Five Great Short Films from Jeremiah Warren

As a history buff, an information junkie and fan of animation and motion graphics I love the amazing work of the super creative Jeremiah Warren. Check them all out, they are insanely great.

A Short History of the Modern Calendar

2011 Told Through Twitter

How Hurricanes are Named

Super Mario Bros Paper Stop Motion Orchestration

Steve Jobs tribute: the history of the life of Steve Jobs

Mars Mission 2025 After Effects Experiment

I thought I’d share an experiment with that I created today with After Effects, PhotoShop, Premiere Pro and Soundbooth. You could say I used lots of tools in my Adobe toolbox today!

First, I took a photo from iStockphoto and using layer masks and adjustment layers I turned it into the surface of Mars, or tired to. I then took it as a layered document into After Effects. I was inspired by this great post from Church Media Design and used it as a starting point to create the stars and aurora (big hint: fractal noise!) and added some text. I then went to SoundBooth and I took some canned music and mixed it with a wind sound effect to create the soundtrack. Finally, I brought the audio and video together in Premiere and then exported the file.

All in all it was a fun little experiment I can’t wait to do another one.

Digital Ephemera for Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Another Wednes­day has rolled around, so here’s my weekly col­lec­tion of inter­est­ing dig­i­tal ephemera I’ve found pok­ing around the vast Inter­net waste­land. Think of me as your guide through the eclec­tic dig­i­tal desert…

Today’s Menu

• Art & Design
• Motion Graphics & Video
• Marketing
• Social Media
• Something Cool
• Something Strange
• Something Terrible
• Three Sites Worth Checking Out (Chess Edition)

Art & Design

The Evolution of Baseball card Design 1887-2011
This is a fun collection of Baseball Cards from designer Stacy David Wallingford. Just like the players, I’d have to say that even the graphics seem to have beefed up dramatically. I’m guessing they’d test positive for PhotoShop.

Case Study: The Revenger’s Tragedy Initial Design
Okay a bit of a shameless plug for my own article, but it’s a nice post that exposes my design philosophy and methodology. Take a look at how I came up with a design for GreenStage’s production of The Revenger’s Tragedy.

Motion Graphics & Video

Teal and Orange – Hollywood, Please Stop the Madness
A great rant on the overuse of color correction from filmmaker Todd Miro on the desaturation of the palette in Hollywood films of late. I don’t totally agree, but it’s a great rant nonetheless.

L.A. Timelapse
This is beautiful, and as John Nack says: “Colin Rich has done the nearly impossible: He’s made me find Los Angeles beautiful.”

LA Light from Colin Rich on Vimeo.

Table 7
A very cute, clever and well executed short film. -via Neatorama

John Dies at the End
Okay, I don’t know what this is about even after reading this article. But I sure want to see it!

Marketing

Seth Godin’s Blog

Many people have heard of Seth Godin, if you haven’t you should! His daily missives on marketing, communications and humanity are not to me missed. A truly invaluable inspiration for those navigating the murky waters of modern marketing.

Social Media

What Was There?

This site is an experiment in collective history. Using google maps and user submitted photographs they aim to create build a visual history of the world. A worthy goal!

Something Cool

Digital Dead Sea Scrolls

After over 24 centuries, the work of archaeologists, scholars and historians the Dead Sea Scrolls will be accessible to everyone thanks to Google’s technology. Google and The Israel Museum, Jerusalem have teamed up and are celebrating the launch of the Dead Sea Scrolls online. As reported on Google’s Blog:

Now, anyone around the world can view, read and interact with five digitized Dead Sea Scrolls. The high resolution photographs, taken by Ardon Bar-Hama, are up to 1,200 megapixels, almost 200 times more than the average consumer camera, so viewers can see even the most minute details in the parchment. For example, zoom in on the Temple Scroll to get a feel for the animal skin it’s written on—only one-tenth of a millimeter thick.”

Something Strange

Cthulhu vs. the Sith (or the Carrot Monster Revenge)
A cute, if strange stop motion animation involving vegetables, legos and the unmentionable horror from beyond the stars.

Something Terrible

Worst Band Ever Butchers Pink Floyd
So bad, it’s almost good… almost!

Three Sites Worth Checking Out (Chess Edition)

• It’s Your Turn. My favorite online chess (and other board game) site. If you want to challenge me at chess challenge Ulysses 2004.
• The Chess Website YouTube Channel. Great video chess lessons and lectures.
• US Chess. The US Chess Federation official site.

