Sometimes there are images in film that stay with you. Microcosmos is a film that is almost beyond belief. Using an extremely small camera that captures insects in beautiful, crisp clarity.
I was amazed that I had not heard of this film until we screened it in class. With the rising popularity of animal documentaries, such as the also French-produced March of the Penguins, it is surprising this film has not been re-released to capitalize on their recent rise in popularity.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Borges
While it was difficult at first to understand, the Borges documentary, I soon became fascinated with it.
In many ways, it completely transcends the typical documentary. Blending actual interview footage with the elderly author and recreations of scenes from his writing, the film provides the type of complete picture that few other documentaries could typically provide. Not only can Borges talk about his ideas, but we can see them.
This meta-documentary concept may be difficult upon first viewings, but it could also prove to be a fascinating way to show, not tell, someone's ideas.
In many ways, it completely transcends the typical documentary. Blending actual interview footage with the elderly author and recreations of scenes from his writing, the film provides the type of complete picture that few other documentaries could typically provide. Not only can Borges talk about his ideas, but we can see them.
This meta-documentary concept may be difficult upon first viewings, but it could also prove to be a fascinating way to show, not tell, someone's ideas.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The History of the Internet
I have always gone back and forth on my feelings towards history. Occasionally interesting, but more often unexciting, history can be a drag to learn.
The documentary about the history of the internet, however, was pretty fascinating. Considering that pretty much the entire development of the internet has happened within my parent's lifetime, it was amazing to see how rapidly this technology expanded. In the decade since the documentary was made, still so much more has changed, with the rise of web video and social networking. I can only imagine what the next 10 years has in store.
The documentary about the history of the internet, however, was pretty fascinating. Considering that pretty much the entire development of the internet has happened within my parent's lifetime, it was amazing to see how rapidly this technology expanded. In the decade since the documentary was made, still so much more has changed, with the rise of web video and social networking. I can only imagine what the next 10 years has in store.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Rise of the Webisode
As American attention span continues to dwindle, so has their appetite for network television. Half-hour or (heaven-forbid) hour-long shows, constantly interrupted by commercials are out, and the web-television series seems to be in.
Webisodes, as they are often referred to, often last no longer than five minutes, but still aim at what television does: tell a serialized story. In the age of YouTube, webisodes have become particularly popular, since anyone with a video camera can shoot and upload a project with their friends.
The rise of these TV web serials, both amateur and professional, provides a new model for the future of entertainment. Even stars of current television shows are getting in on the action. Over the summer, Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers and Bill Hader created a seven episode shot series called The Line. The show satirized the rise of geek culture, depicting a group of fans waiting outside a movie theatre days before the premiere of Future Space, the summer's most anticipated film. At times uneven, but mostly hilarious, the show was available to watch on Hulu, the online joint venture between NBC and Fox.
Webisodes, as they are often referred to, often last no longer than five minutes, but still aim at what television does: tell a serialized story. In the age of YouTube, webisodes have become particularly popular, since anyone with a video camera can shoot and upload a project with their friends.
The rise of these TV web serials, both amateur and professional, provides a new model for the future of entertainment. Even stars of current television shows are getting in on the action. Over the summer, Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers and Bill Hader created a seven episode shot series called The Line. The show satirized the rise of geek culture, depicting a group of fans waiting outside a movie theatre days before the premiere of Future Space, the summer's most anticipated film. At times uneven, but mostly hilarious, the show was available to watch on Hulu, the online joint venture between NBC and Fox.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Bingo and Ryan
Following the monster success of the Disney/Pixar line of films, it seems that nowadays we take the success of computer animation for granted. But, after watching two short films by Chris Landreth, I have a new appreciation for the medium.
Bingo, which takes an improv sketch about a clown and turns it on its head, was definitley a jarring film to watch. Filled with vivid, often spooky, imagery, the film is very moody, and also very engrossing. Made in 1996, just one year after Toy Story, this film was marvelous in its depiction of humans.
Landreth really raised the bar, however, with his other short Ryan. The film, which won the Oscar, is a documentary of sorts about Ryan Larkin, an animator that had fallen into addiction and homelessness. Using what he calls "psyschorealism," Landreth raised the bar on what animated short film could be.
While his films are a far cry from the typically happy fare associated with computer animation, Landreth really is a master at creating moody, emotional pieces.
