It’s the eye of the eagle. Photo: Beverly
Here’s a shout out to anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to be a bird. Well, for now at least, technology stands as a hurdle, but we can get pretty close thanks to Go Pro cameras. Not only do you get a sweet close up look at an eagle during flight, but you also get an incredible view of the French Alps. Not to mention an interesting look at the flight patterns of an eagle.
Check it out:
Peter Jackson’s membership in the Order of New Zealand is Gandalf Approved. Photo: Ian McKellen
Yesterday Sir Peter Jackson became an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, the highest honour available to someone in New Zealand (That’s contentious I guess, but technically speaking). There are only twenty living people at a time who are members of the Order of New Zealand, with only a handful of “Additional members” who receive the same rights and regard as the official members. He’s also the youngest member of the order, at the age of 51, by a good ten years. For a film director and producer to be anointed such a prestigious position is an exceptional honour, but also shows the effects that one person can have on a nation and an entire industry.
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research conducted a study into the effects the Lord of the Rings films had on New Zealand’s economy and film industry. The rise in jobs, studios and financing as a result of the films are astounding. There is realistic and appropriate evidence to suggest that the films single handedly boosted the New Zealand film industry from zero to hero in the space of several years. The study is well worth a read for anyone interested in the economical aspects of the film industry or the film industry of New Zealand.
All this is a result of the attitude of one man, which I have discussed previously, and the aspirations and enthusiasm of his youthful interest in film. Peter Jackson’s love of his home country meant to him that the films couldn’t be filmed anywhere else in the world. A decision the New Zealand government have loved. Not only have the films caused a huge boost in the industry, but they also caused a jump in tourism.
New Zealand is now affectionately regarded as Middle Earth to fans of the movies and Tolkien’s universe. There’s nothing that could make your country more enticing than a label like that. In reality, the New Zealand Tourism department didn’t need to say a thing, once people found out it was filmed in New Zealand, the message spread itself. It is worthwhile to honour those who deserve it, and I think that Peter Jackson has firmly cemented his deservingness of this title through the huge impact that he’s had on the nation of New Zealand. So on this day, I tip my hat.
Amazon, it’s a jungle out there. Photo: Michael Durwin
One of the important aspects of Anderson’s Long Tail and the Unsymposium this week was the interconnectivity of the network and the recommendation engines of online shopping sites and services. As I touched on last week, I’m a fan of services like Spotify and other ways of buying “things” online. One of my reasons for liking Spotify is the artist recommendations that I get, based on what I listen too. It opens up worlds of exploration. However as was discussed in the Unsymposium, there are some issues regarding these systems. They are mainly based on the technical component of the recommendation; meaning the engine that runs the system as Adrian said. Services like Facebook make recommendations that are based on advertising and money making. They should be ignored, or at least dealt with more thoroughly. Something like Amazon or Spotify make recommendations based on what you and other people are interested in, and how one product relates to another. This is a much better system and one that has much more potential.
I have a bone to pick with these systems though. When I first started to buy things from Amazon, I thought great! Look at all these interesting books, movies and albums that I would have never thought to look at. Now I’ve been buying things online for years and they’ve harvested a lot of my personal data. Unfortunately I have varied interests, like most people. Sometimes I get a good recommendation. The rest of the time, I don’t. I have sent Amazon’s emails to my spam folder. The problem? As soon as I show interest in something that is incredibly popular, say for example a blu-ray like Marvel’s The Avengers, my personal recommendations become over powered by garbage. Millions of people like that movie, they look at it, wish list it and buy it. That means I start getting lots of recommendations for the big box office hits of the year. The problem with this? Unlike a lot of people who buy movies, I’m not really interested in the biggest and best movies for the most part. What began as a personal recommendation has been polluted and violated by trends. I guess that’s the problem of buying a huge range of different items from these sorts of services, it becomes almost like a grocery store. It wouldn’t make sense for Woolworth’s to recommend carrots to people who buy bread, simply because so many people do large grocery runs that contain both. Sure some people might be interested in both, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, it needs to be more specific. Perhaps these systems in their current form are best for purists and people who tend to purchase only products from a niche market online. I guess their potential is limited by the current software and engines that run these systems.
