Sundance Channel

Redford urges Obama to stop the Keystone XL pipeline

Perrin Drumm — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:34:59 +0000

Robert Redford delivers a powerful message to President Obama, asking him to say no to the Keystone XL pipeline that threatens to destroy "the bread basket of America" so big oil can turn a profit.

The UK’s Liver Building as digital canvas

Blair Pfander — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:00:54 +0000

Luminous Flux from the macula on Vimeo.

"Video projection mapping" is a relatively new technique that has been gaining momentum in the art and advertising worlds for the past five years (did anyone else catch Ralph Lauren's crazy "4D" demonstration on Madison Ave last year?). In essence, the method uses specialized software to turn any possible surface into a video display, warping and masking the images to fit perfectly on anything you can think of. One of the main advantages of the technique is scale: with minimal resources, video mappers can turn anything into a giant, digital canvas. One spectacular recent example is "Luminous Flux," projected last week on England's Liver Building for the opening of the New Museum of Liverpool.

The %#*! hits the fan with the Climate Reality Project

Perrin Drumm — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:15:25 +0000

Notice any unusual weather patterns lately? Any hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, drought or flood come your way? If you've lived on this Earth in the last year or two then the answer is, undoubtedly, yes. But if you're someone who refuses to believe that these dramatic changes in our weather are a sign that maybe humans haven't had the best impact on our environment, get ready to wake the %#*! up. This Wednesday, climate change deniers get an extra dose of reality with the Climate Reality Project, a 24-hour, global, livestream event that reveals, once and for all, the very real scope of the climate crisis. The Climate Reality Project asks you to make time for reality on Wednesday, September 14 at 7PM, in your time zone. "Pick a faraway place or a city near you. Make it yours for one day. We're hitting every time zone, but only once…Choose a location and get involved." If your hometown isn't represented, pick some place you've never been to (French Polynesia, Tonga, New Delhi or Seoul) or maybe never even heard of. Personally, I'm choosing Ilulissat. But prepare yourself for some serious talk on climate change, and stand ready to take action. This isn't a fluffy, pictures of dolphins in net, tear-jerking talk-the-talk but no walk kinda thing. Did you watch the videos m ss ng p eces made? Would they create poop and hurl it at a fan if this wasn't for real? Just watch the behind-the-scenes: Al Gore is pissed, and really, why aren't more people? As the man says, if you're not angry, you're not paying attention.

Best of Kickstarter, 9/12: THE HAPPY FILM

Perrin Drumm — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:23:03 +0000

We’re starting off the week with a new Kickstarter projects so good we’re not including any others. What am I talking about, you ask? What’s this Best of Kickstarter thing we’ve been blogging about every Monday? Well, it seems like everyone is pitching their idea to Kickstarter. We think that’s great, but with great power comes great responsibility, and while the 23-person Kickstarter team does their best to filter out the winning projects from the thousands and thousands of proposals they receive, there are still hundreds of thousands of new projects that launch each week. That’s a lot of ways to spend your hard-earned five bucks. Too many ways, actually. How can one person sort through it all? Relax, we’ll do it all for you.

Okay, so remember when I told you about Stefan Sagmeister's latest project, THE HAPPY FILM? Of course you do (just nod politely to validate me)! And remember when I said you should contribute, so you went to the website and looked around all confused because you couldn't find the 'donate now' button? Well, live in confusion no longer, my friend. The happy dudes behind THE HAPPY FILM have now made it really easy for us to help them fund their movie by making it an official Kickstarter project.

Worst of Kickstarter

Perrin Drumm — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:29:27 +0000

The whole point of these Picks is to keep you up to date about new Kickstarter projects that truly deserve your donations, but this last week the good stuff was hard to come by. I don't know if the Kickstarter crew is on vacay or what, but some major duds definitely slipped through the cracks. Take the $5 minimum donation for these and treat your landlord to a beer, or, hell, just drop the money on the street. Whoever picks it up is more likely to put it to good use. And with that, I give you this week's worst.

When public proposals go wrong

Em and Lo — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:00:01 +0000

Food Court Proposal Gone Wrong - Watch more Funny Videos

As we've said here many times, we're massive FAILblog fans. We think it's hilarious when people fall down (so long as they don't get seriously hurt), especially if it happens at a wedding or when they're trying to act sorta cool. When shit goes wrong and someone happens to capture it on video, the Internet gets a little happier. But there is a sub-genre of shit-going-wrong videos that makes us clench our buttholes, and not in a good way: When a dude gets down on one knee and proposes in public and his girlfriend says no (just Google "proposal gone wrong" if you're not familiar with the genre).

