If there was one moment when the internet community defined the media - when it journalism - it was the day Dan Rather was put to shame by bloggers. And the world took notice. There was another moment in more recent history, in which the internet made a large impact. It was only a couple of years back, and it was with the film: Snakes on a Plane. Long before trailers were released, the internet community - with thanks, again to Bloggers - heard about a film to star Samuel L. Jackson, with the project title of Snakes on a Plane. The actual title was not yet decided upon.

The internet community, which from herein call The Internet, having long been a champion of the ridiculous, the cliche and the over-the-top under-dog that takes itself too seriously, immediately embraced the movie, and it rapidly became a meme. So "excited," was The Internet, that many photoshopped images with Jackson appeared, with his snakes, and a speech bubble with Jackson's trademark line.

Four interesting things occured: First, when the film makers settled on the name to replace Snakes on a Plane, there was such an uproar, that the film makers gave in. Second, there was great cheering within The Internet when they found that the crew had returned to filming so as to include the beloved trademark Jackson line - a line, which had not originally been included in the script. Third, further embracing the role The Internet had played in the movie, the people behind Snakes on a Plane held a contest for musicians to submit a song that would be played during the closing credit. A subtle "thanks" from the production company to the Internet, specifically thanking them for what would become the fourth interesting point: A movie that would have otherwise tanked at the box office for being based on such a ludicrous plot line ended up doing quite well, and only due to the buzz circulating the movie for months prior to its release. And that was when the rest of the world took notice.

Almost immediately after, the Transformers movie held a contest: Submit a line for Optimus Prime. The winning line would be included in the film, while the runner-ups would be recorded and offered as ring tones. The idea simply being: If you can engage the internet community, you can increase profits at the box office. I submitted a line, and sadly it didn't win. And while my line was a poor pun, playing of Prime and mathematical primes, I personally have to say that I feel it was far better than what was included in the movie ("Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.")

But it hasn't only been films that have been seeking the help of the Internet. The music industry has been doing so too - the most recent example that I came across being for the song "Let's Dance to Joy Division" by the Wombats - a pretty commercial number, if you ask me, that was looking to ride off the popularity of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. In this contest, users were asked to play a sort of "Mad Libs" game. The nouns, verbs, and adjectives were then applied to the chorus of the song (only in writing...), and the winner of the contest would receive their submission recorded and sent to them, along with a few other things.

Nothing strikes me as more commercial than that. It is like being commisioned to sing a song with lyrics written by another person - only, you haven't been commissioned. You're holding a contest only to get noticed.

The frequency of trying to involve the Internet in movies and music is getting to the point of absurdity. More recently, Sony has auctioning off a role for Spiderman 4. At least the the money is going to charity - but I mean, considering how awful the 3rd Spiderman was, couldn't they instead go for some talent? Have aspiring actors with no money send in audition tapes - instead of having some rich guy who can't deliver a line pay through the nose to get the part. I can just imagine some guy falling from a building and yelling, in a nasaly Comic-book guy voice: "Save me Spiderman!" But then, yes.. it's all for charity. And not there's not much of charity you can get from hungry aspiring actors.

But really... isn't all of this just simply selling out? Giving the fans what they want. Not relying on your own artistic ability? Not relying on a good script, a good song. I am desperatly seeking a way to end this article in some sort of plea that makes sense. But I'm left with nothing except a poll, that I hope will reassure me with its results:

What are your thoughts on the Internet's involvement in movies and music?
	It's lame. Any director/musician that does this is an immediate sellout.
	If it helps make the sale, why not? I won't be paying attention to it anyway.
	I like the idea of being able to play a role in something that was formerly so inaccessible to many.
	Snakes on a Plane was great! 'Nuff said.