This is way beyond celebrity endorsement. Branded content gets its blockbuster, and I'm reminded why I'm in this industry.
www.scorsesefilmfreixenet.com
Find out more about the project here
Friday, 30 November 2007
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Interactive simplicity
I really like Arcade Fire's new video
The whole interactive thing could be gimmicky but the execution is so beautifully simple that it avoids it. Somehow the control / not control dynamic feels right. One of the challenges of interactive is get around the limitations of digital, the suspension of disbelief the medium demands, and the fact that it can never be quite as interactive as you'd like it to be. (I'd like to be proved wrong on that, but I haven't yet.)
But here, the limitations of the experience (you can't make him do a lot) seems to be part of the creative idea - which lifts this into the category of 'things that are what they are' rather than 'things that attempt to simulate what they depict'. Good creative is always the former.
The whole interactive thing could be gimmicky but the execution is so beautifully simple that it avoids it. Somehow the control / not control dynamic feels right. One of the challenges of interactive is get around the limitations of digital, the suspension of disbelief the medium demands, and the fact that it can never be quite as interactive as you'd like it to be. (I'd like to be proved wrong on that, but I haven't yet.)
But here, the limitations of the experience (you can't make him do a lot) seems to be part of the creative idea - which lifts this into the category of 'things that are what they are' rather than 'things that attempt to simulate what they depict'. Good creative is always the former.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Bata-ville
Wildly inspired by this:
'Bata-ville is a bittersweet record of a coach trip to the origins of the Bata shoe empire in Zlin in the Czech Republic. Against the backdrop of regeneration in their local communities, former employees of the now-closed UK shoe factories in East Tilbury (Essex) and Maryport (Cumbria) are led on a journey that begins as a free holiday but soon becomes an opportunity for a collective imagining of what entrepreneur Tomas Bata's maxim "We are not afraid of the future" means for them in 21st century Britain. Inspired by the contrast between the idealism of Bata and the more recent industrial decline of East Tilbury and Maryport, host / directors Pope & Guthrie lead this unorthodox coach party on a journey through Bata's legacy.'
The artists, Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope, are shortlisted for the Northern Art Prize and have created an installation (centered around an extraordinary film).
Armed with no prior knowledge of the project (and having never heard of Tomas Bata), as I was pouring over all this carefully collated memorabilia and watching this charming documentary, I began to doubt whether it was real. The thought crossed my mind that Tomas Bata could just be a character the artists had invented; an expression of that moment in time, before utopias became something to be afraid of, and optimism something to be scorned. Interestingly, the person I went with had independently arrived at a similar position of distrust.
We were completely wrong of course, but I'm fascinated by my reaction. I loved the piece when I thought it might be pure fiction. It didn't feel insincere, but it felt too...idealistic yet knowing, to be real. Which of course is down to the way Guthrie and Pope have dealt with their subject. The fact that we have such doubts and suspicions seems to say a lot about where we are now - and the importance of context. If it hadn't been a art gallery then I very much doubt I would have gone off on this bizarre sceptical journey. So does that mean I expect art to spin untruths?
So many questions about this that I can't even frame. I mean, how unrealistic was the Bata's vision? And if it was reasonable then how do we cope with the failure - our failure....?
And the funniest thing? My instant 'check' for 'proof' and reassurance was to tap the name into Google. Because if it doesn't show up in google then it's not real...
'Bata-ville is a bittersweet record of a coach trip to the origins of the Bata shoe empire in Zlin in the Czech Republic. Against the backdrop of regeneration in their local communities, former employees of the now-closed UK shoe factories in East Tilbury (Essex) and Maryport (Cumbria) are led on a journey that begins as a free holiday but soon becomes an opportunity for a collective imagining of what entrepreneur Tomas Bata's maxim "We are not afraid of the future" means for them in 21st century Britain. Inspired by the contrast between the idealism of Bata and the more recent industrial decline of East Tilbury and Maryport, host / directors Pope & Guthrie lead this unorthodox coach party on a journey through Bata's legacy.'
The artists, Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope, are shortlisted for the Northern Art Prize and have created an installation (centered around an extraordinary film).
Armed with no prior knowledge of the project (and having never heard of Tomas Bata), as I was pouring over all this carefully collated memorabilia and watching this charming documentary, I began to doubt whether it was real. The thought crossed my mind that Tomas Bata could just be a character the artists had invented; an expression of that moment in time, before utopias became something to be afraid of, and optimism something to be scorned. Interestingly, the person I went with had independently arrived at a similar position of distrust.
We were completely wrong of course, but I'm fascinated by my reaction. I loved the piece when I thought it might be pure fiction. It didn't feel insincere, but it felt too...idealistic yet knowing, to be real. Which of course is down to the way Guthrie and Pope have dealt with their subject. The fact that we have such doubts and suspicions seems to say a lot about where we are now - and the importance of context. If it hadn't been a art gallery then I very much doubt I would have gone off on this bizarre sceptical journey. So does that mean I expect art to spin untruths?
