Your Daily Dose of Drama

Do you ever feel like your day just isn't exciting enough?  Ever wish you could add a bit of drama to your daily goings on?  Well, the people of Aarschot, a small town in Belgium, had the opportunity to put this right by pressing a big red button to 'add drama'.  The video that details what followed has received over 3 million views in just over 20 hours of being uploaded to YouTube and that seems to be rising...

Push to Add Drama

Kony 2012 Part II: Progress and Idealism

Back at the beginning of March, Invisible Children (IC) released a video looking at the rebel leader Joseph Kony and his organisation, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who, after ravaging Uganda, is rampaging through South Sudan, Central African Republic and the Congo.  The video aimed for social media to spread the video and to make this man famous: so famous that it will be impossible for those in power to not make a move and arrest the man, putting a stop to the LRA's murder, abduction and general atrocities in the name of power.

Spread social media did and famous Kony did become.  The video itself has reached almost 90 million views so far, with countless reposts, and most people, in the Western world at least, now know the name of Joseph Kony and what he stands for.  the Kony 2012 campaign had its critics but, obviously, its supporters too and has released a second video to follow up the first.

...the Award for the Most Shocking University Advert in History Goes to...

The University of Lincoln, where I studied and currently work, has become world-famous (or should I say world-infamous) for a series of 'banned' adverts by one of their students, Tom Ridgewell, aka. Tom Ska.  He produced some parody adverts for YouTube, labelled them banned (though the University itself didn't even know they were being made, let alone banned them) and has gone on to gain over 4 million views from the series.

The videos include dinosaurs on campus, lectures on fire and a zombie invasion of a photoshoot and lead Tom to create another video for the university's own promotional material, including spoof courses and swans, and the reaction to all the videos show what is possible if a University takes a risk to attract its target audience.  Others have taken a similar approach but nothing has come quite like the Central Institute of Technology in Northbridge, Western Australia.

Adverts of the Super Bowl 2012

  I'm reliably informed that many in America who do not enjoy sports look forward to Super Bowl Sunday each year anyway.  The country celebrates the event with parties all over but it's the bits in between the plays of American Football which really pull the viewers in.  Super Bowl commercial breaks are notorious for containing great adverts and companies spend up to $3.5m for 30 seconds of space.

One of the Coke Polar Bears that watched the match along with the audience.

  Mashable has put together all 52 adverts that were broadcast during the Super Bowl this year and during my breaks at work I've been taking a look.  Here are some of my favourites.

Project Managing the University of Lincoln Videos

  I started an internship at the University of Lincoln back in June and one of the first things I was asked to look at developing some new promotional videos for the University.  The old ones were about 3 years old and so were definitely in need of a refresh.

Fotoshop by Adobé

  A parody advertisement video has arrived on the internet, by a film maker called Jesse Rosten (@jesserosten) commenting on the beauty industry of today.  It is really well made, has a great concept and the message is portrayed an a hugely effective manner.  The description to the video reads simply: "this commercial isn't real, neither are society's standards of beauty".  Take a look.

 

Vinnie Jones Does it Hard and Fast for the British Heart Foundation

  The British Heart Foundation have become the first organisation in the UK to actively promote Hands-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). To go alongside this, they have began a national campaign saying that 'anyone who doesn’t have CPR training should now ignore the kiss of life in favour of “hard and fast” compressions in the centre of the chest'.

  The campaign is spearheaded by a television advert utilising the reputation and talents of Vinnie Jones, the former footballer (Wimbledon, Chelsea) turned Hollywood actor (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, X-Men: the Final Stand).  The film is simple, informative and to the point and uses a great touch of irony and comedy to make a memorable video.  Unfortunately, some have taken exception to one line that Vinnie says, which I worry will take away from the point of the video. 

Videos at Christmas

  I've seen some really amazing videos around Christmas this year, from A Social Media Christmas to Jesus/Santa comparisons to beatboxing priests but I think this video might be the sweetest and best made video I have seen so far.

33 Minutes That Will Rock Your World

  This is a shocking, award-winning documentary, 33 minutes long and created by Ray Comfort, the founder of Living Waters, a media-centric mission in America.  It's worth your time.


Please note that there are strong images in this video that might offend some.

Kids of the Future

  I was sent a link to this video today by a colleague, created by global media agency PHD Worldwide, commenting on what the landscape of society and consumerism will be like in ten years time.  I thought it was very thought-provoking and a clever way of putting forward the discussion of how companies will have to relate to consumers in years to come with technology growing as it is.

