figgy

Ginger

Hakeem

Hammy

Jonesie

Katie

Kite

Kjelle Bus

Mario

Nellie

Noah

Rumbles

Scylla

Spitty

Twix

Wally

Zee

Zoey

Real Straw Hats

Season 2 Cast clockwise: Katie, Callie, Hakeem, Zee, Zoey, Spitty, Twix, Clooney

Chauffer: Cathy Keisha

Billboard Mouse: Calvin

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Even the Real Housecats are showing off their straw hats today! Fedora's to Floppy's...Stetson's to Beachcombers...Cowboys to Cabanas. Spitty's even got a straw CROWN! 

The Housecats are ALWAYS in style.

If you missed yesterday's big premiere, it's not too late.  We're repeating the video LINK for virgin viewers.
...or maybe you just want to sing meow along again.

Thanx to Zoolatry for 

organizing Straw Hat Day!

Oh My Dog?

Hi everyone, Katie here.

What???

Settle down, you're in the right place.  www.GLOGIRLY.com, that's right.

This is kitty-crazy-wild.  There is SO much fan frenzy surrounding the Real Housecats on set, we've had to step outside the litter box, litterally.  Not just any security detail will do.

No offense intended, Cathy Keisha and Kjelle Bus...but the Housecats just can't take any chances.  One rogue fan, packing heat a pair of silvervine mice and it's all over.  NO cat can resist the power of the illicit 'vine.'

So I'm bringing out the big guns.  

Meet our Official Bodyguard, Snoops Dog.  

I know, I know.  He's a DOG.  But just think about it.  He comes when I call.  He does what I say.  He can't doesn't over-think things.  He's cheap, all I have to do is throw him a bone.  He's ginormous.  Oh, and he actually thinks that cats LIKE him.

See?  Pretty purrfect.

Real Housecats Coming Soon

Hi everyone, Katie here.

I bet you've been wondering what the newest Real Housecats have been up to.  The cast took a short hiatus to attend to their personal obligations and blogging commitments. It's not easy being a Real Housecat...juggling Wordless Wednesdays, Saturday Photohunts and Mancat Mondays with scripts, stardom and spa days.

But these Housecats want it all.  Work, family, nip, naps, fame, fortune.  They are true 21st century pioneers. Modern Housecats for a modern time.

So they're back on set, working hard to wrap up the first episode of season 2.  I'm pleased to report cat fights have been held to a minimum.  As expected, lots of romance and, dare I say, bromance is in the air.

Top L-R: Clooney, Katie, Twix, Zoey 

Bottom L-R: Callie, Hakeem, Spitty, Zee

Just click their names to visit

It won't be long. The Houscats are almost ready.

 You'll know when it's time.

To GET REAL.

XOXO to Real Housecats Chauffer, CK.

Cathy Keisha, keeping traffic REAL.

GO Kjelle Bus!

Kjelle Bus and Katie take the official Real Housecats Scooter for a spin.  Always wear your helmet.

Hi everyone, Katie here.

The Real Housecats are taking a little time out from production to celebrate a very special birthday.  Kjelle Bus, a.k.a. Charlie Rascal, Season 1's Real Housecat from Sweden has just turned 2.  Often seen hiding behind his motorcycle shades, Kjelle Bus celebrated his big day at a cat show over the weekend.

Word on the street is that he had to endure a shampoo and blow-dry in anticipation of the event.  Now if THAT doesn't earn him some extra beef tenderloin, I don't know what would.

In honor of KB, the other Housecats had their way with some salmon cupcakes.

mmmmmmmmmmm....salmon cupcakes

Kjelle Bus is a Sacred Birman and lives in Halmstad, Sweden.  He's got a great BLOG and FACEBOOK page that his mom assists with. Even though it's not their native language, both Kjelle Bus and his mom do a great job of writing in English...in fact every Tuesday they blog entirely in English.  

Kjelle Bus has no trouble understanding my *unique* sense of humor.  Must be our telepathic cat language that knows no geographical boundaries.

Kjelle Bus claims to be shy.  But we all know it's a front.  He's just playing hard to get with the girlcats.  And those goggles?  Well I'm pretty sure it's a Bono thing.  Swoon away, ladies.  Swoon away.

You can wish KB a Big Happy BD HERE. ; )  

Make a wish, Kjelle Bus.

