SQUARESPACE x John Malkovich

I wanted to highlight this example based on some of our conversations related to the “engagement” film. While they're ultimately trying to sell a platform, it's kind of cool to see John's transformation from doing something that's emotionally draining to something for which he has passion. Although, admittedly, it doesn't really solve one of the issues we've been struggling with - how do we illustrate a character's transformation without them essentially quitting their job and “moving on to greener pastures”...

SQUARESPACE x John Malkovich from Miles Jay on Vimeo.

Now That's Democracy

The Truth is podcast on the Radiotopia network that specializes in short radio dramas. About four years ago they produced a piece called “Now That's Democracy”...

A little later, two filmmakers would adapt it into a short film...

That's Democracy from Cliff Traiman on Vimeo.

Then it comes full circle in this interview on The Truth with the filmmakers...

Film + Music

Film + Music is a new online and print publication from The Music Bed and Film Supply. They can tell their story best through these videos...

Introducing Film + Music Magazine from Musicbed on Vimeo.

A Look Inside Film+Music Magazine from Musicbed on Vimeo.

That said, I've been reading a few of the online articles and have been very impressed. I particularly like these two so far... The Golden Age of Documentary: A Conversation with Wendy Cohen of Picture Motion is, in short, about Wendy Cohen and her experience with Picture Motion. Picture Motion distributes socially aware documentaries and helps film makers find an audience. While talking about her process she notes that...

"On every film, we try to do something we’ve never done before. We always start with a lot of research, a lot of listening. We make 20, 30, 40 phone calls to hear what’s happening in the issue, what the issue is going to look like in the next 12 months. What are the organizations that are working on this, who has been doing this work since long before the film existed and will be doing this work long after? We figure out how the film can help them, these organizations. Then we put a strategy together. We think about what we want to accomplish, the goals."

I also really liked this article about the art of short filmmaking entitles New Theories of the Short Film: A Conversation with Dr. Richard Raskin. In the story, Raskin illustrates how short filmmaking and short stories differ from traditional story telling models that revolve around conflict, character development, and context. The article paints him as an authority of the short film format. In fact, Raskin says...

"Very few academics are passionately interested in the short film. Sometimes I get the impression that I am the only one. In any event it’s a niche I am happy with, and I get to give seminars on short-film storytelling at festivals and film schools... I love narratives that are very short and meaningful. Jerry Seinfeld once said: “If I wanted a long boring story with no point to it, I’ve got my life”. I have a low boredom threshold; and films running, for example, six or seven minutes are just right for me."

Creative Spark - David Seidler

I stumbled into this web series, Academy Originals. Aside from being well produced webisodes, they are also great sources of information for anyone who is interested in process. I wanted to highlight this video because David Seidler talks about the challenges of being a creative professional and the sort of "blank page syndrome" that we've all probably experienced once or twice in our lifetimes. I specifically like his method of using rewriting as a way to simply get started; beginning with a sentence and reworking it until you loose yourself in the process.

This Is Radio

"This Is Radio" is a short web series that just started a few months ago. Not only does it feature some of my favorite people, it's very well produced, it features music from Podington Bear, and it deals with ideas that are not just limited to radio - things like storytelling, editing, and craft. This series just oozes the kind of stuff I love and these are just a few episodes that I found particularly inspiring. I'm looking forward to many more of these...

Jonathan Goldstein — This is Radio from This is Radio on Vimeo.

Roman Mars — This is Radio from This is Radio on Vimeo.

Glynn Washington — This is Radio from This is Radio on Vimeo.

What is it you desire most?

I don't know what's going on in Thailand, but I dig it!  This is a perfect follow-up to our Hampton work around Well-Being and purpose.

Canon Cinema EOS Reels

As much as I wish they were my reels, these are two reels from Canon that debuted at NAB and PhotoPlus in 2013 showcasing work created with the Cinema EOS series of cameras (C100, C300, C500, 5D, and 1DX).

There are two things that stood out to me about these reels...

Firstly, the C100, 300, and 500 share the same sensor but different guts so I'm surprised how different the images that they produce can be. Some look very cinematic while other are prone to that "video" look. I'm really interested in getting that film-look with our C100. And secondly, because everyone is posting their reels (be it real or fake - Brent), I like the way they incorporated musical changes and even sound effects into the reel. Things like the carefully placed chimes and echoes make it feel more like a trailer than a reel.

Deliver The Story: The Canon Showreel at PhotoPlus 2013 from Canon Pro on Vimeo.

Canon Professional Cameras – On set and on location from Canon Pro on Vimeo.

P.S. There's a lot of good, educational, and inspirational stuff on Canon Pro's Vimeo account.

Everything is a Remix - Part 2

We've all heard the saying that nothing is original. Jarmucsh's words have been immortalized into posters all over the internet, Tarintino has admitted to unabashed thevery, and in 2013, 7/10 of the highest grossing films are either based on books, franchises, or other pre-existing works.

