Thursday, February 8, 2007
Lasse Gjertsen
I went and checked out the video dump (is that right?) web site that was brought up in class. Before I had a chance I thought, if something by Lasse Gjertsen is not on there, something is wrong. I ran across some of his work not so long ago and was blown away. All the lonely anime girl stuff is just not for me. High school ended a long time ago and I dont want to hear about it from some stranger. But Lasse Gjertsen's work makes up for all the crap (im sorry but it is) thats on youtube. Youtube has everything from fights filmed with cell phones to Japanese girls looking for tips on her golf swing. Gjertsen is what I go to look for. I have found a couple other good peoples work to (cant remember them right now). Maybe there should be a separate section for people who actually create art on the youtube site? I know Id be stoked on it. Also did anyone else see the preview for the show "The Lot"? Its a reality tv show about aspiring film makers. Im looking forward to that.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
If that question was a turkey sandwich I would eat it with mustard and mayo.
What if Bill Gates gave Vito Acconci a million dollars to do his next film?
(For starters Ill take the most realistic approach that I can think of.)
The notice that the world would take on Gates giving Acconci a million dollars would be in direct proportion to the notice of a million dollars missing from Gates's bank account. What does that guy have now, like enough money to buy the stock market? If Bush were smart he would ask Gates to fund his war instead of us. The guy is so rich he should clone himself and will himself his own fortune. If he doesnt will himself his own fortune it would take him from now until he died to make a will. This way he just says, "I will my Scrooge McDuck sized bank account to me." Done.
(Now a different view.)
I dont know what would be considered a big budget for an experimental film but Ill just assume that one million would be real big. Remember when Green Day signed the first big corporate deal for a "punk rock" band? Green Day got called sell outs and there was a big media hub bub about it. When you look back, it was a double pay off for the band. They got a bucket of money and more free advertisement than they could wish for. They would have to make an album of just farts to not sell 10 million records. I think the same thing would happen if Gates gave Acconci a million. He would be called a sell out, shunned by his peers, the media would have him on Entertainment Tonight and Oprah the next day, he would go make his movie and the public would buy in to whatever he did.
On a side note, I never liked Green Day and I dont see why the punk rock community even responded. I think they proved that they sold out so many years ago by the type of music they make today.
(and now, a completely different view)
Vito gets the million, starts a high definition streaming web sight thats free to the public and spends the rest of his life on a floor in front of a couch smoking cigarettes listening to great records begging for someone to be inside of him. A week after the sight goes up the world has its first live in HD streaming death because you cant live on cigarettes, begging and good tunes.
(For starters Ill take the most realistic approach that I can think of.)
The notice that the world would take on Gates giving Acconci a million dollars would be in direct proportion to the notice of a million dollars missing from Gates's bank account. What does that guy have now, like enough money to buy the stock market? If Bush were smart he would ask Gates to fund his war instead of us. The guy is so rich he should clone himself and will himself his own fortune. If he doesnt will himself his own fortune it would take him from now until he died to make a will. This way he just says, "I will my Scrooge McDuck sized bank account to me." Done.
(Now a different view.)
I dont know what would be considered a big budget for an experimental film but Ill just assume that one million would be real big. Remember when Green Day signed the first big corporate deal for a "punk rock" band? Green Day got called sell outs and there was a big media hub bub about it. When you look back, it was a double pay off for the band. They got a bucket of money and more free advertisement than they could wish for. They would have to make an album of just farts to not sell 10 million records. I think the same thing would happen if Gates gave Acconci a million. He would be called a sell out, shunned by his peers, the media would have him on Entertainment Tonight and Oprah the next day, he would go make his movie and the public would buy in to whatever he did.
On a side note, I never liked Green Day and I dont see why the punk rock community even responded. I think they proved that they sold out so many years ago by the type of music they make today.
(and now, a completely different view)
Vito gets the million, starts a high definition streaming web sight thats free to the public and spends the rest of his life on a floor in front of a couch smoking cigarettes listening to great records begging for someone to be inside of him. A week after the sight goes up the world has its first live in HD streaming death because you cant live on cigarettes, begging and good tunes.
