“FAIL HARDER”
dedicated to love.
a blog full of great stories and thoughts dedicated to love.. the good, the bad and the unknown. ♥ …. …. …
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Embrace Life PSA
The Best PSA I have seen in a very very long time. Enjoy!
A Beautifully shot PSA for Road Safety.
In just two weeks from its release, ‘Embrace Life’ has exploded around the world with its positive message encouraging people to wear their seat belts. From innovative local advertising in the form of graffiti artwork in Sussex to worldwide exposure from the social media & advertising online community, Embrace Life has taken a unique approach to this important issue of road safety.
Writer & Director, Daniel Cox, takes up the story of the film’s development and making:
“The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk) were already looking to create a road safety campaign with a more positive message and so when I approached Communications Manager Neil Hopkins and his team with ideas for a fresh take on road safety filming, it was evident that were all on the same page in our quest to deliver a powerful message, but in a new way.
“Key to the film’s creation was to focus on a message that didn’t take a conventional route to shock and scare the audience; rather it was my intention to bring the audience in on the conversation of road safety, specifically seat belts, and the best way to do this was to make a film that could engage the viewer purely visually and could be seen and understood by all, whoever they are and wherever they lived.”
Writer/Director: Daniel Cox
Producer: Sarah Alexander
Executive Producer: Neil Hopkins
Cast
Father: Austin Spangler
Mother: Lara Corrochano
Daughter: Clare Denning
Music -Composer: Siddhartha Barnhoorn
Assistant Director/ Production
1st Assistant Director: Lucy Wigmore
Assistant Producer: Vicky Del Campo
Runner: Tom Harburt
Camera:
Director of Photography: Luke Scott
Phantom Technician: Jason Berman
Focus Puller: John Mitchell
Gaffer: John Cantwell
Spark: Gary Nagle
Camera assistant: Steve Mayhew
Art Department:
Production Designer: Aoife Wilson
Art Director: James Custance
Storyboards: Peter Johnston
Hair and Make-up
Make-up Designer: Victoria Riches
Hair Stylist: Haylie Jay
Set Build:
Construction Manager: Callum Andrews
Transport Captain: Bernard Cox
Post-Production
Editor: Daniel Cox
Colorist: Pat Wintersgill
Graphics Designer: Laylah Driscoll
Marketing and Promotion lead: Neil Hopkins
Communications Team: Mims Davies and Steve Whitehead
Special Thanks to
Take 2 Films, Dan Thomas, Stephanie Morgan, Mark Purvis, Mark Rafferty, Tyronne, Rowena Siorvanes, Panalux, Ashley Wing, Chris Stribbling, Rigby Andrews and Halliford Studios
this too shall pass. Brand New from OK GO
When the rock band OK Go, famous for their viral videos including the spectacular and award winning “treadmill video”(here it goes again), wanted to feature a 4-minute long Rube Goldberg Machine in an upcoming video, they tapped Syyn Labs to build it. The requirements were that it had to be interesting, not “overbuilt” or too technology-heavy, and easy to follow. The machine also had to be built on a shoestring budget, synchronize with beats and lyrics in the music and end on time over a 3.5 minute song, play a part of the song, and be filmed in one shot. To make things more challenging still, the space chosen was divided into two floors and the machine would use both. We had our work cut out for us; every facet of Syyn Labs’ expertise was required to meet this tremendous challenge.
The Battle for Hearts and Minds Documentary
On July 2nd, 2009, four thousand US Marines of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade launched a major helicopter assault into a Taliban stronghold in the Helmand River Valley in southern Afghanistan in order to break a military stalemate with the insurgent group.
Independent filmmaker Danfung Dennis was embedded with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Company, as they were dropped 18 km behind enemy lines to seize a key bridge. Within a few hours of landing, fierce fighting erupted and continued for the next three days, during which Lance Corporal Charles Sharp, from Adairsville, Georgia was shot and killed by a Taliban fighter.
After the initial fighting, the Marines searched for the insurgents who had killed Lance Corporal Sharp. Frustration set in as the Marines tried to fight the elusive enemy whose IED’s cut off their supply lines. The Marines’ objective was to secure and protect the population, but the Afghan villagers complained that the fighting has driven them into the desert, and the bombing destroyed their homes. Can the Marines balance their contradictory roles as warriors and statesmen, as they struggle to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people?