Great Design! EF: Live the Language

If you like good clean design and fantastic video work, check out the great campaign “Live the Language” for the company EF Inter­na­tional Lan­guage Cen­ters, which is, according to their website,

…is the world’s largest privately held education company that specializes in language training, educational travel, academic degrees, and cultural exchange.”

See Ad Credits…

I’ve only embedded the “Paris” one, my favorite, but you should really check out all the videos in this campaign.

• Barcelona
• Beijing
• London
• Los Angeles
• Paris
• Sydney
• Vancouver

The campaign was created by the Swedish Agency Camp David, and I love, love, love these ads. They are beautiful, no doubt, but more importantly they totally sell the idea of travel. What I mean by this is, that when we think of traveling to a foreign country, what do we think of? Not the little annoyances of lost luggage, spending too much money or the difficulty in finding the rest room, no we think of adventure, new vistas (literally and figuratively) and even romance.

These ads are perfect because they function as a gorgeous short hand for the mythology of travel; they show you exactly what you expect to see, what kind of experiences you want to have and the life changing perspective you will gain. Watching these amazing ads is sort of like implanting memories of a summer studying in a foreign land with out leaving your computer. Kind of like Total Recall‘s Blue Skies of Mars.

I am very impressed with the art direction of these spots, all the elements of the production enhance and support the over all theme of “Living the Language.” They are beautifully shot with a photographer’s sensibilities, enhancing both the alluring locations and actors. The music is catchy, hopeful and wistfully evocative of expanding horizons. Also, as a typophile I particularity loved the classic yet vibrant typography. Note how each ad uses typography to sell the idea of the city without being cliché. The productions are certainly top notch.

All advertising is, at some level, manipulative, but in this case I don’t mind, because one, I am aware it is mythologizing travel and two, I love that myth. Mythology is the way we humans organize our fears, desires and hopes. They are ways we explain what we go through in life and what we hope will happen. These myths matter, as Joseph Campbell so eloquently explained. As these ads remind us, there is plenty of adventure left to have in the world, it’s just right outside and all we have to do is open the door. Or, I suppose, if you’re on a budget and have broadband just click play. Either way, it’s a good way to look at the world.

You can check out the complete series and more cool videos on EF’s Live the Language YouTube Channel.

Paris Commercial Credits for EF International Language Centers.
Directed by Gustav Johansson (gustavjohansson.com)
D.P: Niklas Johansson, fsf (niklasjohansson.com)
Typography: Albin Holmqvist (albinholmqvist.com)
Music: Magnus Lidehäll (twitter.com/?magnusthemagnus)
Produced at Camp David (campdavidfilm.com)
Client: EF International Language Centers
Campaign site: ef.com/?livethelanguage

Digital Ephemera for July 13, 2011

Another Wednes­day has rolled around, so here’s my weekly col­lec­tion of inter­est­ing dig­i­tal ephemera I’ve found pok­ing around the vast Inter­net waste­land. Think of me as your guide through the eclectic dig­i­tal desert…

Art and Design

Entire Text of Novels Used in Outdoor Poster Campaign

This is very clever! The entire text of the novel A Clockwork Orange printed on a poster as a part of an advertising campaign for New Zealand online bookseller Whitcoulls. As a big fan of  Burgess’ dysutopian classic I am particularly drawn to the poster. The New Zeland based ad agency DraftFCB came up with the outdoor poster campaign, “Read More Books.” The campaign that reminds us that some of the most popular movies began as books. Other posters in the campaign include  Charlie and Chocolate Factory and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I love how the art work is created using only color and the text of the books and recreates iconic images of the film or the book cover. To quote the great philosopher Darth Vader, “Impressive, most impressive. via DangerousMinds.net

The Animated GIF is Dead. Long Live the Animated GIF!
I say “G-iff” you say “J-iff” but we can all agree the article “Animated GIFs Triumphant” by Anil Dash is pretty cool; as is this great collection of animated GIF’s on Tumblr.

Amazing Harry Potter Paper Cut Designs
Seeing these gorgeous paper cut out master pieces from the insanely talented Brittney Lee is, well, magical!

Marketing & Social Media

This is a great little talk from Gary Vaynerchuk:  Thank You Economy – SXSW 2011 Interactive. He brings up different points about the humanization of business, discussed at length in his book The Thank You Economy

Film,Video and Motion Graphics

Hitch from Pascal Monaco on Vimeo.

‘Hitch’ – An Alfred Hitchcock Cookbook
What’s the perfect recipe for suspense? Alfred Hitchcock knows how to dish it and his recipe is explained in this great graduation project from the highly talented Felix Meyer, Pascal Monaco, Torsten Strer, at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hannover.

