The Videographers Guide To Not Falling On Your New Media Face – Signing Off
This is my last entry in The Videographers Guide series. I have seen significant growth in my client base over the last year and I now find myself in a position where to maintain the level of quality that clients have come to expect from TheNewPop I have to manage my growth. A task that I have found increasingly challenging in recent months. As well as providing content for the New Media Geek set, this blog has been one of the primary tools of staying in touch with old clients and reaching out to new ones. Now that I am shifting my focus from accelerated growth to managed growth the need for me to maintain the daily blogging schedule is not only no longer necessary, but it eats into time that can be better spent on new ideas and better videos. As a result I am decreasing the number of times I publish on this blog each week. The Videographers Guide as well as Tiny Feature Saturday’s will be the first casualties of this strategic and creative shift.
For those of you who have been following each new post and giving me feedback, I appreciate all the likes, comments and retweets. I always held the belief that connecting with 10 people who get it is more artistically rewarding and financially beneficial than connecting with 200 people who don’t. For the New Media videographers who used this guide as your blueprint for your fledgling careers in this emerging market, I have these final words;
Keep your overhead low, your spirits high, and remember that in the end you do this because you love it. If the love isn’t there it’s way to tough to find motivation to succeed without that passion. Enjoy the journey and don’t ever let a client convince you that you need them more than they need you.
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – A Day in The Life of a Kyoto Geisha
This week on TFS we feature a short by Glen Milner who also brought us A Trinidad Teen that profiles a subject I have yet to see in DSLR cinema. Milner documents Miehina who gives us some insight into the passion and dedication that it takes to continue her family tradition of the Geisha lifestyle.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Eames Furniture Marilyn & John Neuhart
This week on TFS we present a Gestalten.tv video interview with Marilyn & John Neuhart, Both have worked with the Eames Office in various capacities from the 1950s. Shot at their Los Angeles home, they tell the tale of working with Charles Eames. Marilyn also talks about her book “The Story of Eames Furniture”.
Enjoy
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Lower East Side
This week on TFS I am posting a video that reminds me in more ways than one that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This video is a montage of images set to a psychedelic track that is reminiscent of the slice of life videos that are so prevalent in DSLR films today. There is a common thread that links the Beatnik and Hippie culture of yesterday to the Hipster culture of today and the sometimes tense juxtaposition with the local indigenous population that they both share. This video resonated with me partly because I rarely see slice of life videos of Downtown NYC from this era.
But there was something more personal that connected me with this video which highlights the common thread between different generations. You see one of the directors of this video is Tom Hurwitz. As a young Production Assistant working on film sets in the late 90′s I worked on a TV documentary in which Tom was a cinematographer. To me he was this old guy who I assumed had little if anything in common with me. Then today totally by accident I came across this video. It illustrates a common thread linking our generations that made me see Tom in a different light so many years later. Now almost 15 years after working with Tom on that gig, I am creating films like Tom with the prevailing social movement as it’s subtext. A poetic illustration that “The more things change the more they stay the same.”
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday: Deiter Rams – Cold War Modern
This week on Tiny Feature Saturday I bring you a portrait on Deiter Rams who is considered one of the godfathers of 20th century Design and almost single-handedly revolutionized the look and functionality of Braun’s electronics. Until I found this piece on Hypebeast yesterday I had no idea who Dieter Rams was. As a huge fan of all things design orientated I am almost ashamed to admit this.
Enjoy
Tiny Feature Saturdays – Tattoo Age
The folks at Vice Magazine in collaboration with New Era bring us the story of Smith Street Tattoo’s. This first episode in a three part series focuses on Dan Santoro who’s very distinct style attracts tattoo enthusiasts from around the globe. Dan who his partners describe as “a little odd” shares some amusing anecdotes about tattoo’s gone awry as well as gives us some insight into his appreciation for the classic sailor style shared by his partners. The clubhouse atmosphere that exists in that little shop in this little corner in Brooklyn is pretty special.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – HBTV: Depth of Speed – JDM Legends Restored
This week on Tiny Feature Saturday we bring you another episode from Depth of Speed series. This series a collaboration between Hypebeast and filmmaker Josh Clason is born from Josh’s desire of story, travel and a love of anything automotive related. It is the kind of series I hope to have the time to produce for myself one day. In this episode Josh visits JDM Legends Eric Bizek who’s passion for craftsmanship and quality in the Japanese vintage car market is reflected in his own restoration process. The second half of this short really resonated and connected with me. The mood and the level of craft in the Josh’s filmmaking process appropriately matches the level of craft in Eric’s work. Bravo!
