(Updated to add comments from Poptent's CEO)

With a community of over 50,000 filmmakers around the world, Poptent already likes to refer to itself as the globe's largest video production house, crowdsourcing not just production, but also ideation and other products. Brands including General Mills, GE, Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Nestle, American Express, LG, Netflix, Frito-Lay and Geico are among those to utilize Poptent's services, and that roster is likely to expand with the help of $5.5 million in new investment. 

This latest round of funding was led by MK Capital and follows up a previous $3 million round raised in 2010. The new investment will go towards expanding Poptent's client base and bringing more videographers on board, according to TechCrunch.

I reached out to Poptent for comment, and CEO Andy Jednak responded that the funding "will support Poptent's continued product development efforts, as well as the underlying technology and services for our global network of more than 50,000 videographers in 140 countries. It will also strengthen Poptent's international expansion, which really started to accelerate last year with the opening of a wholly owned Poptent subsidiary in Sao Paulo, Brazil."

"A lot of our big-brand and agency clients have global needs," continues Jednak. "So we're expanding our business and product offerings to meet these needs. In addition to the longstanding Poptent open assignments, we now have Invitation Assignments, as well as Production Assignments, supported by our recently launched full-service production house and highly experienced executive producers."

Poptent's content has already gained plenty of traction, including a Dell ad seen by millions, a crowdsourced Super Bowl commercial and successful international efforts as well -- the platform has already invested heavily in Brazil and other countries, as Jednak points out.

Watch this presentation from last year in Seattle by President Neil Perry for more about Poptent and crowdsourced video:

 - Eric Mack is a contributing editor for Crowdsourcing.org. He also currently contributes to CNET. In the past, his work has been featured by NPR, Wired, the New York Times and other outlets. You can contact him at eric.mack@crowdsourcing.org. Find him on Twitter and Google+. Also be sure to follow Crowdsourcing.org on Twitter.