When I think about the sort of storyteller I want to be, I think of Paul Nicklen. His images and words resonate with his audience because they first resonate with him. The TED talk posted above is a shining example of Nicklen’s passion driving and informing his work.
Editor gets $25K to cut trailer, does this instead
This is a wonderful reminder that most creativity comes from the heart and soul, not the brain. The mind is a tool to process and express creativity, but it is not the fountain from which it springs.
Thanks to Casey Neistat for providing us all with this moment of reflection.
Want to help? Donate to the Red Cross and/or check out Huffington Post’s of aid/relief agencies.
In the end, we are all pretty fucking lucky.
First, just watch this film. Then, go shake the hand of a veteran or give them a hug and say “Thanks”.
Then, rewatch it a few times. There are lots of little lessons on how to tell a story by connecting widely varied footage with a compelling voiceover.
Then, go find another veteran and say thanks again. Rinse and repeat.
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
Recently, I discovered Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan on Netflix. We lost Harryhausen this year. If you are not familiar with his work, be sure to watch the tribute above from Film School Rejects.
I have long been a Harryhausen fan and have seen many shorts that touch on his work, but Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan is different. The story moves between Harryhausen discussing the evolution of his career and modern filmmakers discussing his influence on their own work; including Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Stephen Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, Nick Park, Dennis Murren and Phil Tippet among others.
Woven into this homage is a very interesting look into Harryhausen’s creative process. He and his father built all of the armatures and models in his home studio. And, his in-camera compositing techniques broke new ground in the field and served as a model for software like Adobe After Effects.
Whether a photographer or filmmaker, you owe it to yourself to find and watch this film. It has given me an idea for one cool photo project. Maybe it will do the same for you.
Catch it on Netflix or buy it at Amazon.com.
PS: The Harryhausen family is raising funds to preserve his work, including many of his original models. Find out more about The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
Hominid: An intriguing and unsettling animation
Beautiful in it’s stripped down simplicity. Disturbing it’s realistic movement.