Java's Video Blog

The Emperor's New Clothes (1987): A Review

2011-03-02T02:56:00.000-08:00

A review of the Cannon Films version of the famous fairytale. This one stars Sid Caesar as the Emperor. The tailor is played by that actor with Dave Barry haircut in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Classic Films In Rhyme

2010-04-15T03:48:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the stuff that you can find online. There's an old TVLand promo for The Mary Tyler Moore Show that basically rhymes random dialogue. I thought it was a cute idea and tried it out on classic films.

Classic Films Censored for Language

2010-04-15T03:37:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of videos on the web that use the bleep sound on perfectly innocent animated features and cartoons which make Disney's Ariel sound like something out of a Samuel L. Jackson film. The effect, of course, is that the audience laugh itself silly over a seemingly foul-mouthed mermaid. It's juvenile, but funny.

Movies during Hollywood's self-censored era (mid-1930s - mid 1960s) also showcased rather innocent characters. So I decided to play with the bleep sound and classic films.

His Girl Friday in 5 Seconds

2010-04-15T03:35:00.000-07:00

Having a bit of fun with the 5 Second Movies format

On The Town & An American In Paris - Leading Ladies

2010-04-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

On The Town (1949) & An American In Paris (1951) are two landmark classic movie musicals, both of which include the legendary Gene Kelly as star and choreographer.

To introduce each of the leading ladies in these two films (Vera-Ellen in the former, Leslie Caron in the latter), there is a daydream sequence which gives her about 4 minutes to dance. In addition to giving a talented performer lots of screen time to strut her stuff, each dance number also introduces a key character who won't show up in the flesh until about 15 minutes into the film.

I just find it stunning that Kelly would use the same device twice within a two year time frame. Here's my take on that subject:

Would You Pay For Youtube?

2009-06-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

Slashdot asks Would You Pay For Youtube?

"A couple of weeks ago, Google's CEO mentioned to investors that they might start charging YouTube's users for viewing content: 'With respect to how it will get monetized, our first priority, as you pointed out, is on the advertising side. We do expect over time to see micro payments and other forms of subscription models coming as well. But our initial focus is on advertising. We will be announcing additional things in that area literally very, very soon.' With the recent Disney-Hulu deal, Google is under increasing pressure to generate more revenue and at the same time attract more premium content. That means we might see payment options coming even sooner than expected, with control over the pricing models being handed over to the studios providing that content, like the way Apple caved in over variable pricing on iTunes. This raises an important question: would you actually pay for premium content on YouTube and other sites, or will this draw viewers away to other video sites?"

Would you?

Show & Tell : A Response to Josh Leo's Video Blogging Philosophy Post

2009-04-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

Josh Leo wrote a Video Blogging Philosophy post the other day, where he sets forth what makes a vlogger/vlogging great.

I agree that having feedback from an engaged vlogging audience is ideal. I agree that striving to make good quality video content is a preferable motive to just seeking Internet fame.

However, I would slightly alter one of the statements made about vloggers who just sit and talk to the camera.

Josh Leo said this:
Showing is Better than Telling: The youtube revolution has led to an increased number of people sitting in front of web-cams talking about their experiences. This goes against [the] whole Idea of using video as a communication medium. Don’t sit there and tell me that you walked through a beautiful field of flowers, show me the field, let me hear the sounds, let me see the colors. Video is a visual medium, we must use it to its full potential. (emphasis mine)

Though I appreciate the idea behind Josh Leo's call for showing instead of telling, I would say that we should experiment with both showing and telling.

Talking Heads videos have their place; some topics are better presented in that kind of simple, minimalist environment.

I don't mean to be rude, but perhaps the frustration with some of these videos is less the fact that the people are just sitting there, and more that there are so many of these videos (millions), often to the exclusion of any other kind.

It may be the lack of variety in the vlogging community that is upsetting more than anything else.

In this vast video blogging world there is room for both combing the cornfields and cozying up to your Canon every once in a while.

Just experiment more.

What do you think? Are Talking Heads videos completely worthless? Leave a comment below.

Impressions After Participating in Video Blogging Week 2009

2009-04-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

Video Blogging Week 2009 , posting one video every day for a week, was great. In addition to making my own vids, I, of course, watched lots of other vloggers' creations.

Some vloggers warmed your heart with tales of family, others wowed you with their technical talent, still others entertained just sitting in front of the camera cracking jokes.

The vlogging world always has a fresh take on everyday life. And during Vlogging Week we get even more of that special something.

