Sunday, February 21, 2010

Virtually reality television

One of my friends posted this in his Facebook stream, and I think it's equal parts cool and sad. It's truly amazing what technology can do these days to make scenes from your favourite television series' even MORE dramatic, and you may not even notice.

This YouTube video demonstrates all the green-screening used in some of the most popular shows on TV these days.



So what do you think? Awesome? Disappointing? I'm torn, too. Obviously, it's expensive to have a burning ferry cued up to film, but some of those background shots of extra snow seem a little excessive. Someone couldn't just shovel some more snow onto the set? Come on!

My favourite comment on this video comes from Geminii27: "I think there was a real scene shot once in 1878..."

Friday, February 12, 2010

Reading Week

Eight hours into Reading Week (I was done class at noon), and already I'm trying to catch up on all the things I've been neglecting since job placement ended. I'm watching Spider-Man 2 on TV, and writing a new chapter in my Criminal Minds/Supernatural story (too bad fanfics aren't allowed in Creative Writing class. Or are they? I'm not sure if Karen gave an answer to that question, now that I reflect upon it. It should be; it's no worse than using material written last year...or beyond.)

I'm not going anywhere because I have to save my limited money hoard for my trip to Chicago in May, and later for my trip to Toronto and Ottawa in June. Why Toronto you wonder? Well, I'll tell you, especially since it pertains to the overarching theme of this blog: music.



For the first time I'm going to North by Northeast, the week-long music festival that takes over downtown Toronto every year in early summer. The line-up hasn't been announced yet, but I'm still excited. My friend and I already bought our all access wristbands, which get us front-of-the-line entry to all the events and seminars during the week. I don't know how to express how excited I am. This has been one of my goals since I was 14.

Next year: Australia! lol

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Shameless plug for one of my fave YouTube channels

My brother has a tendency to send me links to his favourite YouTube videos. Most of the time they are video game fight scenes set to crazy music, but every now and then there's a nugget of gold.

How It Should Have Ended is one such nugget. Basically, this crazy talented team takes a popular movie, animate it, and make it better. Observe:

Spider-Man 3: How it Should Have Ended:



"Spider-Man, we're not idiots." Indeed.

As a fan of crossovers, I think this is brilliant:



One more for fun:



"Can you imagine what it would be like if we'd walked the entire way?"
"Don't be silly!"

I also recommend all of the other videos. Enjoy! Also, you should visit their website.