So in some ways, there are issues with these systems limiting the scope of what you buy, like Elliot said. But I’d also like to believe what Jasmine said, about it not being an issue because people are capable of ignoring the system. I think media literacy comes into it again. As someone who has grown up with these things coming into play and has studied media and advertising, I’m pretty switched on when it comes to these recommendations. I’m confident enough on the web to make my own decisions, and know when a recommendation is relevant or simply just another popular pick. For me, they don’t really create an issue, other than the fact that I don’t get to reap the benefits of them properly. A lot of people who aren’t as experienced with web based media and recommendation systems, don’t take recommendations lightly, they’ll follow up on them, especially if they’re something super popular. What it really comes down to is your literacy and knowledge of your own tastes and interests, in combination with recommendations. On Spotify I tend to ignore a lot of recommendations, because they’re bands I don’t like. There’s a few bands I like that are like a diamond in the rough. Maybe one band out of a genre that I find entertaining. Where Spotify assumes that I like thinks simply based on what other people like and similar music, that’s not really how my tastes work. Perhaps I ask too much of the system? I think though that they are definitely a positive factor of the network and something that I can see being developed and implemented to become more personal and effective in the future, as Adrian said.
Photo: Sean MacEntee
I gave this a little thought awhile back. Jake makes some good points, and offers a different perspective. One that I agree with completely. Subscription and cloud based services offer us something extraordinary; that is the ability to literally carry everything from the world around us in our pockets. Well, not exactly, it’s all up in the cloud (That’s also known as Council Bluffs in Iowa, USA). But still, we have access to it all in our pockets. And that’s what we need, to increase productivity, efficiency and accessibility. The potential wealth of knowledge and data available to us as beings of this earth is sensational. It’s the kind of thing that was unfathomable to most, but George Orwell, 50 years ago. And it’s great.
As Chris Anderson notes in “The Long Tail”, this accessibility also provides us access to the entire network of knowledge. It’s thanks to this huge network and the interconnectivity it yields that we have access to so many great things. I’m definitely an advocate of this. I love music. I can’t afford to pay huge dollars to go see an unknown band to satisfy my ever increasing hunger for good music. I can subscribe to Spotify though. Recommended artists. Perfect. Only problem is, sometimes I feel I get a little swamped by people like Amazon, Spotify, Ebay and their other friends. Sometimes they try and do a little more than suggest, they almost preach. They know so much about me, yet why do they still offer me the latest tracks from some pretentious hipster black metal band I clearly have no interest in? I think sometimes the only problem with these services is the network is so complex and interrelated, that sometimes things that seem relatable to you, don’t actually relate to you. There’s plenty of people out there who like The Rolling Stones and the Beatles.But there’s some who are Beatles purists and won’t touch the Rolling Stones and their “edgy” rip off of the Beatles. That’s where the computer loses. Some things can’t be predicted. While the network can help computers relate to us, it also reminds us that computers are not people.
Alois also raises valid contentions in this response. The digital and cloud technologies are less resource heavy then physical belongings, they’re simpler to store. That’s why they’re great. And I guess, for people like Alois, who only use things once, it is an obvious choice as to which kind of possession is more suitable. This is why the possibilities of technology are so exciting. For some people though, like myself, the experience that is related to the physical mediums is to rich to give up. Is it still wasteful to have a tangible possession if you use it repeatedly? I have a lot of things, and I lament it at times as space can be an issue. But I love to immerse myself in these things too much to give up on “real things”. I have lots of books, but I read them more than once. I have lots of records, but I have listened to them through a multitude of times (that number’s still counting). I have a lot of Blu-ray movies, but I watch them more than once. I’m not saying that digital possessions can’t be used more than once. But to me if it’s an experience you can repeatedly enjoy, I do not see it as a waste.
I guess that brings us to the crux, and my initial statement. I talked about this a while back, and it’s something I support. I can’t see a reason why it wouldn’t be viable in the market. It’s a great idea. Physical books being accompanied by a download for a free ebook version. One of the reasons I haven’t given up my physical possessions is that when I buy a lot of them (most vinyl records, all blu-rays, etc) is that they come with a digital version. I have a beautiful tangible object that yields an experience that is more intimate and irreplaceable, but I also have a convenient and accessible version that I can take with me wherever I go. I think this is the path to go down for the future. Sell digital content of all medias on its own. But sell physical versions with a digital interpretation. It would help propel the digital industry and help connect more people to the network, while still embracing the traditional experience based medium.
