blimps are cool too

Asking the Wrong Questions: The End is Nigh? Thoughts on Serialized Television

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:12:50 +1100

Asking the Wrong Questions: The End is Nigh? Thoughts on Serialized Television

"The present research suggests that the pride expression functions as a unique signal of high status,..."

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:48:00 +1100

“The present research suggests that the pride expression functions as a unique signal of high status, and is consistent with the suggestion that pride evolved to serve this purpose. … Pride is spontaneously displayed following status-increasing events (i.e., achievement) even by the congenitally blind, who are unlikely to have learned the expression from cultural models. … The pride expression is reliably recognized in isolated nonliterate cultures.”

- ] Knowing Who’s Boss: Implicit Perceptions of Status From the Nonverbal Expression of Pride via Overcoming Bias (Pride is About Status)

Murder in America : The New Yorker

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:41:53 +1100

Murder in America : The New Yorker

The nematode parasite (Myrmeconema neotropicum) manages to...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:32:05 +1100

The nematode parasite (Myrmeconema neotropicum) manages to turn Cephalotes atratus ants’ gasters (enlarged part of the abdomen) the color of local red berries—the kind that birds eat—and also impel the false berry-baring hosts to venture away from the colony, making them easier prey. When the exposed victim is snatched up by a bird, the latter is infected with the parasite. After the bird digests its tainted treat, it passes along the parasite passenger in its droppings, which stand waiting to infect other unsuspecting ants.

] Zombie Creatures: What Happens When Animals Are Possessed by a Parasitic Puppet Master

Staging is a very personal and subjective area and everyone has...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:10 +1100

Staging is a very personal and subjective area and everyone has a different sense of what works. Work carefully to find the best solution for each scene. The best staging both tells the story in a visual impactful way and expresses the emotions of the characters in a powerful way to the audience.

The Temple of the Seven Golden Camels on Basic Staging Principles

I love this blog. Every post, whether it covers basic principles or analyses complex choreography, is a fantastic lesson in visual storytelling. I suspect storyboard artists and art directors have such a grasp of shot design because they have to convey emotion through sketches.

] Go/No-Go, “Catching Up With You” (dir: Stu Willis)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:25:16 +1100

] Go/No-Go, “Catching Up With You” (dir: Stu Willis)

It is a feat of power and vision, flexibility and choreography;...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:17:00 +1100

It is a feat of power and vision, flexibility and choreography; it is mere, awe-inducing movement that is beyond description; that thing you need to see for yourself.

Single Take Titles, Part 1 at The Art of the Title Sequence

Dark Horse - Short Film Trailer

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:54:20 +1100

Dark Horse - Short Film Trailer

Top 1 Habits of Amazing Writers: They write.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:31:00 +1100

Top 1 Habits of Amazing Writers: They write.

Put This On, Episode 1: Denim

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:45:03 +1100

Put This On, Episode 1: Denim

"But really, Devine’s column isn’t there to express a view shared by real people, but..."

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:08:00 +1100

““But really, Devine’s column isn’t there to express a view shared by real people, but rather to disagree with a particular group… Along with the expressions of anger come links to the online version of the column, where metrics are collected and advertising hosted. In a fragmented media marketplace augmented by real-time social media, networked irritation drives traffic. Devine’s columns look more and more like linkbaiting, pure and simple. “”

- ] Jason Wilson, “If I Make You Angry Enough, Maybe You Will Keep Reading” at the New Maltida

Global Impositioning Systems: Is GPS technology actually harming our sense of direction?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:23:15 +1100

Global Impositioning Systems: Is GPS technology actually harming our sense of direction?:

(via somethingchanged)

Yes.

"The real reason leaders end up in too many meetings? Because it’s flattering: having your..."

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:18:19 +1100

“The real reason leaders end up in too many meetings? Because it’s flattering: having your presence “required” at many meetings makes you feel important — it’s tangible proof of how much your people and your organization need you. But being in too many meetings every day wreaks havoc on your schedule and your ability to focus on bigger goals.”

- ] Daisy Wademan Dowling, “Leadership Without Meetings”, at the Washington post (via Overcoming Bias - the comments of which are worth reading)

This is why I am investing in Nikkor FX glass. Nikkor mounts for...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:55:30 +1100

This is why I am investing in Nikkor FX glass. Nikkor mounts for the EPIC/Scarlet. BOOYAH.

shapeandcolour: tim etchells.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:58:48 +1100

shapeandcolour:

tim etchells.

nerdboyfriend: via This Recording

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:10:39 +1100

nerdboyfriend:

via This Recording

Previz

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:17:49 +1100

Paul Martin Smith (Editor) said previz is being overused, films are being greenlit on previz and then people are shooting the previz. Many mentioned the importance of that magic unplanned spark that happens on set and making sure we leave room for happy accidents and deviation from the plan when needed. Smith also expressed the importance of the creative storytelling process needing time. Cutting on set is not creative, it’s checking to see if basics work. The editor needs time to mentally process the footage.

] via fxguide on the VES Summit

Photo

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:58:16 +1100

Real Rebels Risk

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:42:26 +1100

claytoncubitt:

“The next real literary “rebels” in this country might well emerge as some weird bunch of anti-rebels, born oglers who dare somehow to back away from ironic watching, who have the childish gall actually to endorse and instantiate single-entendre principles. Who treat of plain old untrendy human troubles and emotions in U.S. life with reverence and conviction. Who eschew self-consciousness and hip fatigue. These anti-rebels would be outdated, of course, before they even started. Dead on the page. Too sincere. Clearly repressed. Backward, quaint, naïve, anachronistic. Maybe that’ll be the point. Maybe that’s why they’ll be the next real rebels. Real rebels, as far as I can see, risk disapproval. The old postmodern insurgents risked the gasp and squeal: shock, disgust, outrage, censorship, accusations of socialism, anarchism, nihilism. Today’s risks are different. The New Rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile, the nudged ribs, the parody of the gifted ironists, the “Oh how banal.” To risk accusations of sentimentality, melodrama. Of overcredulity. Of softness. Of willingness to be suckered by a world of lurkers and starers who fear gaze and ridicule above imprisonment without law.” —David Foster Wallace in ‘E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction’ (via Mer)

I read this and thought “…sounds like David Forster Wallace”. I was right. Bless him.

MiniDV footage gives me such a weird sense of nostalgia. Its...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:23 +1100

MiniDV footage gives me such a weird sense of nostalgia. Its going to be the Super8 for our generation - the short hand for things past.