On a rainy morning in Amsterdam (that demanded lots of coffee!), the Video Vortex - Responses to YouTube Conference was kicked off at Club 11. I will be blogging on the conference for movingweb, but I was also there because I have been involved with the project through my work at the Netherlands Media Art Institute where we made an exhibition with the same title and related topics. Well, the program of the conference is quite extensive, and I was very disappointed by some of the presentations today (that seemed unprepared, unfocused, had nothing new to say…a total contrast with the first Video Vortex conference in Brussels!). So I will focus on the gems of today’s presentations!
What’s this? A kid’s drawing?
It’s Michel Gondry’s drawing for the new Björk Video. Although the video lacks Gondry’s storytelling skills as it’s more a performance video, it’s incedrible how unique his style is. His ideas really are like coming from a kid’s mind and that what sets him apart from everyone out there. Moreover, he almost always finds a metaphor for the message of the song, which is the most difficult part about doing music videos.
See the Making of here at Specialten and the Video at YouTube.
One Band, One Song, One Shot!
The Take Away Shows are a video blog by Vincent Moon. He meets a band for an our and they record a song onetake. It’s not about shooting a technical perfect music video, but about the authentic atmosphere of the recording. I think it’s a perfect concept for a video blog, it’s short, it’s simple but intelligent, it’s informative but entertaining.
Vincent has done over 70 shows. Some of my favs besides Final Fantasy are Beirut and the Arcade Fire.
I might be a little late posting this music video by Socalled, but it’s too beautiful to not getting mentioned.
Original YouTube Source.
“The video sets out to amplify the message of the song.
The piece was conceived and created by The Rumpus Room as a multi platform project, having versions of the film for small hand held devices as well as large resolution screens. It is both a traditional piece of film and an interactive portal to online information and campaigns.
The video has over 100 QR Codes that are subliminal when watched in real time, but accessible to interact with if you navigate through the film using time controllers. The QR Codes are organised into sections that relate to specific issues of civil liberties.”
Visit the Pet Shop Boys Website for more information. The Production Company The Rumpus Room is a new division of The Sweet Shop, specialized in non-narrative Storytelling. Sounds interesting? Read an interview with Tomas Rope, founder of Tomato Interactive, and now involved in Rumpus Room, in the german culture magazine Spex. (german only)
The Blog/MySpace-Widget of German female rap-artist Sabrina Setlur is a conceptual mix of an audi/video guestbook and a fan mashup/remix of her current single (probably becoming the worlds longest music single ever).
Vincent Morisset has produced has produced an interactive Music Video for Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible”.
Even though the degree of interactivity is rather small it feels quite natural, as the actions taking place respond to certain events in the lyrics.
Emily Haines Music Video Our Hell is disturbingly beautiful!
Directlink, via OH!
The immaculate Mitchell Brothers are striking back with the first single of their second album ‘Dressed fo the occasion’. And their statement absolutetly hits the spot! :-)
YouTube DirectLink, via if:mv.
Amazing music video by Stephen Pook:
Via specialten.tv.