This year, I decided to get off the proverbial couch and join the merriment.

How I've fared in VBW09 is for someone else to decide. But I'll tell you this.

There comes a point in the week (after you've used your sleeping hours to slave over raw, blurred, shaky-hand footage that you will never use unless you are reenacting a drunk scene from COPS) when you think "how much more crap should I inflict on the public?"

Then you realize it's still Day 1.

Where's that couch?

Round Stuff - VBW 2009: Day 7

2009-04-11T21:03:00.001-07:00

I took photos of round things.

Music: Edit - Straight Heat

Xtranormal - Video Blogging Week 2009 - Day 6

2009-04-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Played with Xtranormal.com

Spring - VBW 2009: Day 5

2009-04-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. Let's take a brief look at it.

Music: Oh What a Beautiful Morning by Rogers & Hammerstein

Oatmeal - Video Blogging Week 2009: Day 4

2009-04-08T13:44:00.001-07:00

Making Oatmeal

Music: Bobby McFerrin's cover of the Pink Panther Theme

Vlogging Ideas - Video Blogging Week 2009: Day 3

2009-04-07T00:18:00.000-07:00

Ever run out of vlogging ideas? I do.

Camping and Elk - Video Blogging Week 2009: Day 2

2009-04-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Camped at the Grand Canyon. Saw wildlife.

Music: Baby, It's Cold Outside by Frank Loesser, Featuring Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams

Vintage Plastic Wrap Commercial - Video Blogging Week 2009: Day 1

2009-04-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's almost unfair to riff vintage commercials. They lie there helpless and strange without the benefit of hindsight. One day people may laugh at our heartfelt Hallmark commercials [I do all the time] and our laxative jingles [What were they thinking?].

So we'd better laugh at the past now before this decade is no longer the hip era. Maybe I'm already too late!

Video Blogging Week 2009

2009-03-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

April 5 -11 is Video Blogging Week 2009.

What is Video Blogging Week?

It's one week where people who put videos on their blogs do so at least once a day for seven consecutive days to bring attention to video blogging and to have fun together.

Even if you do not participate, it's fun watching what the other vloggers come up with this year.

Image: Josh Leo

Learn to put video on your blog with the freevlog crew.

Follow me on Twitter.com

2009-03-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Follow me on Twitter

Proposals Gone Wrong: Anne of Avonlea (1984) and Little Women (1994)

2008-03-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Ever notice the similarities between the proposal scenes of Anne of Avonlea (1984) and Little Women (1994)?

Fred Astaire and Tom Chambers

2007-04-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

An actor from the U.K. named Tom Chambers, known for his role on the television drama Holby City, apparently has a strong affinity for Fred Astaire.

He has recreated Astaire's Drum Set Solo Dance to "Nice Work If You Can Get It" from the 1937 musical comedy A Damsel in Distress.

Watch his film of it at Tom Chambers' Youtube account.

One cat's sad existence

2006-05-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

A cat has made a video about her owner's indifference to her high-end tastes.

From amateurgourmet.com Watch video here

The Daily Dancer

2006-05-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have recently found the Daily Dancer - a guy whose vlog consists of dancing to a song for about 90 seconds.

Today's offering is Yeah! by Usher.
[click picture or click here to view video]

It's not unlike Matt's schtick . So fun!

Party Fun with Amanda Congdon and your Fairy Godmother

2006-04-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Rocketboom.com invites you to make dinner with Amanda Congdon.

Definition of "Video Blog"

2006-04-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

v. Vlog

There's a debate on the definition of "video blog" in Michael Verdi's comments of a video denouncing the use of corporate advertisment on personal video blogs.

Does a personal video become merely an ad when a corp logo is attached?
Does putting your own url on the video constitute advertising ?

See the video, read the comments, chime in.

He's Not Steve Garfield

2006-04-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

Markus Sandy's satire of Steve Garfield's I Can't Open It series

Go to the site and watch the video

DriveTime with Ravi and Sonia

2006-04-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hugh Downs & Barbara Walters, Sonny & Cher, Stacey London & Clinton Kelly -fun pairs who spice up what could be ordinary shows.

Add to the mix Carol & Steve and Ravi & Sonia and you've got two more fun media pairings to experience.

As you know, I enjoy The Carol and Steve Show , a video blog show starring the Garfields.

One episode captures the Garfields attending the wedding of a couple of their friends - Ravi and Sonia. A later episode shows the Garfields at dinner in the house of the newlyweds.

