Do Something Real

The Age: Rich Pickings spreads the news of this great YouTube clip that highlights the divide in the world between the haves and the have nots.

Casanova

Director Driven Choice
'From the director of Chocolat' That line,splashed across the top of the DVD, drew my attention to this one. I had overlooked it quite a few times. I loved Chocolat. It was an amazing and beautiful story and the film managed to do it justice.
Romantics Delight
Casanova contained similar delicious moments. The legendary Casanova and the alluring Francesca have their moment of truth and intimacy in a hot air balloon, floating through a sky littered with fireworks over the city of Venice. Romance on a stick.
Action and Adventure
The film contains battles of wit and muscle as well as wild chases and escapades. I laughed and clapped with glee.
Heath Ledger
This is the second Heath Ledger film I've watched this month. Heath has effectively become both Ned Kelly (2003) and Casanova for me. Such diversity, such a delight!

Digital storytelling - File conversion link

Converting your Quicktime to Media Player:File conversion link

It's Time for a New Bottom Line

Ned Kelly (2003)

Ned Kelly has been the subject of quite a few films in Australia's history and The Age:Kelly Gang Rides into History tells about the worlds first feature film "The Story of the Kelly Gang" and its inclusion as a United Nations heritage register. I had a 'Ned Kelly' excursion with my English and Humanities year 9 classes this year.

Today by coincidence we watched the latest film Ned Kelly (2003)based on the book by Robert Drewe 'Our Sunshine' in the humanities class. It is a heroic legend and the film is quite well made. The students commented on the darkness of the film and we discussed the parts that we felt were not accurately based on historical sources. For those interested this site The Iron Outlaw, contains a wealth of information. There are 11 Kelly based films listed on this site with details about the films on most of them.

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto

ApocalyptoWhat a haunting film! The scenery was spectacular.I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. I was facinated by it. I can't enjoy watching so much hardship and cruelty. The tribe, as they were in the beginning seemed like a wonderful community and I was thinking how amazing it would be to live like that in the beginning. Stories by the fire with your family, living, working and sharing everything. It all changed pretty quickly though. It gives an insight into what the Mayan world could have been like.

$1000 on Revver

Before Revver switched to the new channel, last year some time, I had earnt around 100 odd dollars. Then they reset the earnings to date. I think it was about June last year, but I could be wrong. Anyway, since that reset, I have just today made $1000. I am happy with that. I haven't added a clip for ages. I have some ideas I am working on, but they will take some time. I haven't been taking a lot of video lately. I'm not sure why.

Robin Good seeks Grassroots TV Reporters

Robin Good's blog is an absolute favourite for me. His latest article: Live Online Television: New Emerging Formats - Robin Good TV Calls For Grassroots News Reporters offers an opportunity for those who would like to be a part of something new and worthwhile. The article says he is looking for reporters in Australia, as well as other places. Read it all if you are interested. It would be such an exciting opportunity.

On Location In Gippsland

Well, my secret has been discovered. Film Gippsland, launched this week, with pictures in the local papers of Sigrid Thornton and other locals launching Film Gippsland, to showcase the awesome locations available in Gippsland Victoria.
Much of my collection of 450 odd clips on Revver have been taken in Gippsland. You can check them out here: Revver Film Gippsland Victoria

Happy Feet etc

Does this film remind anyone of Moulin Rouge musically? Perhaps it is Nicole Kidman's voice?

I know, it's an old film and an animation and I haven't quite been able to watch it all yet. I have watched most of it twice now though so that counts it as done for me. I like that it highlights Antarctica's fragile nature.

I haven't watched a great movie for ages.

I think since it's the pretend Queens birthday today, I will get 'The Queen' out from the video shop, unless the hoardes have had the same lame thought as me, and watch it.

Magnify - Stats are Back

Well Magnify have returned the stats. In the recent Magnify.net Blog post: New Features: New Toys, the improvements are listed. I missed the stats so I am pleased about those. I don't have an adsense account so those advertising option improvements mean nothing to me, however I am sure many will find these improvements to be great.

yourCut - Coming Soon for Aussies

Revver and Ninemsn will launch on June 11 the first Australian video sharing online service that pays creators: yourCut. You can go and check it out now before everyone else gets wind of it.

This is exciting for Australian video sharers as well as viewers. I have looked around the site and it is using Revver to serve the ads and possibly for most of its usability. I have used Revver for over a year and have made over a thousand US dollars from my video's online. Revver are great to work with, they are fair and constantly improving.

From the FAQ of yourCut:

What is your mission:

"yourCut supports independent media artists. We believe that a free and open, democratised media environment is good for everyone. Our goal is to empower video makers and sharers to do what they do best."

Empower they will.

TV Series DVDs

Ok so I'm a bit slow. I don't watch TV very much. My kids have been purchasing TV series on DVD. They have quite a variety of TV series box sets. They bought us Battlestar Gallactica for Christmas and I got a taste of watching it in my own time, without ads and as much as I wanted. It was good.
For Mother's Day, I was given Season 1 of The Gilmour Girls and I am hooked. I had to rush out and buy the next two seasons on special. It's too convenient and indulgent.
It's winter here on Friday!

Video Site Updates

Blip TV has rolled out some new functions and if you are interested the blog post: Release Notes for Geeks should be right up your alley.

Magnify stats that I raved about a little while back are down. This has been the case for a while so I hope it restores itself soon.

Revver is quietly moving along for me. I am enjoying the new stats and my 415 clips are getting a little traffic.

I was surprised to read The Next Net: Top Video Sites during the week that Metacafe came in at 7. I am not a convert at all to Metacafe. Revver doesn't even get a mention. Ah well, I know nothing.

More Shins

Here are the rest of The Shins videos on Revver:

So Says I - The Shins
Another classic sounding track. Great animation.


Pink Bullets - The Shins

Love the origami cows in this one!



Saint Simon - The Shins

Wikipedia - The Shins can tell you all the little interesting details about this band.

Enjoy!

Amazing Movie Countdown 100

100 Movies, 100 Quotes, 100 Numbers,
Unbelievable

New Slang

Here is the clip for that great classic sounding song. It has been used in a number of TV shows and a well known company commercial as well as in "Garden State".

YouTube Founders Still At Work

In The Age:Empowering People One YouTube Clip at a Time, founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley discuss their current projects at YouTube.

It seems life hasn't changed a lot, although they are obviously wealthier:

"They both received Google stock now worth more than $US325 million, but their lifestyles haven't changed that much so far, they said.

"Hopefully, we come across as accessible and humble," Chen said. "I try to spend as much time with the same friends and people that were around before the whole user phenomenon started. I do pay for more dinners now than I did.""

The article states that YouTube is seeking to clean up their current stock by getting rid of the clutter and copyright infringing material. They don't intend to compete with some of the slicker new sites coming online and realise people want to watch themselves. They recognise that YouTube has empowered the individual to have an audience and they intend to continue to support that.

Revver Improvements

Revver has recently made improvements to their site. I have to say they really work at improving their service constantly. I like the new statistics. A Little Housekeeping outlines all the changes.
The main improvements are introduction of a service for the hearing impaired with a closed-captioning service. This is great. The statistics are now presented more meaningfully allowing easier manipulation. This can give you specific feedback and will make it less hit and miss.
They have put the number of views back so you can easily see how popular a video has been at a glance. There are a number of other improvements that you can check out if you read the article.
Makes life interesting.

The Shins on Revver

The Past and Pending - The Shins


The great film "The Garden State" featured the Shins song 'New Slang' and from the first time I heard it, I loved it. The Shins are great and I love this clip. The countryside is the type I see freedom in.