Tim Hetherington's Short Experimental Film: Diary (2010)

In Tim Hetherington's words:

'Diary' is a highly personal and experimental film that expresses the subjective experience of my work, and was made as an attempt to locate myself after ten years of reporting. It's a kaleidoscope of images that link our western reality to the seemingly distant worlds we see in the media.

Camera + Directed by Tim Hetherington
Edit + Sound design by Magali Charrier
19' 08 / 2010

I think I need this Book - DavidByrne.com - Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information - using PowerPoint as a creative medium

E.E.E.I.
Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information

I have been working with PowerPoint, the ubiquitous presentation software, as an art medium for a number of years. It started off as a joke (this software is a symbol of corporate salesmanship, or lack thereof) but then the work took on a life of its own as I realized I could create pieces that were moving, despite the limitations of the "medium." I have shown these pieces in galleries and museums and most recently have produced a book with a DVD (Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information) as means of presenting these curiosities.

Another great short film project from RSA Films - USA Character Project :: 8 Directors. 8 Short Films. Every character has a story.

Character Project is an ongoing artistic initiative committed to celebrating America's characters – the interesting, dazzling, and distinctive people, from all walks of life, who make this country extraordinary.

Inspired by USA's "Characters Welcome" brand, Character Project launched in 2009 with a focus on photography. For its second act, USA has partnered with RSA Films and Ridley & Tony Scott, to once again turn a lens on America's characters, this time through the medium of the moving image. Together, they commissioned eight talented filmmakers to each explore the theme of character from their own unique perspective. From lost loves to loyal friends, private heroes to public personalities, the subjects of these short films – some real, some fictional – show the courage, connection, humor, and hope that give shape to the American character. After all, characters are what make us USA.

Click here to read the official press release.

Watching! - USA Network, RSA Films and Ridley & Tony Scott Present Character Project Short Films, Celebrating Quintessential American Stories | TheFutonCritic.com

[via press release from USA]

USA NETWORK, RSA FILMS AND RIDLEY & TONY SCOTT PRESENT CHARACTER PROJECT SHORT FILMS, CELEBRATING QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN STORIES

Eight Directors. Eight Short Films. Every Character Has a Story.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 2, 2011 - USA Network announced today the launch of a series of short films representing the next evolution of Character Project, an ongoing artistic initiative with the mission to explore extraordinary people, from all walks of life, who make this country unique. In partnership with RSA Films and Ridley & Tony Scott, USA commissioned eight talented filmmakers to create short films that explore the theme of American character through moving image.

Character Project represents USA's consistent efforts to cultivate new voices and develop content opportunities. The curated films will be housed online in a digital hub at characterproject.usanetwork.com, as well as available via FOD, Itunes, mobile platforms, syndicated widgets, and social media. USA will exhibit the films in select markets in highly designed custom built screening pods. Lexus is the presenting sponsor for Character Project on behalf of the all-new CT Hybrid.

"The beauty of independent film is that it offers the opportunity to tell stories with both personal significance and universal resonance," said Alexandra Shapiro, senior vice president, brand marketing & digital, USA Network. "Through the Character Project short films we celebrate not only the unique perspectives of the filmmakers and characters, but the American experience in all its richness and diversity. We are proud to partner with RSA Films and the Scotts to bring these compelling stories to life and share them with the world."

"As storytellers, it is part of our DNA to share the stories that make people interesting through the lens of our unmatched roster of directors," said Ridley Scott. "USA is an ideal partner because they also specialize in bringing to light the distinct tales of unique characters."

The Character Project short films range from narrative to animated to documentary formats, from stirring dramas to hilarious romantic comedies, and all are focused around three quintessential American principals: progress, connection, and passion. From lost loves to loyal friends, private heroes to public personalities, the subjects of these Character Project shorts - some real, some fictional - show the courage, connection, humor, and hope that give shape to the American character. While each director had the freedom to explore these themes in different ways, these principles are what ultimately tie the films together and provide a visually arresting study and snapshot of modern America.

read more on thefutoncritic.com - summaries of short films & more

Beautiful Short by Chris Abbas remixes NASA footage: CASSINI MISSION

Chris Abbas' description:

"I truly enjoy outer space. It's absolutely amazing that we now have the ability to send instruments out into the void of the universe to observe all sorts of interesting things. Asteroids! Moons! Planets! Dark matter! This is the perfect opportunity for a Carl Sagan quote:

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."