The footage was shot on a custom built rig, using a Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70 f/2.8 L lens, Sennheiser ME-66 and G2 wireless system, Singh-Ray variable ND filter, and Beachtek 2XAs mounted on a Glidecam 2000 HD with custom made aluminum ‘wings.’
Music licensed through Universal Music.
battleforheartsandminds.com
www.danfungdennis.com
Gorillaz releases new Album!
Titled “Plasic Beach” drops March 8th. Check out the 1st music video for “Stylo” track.
Enjoy!
“Plasic Beach” drops March 8th. Check out the 1st music video for the album – “Stylo”
(Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack).
Enjoy!
Kat Fowler lauches her website
A fantastic new photographer, Kat Fowler, has launched her personal website
Do not miss out on a talented young woman.
Like No Other.
Sony Bravia – a few years ago did a brilliant ad campaign “Color – Like no other” for their new flat panel TV.
This is the first of, I think 5 spots.
You will appreciate this ad even more when you watch how it was made.
ENJOY
Sony Bravia TV’s – http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/bravia-lcd-televisions
Khumbu Climbing School
Photograph:Galen Rowell
2010 Khumbu Climbing School & Center-Follow Renan Ozturk and Cory Richards as they work their way up to the KCS via a first ascent…
The School is a annual vocational training and instructional program for Nepali climbers. The school is designed to increase the competency of Nepali people who climb and / or work in the high mountains.
more at :
http://vimeo.com/rockmonkeyart
The Art of Story Telling by Ira Glass
For those of you who do not know the name Ira Glass, Ira has worked in public radio for some 30 years. He began as an intern at National Public Radio. Ira is the host and producer of This American Life, from WBEZ Chicago. The now multi-award winning radio show has been on air since 1995, The show was nationally syndicated in June 1996 by Public Radio International and has been national ever since. There is now a TV series in it’s 2nd season on Showtime.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/
Here is a interview with Ira, his thoughts and advice on story telling.
What is a Creative Activist? are you?
www.creativevisions.org – A entire community of Creative Activists
I am a Creative Activist!
Check out my current work
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/852920435/the-village-lighting-project
KickStarter!
KICKSTARTER IS A FUNDING PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, FILMMAKERS, MUSICIANS, JOURNALISTS, INVENTORS, EXPLORERS…
STORIES! Kickstarter projects are efforts by real people to do something they love, something fun, or at least something of note. These stories unfold through blog posts, pics, and videos as people bring their ideas to life. Take a peek around the site and see what we’re talking about. Stories abound.
Kickstarter is focused on creative ideas and ambitious endeavors. We’re a great way for artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, writers, athletes, adventurers, illustrators, explorers, curators, promoters, performers, and others to bring their projects, events, and dreams to life
In the Spotlight:
The Village Lighting Project
GO TO: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/852920435/the-village-lighting-project to make a pledge and be part of this
adventure.
Fifty People, One Question.
QUESTION » WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?
You may find the brave voices captured here haunting, shocking and humorous. In some of their faces you’ll see joy, anguish and grace as they trust you with their confession.
It’s a simple question and the answers can lead us anywhere. So go ahead, ask yourself…
http://fiftypeopleonequestion.com/
The Truth About Santa
Getting presents to all the good little boys and girls every Christmas is a monumental task for Santa Claus — and it’s led some children to question how he does it.
In The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve, author Gregory Mone explains the elaborate systems that make it all possible.
But Santa’s secret, Mone says, is that he uses tools that are hundreds of years beyond what we have at our disposal.
“As a result, it does seem like magic,” he says. “But it’s really all science and technology.”
For instance, Santa’s red suit: It’s designed for the extreme conditions he encounters while traveling at warp speed and bending space and time. And, Mone says, “Santa’s suit is laden with what are called metamaterials, which have the effect of bending light around a person so that they turn invisible” — which can come in handy if there are curious children peeking during his Christmas deliveries.