The best of both worlds. Photo: Luis Perez
Well, not exactly. But it’s pretty much Spotify for books. This is something I could grow to enjoy, I think. Perhaps with time as the library expands, though I expect that the prices would have to increase. Surely there’s not going to be enough money coming out of it to satisfy publishers. Interesting enough though, to say the least. Another discouraging feature for me is that it is an iPhone only app, with a future iPad release scheduled. I don’t own either of those devices, or plan on owning them any time soon. Maybe an iPad isn’t beyond my wildest imagination, but I’d prefer to buy a device intended for reading, like a kindle. Having had a little play around with a few e-readers and the iPad, I much prefer the screens used on the kindles and e-readers. The iPad screen is beautiful, vibrant and clear. Perfect for video, apps, internet surfing, etc. But it isn’t perfect for reading. I have sensitive eyes, the balance between brightness, softness, contrast on the iPad and iPhone just doesn’t seem to stack up for me, especially compared to the kindle – a device obviously designed purely for reading, with a lot more thought into the ease of viewing that the screen has.
None the less, this is a good idea, I think. I was a fan of Spotify, but I’m also a fan of vinyl. Just like I could be a fan of this in the future I’m also a fan of books. I like to collect things, I like to touch things and immerse myself in the experience of things. I think there’s something that the digital media of the world will never be able to do. Replace that experience. They try, oh yes they do. Hypermediated mediums that are designed to replicate that experience are prevalent in our society. The digital world has a lot to offer, but it will be very hard to match the experience of the analogue world. I guess that’s where we have it good. If we want an experience, it’s easy enough to get it. If we want convenience, compact size and accessible media, we can get it even more easily.
Either way you look at it, there’s enough of each to please everyone, I think it’s a matter of finding a balance and finding a purpose for the multitude of formats and mediums that are on offer.
Photo: David Flores
Over the past eight months I have been making moves to eradicate a number of gaps that were present in my life. Unlike a lot of children and teens, I was never really exposed to the classics that much. I’m not blaming my parents or anyone involved in my upbringing, because it was partly due to my childish indifference to old frayed books about boring adventures. With the exception of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, I have pretty much grown up on contemporary teen fiction and adult fiction. So why did I decide that I was missing out on something? I think the classics – although sometimes they can be abused – are great in grasping an understanding of the evolution of society and storytelling in general. That’s not to say that I think a library should only consist of classics – far from it. What I do think, however, is that they should be incorporated into the dietary intake of your brain as part of a healthy balanced book-diet.
Reading books of all kinds is food for your ticker. Take our man Teddy Roosevelt here. Reading books helps you to increase your literary skills, broaden your vocabulary, assist in social relations and networking (If you know more stuff you can connect with more people) and there’s nothing better than a good story. With that being said, I think it’s important to consider the classics, they teach us about society; and not just the society that made them. There are perfect examples of human behaviour and communities in age old books that are still completely relevant today. Speculating the future possibilities is one thing, a firm grasp of history and society is its counterpart. They’re two things that go together. Like Jack and Jill, Yin and Yang, Starsky and Hutch, McCartney and Lennon (Okay, that one didn’t work out so well in the end, but you get my point).
Since March this year I’ve managed to get my nose inside twenty different books. Some of them classics, some of them autobiographical, some of them contemporary. I’ll give you an insight into each of them and how I relate the knowledge, experiences and stories inside them to life. Some of them are just purely a great entertaining read.
Photo: Gwydion M. Williams
A timeless classic. I’m reading this again at the present. Thrills me every time I read it. It’s about adventure, fantasy and the wonders of the world. It does have some dark undertones in places, but primarily it’s an inspiring and uplifting tale of adventure. Tolkien managed to pour so much of the world and society into his Middle Earth. It’s essentially a history for an alternative world. With almost as much depth as the real world. The relationships between characters, races and the real world is astounding. Tolkien emphasises the little guy, that everyone can achieve greatness – size matters not. There’s a value for everyone in the world. That’s the underlying message I get from this book.
Photo: Laurence Elsdon
A Song of Ice and Fire – (Series; 5 parts; 7 books) George R. R. Martin
Contemporary adult fiction at its most extravagant and explicit best. This ones more about the entertainment value then any strong social messages. Although one thing is clear. Martin really dwells on the fact that the world is full of evil and the good guy loses. As fans of the hit television series Game of Thrones have painfully found out, Martin has a thing for killing the hero. It’s not a bag thing though, it sets you up for a real suspenseful and entertaining read.