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Everything is a Remix Part 3
This is the 3rd part of a fascinating series Produced by Kirby Ferguson and Robert Grigsby Wilson titled Everything Is A Remix. In this episode they explore the act of creation. As stated in this video…
“The act of creation is surrounded by a fog of myths. Myths that creativity comes via inspiration. That original creations break the mold, that they’re the products of geniuses, and appear as quickly as electricity can heat a filament. But creativity isn’t magic: it happens by applying ordinary tools of thought to existing materials.”
Using the examples of the evolution of the personal computer as it’s prime example, the filmmakers give us a pretty compelling argument for why everything is a remix. This is a must see and I can’t wait to see the 4th and final installment.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Depth of Speed: Pangea
This week on TFS we present a new series titled “Depth Of Speed” courtesy of Hypebeast.com and director Josh Clason. According to Josh this series was born from a desire of story, travel and a love of anything automotive related. This first episode takes us to Salt Lake City, Utah and documents Andy Carter and his crew of Motor Bike enthusiasts known as Pangea Speed. Director Josh Clason should be applauded for his montage during the second part of the piece. Knowing when to shut up and let the visuals tell the story is an often overlooked skill in filmmaking.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – A Plea For Modernism
Architecture is arguably the worlds most awe inspiring artistic medium. It is why I never tire of New York City. But so many folks tend to think that modern architecture is not as worthy of preservation. This week on TFS we feature a video by Even Mather who tells the story of The Phillis Wheatley Elementary School. As the vimeo page states…
“The Phillis Wheatley Elementary school has served the historic New Orleans African-American neighborhood of Tremé since it opened in 1955. Celebrated worldwide for its innovative, regionally-expressive modern design – the structure sustained moderate damage during the storms and levee breach of 2005. Although it is scheduled for demolition in Summer 2011, DOCOMOMO Louisiana is advocating for its restoration via adaptive reuse.”
If you are interested, there is information on how to help in the video credits.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – SoLost: The Holy Land Of Cinema?
This video courtesy of Dave Anderson features The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin Texas. This one of a kind theatre is kind of like The Prairie Home Companion for the theatre going crowd. According to the vimeo page…
“From Master Pancake Theater to Hecklevision to Sing-Alongs and Quote-Alongs; from nighttime “Jaws” screenings from inner tubes on a lake to a car-eating Robosauras breathing fire in their parking lot to Leonard Nimoy shocking fans with a surprise world premiere of the new Star Trek, this is a spot where every day brings a grand new film event.”
They also have an aggressive policy on talking during their films. According to the founder and CEO Tim League
“If you talk… we’ll warn you sternly, if we have to warn you a second time that warning will say ‘If I am coming back, you are leaving,’ there is no third warning. And If I need to bring the police in, I will bring the police.”
Hallef*ckinglujah!
Rumor has it they will be bringing their show to New York and Los Angeles in 2011.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Painter Kureshi
This video by hanif kureshi is another example of technology replacing craft. The video focuses on the typographic practice of street painters around India. With the advent of local DTP (Desktop Publishers) shops, these craftsman are rapidly losing there business to the quicker, cheaper but uglier vinyls. Many painters have given up their practice altogether.
Enjoy
TrVZ
A Very Special Tiny Feature Saturday – Final Cut Pro X
This week we bring you a very special TFS episode. From the Supermeet Las Vegas Nab 2011 these videos feature what I describe as nothing short of a revolution in New Media. It is Final Cut X. I am not one to get overly excited over product releases be it cell phones, games, sneakers, or even movies for that matter. However while watching the presentation below I was literally jumping and cheering in my apartment.
Final Cut X is a video editors wet dream. With FCP X Apple went back to the drawing board and pretty much made sense of the editing process. Revamping the way it handles image quality, color correction, organization, and editing on the timeline. No more worrying about knocking clips out of place, automatic audio sync, auto color matching, rendering in the background, a new magnetic timeline that groups and matches clips, an incredible new interface and a bunch of other revolutionary features. This is a game changer.
Video is arguably the most relevant form of media today and with FCP X Apple has solidified it’s place in the New Media landscape. FCP X will be available in June for the insanely affordable price of $299. I almost started crying when I heard this. I am buying this one. Anyone who knows me knows I never buy programs so this is saying allot. So without further ado, here it is, the most exciting product launch in New Media since Final Cut Pro first launched in 1999.
