Take note iPhone users who record video! (I must admit, this drive me nuts!) **Video contains 2 censored expletives

I am really looking forward to giving these apps a try. You too may find them useful.
Cartoonatic allows you to record videos with cartoon effects. Free and available for the iPhone & iPad2.

Miniatures allows you to create time-lapse miniature (tilt-shift) movies using your iPhone or iPad2. Free.

Lastly, try out JellyCam for creating stop-motion animations. Free but installation required.

Here’s a little news clip my grade 7 tutor group (homeroom) made for one of our school assemblies where we had to present on the Japanese festival known as Setsubun.

Kirby Ferguson just released part 2 of his of his 4 part production, Everything is a Remix. Part 1 tackled music sampling and here in part 2, he looks into “the remix techniques involved in producing films.” Very entertaining, informative and great if you teach film.

Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

I received the following message today if anyone is interested in film projects for students:

I’m working with the MHZ Networks to promote their annual film festival for youth ages 7 to 18 and teachers. The Shortie Awards gives participants the opportunity to be a part of a global competition and an opportunity to share their work. In addition, there is no fee to submit and all participants will receive feedback from judges. The Shortie Awards is in its 10th year. Last year, we received 450 films from 20 countries and 28 states. We would love to beat that!

For more information, please visit www.shortie.org or email shortie@mhznetworks.org. You can also visit our YouTube page to see submissions from previous years. Submissions are being accepted through Without a Box  and are due April 1, 2011 by 5 PM EST.

With all the “best of 2010″ lists out there, I thought I’d share some documentaries on social/environmental issues that have distracted me from doing other things. The film titles link to IMDB. Originally this list was supposed to be for films released in 2010, but I couldn’t resist.

The World According to Monsanto [2008] (Watch in full online here)

Gasland [2010]

Fuel [2008]

Why We Fight [2005]

Inside Job [2010]

Casino Jack and the United States of Money [2010]

Collapse [2009]

And since I am on the topic, I must include one of my favourites, The Corporation [2003].

Food, Inc [2008]

I’d love to teach film. I’d LOVE to teach film. It was my minor in university. When I was a classroom teacher in elementary, I seized opportunities to incorporate film into units and projects. Have a look at the clip below. It is the opening credits from the TV series “Different Strokes” and has been reimagined as Disturbing Strokes. It clearly illustrate how a music score can change a mood.

This re-edited Mary Poppins video is also one of my favourites. Add a haunting score and splice up the footage to create a whole new film.

If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in the Top ten TV and movie re-edits via The Vine. If you don’t check that out, at least have a look at Top Gun Recut for a good laugh.

(video link here)

I enjoy film. I appreciate special effects. I enjoy compiled stuff like this.

It made me think. CG looks great and realistic, but the mystery of “How did they do that?” is kind of gone. Remember the first time you saw this or this? You craved to know how it was done. It was clever when George Lucas had to adapt his special effects around his budgets. Now all you get is the simple answer, “It’s CG.” The new Star Wars kind of sucked for that reason.

Perhaps I am being too nostalgic?

Anyway, it’s also worth checking out the ‘related to’ videos from the above as well if you teach film.

In addition to this, Students Recall More Hollywood than History:

If you thought Tom Cruise’s character in “The Last Samurai” represented a real figure from history, you were wrong. But don’t feel ashamed. A new study shows that even students, with facts staring them in the face, tend to substitute Hollywood fiction for historical fact in their minds.

(via LiveScience)

Thanks to Shane M. for the tip.

I found this interesting video in my inbox:

Civilization, a video mural created for the new Standard hotel in New York City, depicts a journey from hell to heaven interpreted through modern film language using computer-enhanced found footage. This epic video mural contains over 300 individual channels of looped video blended into a multi-layered seamless tableau of interconnecting images that illustrate a contemporary, satirical take on the concepts of Heaven and Hell.

(video link here)

Following on the heels of my previous post on using video in the classroom, I thought now would be a good time to post this. I am getting married this summer and since I am an art/ICT teacher, I am very picky with photographers and videographers. Prices are expensive and I want exactly what I want. I would prefer raw footage and simply edit it all myself.

A co-worker passed this video gem onto me (thanks Luke). Perhaps? Perhaps not. I will hang onto this clip though as an example to use with future classes when doing video. There’s so much here to discuss – transitions, music, delivery etc. At least they used a green screen. But I am not so sure about the inclusion of Ogopogo at the end. However, the more I watch it, the more I am intrigued and drawn in. It is so bad, that it is good. Sharon, bless you.

(To be honest, I am tempted to use them for a ‘secondary’ video.) They have become rather popular as a slight Internet phenomenon. I wonder if the prices and demand for their services have gone up? Their YouTube channel is here and it is also worth checking out.