In some countries, higher education is publicly funded by taxes. In others, the smart or athletically talented can get scholarships and the rest get student loans… but in many cases a university level education is just out of reach. Whether it is distance from a good university, the high cost to attend or a lack of time with other obligations, most people around the world never have the opportunity to receive advanced degrees. [Read more...]
With the advent of modern day computer animation tech, it has become harder and harder to tell the difference between real and make believe. On the converse, in some cases real images seem to look fake because of the amazing clarity we can achieve. Louie Schwartzberg is an award winning cinematographer that has been pushing the limits of cameras and video for the last 30 years. Using time-lapse, super slow motion and a slew of other techniques, he achieves some of the most incredible images caught on film: images that blur the line between reality and the digital world. [Read more...]
What happened to you on 11.11.11? It’s only once per century that this unique date passes. The One Day on Earth documentary project, founded by Kyle Ruddick asks just that. The unique project worked with documentary filmmakers, students, and other inspired citizens to record the human experience over a 24-hour period. This is the second installment of the project, which started in 2010, which has been used to create a fully interactive archive with photo galleries, blog posts, and a video archive map. The map allows for a visual, searchable experience to answer that compelling question: What’s happening on the other side of the world right now? [Read more...]
To launch the Nokia Lumia 800 Windows phone, the mobile phone company performed a loud — and super bright — publicity stunt with an interactive takeover of a massive skyscraper in London. [Read more...]
A tiny desk toy takes a journey from the office to the Pacific coast, thanks to Google Maps. I can’t get over how well done this stop-motion animation was made… and how cleverly. A personal project of director Tom Jenkins, all imagery is seamlessly animated straight from the screen using stills in street view; there are no screen replacements. The office around the screen dances to life too, bringing motion and depth to the scene. It’s gorgeous and moving. [Read more...]
We’ve got a new love for Italian rapper Mecna and his video for the hard-hitting song Super. It features a full on typographical throw-down of italian lyrics, rendered in flashes of the lyrics in white font over the underground wandering artist. If you’re wondering, the instrumental track is Ratatat’s, Loud Pipes and you can find a free download of Mecna’s version at mecnamusic.com. Anyone want to try identifying all the beautiful fonts here? [Read more...]
When the WWF decided to start the seventh installment of their Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, they had a unique challenge transporting the critically endangered animals to their new expanded range. Because of extremely rough terrain between where the animal was captured and paved roads, off-road transportation by truck seemed too dangerous for the precious cargo. Instead, they decided to use a helicopter. Strapping webbing to each of the rhinoceros’ ankles, blindfolding and then tethering them to a hovering helicopter, the sleeping giants were airlifted the relatively short distance to waiting transport trucks for a smooth 1500km trip across the country to their new range. This beautiful film was created by Green Renaissance. Find more information about the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project at wwf.org.za. [Read more...]
Wes Anderson, director and writer of such campy, understated films as The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou… also makes commercials. His signature stage-like transitions, frank dialogue and retro aesthetic make him highly unique and have garnered him a strong following of loyal fans. That signature style has made it into most of the commercials found here, created for the likes of AT&T, Stella Artois, Ikea and even ex-presidential candidate John McCain (humorously made when he was lagging in the polls). It’s just a taste of what we might expect from Anderson’s next release, Moonrise Kingdom, in 2012. [Read more...]
Swirling bands of polished stainless steel form a moving, morphing bust in this fantastic sculpture by Czech artist David Černý. Installed in the mirroring pond of Whitehall Technology Park in Charlotte, North Carolina, the massive 14-ton sculpture only takes the form of a head when all of it’s sliced pieces are aligned – the rest of the time they circle in mesmerizing 360 degree patterns. For more on Černý and the piece, titled Metalmorphosis, see his website davidcerny.cz, stop by flickr for more images or see this live webcam to see what the sculpture is doing at the moment. [Read more...]
Dekotora: an art born in the land of the rising sun, where cool delivery trucks are customized with wild treatments of chrome, stainless steel, colorful airbrushed murals and hundreds of neon lights to brighten the night. In this new series All The Wrong Places from Vice, Elliott Bambrough explores Dekotora culture around Tokyo and the Japan countryside, visiting the birthplace of the trend which began in low budget mid-70s B movies about truckers going on adventures and “chasing tail.” While truck culture has been waning in Japan, Bambrough gives it a little kick… check out the Dekotora treatment to his Mini at the end of the video. [Read more...]
