Posts tagged with video
Begin again
How does this story start? How is it going to draw me to it and hold my attention? Will it change my perspective and suspend my disbelief for the duration of the story? Is it to excite and inspire me?
The prologue and curtain lift are as important as the acts, whether a starting gun or a large, long trough of developing fluid to expose the narrative and set the mood.
I’ve often thought about trying to create my own personal title sequence, though it’s more likely I’ll finally create the soundtrack of my life as a film first. They’re just extra dimensions to my life chronicled - exhibit A, my actual life; exhibit B, this record & others.
Lights, camera… action. Let’s talk specifics about the two types of title your correspondent favours.
The starting gun
These say “BAM!”. Let’s go!
Webstock 2011 opening sequence
Best viewed in a darkened room on a huge screen with the music cranked to 11.
Webstock 2011 Opening Credits from Webstock on Vimeo.
Saturday Night Live (from the Rihanna & Blake Lively episode)
Follows a cold open - a political sketch from the office/desk of the President. Sketch always ends with actors breaking character to yell “…And live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
Saturday Night Live intro from TR!P Media on Vimeo (TR!P Media don’t create the sequence).
The mood-setter
These say “Breathe in, breathe out. Empty your mind. Once upon a time…”
Dexter title
On the surface, it’s the main character getting ready in the morning, but it signals the sinister undertow ahead.
Showtime: Dexter Main Title from DIGITALKITCHEN on Vimeo.
Interview with the creator of the Dexter title sequence, Eric Anderson (via Matt)
Sub City New York
This isn’t a title sequence or opening but it is shows a beginning: the experience of exiting a subway station in New York City. Even a short trip underground means that emerging is a beginning - a new leg of your journey, the destination, an experience along the way. Both the music and the camera work in this have created the mood within the first five seconds.
Sub City New York from sarah klein on Vimeo (via Keight)
Next time you start to watch something, consider where that music is taking you & what you are being shown. Recognise the choices that have been made in the setup and align your mood - don’t fast forward or use that time to set your phone to silent mode. The story has already begun.
Unboxing one of Andy Warhol’s time capsules has to make for a great day at work! Video discovered thanks to Keight.
Extra for diehard Warhol lovers from my latest favourite site, Thought Catalog: Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests, Reinterpreted
Darren, a bunch of our friends and I made a movie in the 48 hour film fest this year. Our assigned theme was “bio pic” and the mandatory elements all teams had to use were:
- Character - Sydney Manson
- Character trait - fabricator
- Line of dialogue - “when you look at it that way”
- Prop - broken toy
- Camera technique - dolly zoom
Did I mention we only had 48 hours?
Auckland HDR Timelapse on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
Beautiful. This is where I live <3
Andrew Dubber’s Great Blend speech on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
I really enjoyed this.
I love this video - about “the siren song sizzle” and the rituals of a braai, the South African style BBQ that Darren’s family have introduced me to.
Labour Weekend looms and the possibilities are endless. This morning it was torrentially raining when I woke up but an hour later the sun is shining and there could be a braai on the horizon…all we need are the saussies and we’re away!
apophenia: Understanding Socio-Technical Phenomena in a Web2.0 Era
another for the ‘to watch’ list. LOVE danah boyd.
YouTube - An anthropological introduction to YouTube
On my ‘to watch’ list - presented to the Library of Congress a few months ago.
I have been watching the questions like the one above submitted through the Election 08 channel with great interest since the announcement of the arrangement between YouTube and TVNZ. They seem for the most part to be eloquent and fairly well produced, and although the submissions are 95% male it is early days yet…!
I know the haters are having their say, but I think this is a fantastic idea and a step in the right direction towards digital democracy. After all, it’s UGC done right when it starts to feel like an election is taking a truly democratic, every-voice-is-heard stance.
Let’s just hope the candidates don’t let us all down on the 14th…probably the first time that I’ll be watching a live broadcast on TV for ages!
Fifty People, One Question (via Vimeo)
This video makes me want to make videos. Inspiring and amazing!