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – New York Farm City
This week on TFS we bring you a short film about self sustaining farms in NYC. One of the best things you can do on a beautiful spring day is to browse the Farmers Market in Union Square, even if you never buy anything, (I rarely do, lol). Their is a humble integrity that farmers exude that I think comes from living off the land. The experience of looking at their produce is akin to looking at artworks in a museum. This video by Petrina Engelke and Raul Mandru reminds me of that feeling. Their tilt-shift cutaways are also a joy to watch.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s | Simple Life Manhattan – a 90-square-foot microstudio
This week on Tiny Feature Saturday check out this video about tiny living titled Simple Life Manhattan – a 90-square-foot microstudio. I’m always browsing the small space living books in Barnes & Noble and I am kind of digging what this woman has done. The truth is when you think about it why throw money into extra space when everything you need is a walk, a bike ride or a subway stop away. That’s it I’m subletting half of my apartment and living the Bill Cunningham life.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – TMB Panyee FC
After a couple of weeks away TFF is back. This week I have a really good short for you directed by Matt Devine and courtesy of TMB Bank. It’s a true story about a football team that lived on a little island in the south of Thailand called “Koh Panyee”. It’s a floating village in the middle of the sea that has not an inch of soil. The kids here loved to watch football but had nowhere to play or practice. But they didn’t let that stop them.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Josh Harris, Internet Entrepreneur
Pseudo.com was the epicenter of the new media art and cultural universe during the original late 90′s dotcom bubble, and Josh Harris was it’s ringmaster. Taking up several floors at 600 Broadway (Now home to Hollister), Psuedo was an early pioneer of internet programming. Many of it’s live streams were just excuses for allnight decadent parties. My own personal experience with Pseudo was through their weekly show 88 Hip Hop. Once a week around 10:00pm there would be a line going around the block with hip hop heads vying to get inside. They stopped letting people in due to excessive tagging. But this was nothing compared to the other programs and parties that happened there. Here is a profile of one of the real pioneers of the New Media movement Josh Harris courtesy of the First Person series. Also check out the trailer for the documentary film about Psuedo We Live In Public.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Shelter
This week on TFS we bring you a Jason Sussberg short profiling author, photographer, and pioneer of the green building and green architecture movements Lloyd Kahn. Lloyd is also the founding editor-in-chief of Shelter Publications, Inc.
“Lloyd has been grappling with the concept of home, physically and psychically, for over five decades. Situated in the financial and housing crisis, this film profiles Lloyd’s ideas on do-it-yourself construction and sustainability.”
This video shot in 16mm actually left me wanting more.
Enjoy
TreVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – The Rise and Fall of the Boombox
Check out this really cool piece titled “The Rise and Fall of the Boombox” written and edited by Roy Hurst for NPR.
Enjoy
TreVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – The Thomas Beale Cipher
This animated short tells the story of the Thomas Beale Cipher. Filmmaker Andrew S. Allen combines textures, patterns and shadows to give us a distinctive and groundbreaking piece of work. The narration and sound editing is superbly done and provides the perfect backdrop for history’s most challenging cipher. Not since the groundbreaking feature film “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” have I seen such a refreshing take on an old genre.
Enjoy
TreVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – “Why Can’t We Walk Straight?”
Here is an interesting animated short that begs the question, “Why Can’t We Walk Straight?”
Enjoy
TreVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – UNDERCITY
This tiny feature “UNDERCITY” by filmmaker Andrew Wonder chronicles the adventures of urban explorer Steve Duncan as he explores “without permission” the bridges, sewers and tunnels of New York City. Andrew effectively conveys the inherent danger and childlike sense of wonder (pun intended) one gets when going someplace you are not supposed to be going, or doing something you are not supposed to be doing.
There is an inherent element of danger which permeates almost every frame of this short. Both filmmaker and explorer risk arrest, electrocution, and victimization which adds an element of anxiety not seen in many DSLR shorts. The narrator Steve Duncan plays the danger card for everything it is worth, and just when you start to think that the element of danger might be a bit overstated, the filmmaker lets the audience off the hook through anecdotal tales from some of the folks who call this hidden world their home.
Enjoy
TreVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – The Sartorialist
This video courtesy of Intel profiles famed fashion blogger and photographer Scott Schumann aka The Sartorialist. This is one of the most insightful and beautifully produced pieces about a new media artist at work. Very inspiring work by Director Tyler Manson.
Enjoy
TreVZ