dataisnature.com - Early American Computer Animation

The National Film Theatre 2 in London will be presenting the program "Early American Computer Animation" starting this Thursday, March 2nd.

The development of the computer as an animation tool inspired a period of radical innovation in techniques and visual form. By the late 60s, there were a number of film-makers using the new ‘dream machines’ as their medium, often exploring new aesthetics that had no precursor in the history of cinema. This programme (curated by Gregory Kurcewicz) features work by film-makers including Lillian Schwartz, John Stehura and John Whitney, who overcame the constraints of low memory and primitive interfaces to create works of lasting beauty.

A Curates Egg

A Curates Egg

Site updated, check "longform" to find film clips. But everything else there is equally brilliant!)

Lifelong Friendship Society is cooking something up. Looks to be a feature film, but who knows. It defies all explanation. Three trailers are linked on the site, each equally baffling and hilarious.

No other info than that. I emailed them, but assume a response may never come. I venture a guess that this is going to be feature film. Who knows.

I wonder who else in design/animation collectives is taking on feature films. MK12 is making History of America. Now these guys. I'm pretty excited by the bent, but brilliant minds going into this.

FreshHDV

Fresh HDV is a good page of links to HDV production info, with tips on combatting artifacting and other HDV pitfalls.
FresHDV | Fresh news & views for videographers, editors, filmmakers, directors & producers.
Found Via Mike

MakeZine.com: Maker Faire Movies

Make is hosting a mini film festival of DIY video's that celebrate the Make aesthetic:

The first film festival that celebrates makers and the DIY mindset.
Grab those hacked CVS video cameras and $14 steadycams. It's time for MAKE: Movies! MAKE: is hosting the first festival for makers to show off their DIY short video clips. Don't think of it as a contest, because there isn't much to win if you make the cut... other than the admiration of your peers, a bag of MAKE: goodies, and the chance to see your work on the big (well, medium) screen at the upcoming Maker Faire in April. Our favorite footage will premiere at a special MAKE: Movies! party at the Maker Faire and shown throughout the event. Of course, you're invited to walk down the asphalt carpet and say a few words about your work. After the Faire, the selections will be available for free download on Makezine.com. So charge those batteries, fire up Final Cut, and... Action!

Important: Submit your movie by March 24, 2006!

Link
Found Via BoingBoing

Democracy - Internet TV Platform - Free and Open Source

Brian writes:

Democracy Player is a video content aggregator, and it also includes a component named the Broadcast Machine that allows users (budding filmmakers?) to easily set up a distribution channel for their work. It's very intriguing... I could potentially see filmmakers setting up channels to post short films, sample clips, teasers, or production
videos... who knows! Whatever the case, this is a great way to increase exposure.

Democracy Player: http://www.getdemocracy.com/
Broadcast Machine: http://www.getdemocracy.com/broadcast/

Here is a sameple BM page (complete with RSS feed for Democracy) I set
up: http://www.small-scale.net/bm/

Democracy - Internet TV Platform - Free and Open Source

Uncompressed 4:4:4 Stereoscopic Camera System - 3DVX3

This looks like a pretty impressive piece of kit. Stereoscopic 1280x720 HD camera, with the video recorded to two Mac CPU's mounted in the case!

No doubt costs a fortune but maybe could inspire DIY solutions. Gives me notions of using a Mac Mini in some kind of DIY HD camera. I'd be more likely to just duct-tape two hi-8 camcorders together or something though. :)

Macsimum News - Pixar looking to build more Mac OS X apps

Pixar Animation Studios, which is being bought by Disney, is is apparently building more native Mac OS X applications and is seeking programmers with advanced skills in Object-C and Cocoa, according to a post on Highend3D online

Link

Laser Projectors Coming to Cell Phones and PDAs

Light Blue Optics Ltd (LBO) has developed a revolutionary technology for miniature laser projectors dubbed PVPro(tm). Today they announced their latest demonstrator unit, which is only 3.78 cubic inches in volume, and is similar in size and shape to a typical matchbox. Projectors based on PVPro technology can be used to display images from a range of mobile devices, including laptop computers, personal media players like the video iPod, digital cameras and even mobile phones.

Link
Found Via Engadget

Japanese Warhol TDK ad

Link
Found Via ashleyb.org

MyVu Personal Media Player: LCD goggles - Engadget

Cute video goggles/earphones being marketed for the ipod, but probably usable with just about anything. These things tend to give me headaches personally, but I haven't totally discounted them as being something potentially useful for some sort of multimedia art project.
Link

Air freshener timelapse

This is film rather than video, but such sheer genius I had to share. A member of the filmshooting.com small-gauge film forum has hacked an electronic air freshener, which originally sprayed a whiff of scent at timed intervals, into a timelapse cable release for super-8 cameras, complete with the option of automatic day or night-time operation!

Pictures and details on the forum thread: http://www.filmshooting.com/scripts/forum/viewtopic.php?p=119826#119826