Remixed Before Your Eyes: Eclectic Method
Posted on June 18, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized
(Originally appeared on Creativity-Online.com)
U.K. trio straddles the divide between DJ and film editor
The art of remixing and sampling has been around for decades, and DJs have long been considered rock stars themselves (witness: DJ Hero). But all that has largely been an audio experience. In 2007, technology allowed some enterprising entertainers to manipulate video in the same way DJs ply their trade with audio. Pioneer released its SVM-1000 video mixer which built upon the brand’s already popular DJ tech offerings, fundamentally changing what DJs were able to do with video in a live setting. Enter Eclectic Method.
Comprised of three Brits, Jonny Wilson, Ian Edgar and Geoff Gamlen, who split their time between London, New York and L.A., Eclectic Method is considered one of the best VDJ acts in the world, performing shows in such … er, eclectic locales as Glastonbury, Cannes, Sundance and the Playboy mansion. In addition to the live shows, the group has worked with commercial clients such as Apple, Blackberry, MTV and more. Most recently, they were commissioned by Activision to perform at E3. And their remix of a Stephen Colbert interview with copyright lawyer Lawrence Lessig, prompted The Colbert Report host to air the video and dub them “DJ Jazzy Jerks.”
We spoke to all three members of Eclectic Method about the evolution of VDJing, their creative process and more.
When art and ads collide, Mike Shine
Posted on June 16, 2009 - Filed Under culture
It’s been a while since I’ve jotted anything down here that wasn’t already posted somewhere else, but I guess that’s why this is called a repository… Anyway, a few years ago through my work at Creativity and its obvious involvement in advertising, I became aware of the comforting-yet-creepy art of Mike Shine. Shine’s a principle at agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, whose client list includes LucasArts, MINI and Priceline.
Last year, Shine penned a telling POV column for Creativity in which he talked a bit about the balance between his ad stuff and his fine art. In it he mentions the influence of one of his favorite books, Steppenwolf, about a not-particularly-cheery German man who sees himself as two miserably conflicting identities. While the connotation is obvious, Shine’s art and personality don’t come across as particularly depressing or even that dark — despite all the devils and creepy characters — but rather an earnest look at these types of personal duality dilemmas, as told through what always reminds me of classic skateboard and vintage carnival imagery. Must have something to do with all the driftwood. And beyond all the Faustian, philosophic-psycho-stuff - the shit is just damn cool to look at. And then there’s his Art Shack, which Shine recreated inside SanFran’s Museum of Craft and Folk Art this past spring.
Anyway, perhaps better to just watch the mini-doc by Stacy Peralta than read these rambles. But I will say this, many in the ad world like to fancy themselves artistes, but Shine’s a good example of someone who actually does cross the divide. Deals with the devil, notwithstanding.
(video after the jump.)
Asa Taccone Talks SNL Skit Soundtracks
Posted on May 20, 2009 - Filed Under Creativity
(Originally appeared on Creativity)
On December 16, 2006, Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg introduced the world to a whole new kind of gift idea. The SNL Digital Short “Dick in Box” went on to notch somewhere in the neighborhood of 89 billion views online and a legion of amateur imitators. But behind the chinstrap beards, Color Me Badd harmonizing and wardrobe and phallic festivities, was a tune composed by Black Iris‘ Asa Taccone.
The brother of SNL writer and Lonely Island member Jorma Taccone, Asa grew up under the hilarious harassment of Samberg & Co. Last week, Samberg and Timberlake reunited for the almost-as-funny “Mother Lover,” once again composed by Taccone and fellow Black Iris composer Drew Campbell. Taccone also did the music behind “Natalie Raps” and the feature film Hot Rod.
We spoke to Taccone about the composing process for the digital shorts, his upcoming work on the Samberg-hosted MTV Movie Awards and more.
New York Photo Festival 2009 Lands in DUMBO
Posted on May 17, 2009 - Filed Under Art, Creativity, culture
This article appeared at Creativity on May 15.
Brooklyn welcomes the second annual celebration of photography.
The New York Photo Festival hit the DUMBO section of Brooklyn this week, with a wide variety of exhibits and offerings on view through Sunday. This year’s main exhibition curators include New York magazine photography director Jody Quon, Director of the Lausanne, Switzerland’s Musée de l’Elysée William A. Ewing, London-based editor and book publisher Chris Boot and Foto8 founder and director Jon Levy.
Levy’s exhibit, “Home For Good” is a collaborative effort between the curator and his Foto8 team that’s described as a celebration of photography’s ability to communicate, describe, and explain, while also remaining open to interpretation. The show features the work of Lorraine Grupe, Tim Hetherington, Simon Roberts, Chris Killip, Venetia Dearden, Seba Kurtis, Louie Palu, Bruno Stevens, Adam Nadel, and David Gray. We spoke to Levy about the goals behind the exhibit and more.
An Eye For Art: The Ebeling Group and Graffiti Research Lab Take on a Cause
Posted on April 24, 2009 - Filed Under Creativity, culture
(Originally for Creativity-Online.com)
Two shops collaborate to help a veteran graffiti artist with technology and design.
Much new digital technology has been deployed in the service of advertising, but a new project out of The Ebeling Group — home to MK12, Lobo, Nakd, Bearfight and more — has its sights set on a larger goal.