I've wanted to post these for a while and there are other episodes that are just as interesting.

Where does your inspiration come from? What is your muse?

Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling

Another gem from Justin "Internet Navigator" Tiell. It's too good not to post. Perhaps Just should become an author on The Stew? Which rule do you think you'll find most useful?

1.You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
2.You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
3.Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
4.Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
5.Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
6.What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
7.Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
8.Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
9.When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
10.Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.
11.Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.
12.Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.
13.Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.
14.Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.
15.If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.
16.What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against.
17.No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on – it’ll come back around to be useful later.
18.You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.
19.Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.
20.Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d’you rearrange them into what you DO like?
21.You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?
22.What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.

Imagine the Possibilities - C100 Edition

This is kind of an extension of a previous post of mine. I'm a recent subscriber to the Cinematic Canon C100 channel on Vimeo; I'm always interested what other people are doing with similar equipment.

I've included a few of my favorite examples below. How can we continue to push our gear and get the most out of it?

Instant from Neighborhood Sandbox on Vimeo.

Carry On Only - Short Film from Chris Loope on Vimeo.

Root Films Movie Club

Introducing the Root Films Movie Club: Like a book club but without the reading. Every two weeks, we'll choose a film that everyone will watch. Then we'll take about an hour and half during lunch to discuss the film. When you watch the film, remember to jot down your favorite scenes so we can cue them up during the meeting.

The Idea is to create a common vocabulary amongst the team and improve collaboration. Watch your email for an invitation and start thinking about what film you want to share.

James Victore

Just what I needed on a Friday morning.

James Victore - Sh*t You Should Know from Dark Rye on Vimeo.

James Victore from Dark Rye on Vimeo.

Illustration inspiration

I ran across an illustrator whom I thought would be inspirational, especially for Chris. I like the sense of balance in his figures. They seem alive, even when standing still. I also enjoy his sense of proportion, like in the car and trees in the image I posted.

Enjoy Mike Yamada

http://mikeyamada.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

INFLUENCERS

I think this is a good example of a piece that maybe could have been a little differently. I'm still trying to formulate thoughts around the documentary. But it's definitely the kind of thing I'd like to deconstruct with everyone. Dave, this could be really good as it relates to the D&D documentary because I feel like this piece is a little unfocused from time to time; I want our piece to have focus.

As I'm writing, I think I'd be interested to see/hear more about the evolution of influence (like the graphic at 00:7:30).

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

Beard Watching in Brooklyn

Nothing new hear, just good ole' fashion inspirational messaging. This comes nicely wrapped in a mini doc on small-batch, hand-made, all-natural, organic, and artisanal men's (and women’s) grooming line.

STORYBOARD: Beardwatching in Brooklyn from Tumblr on Vimeo.

Superman

Here is the the latest installment of the 'Califonia is a Place' series.

Superman from California is a place. on Vimeo.

Yasuaki Onishi: reverse of volume (RG)

I've had a small affinity for huge art installations since my first trip to Chicago in 2009 when I saw Olafur Eliasson's "Take Your Time". There's something about these other-worlds that are really cool and I've always wanted to try to incorporate them somehow into a scene somehow... This was recommended viewing from Sven...

NAB Show 2012 - Ogilvy Examples

Here are three video examples shown by Ogilvy Entertainment's Doug Scott. Though I believe everyone who was in Vegas at the time attended the session, for those who didn't, it basically outlines some pretty awesome initiatives that companies are doing that revolve around documentary films and "selling ideas" rather than "selling products". After the presentation, I think we all agreed that these are examples we could bring to the table as it relates to our vale proposition and the kind of work we'd like to be doing.

I tried really hard to dig up the video that Doug had actually shown at the conference but couldn't find it anywhere; it set up the purpose of the series much better than I could. Essentially, Ogilvy, DuPont and, i believe, the BBC created a collection of mini documentaries that showcase DuPont and their commitment scientific collaboration, corporate responsibility and humanity in general. The one lin that I took away from the video I couldn't find was "It's about selling an idea or feeling, not a product". For those in the audience, back me up if I'm missing some here... you can find the rest of the videos here.

Again, another example of outreach that advertises a concept that goes beyond product placement. This one especially demonstrates a social media aspect as well.

Lastly, Red Bull going from energy drink to full-on production company...

And one more...

IndieGoGo

IndieGoGo is an online platform to raise funds for creative projects. Kinda like Kickstarter, but more focused on films and social philanthropy projects.

Sunshine

Here's a great mini doc. I think it's pretty good for a couple of reasons; it speaks to the idea that that we're all artist trying to find avenues to do our art (for better or worse). It also touches on the industry, client-relationship-dynamics, travel and the sobering effects of globalization (there's a lot that fifteen minutes). Lastly, I found it to be very well done, technically speaking, and the Benet's "character" as this grumpy cynic. The video was posted on Motionographer but has since been pulled and made private, dumb, but I was able to find it else where... and it won't embed...