What can you do in 15 minutes?

Sundance Channel — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:59:32 +0000

Michael Cirino, co-founder of the culinary events company A Razor, A Shiny Knife (think pop-up restaurant on a NYC subway car), whips up a batch of homemade ice cream with fresh ingredients and a dash of chemistry while fearless Streb acrobat Fabio Tavares teaches you how to defy gravity: all in 15 minutes. Watch the mad scientist and the daring thrill seeker at work below!

The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic

Perrin Drumm — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:23:57 +0000

This past weekend marked the end of the Manchester International Festival, a biennial, artist-led event that has, in the past, played host to artists like Matthew Barney and Olafur Eliasson, among others. This year performance artist extraordinaire, Marina Abramović, took to the stage for a run of six theatrical performances of "The Life and Death of Marina Abramović."

Robyn’s Indestructible

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:42:25 +0000

Robyn, the Swedish pop star I obsess over, is set to release her third and final album of 2010, Body Talk Volume 3, in November. To gear up for the release and yet another American tour she’s just released the video for lead-off single “Indestructible.” It’s a sexy affair featuring couples making out while she [...]

Wanderlust

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:45:36 +0000

Wanderlust from Thinklab on Vimeo. I’m mesmerized by the video Wanderlust. Since stumbling upon it via Vimeo I’ve repeatedly gone back to the little gem to sneak peeks of the world these filmmakers captured. It’s directed by Thinklab who “inspired by a TED talk by Stefan Sagmeister, packed up a Canon 5D and travelled through South [...]

Amanda Lepore channels Monroe

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:23:37 +0000

AMANDA LEPORE "Marilyn" featuring CAZWELL directed by LEO HERRERA from Leo Herrera on Vimeo.

Amanda Lepore is the world's most famous transsexual. And she's proud of it. When you call Mandy's cell phone and get her voicemail she coos that she has a "fully functioning vagina." No. Seriously. She does.

Half Hour of Kanye

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:30:57 +0000

I hope you have some time on your lunch break today because Kanye West's "Runaway" single is live on Vivo. In typical Hollywood fashion, he emerges from being the most hated musician in the world to the most inventive. We love a comeback.

A Fresh Princess

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:36:02 +0000

I have seen the future of pop music and it is no longer Lady Gaga’s throne as Queen of Pop! Meet Willow Smith, the daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Hollywood royalty, and the next great pop star. Mark my words. The above video for Willow’s super-catchy single “Whip My Hair” will undoubtedly put [...]

Hurts so good

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:44:01 +0000

Hurts is the band that is taking Europe by storm and you've probably never heard of them. In traditional music industry fashion, we here in the US are kept out of the loop of emerging bands. Don't worry, Hurts will eventually get here, since the conquer the rest of the world. The album Happiness is this year's best.

Cazwell’s Ice Cream Truck

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:45:54 +0000

If you’re like me, with a hankering for ice cream, primary colors, and Latino go-go boys, then you’re going to love, love, love the above video. It is almost safe for work. I said almost. Cazwell is a gay white rapper and a NYC-nightlife fixture. Typically he’s seen running around town with Amanda Lepore. But [...]

La Isla Alejandro

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:45:50 +0000

I appreciate Lady Gaga. Really I do. The pop culture/art/downtown performers/drag references in her work often make me giggle, sometime make me wince, but also make me think that’s she’s pretty bright for someone her age. What I don’t like about Gaga, and what I think Madonna did effortlessly, is that she seems incapable of [...]

Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own”

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:40:39 +0000

Robyn ‘Dancing On My Own’ (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo. Swedish pop sensation Robyn released her new video for the single “Dancing on My Own” today and it’s pretty brilliant. The song is seriously becoming a contender for my song of the summer. Gone are her girlish looks and edge, replaced with an older [...]

Glee Vogues

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:05:13 +0000

Gays across the country freaked out over two of the gayest pop culture icons, Madonna and Glee, coming together. Yes, Glee did Madonna. The folks over at Defamer ran this hilarious side-by-side of Glee’s Vogue and the original. Glee’s is spot-on. And Jane Lynch does Madge better than Madge has in recent years. A real [...]

RIP Malcolm McLaren

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:45:15 +0000

Malcolm McLaren has died and with him goes a remarkable piece of counter-culture history. McLaren discovered the Sex Pistols. He managed the New York Dolls. He dated and helped create the empire of Vivienne Westwood. He made some great albums. And way before Madonna caught on he discovered the voguing houses. See above. A piece [...]

