Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I created an ideological advertisement based on those ubiquitous motivational posters you see hanging up in doctor's offices and classrooms. Usually the message contains an image that conveys some sort of inspirational action or situation. The one I referred to as a model used a picture of several runners at dawn chugging up a sun-licked stretch of asphalt and read: "WINNERS While most people are dreaming of success, winners wake-up and work hard to achieve it". I think this example and the many others in the genre are successful in conveying their message. I also think this would make an excellent platform upon which to place some social commentary. The current political climate operates to stifle the voices of dissent. This advertisement seeks to do the exact opposite by combining imagry of embittered protestors with a powerful message from Martin Luther King Jr. Ideally the format is familiar enough to engage the audience who are the sections of the American public hungry for change. The message is simple; we are furious with the status quo, the lies, the violence, the blatant disregard for human rights, we stand together.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Desperate . . .
So a friend of mine is addicted to this completely trashy, morally bankrupt television series. My friend starts to get excited every Sunday night at the clock approaches 8:00, eager to see the melodramatic hijinks of Wisteria Lane unfold in an hour of over-the-top drama. Oh yeah, and its a soap opera. And oh yeah, my "friend" is me. Okay, okay I'll admit it, I watch Desperate Housewives-are you happy now?
It all started when I came back from Japan and lived with my folks for a couple of months. On one particular Sunday night, I was hanging out with the 'rents when my mom reached for the remote at 8:00 p.m. I watched as my father in silent protest lifted up his hands in defeat and left the room while my mom clicked the TV over to abc. I must interject that my father is by no means the epitome of good taste, on any given evening you could probably find him enjoying any movie that has things that explode in it.
At any rate, I was intrigued as the show started. As my mom caught me up on the story, I of course reminded her how devoid of substance the show was. She shushed me and an hour later, I was hooked. At the same time, my girlfriend was watching the show with her sister. When we moved in together, we found that we shared the same dirty secret and have been watching ever since.
Last Sunday was no different, but my friend Angela was over. She had heard of the show of course, but had never seen it before and was willing to succumb to peer pressure. Johanna and I introduced her to the plot as best we could and the show started. We sat in my living room and talked about the unfolding events during the commercial breaks. After the show was finished, we talked a little more about what we thought would happen the next week.
This type of show creates, quite intentionally, a community of "addicted" viewers through the use of cliff hangers and mystery. At the end of every show, the viewer is left with a curiosity of subsequent events. People watch this show precisely because it is devoid of any larger social relevance. It is simply an hour of rich men and women getting into trouble (maybe having sex with each other, maybe killing each other). You simply want to know what happens next. Without intending to, Angela chanced upon a community of viewers and shared in a social event that happened to revolve around a particular show. I suppose that some people watch this show to connect with other viewers, I try to keep my addiction a secret as much as possible. Angela liked the show, but I think that she would be able to kick the habit easily enough. I on the other hand am a lost cause, a devoted junkie that will lie cheat and steal before getting clean. Don't weep for me, I did this to myself.
It all started when I came back from Japan and lived with my folks for a couple of months. On one particular Sunday night, I was hanging out with the 'rents when my mom reached for the remote at 8:00 p.m. I watched as my father in silent protest lifted up his hands in defeat and left the room while my mom clicked the TV over to abc. I must interject that my father is by no means the epitome of good taste, on any given evening you could probably find him enjoying any movie that has things that explode in it.
At any rate, I was intrigued as the show started. As my mom caught me up on the story, I of course reminded her how devoid of substance the show was. She shushed me and an hour later, I was hooked. At the same time, my girlfriend was watching the show with her sister. When we moved in together, we found that we shared the same dirty secret and have been watching ever since.
Last Sunday was no different, but my friend Angela was over. She had heard of the show of course, but had never seen it before and was willing to succumb to peer pressure. Johanna and I introduced her to the plot as best we could and the show started. We sat in my living room and talked about the unfolding events during the commercial breaks. After the show was finished, we talked a little more about what we thought would happen the next week.
This type of show creates, quite intentionally, a community of "addicted" viewers through the use of cliff hangers and mystery. At the end of every show, the viewer is left with a curiosity of subsequent events. People watch this show precisely because it is devoid of any larger social relevance. It is simply an hour of rich men and women getting into trouble (maybe having sex with each other, maybe killing each other). You simply want to know what happens next. Without intending to, Angela chanced upon a community of viewers and shared in a social event that happened to revolve around a particular show. I suppose that some people watch this show to connect with other viewers, I try to keep my addiction a secret as much as possible. Angela liked the show, but I think that she would be able to kick the habit easily enough. I on the other hand am a lost cause, a devoted junkie that will lie cheat and steal before getting clean. Don't weep for me, I did this to myself.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
My movie
I made my movie about my commute from North Minneapolis to the U. I had to speed it up a little bit so hold on :)
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sabotage!!!