Santa’s reading glasses, which contribute to his quaint image, are actually equipped with what’s called a “heads-up display.” When Santa looks through the lenses, he sees a range of information about the residents of the house he’s visiting, the presents to leave, directions to the next house and more.
He also has a special device to ensure he doesn’t double up on presents under the tree.
“Santa knows what we want, but he doesn’t really know what presents to leave for a given kid until he gets to the house and looks under the tree,” Mone says.
But Santa doesn’t have time to unwrap and rewrap all the presents. So he uses a terahertz wave radiation scanner to see through the wrapping and make out the shape inside, indicating which toys are already under the tree. That way, he can leave a different one.
The latest research in the social sciences has also had an effect on Santa’s operations. Mrs. Claus, who’s particularly fond of the works of Harvard University child psychiatrist Robert Coles, convinced Santa that positive reinforcement would be more powerful in altering the behavior of “naughty” children.
Because of this, Santa no longer leaves coal in their stockings.
For an audio interview with the author on NPR Morning Edition check out:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121247367
Twitter OVERLOADS! ?
It’s actually happened! Today we have overloaded Twitter with mostly unimportant tiny little moments in our lives.
I had the same reaction as this kid.
What Love Feels Like.
This Photograph is my proof there was that afternoon, when things were still good between us and she embraced me and we were so happy. It did Happen. She did love me, Look for yourself !
What Love Feels Like.
“You know that you are in love when you feel like the whole world can fall apart around you but you will still be okay”
“When you just cannot think about anybody else but that person and you would do anything for them to make them happy.”
“If you are like on a high or you are so hot to the person you cannot breath, eat, or sleep.”
“You just look at the person you are with and you just feel deep inside that you cannot live without that person anymore.”
“So, every time they say something, I am smiling and blushing, I know I am in love when I feel that and I look across the table and I can tell the other person is feeling the same thing.”
“I have been in love once and it feels like nothing else. It is great.”
“It feels like kind of confusing because I am not 100% sure a lot of times if that person is in love with me but it feels good and scary.”
“Really strong desired to be smooshed together.”
“Like getting the wind knock out of you like shyeew.”
Every search is a quest. Every quest is a story
“The Google homepage doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to the millions of people who use it.” – Engineering director at Google, Craig Nevill-Manning. Google has made a bunch of videos “Search Stories” – Every Search is a quest. Every quest is a story. The series of videos feature the latest innovations, and how people use search to accomplish. They focus around the idea that the best search results don’t show up on a search engine, they show up in somebody’s life. “Search On”
to see all the videos go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/searchstories
Factory Design Labs
Factory Design Labs is a culturally-relevant design collective that focuses on design, music, culture and technology. Factory is based in Denver, Co and works with Clients like Oakley, Audi, The North Face, Scarpa, and more. They specialize in creating unique strategic solutions that connect brands and their consumers.
more info: www.factorylabs.com
Ron Mueck: Hyper-Realist Sculptor
Ron Mueck is an Australian hyper-realist sculptor working in the UK. His incredible sculptures of creepy, grotesque, mottled skin and uncannily gigantic proportional figures have adorned the Millennium Dome as well as Charles Saatchi’s living room for a number of years now. It would be fair to say, Mueck’s one of the leading contemporary artists of today.
It’s the attention to detail, technical brilliance and the (odd) scale of his figures that takes your breath away. His work, while proportionally correct, is either over or under-sized. For example, an enormous 4.5m crouching Boy, a 3 ft tall naked man, a 20 ft long newborn, a replica of his own head (seen above) 6 times its actual size. Consequently his hyper-realistic sculptures, while extraordinarily lifelike, challenge us by their odd scale. The “psychological confrontation for the viewer is to recognize and assimilate two contradictory realities”. The artist is able to achieve a very high degree of realism in his figures, which, in turn, invites close inspection. However, the real magical appeal of Mueck’s sculptures lie in the meticulous process, which begins with…
- crafting of a series of small clay models – this enables him decide on figure positioning
- Mueck then creates a series of drawings in different sizes – this enables him to make decisions about scale
- Next, Mueck sculpts the figure in clay – this includes fine details of expression and skin texture
- a mould of the sculpture is made using silicone (or in the case of larger works, fibreglass).