An art lesson in a music video

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:15:54 +0000

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo. “70 Million”, is a song by the Franco-American band Hold Your Horses! It takes viewers on a journey through art history reconstructing famous paintings. The look and feel is similar to our own Green Porno. It will make you smile. Mark my words.

Billie Ray Martin returns

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:20:32 +0000

Billie Ray Martin should be a household name. Her voice is epic. It recalls Aretha and soul singers of another era. Ms. Martin is German. And white. And loves the Pet Shop Boys and electronic music. And disco. She's always been a bit before her time. And those are the reasons why she's not a bigger star. She may be too talented.

Peter Gabriel returns.

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:17:49 +0000

I am in Costa Rica this week traveling with a group of 13 gays. While this could sound like a recipe for disaster (13 queens fighting over one iPod dock!) we’ve been having a relaxing, and fun, week. There was a moment on Saturday that got me combing the internet this morning. As we traveled [...]

Who is iamamiwhoami?

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:06:31 +0000

The internet is abuzz over the videos posted to the YouTube channel “iamamiwhoami.” Released, many think, as a marketing campaign to build buzz about an upcoming music release, the three videos debuted so far are dark and creepy. The music is electronic and pulsing. And the guesses included the obvious, Goldfrapp and Marilyn Manson. However, [...]

God hates GaGa

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:37:32 +0000

Via Andy Towle I found this frightening video put out by the Westboro Baptist Cult. You know the “God Hates Fags” people. Those crazy freaks. Well, in the days of YouTube, the church, er, cult is getting more creative. Adding to their funeral protests, they’ve now gone all Weird Al on us making a parody [...]

The Divine 80s

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:09:41 +0000

The venerable NYC nightclub 1984 has been celebrating the 80s long before they became chic again. And it still offers a remarkable treat to those of us who spent our formative years in day-glo listening to Duran Duran. Resident DJ Chip Duckett, who also happens to be NYC's biggest drag queen booker, curates a video show each week worthy of price of admission alone. Last week he played 6 plus hours of all Kate Bush's videos. Yes, Kate Bush is an acquired taste. And this week's videos are even more so: Divine.

Bad Romance, amazing video

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:51:34 +0000

I wrote an essay a few weeks back about Lady GaGa’s taking over from Madonna and becoming the numero uno gay pop icon. And any gay with a Facebook account can attest to this with a simple look at their status update bar from this week. The gays are going gaga over Bad Romance, the new [...]

This Must Be It: Röyksopp’s odd new video

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:10:43 +0000

It is no secret that I adore Swedish electro-pop. I have since I first discovered ABBA. Then Roxette. Neneh Cherry. Robyn. And of course Röyksopp. Last month I posted a link to a free download for “This Must Be It,” their new single featuring the vocals of Karin Dreijer Andersson. The video for that song [...]

Nominees for the 1st Annual Art Awards at the Guggenheim Museum

Matthew Rodriguez — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:20:10 +0000

On October 29, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum inaugurates its first ever Annual Art Awards, which will be presented by artist Rob Pruitt. The Art Awards celebrates select individuals, exhibitions, and projects that have made a significant impact on the field of contemporary art during the past year. Pruitt, whose conceptual practice is rooted in [...]

Answering “who is Barack Obama?”

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about some of the absurd signs appearing at anti-Obama gatherings across the country. This week’s New York Magazine takes a more in-depth look at some of the movements, from Tea Parties to birthers, that are collectively forming a movement that is becoming more than just fringe. The writer, Philip Weiss, described the [...]

iPhone photography

Matthew Rodriguez — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:48:07 +0000

The St. Petersburg Times sent photographer Melissa Lyttle on an assignment to capture the “kitschy culture and places along the gulf beaches of Pinellas” using just her iPhone’s built-in camera for a very pleasing result. And as the paper’s editors pointed out, the New York Times recently published on their website a gallery of cell [...]

The musical stylings of Robyn Hitchcock

Sundance Channel — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:30:09 +0000

Known for his offbeat humor, absurdist lyrics and stream-of-consciousness riffs, singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock returns to Sundance Channel in this original concert film shot in New York in late 2008. Here the cult favorite -- dressed in a polka-dotted shirt and matching guitar -- is joined by Terry Edwards on keyboards, horns, bass and piano and Captain Tim Keegan on guitar to perform songs from his 1984 album I OFTEN DREAM OF TRAINS, including "Cathedral" and "I Used to Say I Love You." John Edginton directs. Read more about Robyn Hitchcock...

