Life In A Day is a historic global experiment to create the world’s largest user-generated feature film: a documentary, shot in a single day, by you. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a glimpse of your life on camera. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into an experimental documentary film, executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.
Is your life compelling? Or how about footage of your life? Hmm…
The Tap-Tap Puzzle
HAITI: 6 MONTHS ON. From the Guardian: When the earthquake struck on 12 January, the poorest country in the Americas was devastated. The world rallied, but not for long – much of the promised aid has not materialised. And while their government falters, many of the 1.5 million displaced Haitians are still sleeping rough…
FRONTLINE has a series on the Aid Dilemma. On post-disaster relief, the economy of a tent city and the tap-tap puzzle.
And the crisis goes on…
The world's first Street Art disaster movie
Exit Through the Gift Shop, enter the world of Street Art. From its temporary place in the real world to the endless online sharing of this “legal gray area,” the film is about the art, of course. But also the intellectual mind-twisting that takes place when confronted with the idea behind the visual. Itself a piece of art, prank, celebrity, commentary, confrontation, the film is part “we pulled one over on you,” part honest account of the way things are when you’re a Street Artist. Maybe.
View the trailer here:
More Banksy here:
Banksy in Palestine. Photo via Revista-Amauta.org
The Image of the Tank Man
On June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese army’s deadly crushing of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, a single, unarmed young man stood his ground before a column of tanks on the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Captured on film and video by Western journalists, this extraordinary confrontation became an icon of the struggle for freedom around the world.
FRONTLINE on China. Originally aired in 2006. Looks at one of the most powerful images in history and how the country transformed economically in light speed since Tiananmen Square. (Not so much politically.) On one side there is the modern, wealthy and urban; on the other, the rural, poor and disenfranchised.
Bill Moyers Journal
This Friday, April 30, 2010 marks the end of Bill Moyers Journal. When I first heard the news I was shocked. In disbelief. What on earth was I to do? How was I to make sense of the world? Of America? In the battle of ideas that shakes our foundations of reality, this show held firm to thoughtful discussion, an embrace of dialogue and a grasp on reality you just can’t get anywhere else. And Bill Moyers is simply an amazing journalist and conducts one hell of an interview.
From our wars, to our health care, to the vitally important coverage of the economic crisis, to the future of the Internet itself, this show was the show. I’d say if everybody watched this show, or at least looked at the issues from a similar place of thoughtfulness, civility and integrity, we would be better suited as a society to take on the big challenges staring us in the face waiting for us to blink. But hey, I guess it’s just easier to scream like a buffoon and write a bunch of scribbles on a chalkboard.
So. This Friday is going to be a very sad day. The last episode of the Journal. We salute you Mr. Moyers. For your ideas. For your passion. For your tone. For all that you have done to help steer the ship. Here’s to the Journal. Onward!
"This is the big one." Inside The Banking Crisis.
http://www.good.is/post/can-animation-help-stop-climate-change/
This marks the inaugural post of what will be referred to as the “um… internet explosion” section of our Match Factory blog. It’s a trail of breadcrumbs really, when the lackadaisical wanderings around your tried and trusted places on the Internet suddenly turn into something mind-altering. It’s truly a magic feeling and I hope everyone knows what I’m talking about. It’s what makes the Internet such a joy, as it goes from “waste of time” to “conscious altering” in a matter of moments. Enjoy.
Can animation help stop climate change? A network of artists and film-makers thinks so. And 30 minutes later, I’m convinced they just might do it.
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http://www.good.is/post/can-animation-help-stop-climate-change/
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http://coalitionofthewilling.org.uk/
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http://philosophyforchange.wordpress.com/
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“Hearts of Darkness” is a 1991 documentary (available on Netflix) about the filming of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film, “Apocalypse Now.” I think I saw this documentary when I was in college. Perhaps when I was living with Kruiser. At the time I remember thinking that it was pretty awesome how insane everyone went while making “Apocalypse Now.” I recently re-watched this documentary and my reaction was pretty different this time around. What really stuck out this time was Coppola’s crushing self-doubt, something I find easy to relate to, and his resolve and persistence. The message that I took from it was that you have to finish. When working on a creative project (and I don’t just mean “creative” in that typical sense, I mean creative in that you are trying to solve a problem) you have to push on and finish. Even if it feels like your work is utter shit and the whole world is going to laugh at you. You have to finish.
I think that one of the things that get in the way of this is our inherent uneasiness with the unknown. As soon as we become fearful about what may or may not happen, the doubt creeps in and diverts us from our goals. Sometimes I guess you just have to take a closer look at that fear and find peace with being unsure. Or maybe you just need to get wasted in a hotel room, punch a mirror and howl at the moon? (The scene above is of Martin Sheen filming a pivotal scene that sets up his character at the outset of the film).
Anyway, “Hearts of Darkness” is a great documentary and definitely worth checking out, regardless of how much you like or dislike “Apocalypse Now.”
life on the virtual frontier
From PBS FRONTLINE, a report on the digital revolution and how it’s changing our lives.
Within a single generation, digital media and the World Wide Web have transformed virtually every aspect of modern culture, from the way we learn and work to the ways in which we socialize and even conduct war. But is the technology moving faster than we can adapt to it? And is our 24/7 wired world causing us to lose as much as we’ve gained?
Living Faster, Relationships, Waging War, Virtual Worlds and Learning Web Exclusives go further, from iPods to drone attacks to how Google saved a school.
From this lover of FRONTLINE, consider me really looking forward to my (digital) weekend.
The e2 series, by PBS, is “a critically acclaimed, multipart PBS series about the innovators and pioneers who envision a better quality of life on earth: socially, culturally, economically and ecologically.” (taken from the e2 – About page). So far I have only seen their e2- “Design” series (seasons 1 & 2) but I really enjoyed them. I am always on the search for decent shows to watch instantly on Netflix and they currently have Season 1 available to watch instantly for Netflix subscribers. If you don’t have Netflix, PBS’ video site also has a number of episodes available to watch online. The video above, “The Green Apple” – Season 1, Episode 1, is the only full episode that I could find on YouTube.
While I have only watched their design-focused portion they also have (or are making) episodes focused on energy, water, food, transport and cities. These shows are an inspiring and welcome addition to the ongoing discussion about climate change and the role design can play both in causing and fixing these problems.
Oh, and they’re narrated by the soothing, familiar, comfortaing voice of Tyler Durden… er, Brad Pitt.
TMF started out as a place for doers, dreamers, sketchers, crafters and mess-makers to congregate, get inspired and create. This current incarnation is a simple extension of that intent. A pathway from what is now, to what could be tomorrow. Onward!