Bingo, which takes an improv sketch about a clown and turns it on its head, was definitley a jarring film to watch. Filled with vivid, often spooky, imagery, the film is very moody, and also very engrossing. Made in 1996, just one year after Toy Story, this film was marvelous in its depiction of humans.
Landreth really raised the bar, however, with his other short Ryan. The film, which won the Oscar, is a documentary of sorts about Ryan Larkin, an animator that had fallen into addiction and homelessness. Using what he calls "psyschorealism," Landreth raised the bar on what animated short film could be.
While his films are a far cry from the typically happy fare associated with computer animation, Landreth really is a master at creating moody, emotional pieces.
Engine Room and Product Placement
One notion that seems to be driving content more and more is the idea that shorter is better. No longer do networks like MTV have to commission full thirty minute reality shows. Now, with the help of a generous corportate sponsor, networks can make short five to seven minute mini-episodes.
One new show for MTV U, the company's college network, is "Engine Room." More and more, it seems, reality shows have become extended ads for products. The early seasons of MTV's The Real World, for instance, went out of their way to blur out corporate logos. The first season of Survivor was product placement free. Now, it seems every episode has at several products casually mentioned. Sure it allows for networks, faced with dwidling audiences, to improve the bottom line. But what really seperates these reality shows from infomercials?
One new show for MTV U, the company's college network, is "Engine Room." More and more, it seems, reality shows have become extended ads for products. The early seasons of MTV's The Real World, for instance, went out of their way to blur out corporate logos. The first season of Survivor was product placement free. Now, it seems every episode has at several products casually mentioned. Sure it allows for networks, faced with dwidling audiences, to improve the bottom line. But what really seperates these reality shows from infomercials?
NMR Intro 2
In the second introduction of the New Media Reader, Lev Manovich looks to the promise of the new media, and offers to define what exactly it is.
While some of his discussion can be dense (one header reads "New media as faster execution of algorithms previously executed manually or through other technologies"), terms like metamedia, and how people would rather just rework existing content as opposed to creating new content.
More importantly, though, he distinguishes between cyberculture, which is concerned with the social and networking, and new media, which focuses is on the cultural and computing.
While some of his discussion can be dense (one header reads "New media as faster execution of algorithms previously executed manually or through other technologies"), terms like metamedia, and how people would rather just rework existing content as opposed to creating new content.
More importantly, though, he distinguishes between cyberculture, which is concerned with the social and networking, and new media, which focuses is on the cultural and computing.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Guild
The web series The Guild provides commentary on several other web phenomenons, such as the vlog (or video blog) and the success of MMORGPs, or massive multiplayer online role-playing game.
I found The Guild pretty entertaining, as the characters reminded me of several of my friends who have become addicted to these online games. The bite-sized nature of the episodes made it pretty easy to fly through the series in one sitting. Codex's vlog certainly is a dead-on recreation of the thousands videos that can be found across the web. The Guild ultimately succeeds in this new medium by taking on the other new mediums around it.
I found The Guild pretty entertaining, as the characters reminded me of several of my friends who have become addicted to these online games. The bite-sized nature of the episodes made it pretty easy to fly through the series in one sitting. Codex's vlog certainly is a dead-on recreation of the thousands videos that can be found across the web. The Guild ultimately succeeds in this new medium by taking on the other new mediums around it.
New Media Reader- Intro 1
As a print journalist, it seems all I ever hear about is the impending doom of the industry, at the hand of the new digital media.
In the introduction to the New Media Reader, author Janet Murray recounts a brief history of the development of the computer.
The most interesting parts though, are her observations into how the computer came to be important in our lives.
"All creativity can be seen as taking in the world as a problem, " she writes. Information, both storage and access to, were very important in the creation of the computer.
Murray discusses how the power of the computer lies in the fact that it is capable of holding (and providing access to) the most information of anything man has created. The computer is an enveloping realm.
In the introduction to the New Media Reader, author Janet Murray recounts a brief history of the development of the computer.
The most interesting parts though, are her observations into how the computer came to be important in our lives.
"All creativity can be seen as taking in the world as a problem, " she writes. Information, both storage and access to, were very important in the creation of the computer.
Murray discusses how the power of the computer lies in the fact that it is capable of holding (and providing access to) the most information of anything man has created. The computer is an enveloping realm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)