Last week, I introduced The Athletic Nerd’s brand new logo. It’s a small change but an important step when it comes to branding my movie blog.
Towards the end of the week, I found myself with a free morning so I decided to dust off my copy of After Effects and animate it. I was instantly reminded how intricate but fun the software can be.
It took me a while to remember all the shortcuts I once knew but before long, I was building my animation.
It’s not the most complicated thing in the world but I’m a fan. I thinking about creating animations for all of the images I use to brand each post. There really isn’t an end game to this work but I definitely had fun putting this little animation together.
It was also an opportunity to launch The Athletic Nerd’s new YouTube channel. There is literally no content there yet but there is a plan in place to utilize it in the future.
I grew up in Sudbury, Ontario and Men With Brooms was one of the only big movies I remember filming there. That’s all about to change thanks to David Joseph Anselmo and his company Hideaway Pictures. David and his team are looking to kick start a booming film industry in Northern Ontario by building a studio in the city.
The team recently received approval from the city to set up studio space in an old hockey arena with construction of a new facility planned in the future.
This is fantastic news for the area as the development will surely attract more filmmakers to the North. Not to mention this project will aid the talented filmmakers who are already living in the region. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Sudbury’s film industry.
An inventive animated short film written and directed by Andrey Shushkov.
LUMINARIS
A stylish short film in stop-motion by Juan Pablo Zaramella.
CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS FAN FILM
When I was growing up we had to buy dollar store guns and spray paint them to use in our movies. We never dreamed of having access to boats and ATVs! Let alone After Effects and sites like Video Copilot. Guaranteed these folks had a blast making this.
TOLERANTIA
Cool and imaginative animated short by Ivan Ramadan
CHASED
A foot chase with an unexpected outcome directed by Louis Taylor & Charlie Gracie. Check them out on Twitter @duentertainment
Do you have a project you’d like to see promoted on The Athletic Nerd? Email me jason@17west.ca.
I missed the first season of Dexter. I didn’t watch a single episode but slowly, everyone around me started talking about Miami Metro’s loveable serial killer. A trusted friend of mine swore it was a show I had to check out. So I waited for the Season One box set.
I had no idea what to expect but it’s safe to say I was hooked the second I saw him smack that mosquito. What a great way to introduce such a complex character. Someone who appears unlikely to hurt a fly (or at least an innocent fly) smashes it with a devilish grin on his face.
This is Dexter.
The whole concept behind the opening titles is nothing short of brilliant. Every single image is a beautiful balance suggesting this character is both likeable and… Complicated?
Art of the Title posted an insightful interview with one of the minds behind the Dexter’s opening sequence. Eric Anderson is a former creative director at Digital Kitchen and provided an inside look at the creation of the 2007 Emmy winner for most outstanding main title design.
“They kept using the word “mundane” over and over. They liked “Six Feet Under” and “Nip/Tuck” for how mundanely both titles dealt with what could have been a visually hyperbolized depiction of each show’s subject matter. This made me think how fascinated I am with crime scene photography, as a kid I loved looking through my grandfather’s “True Detective” magazine collection. Crime scene photographs contextualize mundane things giving those mundane things overwhelming and sinister importance. Along with this process of photographic evidence gathering comes an edgy anti-aesthetic, factually lit, mundanely framed, rawness. This proved to be a very important point for this piece.” (Art of the Title)
Beyond the design of the opening titles, it’s the fantastic editing that fascinates me. Throughout the years, I’ve learned that using jump cuts is a difficult skill to master. It all boils down to instincts and feel. It’s about pacing and style. It’s a beautiful way to edit when it works. But when it doesn’t, it can be confusing and disorienting to the audience.
The opening sequence in Dexter is full of creative jump cuts but they aren’t over used and non of them are disorienting. When you’re selecting the frames to omit in a shot, it’s crucial that the action remains smooth.
That’s what I love about Dexter’s opening. The jump cuts are skillfully created but used sparingly. Subtle amounts of frames are removed to give speed up slow motion actions while communicating the overall message of the piece. Dexter is anything but ordinary and neither is this morning routine.
DING!
Cutting to music is a ton of fun when you have a song with catchy beats to edit to. But be honest, you weren’t expecting the Dexter theme were you? I certainly wasn’t. But it works because everything came into place. The music compliments Dexter’s morning routine so well while keeping in line with the design and style of the opening. Every beat is used to perfection through skillful editing and wonderfully staged moments.
Brilliant cuts… (pun intended?)
Dexter is a phenomenal show for many reasons but for me, it’s special because it inspires me in so many ways. Screenwriting, style, originality, suspense, twists, performance and of course the editing.
The awesome opening makes it very clear that you’re about to experience something unique. It’s evident every time an episode begins that something special is in store. Bring on the new season!
While it was close with Tyrion almost winning for a third straight week, it wasn’t meant to be because this week we got a battle!
Tyrion’s game of deception to find out who is in the Cersei’s pocket was awesome. Like I’ve been saying all season, it’s fantastic to have a character out-scheme the schemers in King’s Landing.
Having said that, this episode finally gave us a relatively big battle at the end. Something I was hoping to see after two heavily character driven episodes. However, I don’t fault the series for lack of action because so many characters have to be visited, introduced and developed. It’s proof that you don’t always need great action if you have great characters.
… But it’s Game of Thrones and the battles are inevitable.
This week’s moment involved Arya and Yoren. Before the big battle they had a wonderful scene together. It’s easy to forget that Arya was in the crowd on that fateful day in season one. (Didn’t want to spoil that one just in case) Yoren also got his moment to share what brought him to The Wall in the first place.
And then the swords came out for a bloody battle that, I think, will kick start the action this season. The pieces have been in motion now for weeks. Next week, you have to assume that we will finally rejoin Robb Stark and Daenerys Targaryen. They are due for some screen time. One of them is a warrior with 3 dragons and the other is fighting a war. It’s safe to say we are in for some cool moments.
What Is Dead May Never Die
The rest of the episode was as interesting as ever. It’s surprising to me that Cersei or Geoffrey haven’t openly questioned Sansa’s loyalty. She’s really just telling them what they want to hear. Are they oblivious or do they simply love making her constantly denounce her family… I’m inclined to believe the latter.
I’m still not on board with Tyrion’s lady friend Shae… We’ve spent more time with her than we have with several major characters this season. Her story has joined with Sansa’s now but, having not read the books, I just don’t see what her purpose is… Yet. I’m sure she will complicate Tyrion’s life in some way but it’s a waiting game for now.
Regardless, we are now three episodes into the season and it’s been awesome. When a show can blast through the ‘slower‘ type episodes in grand fashion, you know you’re in for something special.
