Filed under: stuff by other people, _check it out! | Tags: canon 5D, canon 7D, philip bloom
As far as DSLR photography goes, I’ve always been a huge supporter of Nikon. From the way the glass feels in my hands, to their mega- range of lens that are still in commission, Nikons keep me trigger happy,
but BOY! Canons have it made with their new onslaught of digital video features. Whether it’s the latest SNL intro sequence or a shoestring indie feature with a vision, the Canon 5D’s and 7D’s are popping up everywhere. The reason is simple: shoot amazing looking video that is comparable to film, at a fraction of the price. Slap some scenes together with Final Cut, add a catchy song and BAM, visual candy. Of course, it really isn’t that easy, but these new DSLRs will be revolutionizing television and film production.
The producers of the Star Wars prequels invited Philip Bloom to provide a demonstration and consultation on the Canons. Check out what he was able to achieve with a $3500 DSLR camera and a $350 camera glider (first of its kind). I never thought I would use Skywalker and sexy in the same sentence.
The plan is to save money and produce a short in the next two years. Right now I’m looking at short films for inspiration and research. I came across this one a couple of weeks ago and thought that you guys might enjoy it. Sure is better than a regular old motivational tape right?
I recently joined the efforts to realize a documentary about a Burmese Harvard basketball star. I see plenty of raw moments while giong through the footage. I can’t wait for this documentary to come out! For now, check out the trailer:
Filed under: stuff by other people
I want to share with you a filmmaker that I have the upmost respect for. I came across this short in 2004, when I interned for Media that Matters Film Festival. Its images has stayed with me since then. I’m so glad that I recently came across this short again on youtube.
As an Asian American, I have always related to Kai’s inner conflict between her sexuality and strict culture. I know how it feels to be the only one to think outside the box in my family.
Her message is powerful. The visuals are unforgettable. This goes to prove to you that a masterpiece doesn’t need to be achieved in a feature length Hollywood fiction movie. Beautiful art is created everyday by both amateurs and professionals, even novices with innate talent. Always remember to support local arts and talent. You’ll never know what you come across.
Filed under: stuff by other people | Tags: cinematic wedding, hello super 8, joe simon productions, still motion, super 8 wedding, unique wedding, wedding video
Telling your former film school classmates that you work in wedding videos used to be an embarrassment. Seriously, how do you live with yourself? all that interlacing, lack of depth and oh god! Please don’t get me started on contrast ratios. However, this is all a thing of the past. Thanks to ever-progressing HD cameras and our nostalgic obsession with everything vintage, there are now plenty of wedding video services out there that capture your special day and can pass for a Cannes bound short at the same time. Check out some major wedding talent below:
Still Motion
If theres anything to it, these guys know how to tell a story. While your average wedding video may loosely stitch together shots from the ceremony ,reception, and drunken greetings from your guests, Still Motion effectively tugs on your emotional strings by letting everyone else tell your story. And those quick glances? Whether it’s the “You’ve got this one son” look, or the “I can’t believe this is it” stare, they’ve got it all captured.
This former BMX pro turned cinematic wedding videographer has the magic touch of capturing “that special wedding theme” your gut had in the first place. Named one of EventDV Magazine’s top 25 Hottest and Most Influential event filmmaking studios in the industry, this Austin, TX-based artist will bring your destination wedding home as seen from the video below:
Click on image for video.
Hello Super 8
Jealous of your parents washed out and grainy home-made super 8 wedding video? Hello Super 8 will eat their video for breakfast. Although not as fancy as the cinematic styles mentioned above, there is something very special about the simplicity of these videos. Watch out for crazy Uncle Eddy though. Kooky characters definitely shine through with super 8.
That being said, if you happen to be on a budget for you wedding, be open to posting ads on craigslist. Ask for film and photography students. They may offer a different and fresh approach to what you would usually expect in a wedding video.
Filed under: stuff by other people, _check it out! | Tags: current TV, robot nation, robots, science nonfiction
Does reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep scare the bejesus out of you? Do you own collector’s sets of movies like The Matrix and Blade Runner because you are obsessed with both the beauty of machines AND their potential to destroy human consciousness? CurrentTV produced an amazing short documentary ,marking the beginning of the end. They do a case study on Japan’s depressing population drop. They expect to lose two thirds of their human population by 2050. Human population may be a redundancy to you, but with their plans to integrate robots into daily routines, you might want to start differentiating the two.
Filed under: stuff by other people, _check it out! | Tags: $99 music videos, let me kiss you now (and I'll fade away), plushgun
**insert obligatory hipster clap-track here
A band isn’t a band without some gnarly album art and a hit music video. Unfortunately, if you want one professionally done, it can cost you an arm and a leg… and possibly your soul. $99 music videos is a simple concept. The site brings together a filmmaker and a band, shoves them $99 and lets them have free creative reign. Although keep in mind, equipment is not included in the budget, so there is a big difference between the Sony HVR Z1 they have access to, and the dinky minidv camcorder you got on sale at Walmart. All final videos are posted on the site.
The bands featured on the 99 are as indie as it gets. It’s not as eclectic, but you can definitely find something you like if you browse through the site. I would definitely check this site out to get some cost efficient inspiration for the indie producer/director/editor/musician on a budget.
btw, I love clap tracks.
Drawn by Pain is a web series broadcasted via bliptv that won the 2008 People’s Choice Webby Awards. Think Buffy-style live action fused with demoniacal anime characters. Add in a hot girl who is a hot mess, and BAM! Hot episodic! This is a wonderful example of artists, overlooked by Hollywood, successfully taking matters in their own hands. If you check out their website, you’ll notice that everyone working on this project still has a day job. It is inspiring to see people out there that are willing to sacrifice so much of their time and money for their passion. This also shows that if you have a good idea, a talented network, and some amazing friends nothing is impossible.
The internet has come a long way in democratizing creativity and enabling collaboration. If there is something that you’ve always wanted to create, now is the time. DO IT!
Filed under: stuff by other people
because you’ll come across stuff like this:
Dylan Reyes is a photographer from Nashville, TN. I found him while procrastinating on facebook. I miss Nasvhille and everything about it. Places like this and Austin, TX have such a raw and unrefined energy about them. I think a lot of it has to do with their transient state of mind.
Filed under: stuff by other people | Tags: charles spearin, the happiness project
Charles Spearin, founder of Do Make Say Think and contributing member of Broken Social Scene recently launched The Happiness Project. I saw them perform live in Austin in February. It is a personal and musical experience based on the cadence of voices. Very hard to explain without listening to it yourself. Check out the short film that accompanies this project directed by Christopher Mills.
A truly creative way of finding beauty in simple things we take for granted.