Real Housecats Season 2 Cast Trailer!

L-R: Katie, Callie, Zee, Hakeem, Clooney, Zoey, Spitty, Twix

Hi everyone, Katie here.

It's here!  It's here!  The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere Season 2 Cast Trailer!!!  And when I say Trailer, I MEAN Trailer.

We've even brought back a couple of the original Housecats to assist with the special announcement.
Ok, you know the drill...
Popcorn, check.
Nip, check.
Volume, check.
Ready, PLAY!


Click HERE to watch nice and big on YouTube or just click below.

BONUS!
Glogirly and I received SO many great cast entries that we're even ready to tease you with the Season 3 cast lineup.  The Season 3 Housecats are rehearsing behind the scenes while filming pushes forward with Season 2's first full episode.

So who ARE those cats behind the Foster Grants???

Pee S - So in case you're wondering how I've managed to score a cast seat every season....well, I've got an *in* with the director of production.  And I'm holding her upholstered furniture hostage.

Real Housecats Tee Time

Hi everyone, Katie here.

We're just days away from the season 2 cast announcement of The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere.  But those original cats aren't quite ready to give up the spotlight.  They landed a new modeling gig for BlogPaws and you don't want to miss this one!

Click HERE to watch this 30 second spot on my YouTube Channel, or just click below.

Yup that's right, my girl is going to BlogPaws!  The tee shirt judges (I heard some of them were real DOGS) picked MINE!  They probably didn't know I was a CAT.  So Glogirly gets a free pass to the conference and I get some *me* time with Gloman.

Get Ready

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Get ready to GET REAL!

Glogirly and I are deep in production on the season two cast announcement for The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere and we can't WAIT to show you what's in store.

I think you'll recognize two of season one's Housecats... I've enlisted the help of Cathy Keisha and Kjelle Bus to introduce the newest cast.

It won't be long now...stay tuned.

Sorry Monday

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Monday called.

Sorry, Monday... but I'm too busy to come to your day.

Maybe next week.

What Monday doesn't realize is that Glogirly and I are poring over all the Real Housecat audition photos. We're planning the big announcement of the season 2 AND season 3 casts! I know, I know... you're on pins and needles. Well try, just try, not to think about it.  Act indifferent.  Take a nap.

Be a cat.

And a very sad Pee S...

Our friend and Minnesota neighbor Scooby, from Little Cat Feet, left very unexpectedly for the Rainbow Bridge over the weekend.  Our hearts go out to his family.  You can visit them HERE.

Bye, Scooby.  Run free.

xoxo

Photo Tricks

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Thank you SO much for all the fun comments on the latest episode of The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere!  We had a blast working with all of the kitties and their photos.  Glogirly has been secretly wanting another ::gasp:: cat, so this project, and my intense glare, is keeping that desire at bay.

We've already received some great submissions for the next cast line up!  As a result, many of your humans have asked for advise on photographing us kitties.  Of course it's nearly impossible to capture such beauty on a tiny little memory chip.  And I could go on and on, advising you on tactical avoidance techniques.  But let's throw them a bone, shall we?

The secret to successful flashy box performance is really quite simple.

1. Light
2. Light
3. Light

Did we say light?
Light is your friend.
It will make or break the photo.

OUTDOORS

When outside, avoid direct overhead sunlight.  Stick to shade or overcast days.  The prettiest and softest light is early in the morning, we call it First Light, and late in the afternoon.  The sun is lower on the horizon and a really gorgeous color.  What does this mean? We won't have harsh shadows under our eyes and chins.  The beautiful color of the light will enhance our eyes, furs and our surroundings.

INDOORS
When inside, try to avoid using flash.  Choose rooms with windows that let natural light in. Kitties, you don't want that light behind you though.  Have your human positioned with their back to the light source and the light filtering in towards you.

In this photo of me, there is a big sliding glass door just to my right and I'm looking towards it.  Don't try this at night. Keep it bright.





FLASH
If your human does use a flash,  they should take the photo at a slight angle to avoid the flash bouncing directly off your eyes.  This will cut down on laser-eye.

STILL
Tell you human to be very, very still.  When using natural light and shooting without a flash, it's even more important to hold the camera still.  They should be especially careful when they press the shoot button.  If they gently roll their finger over the button instead of pressing it, there is less chance of shaking the camera.  Even a slight shake will result in an out of focus image.

