Online video as art

So I'm here at SXSW Interactive, and one of the first things I saw (in a session called "Quit Your Day Job and Vlog") was this video, by video artist Bre Pettis, in which kids imagine what the future will bring - all you can see is their mouths:

http://room132.com/2006/03/12/in-the-future/

I found it so beautiful and moving. Along with the other video showcased in the session, it completely changed my feelings about creating video for the Web - made me see it as art for the first time, and got my inspiration cylinders firing. Now I'm toying with ideas, but the most daunting challenge is getting a handle on the mechanics - I've never shot video before. In the past, I've held back, figuring video just "isn't something I do" - but I suppose I'll never learn without diving in. (There's a movie screening here called Beautiful Losers, which looks great - the tag line is "Make something from nothing.")

Any DC-based vloggers (video bloggers) or online video artists you'd recommend? Any tips for someone diving into producing video for the first time?

UPDATE 3.18.08
Check out DC Media Makers, a local group dedicated to making (and teaching people how to make) online video