One of Google's lesser-known products, Google Moderator, was integrated into YouTube today. The platform -- which allows for crowdsourcing, polling, and other feedback -- originally launched as a standalone product in 2008. Now that it's part of YouTube, however, it seems like a good tool for filmmakers. Here's Google with the lowdown:

You set the parameters for the dialogue, including the topic, the type of submissions, and the length of the conversation. Watch as submissions get voted up or down by your audience, and then respond to the top-voted submissions by posting a video on your channel. The platform operates in real-time, and you can remove any content that you or your audience flag as inappropriate. You can also embed the platform on your own website or blog.


You can see an example of Moderator in action at CitizenTube's page. Additionally, Kina Grannis is using Moderator to crowdsource the lyrics to her next song:

The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof (author of Half the Sky) is using Moderator to "turn the tables" and allow viewers to interview him:

However, of the dozens of examples on YouTube's official announcement page, none are from filmmakers. Collaborative filmmaking sites like Wreck a Movie and A Swarm of Angels already exist, but I'm thinking that YouTube's new Moderator module could be a good way to solicit and receive feedback on, say, a spec trailer. Coming Soon!

[via Mashable]