The truth underwater

Canary is Dead
7min 01sec
Original Format: Unknown
Filmmaker:Laser/Planetary Coral Reef Foundation

I watched this video in the Current studio about a month ago. It brought me to tears. As someone who has spent time diving amidst the breathtaking seascapes of the Caribbean I can viscerally feel the destruction of these reefs in my body. I personally think this is a beautiful example of how the emerging digital video format can bring important issues to light and genuinely move people without having to cost a fortune. Long live affordable media technologies.

Canary is Dead was voted to the top of the leaderboards this week and will be airing on Current TV in the coming months. It brings a smile to my face to know that the world is beginning to pay attention to environmental issues, as is evidenced by the success and impact of Al Gore's new film, An Inconvenient Truth

Ok, I know, I talk about Current way too much. Why haven't I submitted anything yet? I've been asking myself the same question. Seriously, stay tuned. I have a project in the works that is really inspiring me at the moment. You'll see. Just be patient... For now, enjoy the beauty and atrocity of Canary is Dead

Hoopalicious!

I know this doesn't fall under the normal scope of this gALLIxSEE, but I wanted to give a shout out to an amazing woman who I had the pleasure of hanging out with in the underground dance community in Los Angeles. Her name is Anah aka Hoopalicious and she was recently on "America's Got Talent". I think she is an inspiring and powerful woman and I just wanted to share this clip from the show because I think she rocks. Since I don't watch Television much myself, I think its important that there are empowered people putting positive messages out there to the masses. If you want to learn more about Anah and what she does (she's one amazing woman!!!), you can check out her website, hooprevolution.com

***UPDATE*** Anah's got a new, uber rockin' demo up. This girl has some incredible moves. Check her out:

Ambient Perspective

Diffraction
2min 27sec
Mini-DV
Filmmaker's Page: CatalystKomics



Today's selection, Diffraction, is one from the vast CatalystKomics archive. It is my personal favorite of the shorts there, and is a film that gave me a new perspective on what makes for interesting video. Actually, all of D's videos are very interesting and perspective-shift inducing. I highly recommend setting aside a few minutes to browse his work. This one moves me particularly because it plays with available/ambient light in a way that I had never thought to-- as a dance with the camera lens. The light itself becomes the star of the show and breathes new depth into the possibilities of intentional lens flares. The experimental soundtrack is also highly effective and adds another level of scope to the project.

::viva la luz::

Winter Dancing...

...ok, I know it's summer. But I stumbled upon this video in the Current TV studio recently and it actually made me look forward to winter. Well, not really, but I was absolutely astounded by the beauty and emotion evoked from such a simple concept: dancing in the snow. So that's how others stave off the winter nasties. Produced by Great Sitting Films out of Santa Monica , CA, this film was shot entirely in 'film clip mode' on a small digital still camera. Makes me wonder what my little Canon point and shoot can do... hmmm.

Currently, this video sits at the #15 rank on the Current TV leaderboard. It needs to go to #1 to get on air. If you haven't created a Current Studio account, this is a good excuse to do it. As a member (its free, of course), you can watch and greenlight viewer created content. The #1 video on the leaderboard each week is purchased by Current and put on air. In my humble opinion, this is television as it should be. I'm working on two pods for Current right now. They should be done within the next few weeks. Y'all will be the first to see them, I promise. For now, enjoy The Winter of the Dance by Great Sitting Films.







p.s. I don't work for Current TV nor am I affiliated with them in any way. I just think what they're doing is really friggin' cool.

Fiyah!

Ok, so if I'm doing a video blog and critiquing and commenting on others' videos I suppose I should include some of my own work, huh? Here's the Womanipura fire demo that I completed before I left for Thailand and India. If you haven't seen it already, give it a watch-- I think its quite fun. My friend and video dork peer D told me he hated it more than anything else he's seen of mine. Ha! That's because all he watches are boring experimental films where people put their penises in boxes and dump egg yolks and flour and candy all over them just for shock value. Anyway. Bonus points if you have any idea what I was talking about.

Watch it and lemme know what YOU think. I truly value honest artistic critique, as long as its done in a constructive manner. In fact, D and I became friends because he was the first person to tell me flat out that he hated this video-- and why.

::Enjoy::

And the Vlog journey begins...

...I've been interested in beginning a video blog for quite some time now. For some reason, life got busy and I was off gallavanting across the globe and the gALLIxSEE vlog project got put on the back burner for a bit. But I'm back from traveling and I have many images and sounds and dv deliciousness to share- mine as well as others'. I find myself getting juicy tips on videos all over the inner:net and I do love to share. Enjoy the ride...

This first video I would like to share was found thanks to a tip from my lovely friend Eric. This is a video cut together entirely from GW Bush's State of the Union Address~ the technical skills in this lil' tidbit are enough to make an editor dizzy, but the eerily melancholy yet hopeful tone that this video manages really makes it one for the archives.






Lyrics:

there's been a lot of talk about this next song
this next song is not a rebel song
this song is sunday bloody sunday

i can't believe the news today
can't close my eyes and make it go away
how long how long must we sing this song
how long too long for too long

tonight we can be as one
tonight tonight tonight

broken bottles under children's feet
bodies strewn across the dead end streets
but i won't heed the battle call
it puts my back up puts my back up against the wall

sunday bloody sunday
sunday bloody sunday
let's roll

and the battle's just begun
this many lost and tell me who has won
the trench is dug within our hearts
mothers children brothers sisters torn apart

sunday bloody sunday
sunday bloody sunday

how long how long must we sing this song
how long too long for too long

tonight we can be as one
tonight tonight tonight

sunday bloody sunday
sunday bloody sunday
let's roll

anyone who wants more details on my agenda can find them online
the web address is not very imaginative but its easy to remember
thepartyparty.com

wipe the tears from your eyes
wipe your tears away
wipe your tears away
wipe your tears away
wipe your blood shot eyes

sunday bloody sunday
sunday bloody sunday
let's roll

and it's true we're not immune
when fact is fiction and tv reality
and today the millions cry
we eat and drink while tomorrow they die

sunday bloody sunday
sunday bloody sunday

(words & music: u2)

Original Video Source: http://onegoodmove.org and Rx @ http://www.thepartyparty.com