“I want my readers, and i want viewers to be afraid when my characters are in danger, I want them to be afraid to turn the next page because the next character may not survive it.”
It certainly works. Combined with some complex political relations and family feuds (clearly some real world historical inspirations in there), it’s a story that you can really get your brain working through.
“Westeros is probably closer to medieval Britain than anything else. Geographically, it occupies a somewhat similar position off a larger contintent, although Westeros is considerably larger and is, in fact, a continent itself, more like South America. And although I’ve drawn on many parts of history, the War of the Roses is probably the one my story is closest to. “
Photo: Daniel Weir
A witty, insightful and creative representation of communism and Stalin’s control over Russia and the Soviet Union. Orwell presents the allegorical “animal farm” as a way to express his beliefs regarding the dictatorship that Stalin held over Russia. An entertaining read in itself, the story follows the uprising of a collection of farm animals and the transformation of their rebellion (intended to overthrow the tyrant that was the farmer), into a new style of dictatorship (All the while the leaders [the pigs], attempt to convince the animals that it is in their best interests. I think this is an essential read in understanding the development of fiction as well as some of the major social and political issues that were affecting the world during the early 20th century.
“Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.” – George Orwell
Photo: Giacomo
A political, dystopian, science-fiction. Orwell speculates what the world might be like 40 years in the future (1984). Another 30 years down the track and the scary thing is that a lot of the concepts he proposed and discussed during the novel are in effect. Focusing on surveillance, government spying and controlling of thoughts and civilian brains, 1984 can be closely related to the possible futures the world faced if dictatorship won through in the end.
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
The novel focuses on controlling the populous by leading them to believe they are in a constant state of war with one faction or another. With major issues revolving around the constant erasing and re-writing of history and changing the world, the people are led to beleive whatever Big Brother (the overlord of the faction) says.
“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”
Photo: Alpha
Around the World in 80 Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Around the Moon – Jules Verne
I’ll wrap these three up in one to save space and time. Three books based around adventure and exploring. They each promote a belief in the fantastical and confidence. From making a record breaking journey around the world, to finding a hidden oasis at the core of the earth and journeying around the moon in a space craft. These stories were all written in the 19th century before many of the technologies used were a possibility. Verne speculates the possibility of travelling to the moon, and journeying inside the core of the earth. These novels, like Tolkien’s also focus on the themes of adventure and the ability for normal people to do incredible things.
What’s most interesting about these novels is the way they shaped science fiction. Although not pure science fiction, they are speculative and concentrate on fantastical sci-fi elements such as space travel and underground oasis’s. These would be great stories to tell to children, before they find out about science. To unlock some creative and speculative abilities, making the content all the more extraordinary.
Photo: Hannah Swithinbank
This one got my head going alright. I was actually still trying to get my head around the temporal structure and unity of time til about 3/4 through the book when I forgot about time and just absorbed what was going on. It’s a war satire which really pokes a finger at all of the things that are wrong with the processes of war. Published in the 60’s, a time when war was perfectly relevant (Think Vietnam), the book takes its name from the paradoxical term “Catch-22”:
“a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule,”
It’s funny, entertaining and saddening at times, but definitely worth a read. It’s structure and style are interesting enough to warrant a read itself. It takes great depth in explaining and exploring the different personas and individuals who are involved in fighting the war. The explicit nature of the book even took my by surprise at times.
Photo: Keir Hardie
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
The classic American novel, is it not? With the release of the film (Which I thoroughly enjoyed), I decided it was time to jump on the bandwagon and finally read about the Great Gatsby himself. Plot wise, the movie follows it almost word for word. The difference I think is the underlying themes in the book. The critique of society that doesn’t quite come through as strongly in the movie.
What I found most interesting in the book was the character Gatsby himself. Like Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, I was intrigued by Gatsby and respected him but at the same time found he was the worst thing that could exist. Interestingly enough, Gatsby was never intended to be the focus of the story. Fitzgerald pictured Tom Buchanon as the main character. (Or at least that’s what the notes at the beginning of my book told me). I can’t imagine the book would of been as successful as it was and become a classic without the focus on the intriguing character of Gatsby.
For anyone, regardless of whether they watched the film and enjoyed it or not, I recommend giving the book a read. It’s certainly not lacking in thematic content and social values.
