This Blog Is Retroactive

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

If only we who were and are in the field of Arch Viz were given the time, resources and freedoms to create something like the masterpiece above…

Obviously this short video, The Third & The Seventh, is a work of great passion and dedication, which is really what enables Alex to create such beautiful 3D visualization.  I am awed and humbled.  You can watch the video here, but I’d advise going to Alex’s Vimeo page and opening it in full screen for the best possible experience.  I really didn’t think that Architecture could be so moving until I saw it presented in this way.  Bravo Alex!

Mardi Gras from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

I know in the last post I said UNIQLO’s website was the best use of tilt-shift I’ve seen to date but this video by Keith Loutit is a very close second.   What a brilliant way to capture all the fun and craziness of a Mardi Gras parade!  My friend Reed directed me to another of Keith’s Vimeo videos yesterday.   I saw this one there and I had to share it.  I know it’s seven months old but it’s new to me.  Thanks Reed!

I saw the coolest commercial for Cadillac the other day while watching the Cowboys game. I didn’t know what it was at first, but I was definitely intrigued. When you first start watching it, you might be tempted to think that we’ve all seen enough commercials of cars driving really fast through the desert. It quickly becomes obvious, however, that the camera work, editing, audio engineering and special effects in this one are a step beyond all those other car commercials. They do a great job of using the action, sound effects and background music to build toward the anticipated climax, and when it happens it’s not at all what you expect. I think that contrast between the first 45 seconds and the last 15 is also what makes this commercial memorable, as does the music they chose for the last part. The song is Spacewalk by Lemon Jelly, which Cadillac pulled right out of left field. That album came out back in 2002. Kudos to them. Lemon Jelly is awesome, and this song is a perfect choice for what they were trying to accomplish in this commercial.

I don’t give a hoot about GM or their cars, but I do have to say that they consistently choose some rare musical gems for their commercials. I remember a spot for Hummer (not owned by GM anymore, I know, but it was then) that used a song called Swamp by Midwest Product. When I saw the commercial, I had no idea who the music was by but I found out as soon as I could, and that particular Hummer ad has stuck with me ever since. Let’s also not forget the Cadillac Escalade commercial with Sofia Vergara (rowrrrr!) talking about cup holders. The first part is somewhat forgettable, but they finish it off with Genesis by Justice. That song is bad ass. You know what else that commercial has. Neon lights reflecting off of glossy black surfaces.

I’ve always believed that choosing the right music for any video or commercial is critical. It’s one of the most effective components of any visual piece at ensuring that your video is something that others will delight in and remember for years to come.

Listen to the songs I was talking about below:

Lemon Jelly - Space Walk
Midwest Product - Swamp
Justice - Genesis

My sister’s boyfriend showed me this video weekend before last and I’ve been meaning to share it since. It’s a video and song put together by a guy known as Pogo, from Perth, Australia. You can find all his videos on his YouTube page. He takes small samples of classic family films and sequences them together with electronic beats to make whole new songs. He’s done quite a few using films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland and Hook but I think this one made from bits of Mary Poppins is by far his best. This particular video is full of silliness and wonder and is also a great reminder of how enjoyable the original songs were. After watching it I immediately wanted to go back and watch the original.

Sometimes I think it’s a shame I don’t take hallucinogens. I imagine watching something like this while on them would, like, totally blow my mind, dude.

LG, makers of chintzy, gimicky pieces of crap for years now have finally come up with a mobile device that I really, really want.  The geeky teenager that sleeps on the couch in my subconscious will always be a sucker for futuristic techno-gadgetry and the LG-GD910 is par for the course.  It’s a freaking two way wrist communicator, okay, with video phone capability.  It’s just like on Venture Bros! If I had this watch phone I could finally talk into my wrist without looking like a crazy person.   Also, if it has a calculator function, I could finally get rid of my Casio CA53W.   According to CNET all you have to do is live in the U.K. and pony up £500 (about $825) and you too could be the proud owner of the LG-GD9610 watch phone.  The future is here folks.  If this is any indication of what’s to come, flying cars, rocket boots and pizza re-hydrators should be just around the corner.  I’m going to start saving my pounds sterling today!

Until I have enough to buy one from LG, the watch phone I fabricated last night will just have to do.