Sketch Book :: News :: Blog
- 75 Years of Drive Ins: Time
Beautifully composed photos in this essay by Time.
- 11th Hour (2007)
11th Hour plays the fear card as it paints a picture on the health of our environment. At about the half way mark I was beginning to feel really scared and bummed out, but then the tone changed as solutions and calls to action were presented. It’s a heavy hitter on a dark but unavoidable subject – a subject that needs more attention from all of us on a daily basis. I’m already thinking about roof top solar panels and rigging up rain barrels (for real). Directed by: Nadia Conners and Leila Conners Petersen. Written by: Nadia Conners, Leonardo DiCaprio and Leila Conners Petersen
- The King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Everybody needs something in their life that they can be known by. For some, an identity can be a minor league soccer coach, a vintage car enthusiast or a yoga instructor. For others, video games define their spot in the world. King of Kong takes a look at the extreme seriousness (and for an outsider, the hilarity) of what it takes to become, and remain the Donkey Champion of the world. Director: Seth Gordon
- iTunes Digital 45s = Lame Ass
Another lame idea from major music big wigs. If the decision was a screenplay, it would read something like this: (exhale cigar smoke) “I KNOW, LET’S RECYCLE AN OLD IDEA…WHAT ABOUT THEM 45s THINGS, WORKED GREAT UP UNTIL 1985, WHY DON’T WE TRY IT AGAIN BUT SELL THEM AS COMPRESSED MP3 FILES. WE’RE BRILLIANT!” (belly laugh, back slapping, etc.)
- Addicted to Plastic (2008)
Addicted to Plastic takes a look at our dependence on plastic, how we got to this point and what we’re going to leave behind for future generations because of this dependence. Instead of lacing his documentary film with emotion and fear, director/producer Ian Connacher offers an intelligent and rational overview of the problem and what we have to do to counteract it.
- Cultural Analytics :: Mark Rothko Paintings
Overview by Jeremy Douglass at the 287-Megapixel HIPerSpace Wall at Calit2.
- CBC Logos
1. 1940 – 1958
2. 1958 – 1974
3. 1966 – 1974 (used to promote CBC broadcasting in color)
4. 1974 – 1986
5. 1986 – 1992
6. 1992 – presentvia: Signal Noise
- Religulous (2008)
In Religulous, Bill Maher sets out to explore what millions and millions of people around the world think about everyday: “the back stories to most religions are about as rational and likely as a fantasy tale.” Maher is his usual sarcastic self as he interviews hard core believers – some he pisses off and some he seems to get through to. Dang he’s intelligent and funny – the very embodiment of this documentary film.
- Hugh MacLeod’s List
The list of ‘being more creative, in art, in business, whatever‘ by Hugh MacLeod, author of Ignore Everybody.
1. Ignore everybody.
2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.
3. Put the hours in.
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
7. Keep your day job.
8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.
9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.
10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.
11. Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.
12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.
13. Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.
14. Dying young is overrated.
15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.
16. The world is changing.
17. Merit can be bought. Passion can’t.
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
19. Sing in your own voice.
20. The choice of media is irrelevant.
21. Selling out is harder than it looks.
22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.
23. Worrying about “Commercial vs. Artistic” is a complete waste of time.
24. Don’t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.
25. You have to find your own schtick.
26. Write from the heart.
27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
28. Power is never given. Power is taken.
29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.
30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.
31. Remain frugal.
32. Allow your work to age with you.
33. Being Poor Sucks.
34. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.
35. Savor obscurity while it lasts.
36. Start blogging.
37. Meaning Scales, People Don’t.
37. When your dreams become reality, they are no longer your dreams.
- Sigor Ros – 10 Years of Beautiful Work
Live performance at the Icelandic Opera House on June 10, 1999.