SLASH – Slash w/ Anthony Bozza
I’m a sucker for a good Rock N Roll autobiography. The crazier the better. “It seems excessive… But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen” is the tag-line. This one’s full of all sorts of tales of sex, drugs, police and rock n roll. As someone who’s also read biographies from Slash’s comrade Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Steven Adler (Initial drummer of Guns N Roses – Who knows who drums for that band now days), it’s interesting to hear some different opinions bounce back and forth about certain people and events. Although mainly just an entertaining and interesting insight into Rock N Roll, there’s some good life messages down there, and its certainly got some good sentiments about finding your passion and going for it.
My Appetite For Destruction – Steven Adler
I’ll leave this one short. It’s the same story as Slash with a different perspective. This is coming from the guy who got kicked out of the band. Plus the battle’s with depression and drugs that came with it. I found this one to be a bit more of an attention seeking story for sympathy to try and get his name straight, but it was still interesting to say the least.
The Heroin Diaries – Nikki Sixx
Pardon my french, but this one was absolutely ******* mental. A series of journal entries over an extended period during the height of Nikki Sixx’s heroin addiction. Certainly doesn’t promote drugs, but packs a bunch of entertaining and extreme stories. For instance, in the first few days of the journal, Nikki has already been crouching naked with a shotgun under his Christmas tree to try and protect himself from the gnomes that are attacking his mansion. Brilliant.
Overkill: The Untold Story of Motorhead – Joel McIver
I love the work Joel McIver has done, he presents a decent study of bands and musicians with a good balance of analysing their releases and telling stories. For me this one was great because Motorhead is a band I didn’t know much about aside from the music and Lemmy. This one is particularly interesting if you’re interested in how the music industry screws over musicians.
White Line Fever – Lemmy Kilmister
A beautiful autobiography that is just pure entertainment. The fact the Lemmy just doesn’t screw around is brilliant. His attitudes and ideas are exquisite. For someone who’s been jacked up on drugs his whole life he actually has a pretty damn good grasp over business, history and society. Insightful and full of wisdom, but also full of entertaining stories. An explicit no bull account of an incredible icon of rock n roll.
I read this one before I went and saw Black Sabbath back in May. The founding and roots of Black Sabbath has always eluded me so this was an interesting insight into the band, but also a fantastic exhibition of how things look from the eyes of the stars instead of the media. Features all the important stories about Sharon, the police, The Osbourne show, Sabbath and the tragic death of Rhandy Rhodes. It’s good to see people with some emotional intelligence and integrity behind the scenes.
To Live is to Die – Joel McIver
The most comprehensive analysis of the life of Cliff Burton (Metallica’s deceased bassist from their original recordings). Full of undertones of good characters and inspiration, McIver discusses Cliff’s upbringing and the impact his parents decisions had on him. Often regarded as one of the nicest and most genuine people the music scene has seen, it gives you a good idea of what shapes someone with incredible character and integrity. Recounts the events that lead to his death (Bus crash in Europe), and even speculates how Ciff’s death affected the future of Metallica and metal music.
Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica – Joel McIver
McIver does it again with a knowledge packed account of the band and their history. For me the most interesting part were the issues discussed regarding the Napster incident, particularly fan opinions of the band since this incident and the public’s opinion of Lars. It really changed my ideas on a number of key issues and helped shape the way I think about the music industry. As someone who loves Metallica, this is something that can’t be skipped.
The beauty that Weta creates. Photo: Chuck Cook
For anyone interested in digital effects and cinema who hasn’t already seen this website, visit it. It’s an unbelievably brilliant showcase of some of the technologies that are being used by film makers around the world today to produce some of the biggest blockbusters. Here’s an article from the 13th of August on the new Neil Blomkamp film, Elysium. Getting to see some of the best digital effects of the contemporary world unfolded in front of you with excerpts from the experts themselves and the creators behind the fiction (Such as Weta’s Richard Taylor, a favourite of mine). While the articles on fxguide certainly aren’t going to give you a ticket to a job in a film studio, they can provide a great insight into the basic workings of a digital effects company.
While I am often sceptical of Blockbuster films (I have been impressed recently but I have certainly witnessed some big let downs), I think that digital effects is an important part of contemporary cinema and something that it would be silly to close your mind to. We’ve heard all the arguments regarding the over-reliance on technology and the fact that it is more important in some films (seemingly) than the actors, costumes and sets themselves.
