Barefoot and wearing black jeans and his hitRECord T-shirt, he sits. He has the fame, the looks, the talent, but he has much more. It’s what he does with all these components that is slowly changing the world of creativity. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, also known on hitRECord.com as RegularJOE, is this man.
Levitt started hitRECord Production Company in 2005. This site became more than just an Internet site which people use to post pictures and record their every moment, but a place where people can create and collaborate. Instead of an artist placing a copyright on their work, where one can see but not touch, hitRECord is different. It is a site where people can post artwork, writing, photos and videos that can be remixed into new works of art that others can use in various ways. Levitt explains in an article with writer Joel Stein from Time Magazine, more about how hitRECord works. “If I see an artist who is consistently doing good work, I want to see what they do.”
The site is continuously growing, providing artists, writers, photographers, and anyone in general, with a chance to get creative and share their work. On hitRECord uploads are instantaneous. News, upcoming events, and contributions can all be posted on the site for others to view without having to wait. “Having somebody take creative liberty with what I’ve done is fascinating,” Levitt said.
One thing I noticed about hitRECord is how easy it is to join and be a part of a project. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other popular Internet sites, hitRECord is a site with a lot of potential and users who are seeking to exercise their talents. With more teens using the site, it would actually improve self-esteem, because one has the opportunity to be imaginative, allow their artistic side to show, and be productive. I’ve been to two hitRECord events and each time I noticed that the audience had more older people. I was slightly disappointed to see this because these events are amazing.
They’re mixed with Levitt singing songs, reading short stories, and playing videos. Other artists perform at these events and members of the audience have a chance to participate in some activities. He calls people up to the stage to read some of the short stories, encouraging them to add a dramatic flare. At the beginnings of the shows, before he comes out, he poses questions for people to tweet their answers to. Also, he encourages audience members to be a part of hitRECord. He gets to know audience members by recording interviews with each other and then uploading them to the site. Just being at these events gives one a boost of self-esteem and the desire to express their artsier side. With more teenagers in the audience, absorbing the energy could influence them to create. And it’s a healthier way to spend one’s time, as opposed to sitting on the couch playing video games.
HitRECord, which started small, is becoming larger. One man’s idea, with help from his brother, has now turned into a collaborative effort. Using his own ideas and remixing them with the contributions of others, backed by a strong support system, Levitt has created a beautiful project. There are no limitations on who can contribute and who cannot. HitRECord, inspiring people to exercise the right side of their brain, one could call it amazing but it’s much more than that. “Amazing is sort of an overused word these days,” Levitt said.
