"How can you be serious?" Not by wearing this T-shirt! The classic Mark Pawson T-shirt, updated for 2012.
By Rob Beschizza at 7:00 am Friday, Mar 25
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[Video link. Music is a cover of Mad World, by Tears for Fears. You can buy the original here. Here's an MP3 of the remix used in the video]
By David Pescovitz at 9:36 am Thursday, Mar 17
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Collector of anomalies, esoterica, and curiosities.
[YouTube link, and here's a downloadable MP4]
In case you're not hip to The Decemberists, they're a fantastic indie/folk/rock outfit from Portland, Oregon who took 15 years to become an overnight success. Their influences are diverse, from 1960s British folksters like Shirley Collins and Anne Briggs to 1980s modern rock songwriters like XTC, REM, and Morrissey. In January, the band released its sixth album, an epic alt.country/bluesy work titled The King Is Dead and took to the road. When their wagon train came through Oakland's Fox Theater in February, Boing Boing pal and hypertalented video director Scott Compton made the scene. BB readers may remember Scott for directing the Swell Season interview/performance film in 2009 that quickly became a Boing Boing Video fave.
The Decemberists' timing was impeccable as it was Valentine's Day--and Scott, well, loves The Decemberists. Scott rallied his crack video team: the inimitable Bart Nagel and Chris Valente on Canon 5D cameras and Lauretta Molitor on sound -- for 20 minutes with the band and stageside access for a couple tunes. Then he took the footage back to his Remedy Editorial facility where editor Jeffrey Boyette and colorist Ayumi Ashley worked their post-production magic. The video team's passion and the band's talent gelled into the lovely piece you see above.
"In person, The Decemberists were humble, smart, and collaborative," Scott says. "For me, it was really interesting to hear singer/songwriter Colin Meloy talk about how Neil Young's seminal 'Comes A Time' album was a big influence. I discovered that album my freshman year of college, and missed a lot of classes sitting in my dorm listening to it again and again."
Credits: Scott Compton (director), Chris Valente (producer), Bart Nagel (camera), Scott Compton (camera), Chris Valente (camera), Lauretta Molitor (sound), Camilla Comanich and Stephan Hawk (production assistance), Jeffrey Boyette (editor), Ayumi Ahsley (colorist), Mike Lowe (visual effects), Marc Pittman (sound mix)
For more:
"The Decemberists and Polaroid" (Boing Boing)
By Rob Beschizza at 9:07 am Thursday, Dec 9
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Joe Sabia offers this hilarious and appropriately instructive recap of the Wikileaks saga as it has unfolded over the last few weeks.
By Xeni Jardin at 9:12 am Wednesday, Dec 1
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
(Photo: Khaled el-Masri with his family in Germany, 2005. Dieter Mayr for The New York Times)
When Wikileaks released thousands of classified US diplomatic cables this week, a familiar criticism was repeated by the project's foes: these leaks could harm innocent people. There's no evidence of that yet, but within the documents there is evidence the American government has harmed innocent people.
One of them is Khaled El-Masri, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, and a victim of so-called "extraordinary rendition." He was a car salesman in Germany, a father of six. The CIA kidnapped him by mistake (his name sounds and looks identical to that of an actual terror suspect), and sent off to receive months of torture in Afghanistan.
When the CIA realized he was innocent, he was flown to Albania and dumped on a back road without so much as an apology.
El-Masri's futile efforts at receiving justice in the U.S. are well-known, but the cables published this week by Wikileaks include revelations the U.S. also warned German authorities not to allow a local investigation into his kidnapping and abuse.
The nearest he's gotten to justice is an arrest warrant for 13 CIA agents issued by prosecutors in Spain, which they entered on forged passports.
In this video, originally part of the Witness.org documentary OUTLAWED, El-Masri relates his experiences. Boing Boing presented a portion of this documentary on our video channel back in 2008; the documents brought to light by Wikileaks provide an opportunity to revisit the story with new context.
Related links: PDF of the ACLU/El-Masri lawsuit against the US; Washington Post article. Read the rest
By Xeni Jardin at 6:28 am Thursday, Sep 16
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
Boing Boing Video proudly debuts a new music video for the "Gypsy-punk" band Gogol Bordello: "Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher)," the new single from Trans-Continental Hustle, the band's latest album, produced by Rick Rubin.
The video was directed by Isaiah Seret and shot in Los Angeles, chronicling the day-to-day life of an immigrant as experienced by the eight members of this multi-cultural rock band. They're from Ukraine, Russia, Israel, China, Ethiopia, Ecuador and Trinidad, so the topic of immigration is one with which they're familiar.
I spoke with lead singer Eugene Hütz about the video, and the "transcultural rock" for which the band is known.
Boing Boing: Can you tell us a bit about how the video came together?
Hütz: It's a video we always wanted to make, because it completes our story. It's very autobiographical, and tells a story about eight people who are all immigrants, who came to pursue something in new york city. That's our biography. But on the other hand, like it coincides with the idealistic belief that people shall always be free to choose the place of their residence. This ties in to the whole movement of worldwide citizenship.
By Xeni Jardin at 6:54 am Friday, Jul 30
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
[ Watch video: view at YouTube or Download MP4. ]
Boing Boing Video proudly presents Markets of Britain, discovered by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz from the archives of a great and underappreciated documentary filmmaker named Lee Titt, who also never existed.
Earlier this week, we presented this Boing Boing Video interview with Popper and Serafinowicz about their "Look Around You" DVD, just been released in the USA. This film was presented at a recent launch event in Los Angeles, blogged previously on Boing Boing.
Mini emus!
Buy the DVD. Below, a trailer for the DVD produced by BBC America. The actual show is a lot weirder.
By Xeni Jardin at 10:42 am Wednesday, Jul 28
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
Watch video: YouTube, or download MP4.
Make sure to have your copybooks ready, you'll want to take notes. In this episode of Boing Boing Video, the offbeat British comedy duo of Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, creators of the BBC series "Look Around You," speak to us on the occasion of the US DVD release for their absurdist fake-educational science program.
Bonus: They are also founders of the faux religion of Tarvuism. In this very video, for the first time ever, they recite the full invocational prayer of Tarvu, meaning that just by watching, you are automatically indoctrinated as a member of the Church of Tarvu. So if octopuses (octopi? octopodes?) start chattering priestmuntyisms to you in the night, you've been warned.
In addition to the LOL-rich endeavors they discuss in this interview, these guys are busy: there's Popper's long-running prank phone call and Timewaster Letter series, work on the IT Crowd, and their Radio Spirit World podcasts, Popper is writing for South Park lately. Serafinowicz has an eponymous BBC show out on DVD, and lots of movie roles in the works, including the new Yellow Submarine remake. US audiences may know Serafinowicz best as the voice of Darth Maul.
We'll be debuting a new comedy short from these guys soon on Boing Boing Video, so stay tuned. Thants!
• LOOK AROUND YOU Season 1 on DVD (Amazon)
• Watch excerpts from the DVD at the LOOK AROUND YOU YouTube channel.
• More Boing Boing Video: tv.boingboing.net, or check out our YouTube channel.
Photo, below: Popper (L) and Serafinowicz (R) at Comic-Con, with a new pal...
By Xeni Jardin at 7:30 am Thursday, Jul 15
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
[ Watch Video: YouTube in HD, or download MP4 ]
Boing Boing Video presents a new music video from The NASA Project ("North America South America"): "Strange Enough," featuring Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fatlip of The Pharycyde, and what I am told were the last recorded lyrics by Ol Dirty Bastard of Wu Tang (RIP).
The song's infectious, the animation's delicious—with original artwork by Stephan Doitschinoff. Video directed by Lorna T and Studio Giblets, produced by Terence Teh.
NASA project co-founder Sam Spiegel tells Boing Boing, "Calma, Terence, and Lorna blew our mind with this new video. It's a Dante's Inferno of Brazilian art which fits the song perfectly."
You can buy the N.A.S.A. album here: N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
(Special thanks to Susan Applegate and Syd Garon)
By Xeni Jardin at 12:07 pm Wednesday, Jun 23
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
Watch Video: YouTube, or download MP4.
I took the new iPhone 4 out for a Venice Beach bike ride, to test the smartphone's new high-res video recording capabilities. All footage in this video shot with iPhone 4.
Remember that the iPhone allows you to tap an icon on-screen to switch the camera orientation from one face to another. For some portions (while riding my bike), the iPhone was strapped on to my left hand with rubber bands (I call this The Rubber Band Steadicam™), and the iPhone camera was facing out one direction with medium-res video recording. In other sections of this video (skaters skating, orchids, ocean, and interview with skater Kiko, age 8) the iPhone camera was activated in the other direction and captured high-resolution video.
You can see the difference, but the verdict in short form is this: iPhone 4 outperforms other smartphones and handheld ultra-mobile digital video camcorders, and I've tried nearly all of 'em for web video production while on the road. When it comes to video recording in a smartphone (and in "Flip" class devices), iPhone 4 is the one to beat.
Again you do have to be mindful of that camera orientation switch option noted above: when you shoot video out of one side of the device, you get lower-resolution 640 x 480 footage, and when you shoot out of the other side, you get far higher-res 1280 x 720. You can tap an area to focus in and balance exposure and hue, even while you are shooting. Video is saved and exported as h.264 QuickTime, and you can email, MMS, or publish to YouTube right from the iPhone. Editing on the device is possible with iMovie for iPhone ($5 in the Apple App store).
See also:
• IPHONE 4 FIRST HANDS-ON REVIEW
• PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW
(Special thanks to Eric Mittleman, to Q-Burns Abstract Message whose music appears in this video, and to all the awesome skaters at the Venice Skate Park, particularly Kiko and Drew!)
By Xeni Jardin at 6:50 am Thursday, May 27
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
( Watch on YouTube or download MP4 | More Boing Boing Video ).
Comedian Rich Fulcher is best known for his multiple character roles on the hit BBC comedy series "The Mighty Boosh"—the most notorious of whom is Eleanor—and for his dark sketch comedy show "Snuffbox."
I caught up with him on a Venice Beach rooftop to discuss the release of his very funny new book, Tiny Acts of Rebellion, and to roast s'mores beneath the stars. The resulting Boing Boing Video episode includes gutbusting fits of laughter, and melted marshmallows coated with gravel and cat-hair. Fulcher's a lot better at comedy than he is at cooking campfire treats.
LA folks: Fulcher will be performing this Friday, May 28, at Largo in Los Angeles, with a terrific lineup including Chris Hardwick, Har Mar Superstar, and Neil Hamburger. Maybe Eleanor will make an appearance?
Poster with details below, tickets here, and proceeds benefit a Nashville flood disaster response fund. More Fulcher (and Eleanor) shows in LA and other US cities to follow...
By Xeni Jardin at 7:01 am Wednesday, Apr 21
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
WATCH VIDEO: YouTube, or download MP4.
Ninja and Yo-Landi of Die Antwoord sat down with me for an interview just after the South African "rap-rave" band's first-ever US performance at the Coachella music festival. The duo spoke about their explosive, internet-fueled burst to fame, and about the origins of their "car crash music" (it's disturbing, but you can't look away) by way of District 9 and an anarchic internet and music subculture in post-Apartheid South Africa.
I'm told this is the only interview Die Antwoord granted during their US visit. Our conversation originally streamed live as part of the Los Angeles Times / Brand X magazine Coachella Oasis Webcast.
After the jump, a gallery of photos from their Coachella performance, shot by Dave Bullock (eecue).
By Xeni Jardin at 6:00 am Tuesday, Apr 13
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
Watch on YouTube. or Download MP4
In this Boing Boing Video exclusive, South Park co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker speak with Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin on the eve of the 200th episode of the hit Comedy Central series. Stone and Parker reveal their plans to revisit battles over the boundaries of what can and cannot be done on television—including a quest to see just how many celebrities they can manage to piss off in a single episode, and whether Comedy Central will once again try to stop them from depicting the image and voice of a cartoon version of the Muslim prophet Mohammed on the show.
The 200th episode airs Wednesday, April 14 at 10pm on Comedy Central. Fan tributes here: South Park 200 (southpark200.com)
Related: Reason.com on the Mohammed/South Park/Comedy Central controversy.
(Special thanks to the production team of Matt West and Eric Mittleman)
By Xeni Jardin at 10:42 am Thursday, Feb 4
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
VIDEO: YouTube, or download MP4.
Today on Boing Boing Video, part one of my interview with actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz, whose "Peter Serafinowicz Show" DVD just came out this week. He's starring as Paul McCartney in the Robert Zemeckis remake of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, his Apple parody ads are the stuff of viral legend, his #PSQA tweets delight mutants throughout the globe, and fans of his BBC show find much to LOL in the likes of Brian Butterfield and the robot talk show host Michael-6. Or perhaps you remember him in Shaun of the Dead, or from Tarvu, or Look Around You? No matter. If you're not familiar with any of this, just watch our interview, and you will be.
By Xeni Jardin at 6:31 am Tuesday, Jan 26
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
(Watch video: on YouTube, on Dotsub, or download an MP4)
Today's episode of Boing Boing Video features rare and historic film from Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1956. Artist Mar Dore stumbled on a box of slides in her family's home in Texas a few years back, and inside, discovered photographs that her father, John Mizenko, took of the parades back in the era of "Mad Men." That box of slides was like a time capsule, Mar says, and opened a door into history—the history of New Orleans, and of her own family.
I've blogged one of his photographs here on Boing Boing before (you can buy prints now), but in today's Boing Boing Video, we explore the personal story behind them, and we travel back in time through "found" video footage of that same parade.
Below and after the jump, Mar (who, it should be noted, is a member of my family) shares the story behind this video:
My father was born in the small town of Covington, Louisiana in 1921. He was a chemical engineer, inventor and builder, and an amateur radio operator. He worked for major oil companies and we had to move around a lot.He shot the photos you see in this video in 1956 on February 12th and on Mardi Gras Day, February 14th, on the Mid-City route and on Canal Street in front of Miller-Wohls Department Store, which is no longer there. A lot of the New Orleans you see in this video is no longer there.
Read the rest
By Xeni Jardin at 12:43 pm Wednesday, Jan 20
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Boing Boing partner, Boing Boing Video host and executive producer. Xeni.net, Twitter, Google+. Email: xeni@xeni.net.
(NSFW! Adults, watch this video: YouTube, Dotsub, or Download MP4)
Boing Boing Video presents "O PATO," featuring Kool Kojak and DJ Babão, from the NASA music project (North America South America). Directed by Didiu Rio Branco and Robson Minghini, this NSFW, raunchy romp features animated versions of NASA project founders Sam and Ze getting funky with their fine feathered homies in São Paulo, Brazil. Bonus: a moonwalking Michael Jackson cockroach. My, the bugs really are bigger in South America...
You can buy the project album here: N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