  There's been a lot of bad reaction to this video for exploiting children actors (who do a good job, in my opinion) and portraying them in such a demanding and selfish light.  They also criticise the film-makers for painting such a cynical view of the future and putting a dampener on the youth of today.

  I disagree.  The video plainly presents these children as the voice of the future, talking about the future on numerous occasions and using the future tense.  They paint the logical conclusion of where this selfish society is heading in such a technologically progressive time and I think it's a very clever, thought-provoking and stylistic video.

  What do you think?  Are the film makers at fault creating this film?  Does it paint a plausible picture of the future of consumerism?

  Whatever you think, Chris, the guy who sent the video to me, said he 'prefurred' this version of the video.

What's it Like to Have Your Film Flop at the Box Office?

  Screenwriter and director, Sean Hood, wrote this week about what it's like to watch the film you've worked on flop at the box office, as his film Conan the Barbarian 3D did last week in the US.  It's pretty inspiring stuff, took great humility from the film-maker and a great insight into how film making and the film industry works.

  "When you work "above the line" on a movie (writer, director, actor, producer, etc.) watching it flop at the box office is devastating. I had such an experience during the opening weekend of Conan the Barbarian 3D. 

  "A movie's opening day is analogous to a political election night. Although I've never worked in politics, I remember having similar feelings of disappointment and disillusionment when my candidate lost a presidential bid, so I imagine that working as a speechwriter or a fundraiser for the losing campaign would feel about the same as working on an unsuccessful film.

  "One joins a movie production, the same way one might join a campaign, years before the actual release/election, and in the beginning one is filled with hope, enthusiasm and belief. I joined the Conan team, having loved the character in comic books and the stories of Robert E. Howard, filled with the same kind of raw energy and drive that one needs in politics.

  "Any film production, like a long grueling campaign over months and years, is filled with crisis, compromise, exhaustion, conflict, elation, and blind faith that if one just works harder, the results will turn out all right in the end. During that process whatever anger, frustration, or disagreement you have with the candidate/film you keep to yourself. Privately you may oppose various decisions, strategies, or compromises; you may learn things about the candidate that cloud your resolve and shake your confidence, but you soldier on, committed to the end. You rationalize it along the way by imagining that the struggle will be worth it when the candidate wins.

  "A few months before release, "tracking numbers" play the role in movies that polls play in politics. It's easy to get caught up in this excitement, like a college volunteer handing out fliers for Howard Dean. (Months before Conan was released many close to the production believed it would open like last year's The Expendables.) As the release date approaches and the the tracking numbers start to fall, you start adjusting expectations, but always with a kind of desperate optimism. "I don't believe the polls," say the smiling candidates.

  "You hope that advertising and word of mouth will improve the numbers, and even as the numbers get tighter and the omens get darker, you keep telling yourself that things will turn around, that your guy will surprise the experts and pollsters. You stay optimistic. You begin selectively ignoring bad news and highlighting the good. You make the best of it. You believe.

  "In the days before the release, you get all sorts of enthusiastic congratulations from friends and family. Everyone seems to believe it will go well, and everyone has something positive to say, so you allow yourself to get swept up in it. 

  "You tell yourself to just enjoy the process. That whether you succeed or fail, win or lose, it will be fine. You pretend to be Zen. You adopt detachment, and ironic humor, while secretly praying for a miracle.

  "The Friday night of the release is like the Tuesday night of an election. "Exit polls"are taken of people leaving the theater, and estimated box office numbers start leaking out in the afternoon, like early ballot returns. You are glued to your computer, clicking wildly over websites, chatting nonstop with peers, and calling anyone and everyone to find out what they've heard. Have any numbers come back yet? That's when your stomach starts to drop.

  "By about 9 PM its clear when your "candidate" has lost by a startlingly wide margin, more than you or even the most pessimistic political observers could have predicted. With a movie its much the same: trade magazines like Variety and Hollywood Reporter call the weekend winners and losers based on projections. That's when the reality of the loss sinks in, and you don't sleep the rest of the night.

  "For the next couple of days, you walk in a daze, and your friends and family offer kind words, but mostly avoid the subject. Since you had planned (ardently believed, despite it all) that success would propel you to new appointments and opportunities, you find yourself at a loss about what to do next. It can all seem very grim.

