Category Archives: Video

If I Were The Academy…

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this year I’m not gonna try and predict what they are gonna choose, I would get that wrong… but if I were the academy these are the films I would give the awards!

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

127 Hours (2010): Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, John Smithson

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

James Franco for 127 Hours (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone (2010)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Amy Adams for The Fighter (2010)

Best Achievement in Directing:

David Fincher for The Social Network (2010)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:

The King’s Speech (2010): David Seidler

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:

The Social Network (2010): Aaron Sorkin

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year:

Toy Story 3 (2010): Lee Unkrich

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year:

Biutiful (2010): Alejandro González Iñárritu(Mexico)

Best Achievement in Cinematography:

The Social Network (2010): Jeff Cronenweth

Best Achievement in Editing:

Black Swan (2010): Andrew Weisblum

Best Achievement in Art Direction

True Grit (2010): Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh

Best Achievement in Costume Design:

The Tempest (2010/II): Sandy Powell

Best Achievement in Makeup:

The Wolfman (2010): Rick Baker, Dave Elsey

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score:

The Social Network (2010): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:

Toy Story 3 (2010): Randy Newman(“We Belong Together”)

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing:

The King’s Speech (2010): Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen, John Midgley

Best Achievement in Sound Editing:

True Grit (2010): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey

Best Achievement in Visual Effects:

Inception (2010): Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin

Best Documentary, Features:

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010): Banksy, Jaimie D’Cruz

 

 

My Favorite Music Videos

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I was reading one of my favorite blogs Una Lluvia de Ideas where my good friend Ave was talking about how wonderful of a study break music videos are… which got me thinking about some of my favorite. Here are what are (at least right now) my top 5 favorites!

#5 Flyleaf – All Around Me

#4 Gary Jules & Michael Andrews – Mad World

#3 OK Go – This Too Shall Pass

#2 OK Go – WTF?

#1 Regina Spektor – Us

The Gods Aren’t Angry

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I love the teachings of Rob Bell, who you may know from his book Velvet Elvis or the Nooma DVD series often played in churches. Back in October I had the opportunity to hear him speak at Oven’s auditorium here in Charlotte and he simply blew my mind. In The Gods Aren’t Angry he does it again.

Bell paints this evocative, visceral image of God as one who loves. Now as a Christian I have heard this message countless times, but Bell uses the book of Leviticus, the book so often refered to for having its so-called “sword verses” of malicious intent. He explains through vignettes and through scripture just how radical our God is.

He begins by highly creatively relating the ontological argument, which basically postulates that there must be a God because otherwise where did we get the idea that there was something outside of ourselves controlling this planet.

From there Bell moves on to discussing, in a very standard way if you are familiar with his teachings, some finer points of ancient sacrificial practices, leading up to the Jewish people. He then segued into the vignettes section in which he very ingeniously relates the power of God’s unending love.

I won’t go into too much detail so as not to spoil the beauty of the sermon but this is just like an interesting Nooma for 1.5 hours! If you are a fan of the Nooma videos or any of his books you are sure to be fascinated with The Gods Aren’t Angry.

Toy Story 3

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They all said it could not be done. I was told time and time again over the entire year leading up to it’s release that it was never going to be as great as the last one. But it was.

This past Sunday I went wih my family to see it. First off I’m not sure if Pixar knows how to do anything wrong, serioulsy from the highly creative short to the spot on, absolutely perfect animation the entire visual relm the movie lived in was impeccable.

The script was possibly the movie’s strongest feature, though at times or was trite and predictable it was honest and transparent. From the first 5 seconds of the film the world of Woody, Buzz, and Andy was revived in the mind o the audience taking us back over a decade to charachters we know and love. And at times it was extrely creative! I won’t give anything away but there are some great moments!

From a relevancy standpoint it was very nice how Andy, who was my age when the movies first came out, was now my age again in this film. It really bound me to the movie knowing in a little less than 12 months I would be sorting my childhood into attic, goodwill, college, and trash.

This movie was really great on so many levels. The young children in the audience were laughing at the funny talking toys, the teenagers were reflecting over their short lives, and the parents were restraining tears as they thought of their children leaving forever.

As the famous author Donald Miller would say, it told a great story, it told a story worth living.

“Crazed”

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For my first short film I, along with my filming partner Tyler Blevins, used a short “hello, hi, how are you” script and tried to give it a new twist. We drew a card from a “moods” box, the mood we pulled out: “crazed” so here is the finished product featuring Carson Brannock and Lexi Williams:

Credits:

  • AJ Calohun: Director, Cinematographer, Editor
  • Tyler Blevins: Audio Monitor, Editor
  • Chad Fair: Screener, etc.
  • Carson Brannock: Person A
  • Lexi Williams: Person B

The 5 Movies Everyone Should Watch This Sumer (That Aren’t New)

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This summer it is time to buckle down and watch some of my favorite movies, you know you need to do it. Just kidding, don’t watch them just becaus they are my favorites, watch them because they are really quality peices of film, they will make you laugh, cry, get anxious, eat popcorn, and much more.

After making this list I realized that I really like movies about science, as 2 of these movies take place at MIT and another is about building rockets. Whatever, don’t judge me.

I have included the trailer along with each movie and a link to its IMDB page, where you can find rating information, and reviews, and a summary! I’ve included my own “Flixter” reviews of each movie as well! Let me know me if you watch any of these and tell me what you think!

The List:

1. Big Fish [PG-13]

First, Tim Burton is my all time favorite director, this movie deserves 10000 ★s but unfortunately I cant give it that many, it is my all time favorite movie. It takes your emotions from the widest grins to the brink of tears, if you have yet to see it go NOW to your local blockbuster and watch it.

2. Good Will Hunting [R]

Wow, this is truly a great movie, you dont see many movies like that it was profoundly scripted and shot, I would STRONGLY encourage you to see it if you havent. Matt Damon is fantastic, i now understand why he is in so many movies, I dont have much else to say but as for the 1997 best picture, it was wisely awarded.

3. 21 [PG-13]

A great movie. If you’ve always heard the story of the MIT guys who counted cards then this is the movie for you! If you’ve never heard of them, let 21 tell you. Truly a well crafted movie worth the 1.5 hours of your life!

4. Hot Rod [PG-13]

This 2007 movie was my first exposure to Andy Samberg and the rest of his SNL friends, i had never really watched the show before, but after this movie I was hooked in, HILARIOUS, especially if you are an SNL fan.

5. October Sky [PG]

This is one of the first real movies I saw, I remember seeing this movie distinctly, my dad came to kindergarten and pulled me out of school and we drove to park terrace theater and saw it, I have loved it ever since, it is the only movie I own multiple legal copies of, both VHS and DVD. Anyhow, its one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Swagger Wagon

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Ok so I realize everything thus far has been basically on the serious side, but this is not all that goes on in my head, well really it is if you get right down to my very core, but were not talking about my emotional core… were talking bout my swagger wagon. I decided today to re-dub by van seeing as the creeper/rapist/snatcher van just sounded too harsh, after seeing this commercial I decided to name my van the Swagger Wagon. See why: