Vaboolous Discoveries

Volkswagen's little Darth Vader

2011-02-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

I liked this ad that was played during the 2011 Superbowl:

The kid's body language plus the well-chosen camera compositions really helped tell the story. I particularly enjoyed the close up shot acting as the kid's reaction after his final attempt to conquer his subject.

The New 'At the Movies' by Ebert with co-hosts Elvis Mitchell and Christy Lemire as co-host

2010-10-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

'At the Movies' has been revived by Robert Ebert for PBS. The show will have Elvis Mitchell and Christy Lemire of Associated Press as the main critics. For more information at LA Observer and The Wrap.

Since discovering KCRW's The Treatment (available as a podcast) I've been a fan of Elvis' interviews. His comments and questions to the interviewees are informative and often very insightful. I look forward to watching his reviews on 'At the Movies' on PBS.

Maybe someday I'll get to meet him in person :)

Female Directed Movies out in 2009/2010

2010-01-17T05:27:00.000-08:00

Kathryn Bigelow joins the round table:

The Hollywood Reporter: Awards Watch: Directors Roundtable

Kathryn Bigelow (director) with Mark Boal (writer) worked on this year's big buzz movie: The Hurt Locker

It is always inspiring and encouraging to see strong/successful female role models in the entertainment industry. Perhaps it's because I have been closely watching the figures in the past year or so; I've noticed there has be a notable increase in quality female directed films produced and they are getting recognized critics and the masses. Keep up the great job all you storytellers out there. Your work will continue to open doors to future talents and possibly provide new/innovative possibilities for creative storytelling.

Movies to check out:

The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow

An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig

Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold

More movies by female directors:

Cold Souls, directed by Sophie Barthes

It's Complicated, directed by Nancy Meyers

Amelia, directed by Mira Nair

Female lead/main character based movies:

Precious, directed by Lee Daniels

Coraline, directed by Henry Selick

The Blind Side, directed by John Lee Hancock

The Princess and the Frog, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker

and many many more.

Other articles you may find interesting:

The Hollywood Reporter: Awards Watch: Writers Roundtable

The Hollywood Reporter: Awards Watch: Cinematographers Roundtable

Recommending: AMC's Storymakers

2009-06-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

If you're interested thoughts from directors and actors, I recommend AMC's Storymakers.

Hosts: Peter Bart and Peter Guber

With two full episode available:

The hosts sit down with Amy Adams, Danny Boyle, Penelope Cruz, Frank Langella and Melissa Leo for an intimate round table discussion. (AMC's Storymakers)

The hosts discusses with guests Cameron Diaz, Nick Cassavetes, Judd Apatow, and Tom Cruise. (AMC's Storymakers)

Define "Chick Flicks"

2009-06-29T09:47:00.001-07:00

Having done some research on the division of genres in filmmaking... I agree that the female audience is a sector that have been neglected by the industry. It is great to see that there are directors out there, male and female, who would stand up against being catagorized in the "chick flicks" genre. Some people may not mean it in a derogatory way but that is how I feel about the term. Either we need a new term for films targeted towards women or give the definition of "chick flicks" a positive meaning.

Danny Boyle on Inspiration (AMC's Storymakers) and his realization that he has not directed any films about a women.

Tokyo!

2009-04-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to check out "Tokyo!" It has a similar air to the "'City name',I Love You" series. The showing consists of three shorts directed by three difference directors: Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Bong Joon-Ho.

The stories are based in Tokyo but their theme ranges beyond love. As in the synopsis from the movie's website Tokyo! "addresses the timeless question of whether we shape cities, or if cities shape us - in the process revealing the rich humanity at the heart of modern urban life."

Out of the three I liked "Shaking Tokyo" the most. The rhythm flowed perfectly, setting up the story and its mood. The care put into each shot is obvious. Loved the idea of buttons (for clothes) as buttons (switch) tattoos. Not to mention I was happy to see Yû Aoi in the short. You should also check her out in another one of my favorite films: Hana and Alice.

Thought: Isn't it weird how we compare things, especially when they're laid out next to each other...

"city name", I Love You

2009-04-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and "Paris, I Love You" came up in conversation. She mentioned that "New York, I Love You" is being made. When I heard this I was so excited. I'd love to work at least one of the productions but she said they've already been made. Online I was able to find this trailer:

I'm not sure when it will be released in theaters but I am definitely going to check it out. Meanwhile I am going to take a friend's suggestion, to work on my own "New York, I Love You" short! If that goes well, then I will work on other cities too: HongKong, Toronto, Brisbane, and even Prague (if I get into the film program).