I accidentally did this week's assignment last week so this is last week's assignment this week . . .weekitty week week . . . there.
If I could be a part of any music video in the history of music videos, I would definitely dance with the little bee girl in Blind Melon's "No Rain".
Failing that, I would be one of the hip cops in the Beastie Boys "Sabotage". From the first time I saw this, I thought it was awesome. The music, the fake mustaches, the sweet car-everything about it. The premise, or so I surmise, is a spoof on the old 70's and 80's cop shows. The music is hard, catchy and driving-full of barely contained energy. subsequently the video is edited to convey a sort of tongue-in-cheek schizophrenic mania.
The scene opens with the ubiquitous single red cherry flashing on top of a police car. This editing technique has been used in at least one series and I think the "Naked Gun" movies adopted it as well. It serves to place the subsequent events within a genre.
And then boom! The music drops and a car is blasting through some boxes.
The next shot is of one of the Beasties running as fast as he can down the hall straight toward the camera. He is getting closer and closer and the camera stays in the same place. The editing from this point on is focused on making half-blurry jerky shots, like the viewer is traveling along in the pursuit because we now know that it's . . .
Sabotage!
The Beasties dress up like hotel staff and begin chasing a "bad guy". The editing is jerky and follows the guys around like a home movie. The footage bumps around a lot and gives the impression of actually running along with the characters. It has a "raw" or unedited feel, like it is purposefully unpolished.
The music slows and so does the action accordingly. The bouncing from one shot to the next slows a little as the cops enjoy their coffee and donuts.
Of course, the music starts up again and this time the director wants to convey a sense of suspense and fear by zooming into the image of a man gagged with his eyes pleading to the camera for help.
The camera then zooms out to focus on the foreground where we now can see the source of his worry-a bomb!
The last scene shows the boys walking down the street together in slow motion. Real slow and real cool.
The ultimate goal of the video is to show how the Beasties can make some great music without taking themselves too seriously. It certainly looks like Spike Jones (the director) enjoyed himself as well. Overall, the editing was very jerky and appears sloppy. Of course this was probably done with the utmost attention to detail, but the end product is a video that succeeds in drawing the viewer into the chase . . . as campy as it may be.
But you don't have to take my word for it:
If I could be a part of any music video in the history of music videos, I would definitely dance with the little bee girl in Blind Melon's "No Rain".
Failing that, I would be one of the hip cops in the Beastie Boys "Sabotage". From the first time I saw this, I thought it was awesome. The music, the fake mustaches, the sweet car-everything about it. The premise, or so I surmise, is a spoof on the old 70's and 80's cop shows. The music is hard, catchy and driving-full of barely contained energy. subsequently the video is edited to convey a sort of tongue-in-cheek schizophrenic mania.
The scene opens with the ubiquitous single red cherry flashing on top of a police car. This editing technique has been used in at least one series and I think the "Naked Gun" movies adopted it as well. It serves to place the subsequent events within a genre.
And then boom! The music drops and a car is blasting through some boxes.
The next shot is of one of the Beasties running as fast as he can down the hall straight toward the camera. He is getting closer and closer and the camera stays in the same place. The editing from this point on is focused on making half-blurry jerky shots, like the viewer is traveling along in the pursuit because we now know that it's . . .
Sabotage!
The Beasties dress up like hotel staff and begin chasing a "bad guy". The editing is jerky and follows the guys around like a home movie. The footage bumps around a lot and gives the impression of actually running along with the characters. It has a "raw" or unedited feel, like it is purposefully unpolished.
The music slows and so does the action accordingly. The bouncing from one shot to the next slows a little as the cops enjoy their coffee and donuts.
Of course, the music starts up again and this time the director wants to convey a sense of suspense and fear by zooming into the image of a man gagged with his eyes pleading to the camera for help.
The camera then zooms out to focus on the foreground where we now can see the source of his worry-a bomb!
The last scene shows the boys walking down the street together in slow motion. Real slow and real cool.
The ultimate goal of the video is to show how the Beasties can make some great music without taking themselves too seriously. It certainly looks like Spike Jones (the director) enjoyed himself as well. Overall, the editing was very jerky and appears sloppy. Of course this was probably done with the utmost attention to detail, but the end product is a video that succeeds in drawing the viewer into the chase . . . as campy as it may be.
But you don't have to take my word for it:
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