-
February 12, 2014 by summerh@uoregon.edu
RiP: A Remix Manifesto from Laurent LaSalle on Vimeo.
I mentioned this documentary in class the other day, but after watching it again I wanted to post it, not only because it is relevant to what we were talking about in class, but also because it is just a really good documentary. I realize its longer than our usual posts, but if you have some time and want to watch a good doc, check it out.
The producer really got creative with a lot of different parts of this movie. For example with the titles, I love the way he used colored labels and tape in a stop motion way to make it more interesting. Another good example is when he begins talking about when he was born, he takes home photos and puts them together into sort of a collage, mixed with archival footage, then an animation of how the internet works. For me this is inspiring because it reminds me that not every second of a video has to be just things I shot, I can mix it up, get artsy with it, and still produce a documentary style piece.
This film brings up a lot of great points about copyright issues and what is fair use. Its crazy how expensive it is to be able to use even tiny bits of songs. And I was blown away by some of the lawsuits people are having to deal with. It really makes me want to cut up a bunch of Disney video and make something funny out of it.
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: | 1 Comment
-
November 6, 2013 by emcdona2@uoregon.edu
Here is some inspiration for our Foodie Kingdom assignment – restaurant line group I’m looking at you.
This piece is a great example of how humor can completely wipe out the pushy aspect of an opinion piece. I love the hand written signs and notes, the sounds effects (i.e. Buzzer) and the upbeat music. Also, the stop motion and utilization of soda containers and sugar is fantastic.
I was intrigued by this piece because while I completely enjoy the approach and humor, I’m simultaneously aware that I don’t think I would really like to hang out with this guy. I imagine I would find him rather annoying in person but in film form, he’s great. This realization was freeing, as I feel a bit overly concerned with being likable in the film process. Yes, being respectful is important but sometime it’s asking the seemingly stupid and repetitive question that results in the key quote. Thus, here’s to being a bit ridiculous in the name of capturing great stories!
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: | 3 Comments
-
November 6, 2013 by kblack7@uoregon.edu
Justin Boyd: Sound and Time from Walley Films on Vimeo.
Since we will soon be having a discussion about sound and how we as storytellers can use it in dramatic ways, I thought that this documentary short was really interesting. This guy uses sound in ways that most of us haven’t even thought of! Cheesy enough, it’s true. This video is also just very beautifully captured, so that adds to the awe-inspiring way that this character is enthralled with sound. What works for me in this piece is the combination between sound design and the amount of matched-action sequences in this video.
The scene where Justin goes to collect audio at the train tracks is one scene that really stood out for me, due to the combination of attention-getting tracking shot as he walks up to the tracks, action shot of him putting the recording strip on the tracks, and then the reaction shot of his face and hands with the recording device. To me, it really worked to bring me into the action of this guy actually going out and recording such a large amount of audio to archive. I also really like the scene of Justin inside (with beautiful lighting) where he is going through old recordings. The scene begins with a dolly shot moving across the bucket of tapes as he chooses one to listen to. The sequences goes into another great sequence of matched action editing while Justin puts in a recording he made of his grandfather and then cuts to a cinematic camera movement of a “sweeping across the floor” to the character as he listens intently to this recording of his grandfather. To me, that is a powerful moment that was captured and expressed.
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: audio,audio storyteller,sound,sound design,sound technician,vimeo,vimeo staff picks | 1 Comment
-
November 6, 2013 by abk@uoregon.edu
This is a classic piece of Oregon journalism that a few years ago found virality well beyond the borders of our state. Despite it now being being 43 years old, the drawing power of its storytelling is still quite powerful. Some of the camera work is a little shaky, but I think the cuts are all pieced together quite well. The one distance shot showing the blubber raining down is one of my favorites – really classic stuff. I wonder if that one car owner’s insurance covered this disaster – “Yes hello. I went to watch the whale explosion today and a giant piece of blubber crushed my Ford. You guys will take care of that, right?”
Anyway, I think it’s quite a dynamic piece, and proof that a solid story pieced together well can survive for years despite the graininess of its production. Its inspiring to think that 40 years from now, when movies are telepathically beamed directly into our brains, there will still be motivation to view films created in an antiquated form of medium.
Category Week 5 | Tags: funny,journalism | 1 Comment
-
November 6, 2013 by jarrattt@uoregon.edu
Unlocking The Truth – Malcolm Brickhouse & Jarad Dawkins from The Avant/Garde Diaries on Vimeo.
This video has been going around for the past few weeks, and thankfully I finally took the time to check it out. Meet Malcolm and Jarad. They are two young metalheads that are defying all expectations to play the music that they wanna hear. This short doc defies the viewers expectations as well, which is one of the reasons the story is so compelling. They are young black kids, but they are into metal. Even though they are into loud, aggressive music they bring with them a message against bullying.