Blown Away by Noriko Ambe

2009-03-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

I'm blown away by the beauty of these paper sculptures. Noriko Ambe's pieces take experience and patience. I get lost looking into the depth through the many layers. Love the natural qualities and how the light seeps through. There are so many possibilities this technique can be applied to, from motion pieces to product design.

Capturing Rage

2008-11-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

Cockfight (definition from Wikipedia)

A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters, held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout the United States and in most of Europe.

The combatants, known as gamecocks are specially bred birds, conditioned for increased stamina and strength. The comb and wattle are cut off in order to meet show standards of the American Gamefowl Society and the Old English Game Club and to prevent freezing in colder climates. Cocks possess congenital aggression toward all males of the same species. Cocks are given the best of care until near the age of two years old. They are conditioned, much like professional athletes prior to events or shows. Wagers are often made on the outcome of the match. While not all fights are to the death, the cocks do endure physical trauma that may result in death. Cockfighting was at one time considered to be an accepted, traditional sporting event in the United States. In many other areas around the world, cockfighting is still practiced as a mainstream event; in some countries it is government controlled.

Cockfighting is considered a heinous blood sport by animal welfare activists and others, due in some part to the physical trauma the cocks inflict on each other. Advocates of the sport often list cultural and religious relevance as reasons for perpetuation of cockfighting as a sport; however, there has been little evidence that those involved in it (in the U.S.A.) participate in it for religious or cultural purposes. Cock Fighting is outlawed in the United States in America.

Designer Roel Wouters captured rage on paper and film for zZz's new album Running with the Beast.

More on the piece, including the posters and making of the video: click here.

Music Video Love

2008-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

I've always been drawn to music videos... ones that are made well of course ;p Usually I likes ones that have a narrative. This is no exception:

Handcrafted Videos

2008-08-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

I grew up learning different kinds of arts and craft. Now it's a hobby of mine to make random things with the skills I've learned : ) It's pretty incredible what people can do with their hands. Some people have fine tune their craft to a state that's comparable to the product of a machine. I personally like to be able to see the artist's hand in the project. The imperfection makes the work more human and more unique. I guess this somewhat explains my love for stopmotion ;p

Here are some videos I have discovered which displays/gives the illusion of handcrafted qualities:

Music Videos:

Architecture In Helsinki - Like it or Not

Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NqC77anXCc

Commercial:

Drag and Drop World

Director Jamie Callri's Dragon

and his latest: Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfUW5_Qd5ys

Shorts:

My Paper Mind

Sticks - "Endless Not"

When the Day Breaks by Directors Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Brazilian Film Director: Denis Kamioka aka CISMA

2008-07-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

I love CISMA's newly completed short film, Handmade. Sometimes I feel people use special effects for sake of it being cool or to make their film seem fancier. I definitely don't feel that way about CISMA's films. Handmade's surreal aspects and color washes certainly add to the mood of the film. The story is simple yet the way the story is told makes it extraordinary. Plus the symbolisms are creative and not cheesy.

To view more of his work, visit his homepage.

Crossroad: Full Potential?

2008-06-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

I'm at a point in my life where I need to make some pretty important decisions about my future. It doesn't all boil down to what I want; if an employer doesn't find me suitable for the position, no matter how much I'd like to work at the company it's simply not going to happen (at least not right away). I only hope that I will end up at a place where I'll be happy and not regret things I have to do to get me there. In the case of this ad, I hope my stork will be proud : )

How would you make the biggest drawing in the world?

2008-05-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

With the help of today's technology, anything is possible. Someone has decided to make the largest drawing in the world; a self portrait at that. Tracking the whereabouts of a briefcase with a GPS inside, he was able to create this:

Also with today's technology, people can fake a lot of things... Do I have doubts about this project, yes. But do I believe it's real, the answer is also yes. What do you think?

MUTO by Blu

2008-05-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Illustrator Blu has been working on animations with his unique style of illustration for a while. He just released the biggest animation yet. The shots are a little jumpy at first but you get so engrossed by the animation that you eventually forget about it. Taking over, what look like, 3 story buildings. How does he do it?!?

Sketchbk Revelations

2008-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Sketchbooks are so personal. I see it as a visual diary. When I show my sketchbook to people, I almost feel naked... perhaps that's why I don't draw/write in it as much as I should.

