Dormtainment - Ass on the Internet - from time to time my playlist will include a risque video or two. This is one of those times. This is NSFW, tho just for being inappropriate. That being said, its pretty awesome both in content and execution.
Let's connect a few dots here. Awhile back I told you about the short film Oh Willy that I caught at Sundance, I loved it. I also told you about Elevision, the new short film showcase platform. Turns out it's a match made in heaven. Elevision recently announced their official introduction to the world and noted Oh Willy... as a shining star to kick things off. It's a very affordable, very enjoyable film and probably a wise idea to go ahead and get an Elevision account anyway because short films just keep getting better, so you're going to want to be aware when new ones become available.
Happy to see these two got together and I'm quite intrigued to see what Elevision brings to the table next.
David Daniels has done a ton of animations that, if you were alive during MTV's heyday, you are familiar with. Or maybe you watched Pee-Wee's Playhouse? Check out this example reel and you'll be whisked away down memory lane. The style of animation he employs - Stratacut - is mindblogging in its setup. Just watch a demo of the stop motion animation that looks like peeling through a loaf of bread. It's bonkers! Browse through the site and bone up on the whole process, it's fascinating in so many ways.
Check out this repository of winners from The Mammal Society's Photographer of the Year competition. The Licking Fox shown above was 2nd place and is primed and ready for an office calendar. It's a, mostly, silly collection but I enjoyed it regardless.
I've been trying out Strut the last few days - a gamification of just walking around. The more area you explore, the more tiles you claim. It's a silly thing but it's a free download with an interesting interface. That makes it worth it as far as I'm concerned!
I'm off to Austin, TX for SXSW. Despite having attended the festival for many years this will be my first time at the Interactive and Film portions. I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of wandering around with a somewhat lost look on my face. So, if you see me, be sure to say hello. I'd love to chat about your Interactive or Film project - VHX is there to connect!
Yesterday, VHX launched VHX Presents - our way of getting movies, news and deals to interested parties right in their inbox. As an enticement you get an instant discount on the movie of your choice when signing up and there's one helluva incredible thank you page after doing so. Get on it! I promise we'll make it worthwhile.
Thanks to this I recently became aware of the collage works of Sam Weber. The photos of antiques and old master paintings are merged into new creations that have a strangely disgusting air about them. It's fascinating that the new works have a gooey organicness to them knowing that their source material is often rigid and cold.
Really enjoyed this article on Flipboard's Inspiration - ranging from the likes of old magazines to Lamborghinis. There's actually quite a bit of thoughtful advice from Flipboard product designer Dider Hilhorst. I enjoyed this:
You want your company's DNA to be felt throughout your product and the only way to do that is to make the design process an inclusive one. At Flipboard, this mentality is pervasive: everyone chips in and everybody understands what the product is.
I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of "Flat UI" - currently being embraced by the likes of Microsoft and Google in droves. It's a nice change from the overly beveled and shiny everything. Flat UI is a free UI Kit to help you achieve similar ends for yourself. There are plenty of styles in here that will work for any project and make them look incredibly clean & simple by doing so. The only downside is that Flat UI doesn't invite the user to click as much, they have to have an understanding of interfaces in general. This is becoming less of an issue as everyone becomes deeply entrenched in the web.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm absolutely perplexed and amazed at how The Gorburger Show even exists, much less a second season with as many celebrities / worthwhile guests as they have procured.
Sign Painters is a documentary on the dying / lost art of the same name that's been in production since 2010. Back when I first encountered it I was intrigued by what filmmakers Faythe Levine and Sam Macon were up to and now that there is an official trailer I'm even more locked in. I'd love to sit down at a screening and then flip through the accompanying book.