I think the piece also shows a nice and simple narrative arc. We hear them talk about the venues they imagine themselves performing at while they are practicing in the basement. These venues are huge and obviously the stuff of dreams. Still, there is some progression. In the end, we see them emerging from the basement to perform on the streets of NYC in front of a large crowd. The confidence they developed in the basement when they imagined playing for 40K people really comes across in their performance for 50 people.
Category Week 5 | Tags: kids,music,short documentary | 4 Comments
-
November 6, 2013 by summerh@uoregon.edu
FLIGHT. from a TWiN thing. on Vimeo.
My inspiration this week is a video that is a good example of lighting and sound design. The opening scene is really well lit, without losing the sense that it is night. It has an almost mystical feel to it, which helps set the tone for the rest of the video. Throughout this video the filmmakers manage to maintain this consistently great lighting. What works well about the lighting is that because it has an almost muted, grey-ish tone to all of it, the glowing green of the shoes really stands out.
The first sound we clearly hear is that of a radio. We hear it first, then a few seconds later we see the inside of the car where it is coming from. This is a good way to transition from one scene to the next. The sound effects throughout the whole video are great and effective at conveying flight. Starting at 1:20 we hear what is recognizable as an engine starting up while it shows a close-up of the shoes. They did an excellent job also of changing the volume of the sound to match the distance of the character.
Overall the video really works to convey an idea of flight, which is defined in the caption as 1. the movement or trajectory of a projectile or object through the air 2. the action of fleeing or attempting to escape 3. an extravagant or far-fetched idea.
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: Good lighting,sound design | 1 Comment
-
November 5, 2013 by lpaters5@uoregon.edu
This music video has been floating around the internet primarily due to the fact that the featured instrument, the hang, is a fairly recent musical creation. Invented in the year 2000 in Switzerland, this video piece showcases not only the sound, but a very clear example of a close-up, medium, and long-shot.
I noticed a rack focus shot, which was interesting considering the hand movements involved with playing the instrument. I don’t necessarily like the fact that they placed the subject perfectly in the center of the frame, but it does showcase people walking through on each side in what appears to be a lit public walkway. I think the close up shots are creative, and I enjoy that the background is more of an artistic blur. It’s a simplistic yet enjoyable video, featuring an awesome instrument.
Category Week 5 | Tags: close-up shot,hang,long shot,medium shot,rack focus | 3 Comments
-
November 5, 2013 by bjh@uoregon.edu
The Beauty of the Irrational from The African Attachment on Vimeo.
Ok first off let me say this this guy is crazy, he ran what should be a five day trail in just over six HOURS! To me that is out of this world.
Most of this video is shot from what I assume is a helicopter that was following Ryan Sandes around as he made his run though the canyon. What I loved about these shots is the wide angle view of the ground which really sets the scene for where Sandes is running around in. What I also loved is that despite the running and constantly moving nature of the subject, the camera stays perfectly still though out the video. A way to show his inner calm the whole time while running perhaps?
But what I like the most about this overall is the message that it sends. That although we may think that sometimes we have to choose the safest option that may be available to us, sometimes we have to go what might make the least amount of sense. How will we know what we can really do unless we make an irrational decision and do something bold.
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: camera work,Irrational Decision | 1 Comment
-
November 1, 2013 by amandae@uoregon.edu
So, this is a preview from a DVD of bug projections. Strange, I know, but in one minute, I was fascinated by the different ways you can see bugs.
1) Clear difference in feel between MS CU and LS. The bugs look entirely different as a mass at the end, close up in the middle, or from a medium angle at the beginning.
2) The effect of the background on the little bugs. At second 0:21, it’s a bright surface which make the subject look different.
3) Cropping makes the scene different –based on some frames, I focused on one bug versus many. Interesting to keep in mind for any shoot.
Category Week 5 | Tags: bugs,shot angle,white balanace | No Comments
-
October 31, 2013 by oaldakhe@uoregon.edu
In the Arabian Peninsula one of the hobbies is to go “Falconry” or hunting birds by using a falcon. In this video you will see that through the eyes of the falcon. This was done by a small camera placed under the eye cover or protector that is usually put on the falcon, then they take off the protector but keep the camera that was under it. This way the falcon wouldn’t notice and would think nothing is on his head anymore and starts flying freely. This technique gives authentic look through the falcon’s eyes. The POV is amazing and it is SO FAST and exciting!! Enjoy!
Category Week 5, Weekly Inspiration | Tags: | 1 Comment