As we entered the digital age, effects like this became more prominent, sometimes not for the better. It often seems like filmmakers get carried away with the FX and forget about the substance in films. For me, a big Tolkien fan, when I saw the first shots released to the public from the Hobbit I was a little spectacle. They took a bit of warming up to. But by the time the trailer was released I was already in love. This is a good example of how rapidly the film industry has changed. Just nine years earlier I was on the edge of my seat watching the final instalment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy on Boxing Day 2003. To jump from these films into the Hobbit was like stepping into a different world. What set the Lord of the Rings films apart was the extensive and thorough detail and grit that was compounded into the films. It made the distant lands of middle-earth and fantastical creatures such as the orcs and elves seem real without second guessing (a lot of what makes those films work is New Zealand itself).
So we go from one end of the spectrum, then suddenly we’re in a fantasy world that’s beautiful, vivid and dream like in the Hobbit. It’s made by the same team, yet there’s a whole lot of fantastic new digital technology (For example, goblins are now digitally created, rather than created using actors in prosthetics), but there’s also new technology involved (Hello HFR cinema). There’s a huge gap between 2003 and 2012 in terms of cinema. This is what we can create now with the technology that we have. What’s even better is that the gorgeous and visually splendid world Jackson was able to create using the new technologies suits perfectly the mould of Middle Earth that Tolkien first imprinted with the Hobbit. The possibilities are endless, to an extent.
For anyone who, like me, has an interest in contemporary digital effects and what the future holds dig your nose into the some of the extensive research that digital FX forerunner Weta has purveyed. Once again we see the competitive edge boosting our progression and advancement. There’s a reason Weta are so well respected and regarded in the world of cinema props and FX.
I love cinema. Almost as much as I love Tolkien. I’m sure you’ve noticed that, and I hope that a little of my passion might teach you something new.
An old photo, but contextually perfect. Photo: Rachel Hofton
I’ve been a member of the Richmond football club since 2002. I would’ve been seven. I’m now eighteen. Since then, I’ve gone to -on average- eighteen games of AFL each season. Out of a possible 261 wins across that period of time, Richmond have won 95 games. For all you who shade away at the sign of maths (I don’t blame you), that’s roughly 36%. It’s fair to say I am experienced in taking a loss on the chin. I’ve been through enough. But I’m still here, week in week out supporting my team. We’ve been through a lot, me and Richmond. I still love it. Through that period, Richmond has managed to boast strong membership numbers and attendance records almost every week. There’s a lot of love for Richmond, it takes a bit to really get it out though. This article from the Herald Sun (#1 Credible news source in the world) sums it up perfectly.
THERE’S a “frequently asked questions” page on Richmond’s website about how to access finals tickets.
It looks fresh – which isn’t surprising given the last time the Tigers were in the finals, just 42 per cent of Australians had internet access.
If I had to sum up the article, these two lines do it well. This highlights two key issues.
I’m going to the MCG today to watch Richmond vs. Carlton. There’s only two more games after this one, but if things wall to plan – maybe – just maybe, there might be a chance of even a top four berth for Richmond. Let’s not get carried away though. I’m trying to keep the lid down for as long as possible. But who am I kidding, I think it’s about time to open it. The haters in the AFL facebook page comments can bugger off. I’m excited, I’m proud. Let’s win some football.
Beauty, atmosphere and experience. Photo: Andrew Tseng
After being a recluse (a cinema-recluse at least) for most of 2012, the last 10 months have seen more cinema action for me then I have experienced in a long time. Why? Well firstly, my girlfriend’s family bought a new TV with a bonus offer of free movie tickets each fortnight, so I don’t have to pay. But more so I think it is because of a reinvigorated love of cinema. The atmosphere in a cinema can’t be replicated, except for in the best home cinemas (I know of one in particular, which may be discussed in greater detail at a later date), there’s just something special about the gargantuan screen – I love a good dose of Vmax – and the engulfing wall of sound that exists in a movie theatre.
I can’t even remember all the films I’ve watched in the last 12 months, but I’ll do my best to recount some of the more memorable ones for you:
Don’t know about any others. Those were the ones that popped to mind. Interestingly enough, I’d be willing to go on record and say they were pretty much all outstanding films (with the exception of the start of The Wolverine being a little arduous). What’s great is the fact that I have been able to really resonate and think on a much deeper level with a lot of these films then I have previously, thanks to a little bit of enthusiasm and interest. I’ve always loved cinema, but recently I’ve really found its my passion – something that I can understand and relate to.