Where was the split pea soup and head spinning
Beneath the Skin by Cecelia Condit
I may be the only one but the volume bothered me a little in this video. I seamed kind of loud. It took away from the video a little for me. I really liked the over lapping of projector over live action. I always have liked that affect. Ive seen it in a couple of movies that didnt have a huge budget or where before technology had a ton of influence and options. It works great and I hope people never stop using it. It served its purpose well here. The song also stuck in my mind, which isnt surprising because Im driven by audio. Or so im realizing every time I write one of these friggen blogs! The song just had such a nice flow. It changed almost randomly and kept me on edge. "Where is this song going next!" I said in my head, "G.I. Joe, Thats fucking great, whats next!" This one ran a little long for me but I assume its just preference. The OCD crowd should love it.
I may be the only one but the volume bothered me a little in this video. I seamed kind of loud. It took away from the video a little for me. I really liked the over lapping of projector over live action. I always have liked that affect. Ive seen it in a couple of movies that didnt have a huge budget or where before technology had a ton of influence and options. It works great and I hope people never stop using it. It served its purpose well here. The song also stuck in my mind, which isnt surprising because Im driven by audio. Or so im realizing every time I write one of these friggen blogs! The song just had such a nice flow. It changed almost randomly and kept me on edge. "Where is this song going next!" I said in my head, "G.I. Joe, Thats fucking great, whats next!" This one ran a little long for me but I assume its just preference. The OCD crowd should love it.
(Brave Heart) FREEDUMB!!!!
The Amateurist by Miranda July
I got over tones of obsession in this video. Like it was a film that would touch and comfort someone with an obsessive compulsive disorder. A person, it would seem, with OCD could really fall head first into this piece. I think that speaks volumes for the way Miranda July Performs for her piece. She uses experimental video to amplify her performances wonderfully.
I got over tones of obsession in this video. Like it was a film that would touch and comfort someone with an obsessive compulsive disorder. A person, it would seem, with OCD could really fall head first into this piece. I think that speaks volumes for the way Miranda July Performs for her piece. She uses experimental video to amplify her performances wonderfully.
I thought they all did have diaries.
If Every Girl had a Diary by Sadie Benning
This video made me feel claustrophobic. The one room, by different angles, gave an inclosed touch to the piece. If I were to try and describe this video in one word it would be isolated. It shows so much range in a small time yet slowly and kind of intense.
This video made me feel claustrophobic. The one room, by different angles, gave an inclosed touch to the piece. If I were to try and describe this video in one word it would be isolated. It shows so much range in a small time yet slowly and kind of intense.
Addressing no clothes
Birthday Suit - with scars and defects by Lisa Steele
This film surprised me. When I first heard the word nude, I thought, "sweet, nude girl." Im not some kind of pervert who hangs out in strip clubs. I just think women are beautiful. I was delighted to see how intense and engaging the video was. In being nude she created a more personal video. Each scar was drawn out and held almost to a point of discomfort. But never to long. The audio gave a feeling of an autopsy as did the video format. The honest quality of video helped to create an -intimate feel. There was just something in the way she rubbed her scars that made me feel them myself.
This film surprised me. When I first heard the word nude, I thought, "sweet, nude girl." Im not some kind of pervert who hangs out in strip clubs. I just think women are beautiful. I was delighted to see how intense and engaging the video was. In being nude she created a more personal video. Each scar was drawn out and held almost to a point of discomfort. But never to long. The audio gave a feeling of an autopsy as did the video format. The honest quality of video helped to create an -intimate feel. There was just something in the way she rubbed her scars that made me feel them myself.
Who thinks Vito shot first (star wars reference, kind of)
Theme Song by Vito Acconci
Ive long believed that making a mix tape is an art form. More so than mix CD's because the listener can simply skip a track with the touch of a button. Compilations require composition. The songs that you use say everything about how you feel about the person you are making them for. Theme Song seamed like a video version of a mix audio tape. I think the idea of filling the 1/3 of the screen with his face was a good idea I think a better place than the floor could have been used. I would imagine that filling the screen with his face anymore than 1/3 would be to invasive and anything under 1/3 wouldnt have been enough to keep attention. Still in my view a mix tape could have done the same job that the video did.
p.s. I couldnt get the word "stalker" out of my head.
