What even is "community"?
We all use the word, but what does it really mean? And why does it matter more now than ever?
As I settle into my role at FrameRate, I wanted to take a moment to talk about what we're actually trying to do here.
At its root, FrameRate is a video hosting platform. You can upload your work, embed it on your portfolio, share it with clients. But that's boring. Lots of platforms do that.
What makes FrameRate different is the 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. I know, I know: everyone uses that word.
But there's not much agreement on what it actually means, so let me say what it means to us.
Community is not an audience.
An audience is a group of people being shouted at. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's what I'm doing right now with this post. 😅 It’s what I did at Motionographer, too. It’s fun, and it can be valuable.
But the magic of community is the interactions people have with each other, not something dictated from the top down.
I've spent 25 years in this industry, and I can tell you from experience: community is where opportunities come from. It's where you find the people you want to work with, the people who inspire you, the people you want to learn from.
But it's also where you get a sense of belonging. A sense of “these are my people.”
That matters more now than ever. The technologies we use every day are incredible, but one of their side effects is that we tend to live in bubbles, separated from each other.
And as AI continues to reshape how we make work, it's crucial that we pull together, share what we're learning, and see how each other is adapting.
Community is the answer to a lot of this.
But here's the thing: we can't create community for you. All we can do at FrameRate is try to create the conditions for you to find each other. The rest is up to you.
So here's what I'm asking.
A community is only as strong as the people in it, and right now the best thing you can do is help this thing grow.
If you see the potential in FrameRate to be a valuable community, tell people about it. Share it on your socials. Let your network know this place exists.
Beyond that, there are things you can do on FrameRate itself that will make a huge difference:
👉 Leave a comment on something that moves you. A few words go a long way.
👉 Send a message to someone whose work you admire. Say hello.
👉 Add credits to your projects. Let the world know who you worked with.
That's it. Just show up, connect with the people around you, and help spread the word. That's how community gets built.
Let's do this! 🚀