GET DOWN
Ok, I'm not talking about grooving to the music here.  Your human should get down to your level, not look down on you.  Truer words were never spoken!  Hardwood floors?  Kneepads.  It will give you something to MOL at. Notice that every one of my photos here is taken at MY eye level.  Not my human's. See what a difference it makes?

SUMMARY

All of my photos today were taken inside with natural light either late in the morning or early in the afternoon in rooms with lots of windows.  

Patience and lots of memory cards are key.  These shots don't just magically happen.  For each perfect photo, there are probably 50+ that we cast aside. I know, you thought ALL of my photos were perfect. Well, shhhhh... don't tell.

We have much more in our bag of tricks, but we'll save that for another lesson.  Let's keep it simple today.

Let there be LIGHT!











Pee S  If you've been living under a rock for the past couple of days and haven't seen the latest episode of Real Housecats, hurry up and click HERE.

Real Housecats Episode 2

Front Left - Right:  Katie, Wally Spitty, Artemisia, Cody, Penelope

Back Left - Right:  Cathy Keisha, Mario, Kite, Figaro, Kjelle Bus, Austin

Hi everyone, Katie here.

I suspect you've been pacing back and forth, refreshing your computer again and again, twiddling your paws. The wait is over!  Dim the lights, turn UP the volume and hit PLAY.  Then REPLAY.  Then REPLAY again. You've got it.

But first, we want to welcome two new players to this episode's cast - Cat Chat's Cody and Spitty from Spitty Speaks!  Former crew members Cody (Pub-lick Relations) and Spitty (Royalties Negotiation) are making a splash ::literally:: in the latest episode.

Are You Ready?  
Watch Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere - Episode 2 on our YouTube channel or just click below.

Two Important Announcements

1. CALLING ALL CATS!

We're taking submissions for the next cast of Real Housecats.  Deadline is April 1, no fooling.
Click HERE for how to apply.
Get those peeps of yours in gear.

2. SHOPPING!

Did you know that we just opened The Official Real Housecats Store? Whether you're a cast member or not, you've got to check out all the cool designs!  Please, no pressure intended...we don't expect that everyone will want or be able to part with their green papers and that's okey-dokey.  We just wanted to have some fun.  It's Gloman's birthday this week, so I've got shopping to do!

Just click on SHOP at the top of the page or click HERE to teleport over to our snappy new Zazzle store.

Special Thanks

A big ME-OW to this episode's Housecats!

Click on their names to visit them.

Artemisia

Austin

Cathy Keisha

Cody

Figaro

Katie

Kite

Kjelle Bus

Mario

Penelope

Spitty

Wally

We Want YOU

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Auditions are officially open again!  We're calling all cats for the second Real Housecats cast.

Friend and cats, old and new, have been coming out of the woodwork meowing about how much they love the show. And what better way to keep it going, than to bring in more cats!  In fact, it's our longterm plan to have a rotating cast of amazing cat-talent.

That doesn't mean that some of the original cast members won't make a cameo here or there.  It's going to be hard to keep them away from the set.  ...you know, with all that salmon and nip.

We've refined the entry instructions in the Real Housecats Tab and placed a link in the sidebar.

Tell your friends.
Tell your family.
Tell anycat you think has that special something.
...ok, we all know that means EVERYCAT!

The deadline for the next cast submissions is April 1, no joke.  So don't be a fool and miss it!

The next episode will begin airing THIS SUNDAY EVENING!  The Housewives may be Desperate on Sunday night.  Especially with their show coming to an end soon.  But the Housecats are REAL and READY!

Better make sure you're ready too.

Sneak Peek

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Production is running late into the evenings for the next episode of The Real Housecats Of The Blogosphere.  

We promised you FUN.  

We promised you DRAMA.  

We promised you SECRETS!  

And I promise you this - We will NOT disappoint!

Just look at these exclusive never-before-seen stills from our most recent shoot.  

L-R:  Gossip Girls Katie, Cathy Keisha & Nellie dish.  

Meanwhile "someone" has had a bit too much nip.

Figgy is lost in love with Kite.  Really lost. 

He's got enough fur for both of them.

Stay tuned.  The next episode is less than a week away!