- Mueck completes the process by meticulously painting (by hand) finer details (like veins and skin tones) on the surface, before finally sculpting the eyes, bringing his creations to life.
Saman Keshavarz takes freeze tag to a new level
Canon Camera Spec Commercial – Trigger Happy, Freeze Tag
An all out game of war using Canon cameras…Canon Cameras were handed out to various people and many of their shots made it in the commercial.
Director: Saman Keshavarz
Producers: Romson Niega, Tom Lee
Associate Producer: Francis Pollara
Cinematographers: Don Burton
Editor: Nate Tam
Sound Editor: Dan Bartolucci
© 2009
more info at : http://samankeshavarz.blogspot.com
We Feel Fine, an exploration of human emotion.
A very cool project by, Jonathan Harris.
We Feel Fine is an exploration of human emotion.
It continually harvests sentences containing the phrase “I feel” or “I am feeling” from the Internet’s newly posted blog entries, saves them in a database, and displays them in an interactive Java applet, which runs in a web browser. Each dot represents a single person’s feeling. The color of each dot corresponds to the type of feeling it represents (bright dots are happy, dark dots are sad), and the diameter of each dot indicates the length of the sentence inside. Demographic information (age, gender, location, and weather) is also collected and displayed. Photo montages with text / image overlays are automatically constructed from photographs and feeling sentences that occur in the same blog entry. We Feel Fine collects around 15,000 new feelings per day, and has saved over 13 million feelings since 2005, forming a constantly evolving portrait of human emotion.
We Feel Fine is a collaboration with Sep Kamvar. A book based on the project, We Feel Fine: An Almanac of Human Emotion, is being published by Simon & Schuster, and will be in bookstores December 1, 2009.
Jonathan Harris (b. Aug 27, 1979) makes projects that reimagine how humans relate to technology and to each other. Combining elements of computer science, anthropology, visual art and storytelling, his projects range from building the world’s largest time capsule (with Yahoo!) to documenting an Alaskan Eskimo whale hunt on the Arctic Ocean (with a warm hat). He is the co-creator of We Feel Fine, which continuously measures the emotional temperature of the human world through large-scale blog analysis, and has made other projects about online dating, modern mythology, anonymity, news, and language. After studying computer science at Princeton University, he won a 2005 Fabrica fellowship and three Webby Awards. His work has also been recognized by AIGA, Ars Electronica, the state of Vermont (for which he co-designed the state quarter), Print Magazine (which named him a 2008 New Visual Artist) and The World Economic Forum (which named him a 2009 Young Global Leader). He has given talks at Google, Princeton and Stanford Universities, the TED Conference, and at two hippy forest gatherings. His projects have been shown at The Museum of Modern Art (New York), Le Centre Pompidou (Paris), and have appeared on CNN, NPR, BBC, and Bhutanese television. Born in Vermont, he now floats between Brooklyn, NY, the open road, and cyberspace.
Oh My God from Director Peter Rodger
“Over a three-year period I traveled across 23 countries asking children, religious leaders, celebrities, fanatics and the common Man what God means to them. Along the way I experienced an incredible array of faith expressions and had no small number of unforgettable adventures. The film is a result of this journey. It is not about religion per se; it is about what God means to people throughout our human family. I needed to explore and discover for myself whether religion and religious people were the cause of all the world’s woes. And, as a person who wrestles with faith, I needed to determine whether God created man or man created God.”
“I was frustrated with the childish schoolyard mentality that permeates this world – I call it the “My God Is Greater Than Your God” syndrome – where you have grown men flying airplanes into buildings shouting “God is Great” – where you have the leader of the free world telling the BBC in 2003 that he invaded Iraq because God told him to – where you have the constitution of a country (Iran) that dictates that its supreme leader is God’s representative on earth – where you have young men and women blowing themselves up (and innocent others) to buy a place into heaven. None of these concepts made any sense to me. Does it matter what I believe? Does it matter what you believe? And what is this entity that goes by the name of God, that seems to bring about so much friction, hurt and pain? So I decided to go around the world and ask people what they think.” -Peter Rodger
Premieres on November 13th , Los Angeles California at the Nuart Theater