Ive long believed that making a mix tape is an art form. More so than mix CD's because the listener can simply skip a track with the touch of a button. Compilations require composition. The songs that you use say everything about how you feel about the person you are making them for. Theme Song seamed like a video version of a mix audio tape. I think the idea of filling the 1/3 of the screen with his face was a good idea I think a better place than the floor could have been used. I would imagine that filling the screen with his face anymore than 1/3 would be to invasive and anything under 1/3 wouldnt have been enough to keep attention. Still in my view a mix tape could have done the same job that the video did.
p.s. I couldnt get the word "stalker" out of my head.
Monday, February 5, 2007
The quality in video.
Video as a format, for me, comes off in a vary honest way. The quality in black and white and the quality in color seems almost surreal. There is something about the way motion is captured in video that lingers in my mind. Video congers memories of seeing old cheap soap operas, public access shows and the first pornography I ever saw. This all goes back to the realization at the time that you can do anything with a movie. The extremes of emotions and stories to tell are covered and explored. This was the time period in my life that doors opened in the way I thought about movies and film. I also started skateboarding for the first time around this period in my life (I stopped for no reason and picked it up around 8 years later). Skateboard videos made at that time I saw were more of a raw documentary of the skateboards life and had heavy tones of experimental film in them. Much unlike the straight to the point feel of most modern skateboard videos. The motion and quality that video presents is nostalgic to me.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
If poop comes nicely wrapped, is it nice poop?
I recently watched the movie Art School Confidential. It Looked good and featured supporting rolls by John Malkovich, Anjelica Huston and Steve Buscemi. Thats a beefy supporting role for any film. The main roles where filled by actors and actresses that I had never heard of aside from Ethan Suplee. I figured why not, Im in art school, this could be a funny movie made for people like me. now, getting to the point, it sucked. Im not one to throw the suck label down on just any movie. In case you would like a reference point other movies that fall in to "suck" are Pool hall jumkies (aside from Christopher Walken's cameo), Speed (Sandra Bullock's acting can stop a speeding bus) and Starship Troopers.
I hate the word but contrived is the only one that really fits the bill here. I think that this movie should be shown in class for the same reason business students study Crystal Pepsi. The reason being when you have enough money and enough time to offer something to the world you should make it good and not suck. I could go into so many things about why this movie was 102 continuos minutes of suckage. I could even offer some suggestions as to how easily this movie could have been made way better. Im exhausting myself just thinking about it.
I would like to close this blog by saying, watch it yourself. Thats right, go rent a movie that Im saying sucks. The fact of the matter is none of you know me. My opinion holds no weight. It shouldnt. Im just some guy in your class. Thats why Im saying, go out and rent it. If you like it then Im just some ranting bitching guy at school who hated a movie you liked or didnt mind. Thats fine with me. But if you think it sucked to, then lets talk about it. One of the perks I jumped at by choosing to go to school here is to be around like minded people. Sure some of my friends will talk movies with me but most of them get to drunk to make any sense after a couple of hours. I cringe at the thought that people could view this place as a contest, pitting them self against the other students.
Im getting off subject, watch it and lets talk.
I hate the word but contrived is the only one that really fits the bill here. I think that this movie should be shown in class for the same reason business students study Crystal Pepsi. The reason being when you have enough money and enough time to offer something to the world you should make it good and not suck. I could go into so many things about why this movie was 102 continuos minutes of suckage. I could even offer some suggestions as to how easily this movie could have been made way better. Im exhausting myself just thinking about it.
I would like to close this blog by saying, watch it yourself. Thats right, go rent a movie that Im saying sucks. The fact of the matter is none of you know me. My opinion holds no weight. It shouldnt. Im just some guy in your class. Thats why Im saying, go out and rent it. If you like it then Im just some ranting bitching guy at school who hated a movie you liked or didnt mind. Thats fine with me. But if you think it sucked to, then lets talk about it. One of the perks I jumped at by choosing to go to school here is to be around like minded people. Sure some of my friends will talk movies with me but most of them get to drunk to make any sense after a couple of hours. I cringe at the thought that people could view this place as a contest, pitting them self against the other students.
Im getting off subject, watch it and lets talk.
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