Freddie Wong!
If you haven’t checked out any of the great stuff from Freddie Wong, stop what you are doing and do so, you will be well rewarded; you’ll laugh and be amazed. Check out his stuff: Freddiew YouTube Channel | Freddiew2 YouTube Channel | His Blog

3 Cool Sites Worth Checking Out

modelcoasters.com
Just as it says, like people who build model trains, but these make the miniature people hurl their plastic lunches. You’ll see some great craftsmanship on display on this site!

Chinese Propaganda Posters
Foreign Policy Magazine has a great rundown of Sino-propaganda. Make Sure you get to #5 the note about mistranslation, it is pretty funny.

The Center for Cartoon Studies
A nifty place to get all animated and that.

Drop a line in the comments and let me know if I missed something cool.

Digital Ephemera

Another Wednesday has rolled around, so here’s my weekly collection of interesting digital ephemera I’ve found poking around the vast Internet wasteland. Think of me as your guide beyond the digital desert…

Art, Design and Retro Items of Note

New Shag Tiki Print
This new print from the great Josh Agle or  Shag, mythologizes the great long lost Polynesian Pop Palace, the Kahiki Supper Club.

Useful Illustrator Typography Tips from Smashing Magazine
File under: good to know. | Link

30+ Informative Typography Related Blogs
A nice round up of some good blogs that are just your type. HA! | Link

World’s fair of the 1930’s
A nice look back at some of the World’s Fairs in the 1930′s. Includes some of the lesser known fairs. | Link

Movie Posters Animated into Neon Signs By Mr. Whaite
Now these are just cool! | Link

Great Design Freebie
An Elegant Login Form for Photoshop | Link

Star Wars Retold in Pictograms
The Force is strong with these minimalist masterpieces from someone who goes by the handle kisia. | Link

Film, Video and Motion Graphics

Star Wars Begins by Jamie Benning
Continuing with the Star Wars theme, Filmmaker Jamie Benning has created an amazing unofficial commentary video with footage and  interviews about the Star Wars films. Too bad the commentaries on the official discs weren’t one parsec as good as these. For the true Star Wars fan! | Link

Manhattan 4.33pm from Lizzie Oxby on Vimeo.

NY Pinball
A cool short film using New York City as a back drop for a huge pinball game. Now that’s a great use of after effects! | Link

Finally, Something So Bad, It’s Good!

Mr T’s Be Somebody’s Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool
A classic self 80′s kids self help video from none other than the incomparable Mr. T.  Link Please note that some of rap lyrics in the video are credited to the Rhyme Syndicate Boss, Ice-T. Also in an iconic twist you’ll get to see The New Edition with Bobby Brown sing about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. A must see for any pop-culturalist!

An Aptly Named Video: Amazing Stories Intro

Church Media Design posted this, if you’ll forgive me, amazing opening sequence for a church Bible Stories series. Hopefully the accompanying lecture & sermons were as cool as the opening credits.
 

“Amazing Stories” Title Package from Taylor Cox on Vimeo.

This church series introduction video was, no doubt,  inspired, at some level, by the Steven Spielberg produced 80′s series of the same name. Seeing this magical opening reminded me of how much I loved watching Amazing Stories as a kid, which had an equally great magical opening sequence. I’d post that too but NBC/Universal is annoyingly paranoid and had users take it down from YouTube and the “internets,” oh well sorry about that.

I never realized this, but according to IMDB the original Amazing Stories series only ran for three years, but I was pretty influential to me, as was HBO’s equally cool Ray Bradbury’s Theater. Of course Amazing Stories and Ray Bradbury Theater had embedded in their DNA traces of the best fantasy show ever created, The Twilight Zone.

Those programs were at the same time dark, hopeful, scary, funny and ultimately magical. Including  Bradbury’s novels and short stories; these influences made me see the world from a slightly off kilter perspective, and I am very grateful I had a chance to be exposed to these works of art growing up.

Amazing Short Animation of Stanely Kubrick Films

I found this amazing animation short of Stanley Kubrick by Martin Woutisseth. I am a huge Stanley Kubrick fan and animation fan so naturally I completely loved this and hope you will too.

By the way here is my favorite quote (again) from the late, great Mr. Kubrick:

The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death—however mutable man may be able to make them—our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we mus supply our own light.”
- Stanley Kubrick, in an interview with Eric Nordern, Playboy (September 1968)

Stanley Kubrick – a filmography - from mwoutisseth on Vimeo.