Amazing Tokyo time-lapse

Andrew Hearst — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:25:30 +0000

In this gorgeous ad for the watch company Citizen, buildings implode and explode, lights dance in complex arrays, and shadows engulf entire parks. The ad was created by the Japanese agency WOW for a watch- and jewelry-industry trade show called Baselworld.

Louis Clichy, A quoi ca sert l’amour

Matthew Rodriguez — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:07:08 +0000

Cute minimalist animated short film, “A Quoi ca Sert L’amour” (To what end is love?) from the ever talented Louis Clichy about a boy who meets girl, boy then loses girl, boy gets girl back, boy then loses girl again, but girl finds boy and finally boy gets girl. Note the visual double entendre in [...]

Explosive skateboarding

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:05:56 +0000

Against the background of UNKLE’s emotive song “Heaven,” directors Spike Jonze and Ty Evans film the Lakai skateboarding team navigating an explosive terrain. The video starts a little slow, but “explodes” around the 1:58 mark. If that didn’t sell you then, let me try this: three words, skateboarding, explosions, and slo-mo. ‘Nuff said. [Via]

Robert Redford On Solar Power

Robert Redford — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:02:15 +0000

I was Too Early on Solar Power; Let’s Not Be Too Late In his State of the Union address, President Obama noted that although America invented solar energy technology, we have fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. He is right of course. I remember when America was leading the pack on [...]

Festival Updates Interview: John Cooper, Festival Wrap

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:36:42 +0000

Faith Salie speaks with festival director of programming John Cooper about the moving films and the surprising events of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates Spotlight: Fashion with Charlotte Mickie

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:35:46 +0000

Faith Salie talks with internation sales agent Charlotte Mickie about the fashion dos and don'ts during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates: The Awards and After Party

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:34:47 +0000

The filmmakers, actors, and celebrities come out to congratulate and celebrate all films and participants of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Festival Updates Interview: Kyle Buchanen of The Advocate

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:33:52 +0000

Faith Salie is joined by Kyle Buchanen, a film crictic from The Advocate. They discuss post-queer cinema during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates Interview: Roundtable Wrap Up

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:32:32 +0000

Faith Salie interviews sales agent Sarah Lash, producer Ron Yerxa, blogger Anne Thompson, and publicist Wellington Love about the business happenings and film buzz from the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates Spotlight: Bobcat Goldthwait

Sundance Channel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:30:46 +0000

Faith Salie speaks with director Bobcat Goldthwait and festival attendees on the streets of Park City about his film, WORLD'S GREATEST DAD.

Festival Updates Interview: FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN

Sundance Channel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:24:26 +0000

Faith Salie interviews FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN director Oliver Hirschbiegel and actors Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt in the Sundance Channel Studio. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates Spotlight: Documentary

Sundance Channel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:23:45 +0000

Filmmakers discuss the importance of documentary films in the festival and the refreshing perspectives they reveal as a storytelling medium.

Festival Updates My Premiere: IN THE LOOP

Sundance Channel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:23:18 +0000

Writer/director Armando Iannucci's IN THE LOOP, a film participating in the 2009 Sundance FIlm Festival. It is a comedic satire about American and British relations prior to a major invasion.

Festival Updates Interview: MOTHERHOOD

Sundance Channel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:21:27 +0000

Faith Salie speaks with MOTHERHOOD director Katherine Dieckmann and cast members Uma Thurman and Anthony Edwards in the Sundance Channel Studio. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates My Premiere: CRUDE

Sundance Channel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:34:55 +0000

Director Joe Berlinger's CRUDE, a film participating in the 2009 Sundance Film Festival about the environmental degradation of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.

Festival Updates Spotlight: The People Speak

Sundance Channel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:32:35 +0000

Robert Redford, Marissa Tomei, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and more read excerpts from Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History of the United States for the forthcoming documentary THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

Festival Interview: CHILDREN OF INVENTION

Sundance Channel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:28:55 +0000

Faith Salie speaks with CHILDREN OF INVENTION director Tze Chun and cast members Cindy Cheung, Crystal Chiu, and Michael Chen in the Sundance Channel Studio. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.

Festival Updates Interview: Chris Rock, GOOD HAIR

Sundance Channel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:27:43 +0000

Faith Salie interviews GOOD HAIR writer/producer Chris Rock, comedian/actress Sarah Jones, and executive producer Nelson George in the Sundance Channel Studio.

Festival Updates Interview: Sophie Barthes of COLD SOULS

Sundance Channel — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:58:25 +0000

Faith Salie speaks with COLD SOULS director Sophie Barthes and actor Paul Giamatti in the Sundance Channel Studio. Presented by Honda, The Power of Dreams.