5 - Music Short Films

This session highlights music oriented short films. Of course, I always like to add variety. Scroll down to read info on all the films for the session and click on the link to view. Some notes are after the link and are best read after viewing that short film.

Upside Down & Inside Out - 4 Minutes - American
I showed an earlier music video by this band - OK GO. This video is sheer creativity. However, the technical issues to create it were amazing.

https://youtu.be/LWGJA9i18Co?si=LrUDSLvwjvdDOKpC

In that video, they are constantly going in and out of weightlessness every 15-20 seconds, which really increases the complexity of the video. Here is a nice video to show how they made this music video.

https://youtu.be/pnTqZ68fI7Q?si=VDz_QxKqFkrgQFE2

Puttin' on the Ritz - 6 Minutes - Russian
Now, let's explore a music video genre known as the "flash mob." Flash mobs had their heyday a few years ago and, much like disco and streaking, they eventually faded into obscurity. Nonetheless, during their peak, some flash mobs were truly astonishing.

Are you familiar with the concept of a "flash mob"? For those who aren't, a flash mob involves a group of dancers or musicians spontaneously performing in a public place, without prior announcement. Typically, one or two individuals will initiate the performance by dancing or playing music, gradually drawing more participants from the group. At first glance, it might appear as if those joining in are simply random spectators. However, the performance is intricately choreographed. The following video represents one of the finest examples of a flash mob that I've ever encountered. It features a large number of participants, remarkable dancing, and revolves around a Russian wedding. Moreover, they've selected an excellent piece of music – Irving Berlin's 1929 classic, "Puttin' on the Ritz."

https://youtu.be/oacelnX3VSQ?si=DZ-jQSUL3ph9m0ch

Britain's Got Talent - 6 Minutes - British, of course
If you happen to recognize a video in today's program, it's likely this one. Nevertheless, even if you've encountered this video previously, I'm confident you'll relish revisiting it. These days, various countries host talent show competitions where individuals receive either a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to progress to the next round. This might just be the most renowned among those amateur performances, with over 250 million views on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/RxPZh4AnWyk?si=YH50qkd7pvYjkRAu

Afterward, I found it necessary to delve further into that particular video. It's quite ironic that Susan Boyle chose to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" in her 2009 debut performance. Her dream of stardom has undoubtedly come true. Following her breakthrough on "Britain's Got Talent" in 2009, she has released eight albums featuring her music. She's sold over 19 million albums and garnered two Grammy nominations. In 2010, she had the opportunity to perform in front of the Pope and a crowd of 65,000 people during a mass. In addition to her albums, she dedicates a significant portion of her time to charity concerts, raising funds for various causes, many of which involve children. Astonishingly, she continues to reside in the very village where she grew up and even started dating her first boyfriend in 2014. It's heartwarming to see such a happy ending.

The Long Run - 5 Minutes - British
Let's continue our exploration of music. I'm a fervent music enthusiast, appreciating a wide spectrum of musical genres. While sifting through my collection of cherished songs and videos, I've selected one final piece. This music video seamlessly intertwines enchanting melodies with breathtaking visuals. The artist at the center of this performance is the British musician, Mark Knopfler, best known as the lead vocalist and extraordinary guitar virtuoso of the rock band Dire Straits, renowned for their iconic 1980s hit, "The Sultans of Swing." Mark Knopfler subsequently embarked on a successful solo career, showcasing his incredible versatility across various musical genres while continually highlighting his exceptional guitar prowess. This music video exudes sheer beauty and offers a truly relaxing experience.

https://youtu.be/zqHdzatTBhA?si=F8x79kIk6G1RvyRX

The Sprinkler Sprinkled – 40 seconds – French
You might have observed that this brief film hails from the year 1895. Indeed, during the nascent stages of cinema, all movies were essentially short films. At the time, the challenge lay in perfecting the process of threading a lengthy film reel through a projector without causing it to break. While Thomas Edison is often attributed with pioneering motion pictures, the reality is a bit more complex. The evolution of the modern motion picture involved a series of incremental advancements. The fundamental issue was this: creating the illusion of motion by swiftly displaying a sequence of still images, a concept you're all familiar with, often referred to as "frames per second."

In 1891, Thomas Edison brought motion pictures to the masses with the invention of the Kinetoscope. Special stores were established where individuals could experience these devices one at a time to watch short films, creating quite a sensation.

In 1895, a significant turning point occurred when two Frenchmen, the Lumiere Brothers, developed a smaller camera and a projector for projecting films onto screens. This innovation revolutionized the world of film. Both Edison and the Lumiere Brothers found themselves venturing into the realm of content creation for their inventions. Initially, early films primarily captured mundane, everyday scenes, such as moving trains or people leaving factories.

The next film I'm about to showcase, created by the Lumiere Brothers, marked a pivotal moment by introducing two novel elements for the first time: comedy and a coherent plot.

https://youtu.be/s4cZ2bzOp3c?si=I2DimTv7ppPRz6qY

UA - 4 Minutes - Japanese
I've sequenced this following film in this manner to highlight the striking contrast between it and the preceding one. Let's now return to our musical theme. This is a music video featuring the Japanese singer known simply as UA. The computer-generated visuals are truly remarkable, and once more, this music video could easily be considered a masterpiece of art. As you immerse yourself in this film, contemplate what the Lumiere Brothers might make of the incredible advancements in film graphics.

https://youtu.be/1889oGz8ipo?si=dDdE-uFVm4go7JSA

I’m So Excited – 6 Minutes - American
I'm aware that there are old movie enthusiasts among our presenters at Quest. I wanted to contribute something related to that interest. Perhaps some of you have come across this remarkable composite video that features dancing scenes from classic films. The synchronization of these vintage dance clips with a contemporary song is truly impressive. My wife and I have been passionate about ballroom dancing for nine years now. While I may not consider myself a master, I've gained at least the ability to appreciate and identify skillful dancers when I see them. This particular video showcasing the talents of great dancers from old movies is quite enjoyable. It's a fun challenge to try and recognize both the stars and the movies these clips are extracted from.

https://youtu.be/xVuIVP6Pef8?si=lMbuhIYbBGNfxWPo

Let’s Go to the Beach – 5 minutes long - Scotland
When it comes to past films that consistently attract attention, "The Ridge" stands out. I had the pleasure of presenting this film in our outdoor and adventure session. In "The Ridge," we witnessed the awe-inspiring biking skills of Scottish rider Danny MacCaskill as he conquered a Scottish mountain. And now, Danny returns with his latest creation, "Let’s Go to The Beach."

Each year, the Banff Mountain Outdoor Film Festival acknowledges and celebrates exceptional outdoor and adventure films. These award-winning films then embark on a worldwide tour. I distinctly remember viewing this particular award-winning film a few years back during one of their World Tour screenings. This short film was shot on Gran Canary Island, a Spanish island located off the coast of Morocco. The location is undeniably breathtaking. Just like Danny's previous works, the cinematography is exceptional, often incorporating stunning drone shots. ...and, of course, his biking skills continue to astound.

After witnessing these incredible feats, it's astonishing that Danny is still with us.

https://youtu.be/GL0rbxB9Lqg?si=QwidWeIxEz0gOzddLes mer