A few years ago I noticed Moleskine brand notebooks, journals being sold at the higher end paper stores. Slowly everyone started carrying them around. In the classrooms, at least one student would own one. They'd busily sketch out their ideas or simply have fun doodling on the off-white pages. There are lots of Moleskine lovers out their. So many that a website has been created "dedicated to moleskine lovers and their art". Check out 'skine.art.

Wet Cookies: The Height of Sidewalk Art

2008-04-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

My friends and I participated in the 2008 Savannah Sidewalk Arts Festival. Instead of just drawing on the sidewalk we decided to bring our creation to life; a stopmotion animation was created. We were given 3 boxes of chalk and about 3 hours to complete the project. During our shoot, it started to rain heavily. Luckily, it rained just as we were shooting the raining scene in our animation and it stopped before we got to the oven scene.

It was so much fun working with my friends. The whole experience was very rewarding. The bonus came when we found out we also won the graduate award for our creation!

I hope you will enjoy it:

Pixel.icious

2008-04-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

Unlike the most tags your find on a the walls of NYC, this piece shouts "FUN!"

(seen on 9th Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave)

If you have a lot of time one your hands or you simply want to mess around with pixels, I recommend trying pixelblocks. Or you can be innovative and make your own versions like designer Tithi Kutchamuch's challenge to society: "Can design make people buy food that offers less?"

Movie: Paris Je t'aime

2008-04-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Very few movies inspire me these days. I think it's because I don't have access to the independent/foreign films in Savannah. The film festival was great but that's only once a year.

A while ago I saw the trailer for Paris Je t'aime. It didn't make it to Savannah but I got to see it when it came out on DVD. I loved it! It's a compilation of short films made by directors from around the world. The central theme is Paris and love. I highly recommend this movie. You're bound to find at least one or more stories that you would connect with or that would inspire you.

A Short Love Story in Stop Motion

2008-04-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Talk about coincidences, this morning I was listening to Sigur Ros' song: Hoppipolla. I actually stopped my iPod at that song. An hour later I find this short clip... Sound plays an important role and helps set the mood in film and animation. Often I'd find a piece of music which I feel sets the tone of my work before I start filming/animating.

Carlos Lascano works in a wide range of media; stopmotion being one of them. A cut of his latest work in progress can be seen here:

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

I love the cinematography and the fact that he uses mix media in his pieces. I can't wait to see the final animation : ) More of his work can be seen here.

Illustrator: Christian Huckstadt

2008-04-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

Christian Hackstadt creates fun, childlike illustrations with vector drawings, colored cardboard cutouts and food. The simplicity of the designs keep the pieces clean. The handmade, tactile qualities and a great use of typography brings the viewer closer to the work.

Teeth that's so White, so Bright

2008-04-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Prime Focus (Mumbai, India) worked on the Silver Lion winning spot "Happy Dent Palace". How Earth friendly would it be if we could light up our surroundings by our teeth? It'd be very convenient going camping but I'm pretty sure I won't like bugs hovering around me.

On the topic of being Earth friendly, watching "Happy Dent Palace" actually reminds me of a Greenpeace commercial. A little disturbing but funny. This ad promotes the use of energy saving light bulbs.

Director: Sven Harding Production/VFX: PARK VILLAGE

Chasing Pavements

2008-04-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

Story telling through shadows and dance were creatively used in the music video of British artist, Adele. Chasing Pavements has been interpreted by director, Mathew Cullen. He and him team at Motion Theory did an amazing job. Check it out.

Street Art Comes to Live in the Form of Plastic Animals

2008-04-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

I loved living in New York because I was constantly surround by inspirational images. May it be stickers, graffiti, mosaic lamp posts...the list goes on. Every now and then you'd see something more innovative than others. Artists find creative ways to stand out. I remember reading some magazine and found out about Micro-Fiber Militia which I was excited about since I'm a bit of a crafter myself. Recently I saw the images of plastic bag animals. Check out the video here.

I'd love to collaborate with Joshua Allen Harris to make a music video or environmental commercial based on his concept : )

Artist: Charles Clary

2008-04-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

I checked out SCAD's painting department the other week at their open studio and got to see a lot of interesting pieces of art. Charles Clary's work in particular caught my attention. The vibrant colors used are refreshing. His meticulous methodology adds depth to his pieces, literally. Check out http://percusiveart.blogspot.com for his progress at the New York City Workspace program.