Design, Martin Woutisseth http://finestblackdesign.blogspot.com/

Music, Romain Trouillet : www.romain-trouillet.com
www.myspace.com/romaintrouillet

Animation made with mixing each Kubrick’s movies. Typography, colors, patterns and symbols are re interprating. The old man is watching behind his life, nostalgic and the young one is thinking about his future to write.

Some good Kubrick resources:

• The Kubrick Site – an Amazing collection for all things Kubrick
• The Official Warner Brothers Site for his films.
• Kubricks IMDB Site

via the equally awesome blog Dangerous Minds

18 Great Film Studio Logo Openings

Going to the cinema has always been magical for me. Perhaps the Theatre is truly the abode of the divine Dionysus. As a child, my family would take my sisters, assorted friends and myself to this magical celluloid realm. We would get some popcorn and wait impatiently for the film to begin. Eventually, I would start playing a game, I would squint my eyes slowly to mimic the effect of the lights dimming. I would do this over and over, pretending the movie was starting. I still do this, except, now I keep them shut, mostly so I can ignore the annoying pre-show advertisements that plague the cinemas like gum under the seats.

Eventually the lights would actually dim, and (not to sound like a grumpy old man) in my day the curtains would part revealing a large white rectangle where a culture’s dreams, hopes, fears and fantasies were projected at 24 frames a second. But first there were the trailers, often times the best part of the movie going experience, then at the cinematic event horizon, when the film would actually start, you are treated to the film studio and distributors identification spot. I love this, when you see the Twenthy Century Fox logo with it’s brassy fanfare it gives me chills. It is important to note that these often are changed with different musical and coloration or special effects, this helps set the mood for the upcoming film. I’ve noted some of these.

Here is a list of some great film studio logo openings. I know I’ve left a bunch off, let me know what ones you like.

New Line Cinema

I like the use of the cinema logo falling into place with the swelling music.

Paramount Pictures

This is a classic one. I only wish I could find the one for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Morgan Creek Productions

I’ve always enjoyed the animated curves on this one.

DNA Films

A newer one, and it shows, that it makes great use of modern computer animation. Considering the studio makes horror and intense films it is very fitting.

Marvel Comics

A very exciting one that sets the audience up for a ride. Plus I love designs that harken back to some sort of historical roots. The use of halftone dots, flipping pages and close ups of characters and thought bubbles is fantastic.

Warner Bros. Pictures (matrix variation)

This is one of my favorite versions of a studio logo that aids the style of the film. Compare to the Regular & Looney Tunes variations.

Warner Bros. Pictures Regular version (1997):

Compare the Matrix Version to this and you can see how much more effective it was in stetting the tone of the film than if they would have used this much more prosaic version.

Warner Bros. / Looney Tunes variation

Another great riff on the WB

RKO Radio Pictures (1930′s version)

This is a great logo. So disctinctive and telling. It makes me feel so nostalgic for King Kong, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, where Dr. Frankenfurther’s monster Rocky climbs up a 35 foot RKO Radio Tower, in heels no less!

Lions Gate Films

I like the Lions Gate Logo because it’s is great to see the Lion’s Gates of Agamemnon’s Palace at Mycenae live again. Plus I like the clock work that is resides behind the magic of film. It is the most colborate of the arts, and the animated logo hints at this fact. That the great and powerful Oz of Hollywood is a big machine behind the curtian. This one is from the horrificly bad Saw franchise, but it does set the tone.

Lions Gate Films

Compare the Saw version to this normal version and you can see how the Saw flavors the movie with dread from the first frame:

MGM
In a list like this you have to include the famous lion!

MTV Films Logo

A very clever use of the astronaut and the imagry of the movie theatre.

Pixar
Whimsy that harken’s back to the dawn of Pixar and the computer animation revolution.

Universal Pictures (1930′s Version)

The older logos, like RCA & Paramount are icons.

Universal Pictures: a contemporary version

This one always seems to get my cinematic juices flowing when I see a Universal film. It’s so classicly Hollywood, using a globe to highlght the universal lanugae of film and the film studios narcissism.

Walt Disney (New Logo)

If any film studio logo opening sums up the ideals of a studio better than this one I can’t think of it. It’s so full of imagination and child like wonder, plus it sells the iconagraphy of the studio like no other. Not only is it an trademark for the company, it’s also ad for the theme parks. It is also an homage to Peter Pan; note the third star to the right in the opening shot and Hook (or is it Jack Sparrow’s) Pirate ship on the river

Twenty Century Fox

I’m saving the best for last, maybe because I was such a fan of Star Wars, this will always be the quissential movie opening for me.