Red One. The future of cinema. Photo: Neilson Eney
I saw Elysium tonight, and while I agree to an extent that District 9 director Neill Blomkamp might be flogging a dead horse in terms of the conceptual thinking (well some critics seem to say so, personally I really like the thinking, you could call it design fiction), Elysium still stands as a film in its own right and shouldn’t be compared to the more creative and alternatively created District 9. The movie had the right level of emotional depth, politics and story to balance off against the high impact and fast paced violence. I didn’t feel like the fighting and action overshadowed the plot or values the movie projected – like a lot of films do tend to do in our highly fantastic and computer orientated industry.
What got me thinking today however was the relation between how we think of cinema and how we think of the essay. Adrian obviously chose to provide Graham’s article on the essay as one of the week 4 readings for a reason. To me after my deep thinking and speculation for the evening, I really feel that effectively this sort of ideology stands true for the film as well. You’d be hard pressed to find a cinema class at a university that focuses on the future of film – or even current film. We’re stuck in this trend of studying the classics. Learning how the classics work, when really, the cinema is heading in a completely different direction. Sure, the classics are the foundations of cinema and they let you understand how the Classic Hollywood, the French New Wave or the Soviet Realist works (etc, etc). But what about learning how to understand cinema as it stands today, or how its progressing? The technologies behind it, a greater understanding of effects and digital effects. Are we afraid to admit how great an influence special effects has had on the cinema?
Our good friend Peter Jackson once again has a great idea on this. 48fps is the future. Advancing and progressing the art of cinema through contemporary and future technologies is high on Jackson’s important things to do list. Embrace new technology, respect the past – understand its workings – but most of all keep an open mind and embrace the future. It is obvious that cinema studies is intended to be what it is, to understand the classics and film history. But my question is, why isn’t there ever a course on offer that studies cinema as it is today and into the future?
A good place for a worm like me. Photo: Raul Lieberwirth
I love books. I also love hearing things like this: Robinsons Bookshop in Frankston voted Victoria’s most popular seller. It’s great to see books still doing there thing and keeping alive in this e-dominated world. This bookshop is the closest traditional bookstore to me, so this is fantastic news that touches and warms my heart – what’s even better is it is completely relevant to what Adrian and Brian touched on in the Symposium.
One only has to keep up with the news to see that book stores aren’t doing to well out there. As a matter of fact – the big ones are all shutting down in Australia. Here’s some articles from the ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald and one from the Age about book giants Angus and Robertson and Borders closing up shop and moving conveniently online to bookworld.com.au to make a living. So why are independent bookstores still alive? How are they weathering the storm? Well according to Ms Horman who owns Robinson’s, they’re not shrinking their physical and retail presence; They’re expanding.
We want to grow. We are not following the trend of some bookshops because we feel confident in what we are doing and feel that the public still want books and they want bookshops
Instead of shutting down stores, they’re opening more stores? So what makes this possible. Well, from what I can gather, Robinsons and other independents out there are offering something that online stores such as Amazon can’t: a satisfying customer service experience and an exceptionally personal in-store experience. Buying books from a retail outlet is always going to cost more than Amazon or any online service. That’s where Borders and co. went wrong. Their prices were just as steep as any small book outlet, but their service was rubbish, there was no experience. Why would anyone pay more to put up with horrible waiting times and poor customer service, especially when they can order with ease and security with a few mouse clicks – even less if you’re automatically signed into Amazon.
So that’s what we want. That’s what we have to do in order to satisfy a public and society who’s expectations are on the rise and who can’t get no satisfaction. Let’s follow the example of Robinsons. Exceptional customer service. Personal customer service. Taking care of your customers. Providing a friendly and warm cafe and coffee shop in store. The stores aren’t busy, they’re intimate, you get one on one customer service and all the help you need. It’s warm, cosy, just like home. It’s a place to meet fellow book lovers. These are the kind of examples we should live by. This a great case study into what makes something successful.
We can all learn something from Robinsons. Sometimes doing things the old-fashioned way is better. And I think that with our generation, the world will become more experience based, to make up for all the experiences we’ve missed out on during our childhood.