I believe the Garfields mention Ravi's show - DriveTime - on one of those episodes.

I have only just now taken the time to visit the site and watch the show.

About DRIVETIME

During their commute to work, Ravi and wife/co-host Sonia interview a person (when they have a person to interview), give them a lift, and plug the guest's blog or event.

All the fun of Regis and Kelly right in their own car.*

So fun! They, like the Garfields, are very natural on camera, make everyday things fun and seem to make their guests at home (even offering them coffee).

Check them out.

*note: Each of their cars has its own name. Their Audi = Studio A, etc . How cool is that?

Wednesday in the Park with Java

2006-03-30T16:36:00.000-08:00

Watch the Video

Went to the park and read a little
Noticed that I was the only person there sitting down

Featuring: Rock-a-by-Basie by Count Basie
Time: 50 seconds

Enjoy

Learn to Video Blog with Freevlog.org

2006-03-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

As a newbie vlogger, I have run head first into some vlogging problems (e.g. trying to circumvent some crossposting glitches at blip.tv).

It is in such frustrating times that one needs some voice of experience.

Exhibits A and B- Ryanne Hodson and Michael Verdi

at Freevlog.org/tutorial (among other places) answered all of my questions and did so promptly.

And can you believe it's all free? Believe it.

I strongly encourage those contemplating vlogging to go Freevlog and meet these people.

Vlogs (Video Blogs) - How I stumbled upon them.

2006-03-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is a blurb on my blog that I wrote before I began a vlog. It seemed appropriate here.

--------------------------------

+ Blog = Vlog

Hello fellow bloggers,

I had a little trouble with my blogger account, but that's all cleared up and I'm back.

In the interim, I prowled around in your blogs, and found some rather interesting ones, including what is known as video blogs* -- blogs that also contain videos that the blog author has created.

FINDING NEW THINGS

While searching for blogspot bloggers who like one of my favorite films Thoroughly Modern Millie, guess whose name popped up.

You guessed it -- "Thoroughly Modern" Millie Garfield, who, at 80, is the oldest known blogger in the world.

Mrs. Garfield has a wonderful sense of humor, which is one reason why I still occasionally read her blog.

She is also a vlogger (video blogger) with her son Steve.

Steve Garfield is, apparently, one of the people at the forefront of making vlogging accessible to everyone, making it easier to vlog.

I blew away a few hours of my weekend watching The Carol and Steve Show, Steve Garfield's vlog show with his wife, featuring the little moments of their lives.

He edits succinctly which keeps things from becoming too mundane.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH VLOGGING

I have none, but watching other people vlog lead me to believe that I could do it as well.

I have always loved fooling around with cameras, and now that I have a digital camera I might put together a little something for this blog.

One problem is that vloggers seem to get very little sleep. Apparently they are often into the wee hours of the morning in postproduction, buffing up the film they took.

Many of them want to make a quality product (I don't blame them) so they take chunks of their sleep time to finish their projects.

That's fine now and then, but not every week.

Were I to vlog, it might not be with regularity, or if regular, perhaps once per month.

PRESSURE ON VLOGGERS

I've noticed that there is huge pressure to post with regularity in the vlogging community b/c many people have replaced their television time with internet vlogger shows.

Of course, the vlogging audience expects that vlogging individuals -- who have to take out the garbage, go to school, go to work, teach the kids, walk the dog , pay bills, etc. ---- will also make the time to entertain other people for free with the same regularity as those who make TV shows for a living.

Ha Ha! I find that expectation a bit ludicrous. Still, it exists.

WILL VLOGGING REPLACE TV?

Perhaps not, but it might give TV a run for it's money eventually.

Sort of like when TV began to take the movie-going audience in the 1950s. Movie theaters are still around, but not as big a player as they once were.

Perhaps TV is on its way to becoming obsolete, or maybe on it's way to some altered form.

We shall see.

* For more on what is video blogging, and/or to start a vlog of your own, see Freevlog.

A great vlog site to start reading is Annie's site.

Just Cruising

2006-03-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

Watch the Video

Lively vlog about my summer vacation last year.

Featuring: Cuba Te Llama by Mamborama

Time: 19 seconds

Enjoy

Cheers to You

2006-03-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Watch the Video

I have made a video; it's in blip.tv.

I played around with Windows Movie Maker last Fall and made up this little mini homage to some of my favorite actors.

That's Ann Miller jumping up there on my screenshot.

Song: Where Everybody Knows Your Name by Gary Portnoy

Time: 41 seconds

Enjoy