The footage in this little film was captured by the hardworking men and women at NASA with the Cassini Imaging Science System. If you're interested in learning more about Cassini and the on-going Cassini Solstice Mission, check it out at NASA's website:

saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/​science/​index.cfm

Track: 2 Ghosts I, Ghosts I – IV by Nine Inch Nails

ghosts.nin.com/​"

Tools of attraction: creating multimedia content for games and TV shows |#transmedia | The Guardian

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"The traditional processes behind TV programme–making are breaking down.

Kate Bulkley
The Guardian, Monday 6 June 2011

Illustration: Brett Ryder

Storytelling has always been at the heart of the best media, be it a TV show, a documentary or a game, and there is no doubt that with the expanding choice of technology – from smart mobile phones and tablets to TV sets that have internet connections – we are seeing an ever–increasing convergence of storytelling on different platforms. But as this convergence develops, one of the key questions now confronting the media industry is this: who's in control of this explosion in creativity?

The answer might seem obvious. Surely, it's the commissioners who grant producers the chance to broadcast on their channels. Or maybe it's the producers and directors themselves with the ideas for the programmes or films that have the whip hand? Or perhaps it's the writers who ultimately have control?

But there is another view: The US version of the BBC hit show The Office is now six years old and has run for more than 160 episodes. But according to Frank Rose, the author of The Art of Immersion, which is based on interviews with creative and media company executives, what the show's producers found pretty early on was that they were running to keep up with the demands of their audience. Rose says audiences of television shows – be they documentaries or entertainment programmes – are increasingly demanding extra material, online chat areas, show–related games and so much more. "Greg Daniels [the producer of The Office for NBC] put it to me that people assume that if your show is any good, then there will be stuff online to do with it," says Rose.

What this means for TV programme–makers is that the traditional processes behind TV programme–making are breaking down. "We're living in the midst of a major sea change," says Rose. "It's obvious that TV shows are huge drivers for web traffic, but many TV network executives take the wrong message from that. They think that means TV is the most important thing and that everything else is just an add–on. But the right message is that TV is just one part of a much bigger eco–system that is emerging. The executives can turn this to their advantage, but [if they ignore it] they risk alienating the people that matter the most, their audiences...."

read the full post on the guardian.co.uk.film

An Excerpt: Alexandra Sokoloff's The Rule of Three - Handy Reminder

- How many times have you seen a movie or read a book in which you see a character attempt things three times… fail the first two times, and then succeed on the third try?

- How many times have you seen a character cluster of three?

- How many times have you seen the three-in-a-row pattern of a joke?

It’s a rule of advertising, of rhetoric, of politics: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” “Faith, hope and charity.” “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” “Of the people, by the people, for the people.” “Location, location, location.”

Call it religion, call it astrology, call it numerology… however, whyever - this pattern of three is somehow intrinsically satisfying to us as human beings.

It’s often this pattern: Same, Same, Different. One is the set up, Two establishes the pattern, Three breaks the pattern with a twist.

In the Three-Brother or Three-Sister Structure, it’s Fail, Fail, Succeed. In The Godfather we see older brothers Sonny and Fredo are not up to the task of running the Corleone family, but unlikely youngest brother Michael is. In Jaws, we see scientist Hooper and ship’s captain Quint go up against the shark and fail, but in the climax, very unlikely Sheriff Brody actually kills the beast. In Cinderella, the two eldest stepsisters fail utterly with the Prince, then youngest stepsister Cinderella wins the crown. Sorry, I mean prince.

Think about character names: Dumbledore, McGonegall, and Hagrid. Flora, Fauna, and Meriwether. Do you see that change in rhythm? Same, same, different. Serious, serious, joke.

Mobile Social Networking Grows - very interesting stats

"in January. In addition, 68.8% of US mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, similar to 68.1% who did so in January. Browsers were used by 39.1% of subscribers (up 6% from 37%), while downloaded applications were used by 37.8% (up 7% from 35.4%). Listening to music represented 18% of subscribers, up 9%...."

more deets on marketingcharts.com

Very cool spotlight on innovation across the US: Fast Cities 2011 | Fast Company

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"The city is humanity's laboratory, where people flock to dream, create, build, and rebuild. In his book Triumph of the City, Harvard economist Edward Glaeser observes that to stroll through the world's great cities is "to study nothing less than human progress." Each year, we spotlight the building blocks of that progress -- bold ideas that promise to enrich our cities and economies. You'll find plenty in diverse, surprisingly creative Houston, our 2011 CITY OF THE YEAR which urban theorist Joel Kotkin tips as "one of the world's next great cities."...