  "You make light of it, of course. You joke and shrug. But the blow to your ego and reputation can't be brushed off. Reviewers, even when they were positive, mockedConan The Barbarian for its lack of story, lack of characterization, and lack of wit. This doesn't speak well of the screenwriting - and any filmmaker who tells you s/he "doesn't read reviews" just doesn't want to admit how much they sting.

  "Unfortunately, the work I do as a script doctor is hard to defend if the movie flops. I know that those who have read my Conan shooting script agree that much of the work I did on story and character never made it to screen. I myself know that given the difficulties of rewriting a script in the middle of production, I made vast improvements on the draft that came before me. But its still much like doing great work on a losing campaign. All anyone in the general public knows, all anyone in the industry remembers, is the flop. A loss is a loss.

  "But one thought this morning has lightened my mood:

  "My father is a retired trumpet player. I remember, when I was a boy, watching him spend months preparing for an audition with a famous philharmonic. Trumpet positions in major orchestras only become available once every few years. Hundreds of world class players will fly in to try out for these positions from all over the world. I remember my dad coming home from this competition, one that he desperately wanted to win, one that he desperately needed to win because work was so hard to come by. Out of hundreds of candidates and days of auditions and callbacks, my father came in....second.

  "It was devastating for him. He looked completely numb. To come that close and lose tore out his heart. But the next morning, at 6:00 AM, the same way he had done every morning since the age of 12, he did his mouthpiece drills. He did his warm ups. He practiced his usual routines, the same ones he tells his students they need to play every single day. He didn't take the morning off. He just went on. He was and is a trumpet player and that's what trumpet players do, come success or failure.

  "Less than a year later, he went on to win a position with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he played for three decades. Good thing he kept practicing.

  "So with my father's example in mind, here I sit, coffee cup steaming in its mug and dog asleep at my feet, starting my work for the day, revising yet another script, working out yet another pitch, thinking of the future (the next project, the next election) because I'm a screenwriter, and that's just what screenwriters do.

  "In the words of Ed Wood, 'My next one will be BETTER!'"

Arcade Fire's New Media

  HTML5 is looking like becoming the natural progression of web languages, succeeding Flash, it's predecessors and other technologies.  YouTube has moved to it, among others, and anyone creating web technologies has to think about something similar to it to get it onto Apple devices (which doesn't accept Flash).  This is the nicest way I've seen it used so far and it's well worth a look.

  The video is of Arcade Fire's new single The Wilderness Downtown and you can see the video here.  After asking you for the location that you grew up in, the video uses HTML5 to jump the imagery around your screen, integrating images of that location as part of the narrative.  It also asks for you to interact with it by writing a postcard of advice to your growing up self which can be sent around the world to other viewers of the video.  I like the concept and it is definitely conducted well.  Have a look for yourself and see what could be the future of music videos.

BBC Conquers the 'Dark Side of the Course'

  I have a new favourite advert, by our very own BBC, advertising their upcoming coverage of the Masters Golf 2011.  Not only do I love the effects and the concept but the pun is amazing!  Enjoy.

1812: Napoleon's Final Invasion

  For my third year of university, I've created a documentary animation about Napoleon's fatal attempt at invading Russia in 1812.  It's based on Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which I played recently on tour with Soar Valley Music Centre and fell in love with.  I've used sketches from Naomi Allen (using original paintings and engravings of the event), had help with translations from Victor D'Allance and designed and animated it myself using Adobe Photoshop, After Effects and FInal Cut Pro.

  Enjoy!



Featured in the Lincoln City Programme

Last year I worked with Lincoln City Football Club to help produce a promotional DVD to show to kids, parents and sponsors what happens at the club's Centre of Excellence.  It was really good to do, made some good mates who I worked with and also got to work closely with the footballing staff including Lee Frecklington, Graham Taylor and Grant Brown (youth coach) who I'm still working with, filming U18 matches.

Anyway, at a recent match, we featured in the match-day programme; a first for me!  Have a look and check out the video we produced too.

Lincoln City FC Youth Development Programme from Joel Murray on Vimeo.

Making Films is a Riot

Doing a media course at university, it's not surprising that I love making films and videos.  Well now this has been enhanced through a website called Film Riot, from Internet Television Channel Revision 3.  It makes short films based around a group of mates and daily life and utilises special effects within them, for example lightsabres or flame hands!  It's lead by a guy called Ryan Connolly and is a great resource for anyone into film making.

Have a look at a video here:

Thanks to Doc for the link.