Back in 2007, Mick Ebeling was invited to an art auction and fundraiser in Los Angeles. He didn’t know the artist but came away from the experience with not just a new piece of art, but a newfound respect and appreciation for artist Tony Quan, a veteran L.A. graffiti writer called Tempt One. Quan has been living with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for the past six years in which time the disease has rendered him a quadriplegic.
Two weeks ago, in collaboration with the Graffiti Research Lab, Ebeling helped Quan write his first piece of graffiti in six years, using ocular-recognition technology and lasers. We spoke to Ebeling, as he took a break from D&AD judging, about how this project began, what his overall goals for it are and more.
Read more
Mullen Brings the Bear to Boston
Posted on April 23, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized
(Originally on Creativity-Online.com)
The 2009 NHL playoffs start today and just in time, Boston-based agency Mullen has launched a new campaign for its hometown Bruins. The work, the agency’s first for the team, introduces hockey fans to a different kind of mascot. A giant bear enforcer. But instead of dropping the gloves on the ice, this bear patrols the rink cracking down on a variety of fan faux pas, grabbing the attention of hockey fans and bloggers almost immediately.
We spoke to Mullen creatives Jesse Blatz and Greg Almeida, as well as executive creative director Mark Wenneker about the campaign, bear suit prices and more.
Update! Somewhat Back to Sports
Posted on April 23, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Heyooh. Yep, been awhile I know… Just wanted to drop a note to say I started a lil’ part-time blogging gig with MSN/Sympatico Sports at The Cheap Seats. So if you’re into leisure, laughing, puppies, justice and ice cream, head on over and let the tears of joy begin.
When Vice is Virtue
Posted on March 29, 2009 - Filed Under Advertising, Creativity
When Vice is Virtue
The kings of cool take on big brands
by jeff beer
When a trio of self-proclaimed drug addicts and welfare cheats from Montreal launched a free newsprint tabloid called Vice in 1996, they wanted nothing less than to change the way media portrayed and spoke to youth culture. Over the last decade, that tabloid has spawned a burgeoning media empire in Vice Books, Vice Films, Vice Music and Vice retail stores. In 2007, the founders of Vice launched VBS.tv with the humble goal of exploiting “every utopian vision the internet has thus far failed to live up to.” Then they turned their attention to advertising.
So, just how do the debaucherous darlings of the hipsterati go from writing articles called “Grandma Blowjob” and “Interview with a Black Guy” to launching brand partnerships with global corporations like Dell, Pepsico and Nike? And will the wayfarer-wearing masses deem the increased intermingling with the mainstream a Do or a Don’t?
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Harmony Korine’s New Target
Posted on March 29, 2009 - Filed Under Creativity, culture
Back in 1995, I saw Kids and it was the first flick I thought really showed what it was like (or felt like) to grow up in the 90s. While this year, The Wackness played the nostalgia card for the same era, Kids was, for obvious reasons, more of its moment, offering up the grittier side of skateboards (Harold Hunter!), booze and shit talk. Sure, the whole AIDS aspect creeped out every one I knew for at least a week (paranoia!) and of course, being set in NYC, it all looked a lot cooler than Toronto, but the lifestyle and language seemed written by someone our own age. Turned out, it was. Ever since, I’ve followed Harmony Korine’s career and films, and while curveballs abound – Gummo, anyone? — haven’t been disappointed.
So, stroll down memory lane concluded, it was cool to chat with Korine about his (seemingly improbable) move to make commercials.
(This originally appeared in the April 2009 issue of Creativity.)
Harmony Korine’s New Target
Indie director talks about his recent foray into spots.
by jeff beer
Before the age of 26, he had a feature labeled “the worst movie of the year” by The New York Times, yet had also been listed among such esteemed directorial company as Godard, Herzog, Fellini, Jarman, and Cassavetes by Roger Ebert. Simply saying Harmony Korine’s had an interesting career is akin to labeling Gummo just another portrait of small town America.
Eight years after his last feature, having kicked a serious drug problem, gotten married and taken a big step back from being Hollywood’s bad boy indie auteur, Korine returned to the big screen in 2008 with the critically acclaimed Mister Lonely. This time around, The Times said the film confirmed Korine’s unique directorial ability, calling nearly every frame “an image of arresting clarity and beauty.”
Critical turnarounds aside, Korine, now 35, made another unexpected move last year, signing with MJZ for commercial representation. Whatever your views on his earlier work, it’s assured that any project Korine gets behind is certainly worth watching.
Read more
Can the CBC Learn a Lesson or Two From NPR?
Posted on March 24, 2009 - Filed Under culture
Just read Anya Kamenetz’ Fast Company story on NPR and am convinced, in light of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s recent Parliament panhandle, that the CBC could learn a thing or two about combining quality programming with innovative and competent business practice from the American public broadcaster.
Now, if you judged things by just reading comment sections of Canada’s newspapers, you’d think half the country wants to sell it off while the other would sell their left arm to keep it as is. To those who want it dismantled — it costs you $12/year. That’s a pitcher of beer. Or a shot and a pack of smokes (if you’re lucky), so relax. To those who want to give our national broadcaster all it wants, take off the maple leaf-coloured glasses and step into reality. The network is, by many accounts, filled with complacent lifers and plenty of other wasteful policies.
Why can’t the CBC land somewhere between the goverment-funded BBC (which, by the way, costs Brits £139.50/year) and the publicly-supported NPR? Any ideas?
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