So many questions about this that I can't even frame. I mean, how unrealistic was the Bata's vision? And if it was reasonable then how do we cope with the failure - our failure....?
And the funniest thing? My instant 'check' for 'proof' and reassurance was to tap the name into Google. Because if it doesn't show up in google then it's not real...
Saturday, 17 November 2007
audience participation like.no.other
http://www.walkmanproject.com/
Except everyone has been trying to do something like this (I presented something similar last year for a social networking start-up I was working on and I'm sure im not the only one). It will be interesting to see if they can generate the users. The execution is good, and I spent a good 10 minutes exploring the site. But it feels like a lot of effort to contribute. They're relying on the geeks to get it going. I'd be interested in the research they presumably carried out to get this through. I enjoyed the interactive banner, too (but I can't locate a link for it now - if anyone can, please do).
Except everyone has been trying to do something like this (I presented something similar last year for a social networking start-up I was working on and I'm sure im not the only one). It will be interesting to see if they can generate the users. The execution is good, and I spent a good 10 minutes exploring the site. But it feels like a lot of effort to contribute. They're relying on the geeks to get it going. I'd be interested in the research they presumably carried out to get this through. I enjoyed the interactive banner, too (but I can't locate a link for it now - if anyone can, please do).
Berlin
Berlin is fun, in a soggy sort of way. We're staying miles out (in the forest) but the hostel is nice and we have free web access. Yesterday we went exploring and saw lots of lovely brutal GDR housing, as well as Norman Foster's silly Reichstag.Went to a vegan anarchist hangout for lunch. A couple sat down at the table next to us and I heard a familiar voice, and...fuck-me-it's-MIMI-what-the-fuck-are-you-doing-here??
We live in a crazy world. Neither of us knew each other was even in Berlin!
Later, we were trying to get back to our hostel, struggling, and realising that it was miles away -about 3 tube lines and 2 buses...and this guy on the tube was smirking at us, so we got chatting, and ended up getting off the tube with him to meet his brother at this crazy wine bar. It's a mad set up - you pay 1 euro and get a glass, then you just help yourself and give a donation for each glass.
Trashed, we left and went off to a party at Tyler Durden's squat.
Tonight we go dancing. Berlin is good.
We live in a crazy world. Neither of us knew each other was even in Berlin!
Later, we were trying to get back to our hostel, struggling, and realising that it was miles away -about 3 tube lines and 2 buses...and this guy on the tube was smirking at us, so we got chatting, and ended up getting off the tube with him to meet his brother at this crazy wine bar. It's a mad set up - you pay 1 euro and get a glass, then you just help yourself and give a donation for each glass.
Trashed, we left and went off to a party at Tyler Durden's squat.
Tonight we go dancing. Berlin is good.
audio
Stumbled on this recently - my old band, Shima. We were 18 and listening to far too much Slint and Mogwai. It's long and rambling but there's an incredible bit at the end when I hit a pre-set beat on my keyboard. The Fuck It Button is born.
‘Feel The Fear’ recorded live at the Cavern Exeter 2000
Produced and released by Satellites and Clouds recordings. Taken from wordsforthedisillusioned EP (final track) by Shima - released April 04SATC004Copyright Satellites and Clouds
Little adults
Every time I go to the Farmer's Market in Stoke Newington, I'm haunted by an old Community Centre Moog song. Uncomfortably, I'm beginning to realise that I'll probably send my kids to Woodcraft Folk. The ghost of the Exeter I fled is tapping.
Little Adults have already learned self control, so bigger adults don't need to control. Little Adults know they only live once, so they save themselves for someone else. Little Adults will practice to leave home; leave the youth group, say goodbye to good ol' Big Chris - and say goodbye to the pet that was to teach them of death. And the tennis ball goes round and round connected to the piece of string in the garden.
Little Adults have already learned self control, so bigger adults don't need to control. Little Adults know they only live once, so they save themselves for someone else. Little Adults will practice to leave home; leave the youth group, say goodbye to good ol' Big Chris - and say goodbye to the pet that was to teach them of death. And the tennis ball goes round and round connected to the piece of string in the garden.
Kasms @ Ryan's Bar, Stoke Newington 09.11.07 (a review)
A review.
He appears; careless and dominant
Like Sid Viscious minus the insecurity.
Worming his way to the stage
(Bathing in the gaze, the space)
The grace
As he starts to bang
Out a patriarchal pounding
Rhythm, driven, with him
And her
Purring into her microphone.
A peak of red suspender belt
Beneath the cocktail dress - rising
She groans
Snared by the ride:
His.
He fucks; we watch.
Her?
The cunt.
Find out more at www.myspace.com/kasmskasms
He appears; careless and dominant
Like Sid Viscious minus the insecurity.
Worming his way to the stage
(Bathing in the gaze, the space)
The grace
As he starts to bang
Out a patriarchal pounding
Rhythm, driven, with him
And her
Purring into her microphone.
A peak of red suspender belt
Beneath the cocktail dress - rising
She groans
Snared by the ride:
His.
He fucks; we watch.
Her?
The cunt.
Find out more at www.myspace.com/kasmskasms
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