Another rhythmic commercial
Whether it’s a movie, a commercial, a short film, a music video–whatever–a good editing job is rhythmic. It’s like a song or music. There is a beat, a pattern, a repetition. The cuts in a good edit match the rhythm of the music, or sets a rhythm of its own.
Interestingly, I’m starting to see more rhythmic commercials. Take a look at the Mythbusters promo spot I posted last time. Very amazing rhythm. Then again today, I saw a VW Golf commercial. It too had an amazing rhythm to it as well. Check it out:
Wonderful world of editing
My family and I are huge fans of the Discovery Channel. Shows like Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs and Smash Labs are often tivoed ad nauseam. The other day while watching one of my Discovery shows, I saw a commercial that was simply a montage of some of the shows on Discovery. The rhythmic nature of the piece was quite amazing. The editing and sound design were sheer brilliance.
Check it out.
Small Business Mistakes
I always enjoy reading articles and news about small business. As a small business owner myself, any information on how to improve your small business is excellent news to read.
So, I was quite interested in reading Steve Pavlina’s “10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self Employed”.
Wise information.
Storytelling 101
Here’s another great blog on the structure and power of storytelling.
Three times
Bryan Singer (Usual Suspects, X-Men, X2, Superman Returns) makes a great observation:
“You get a chance to make a movie three times. Once when you write it. Once when you shoot it. And once when you edit it. And all three can be wildly different from what you had envisioned in the first place!” he also said, “You have to be open to the idea that at any time, in any one of these, the opportunity will present itself for something to happen that will elevate the entire project toward something you’d not even considered before.”
Are stories needed in the business world?
I’ve always been fascinated by the use of storytelling in the business world. Why? Because it’s so rare!
Having run that corporate race for 16 years, I have seen my share of really boring presentations and marketing material. If you’re trying to sell sleeping aids, then by all means, present the way you’ve always presented.
But today’s consumers are all about stories. That’s why I found this post on PresentationZen with Robert McKee (master storyteller) quite interesting.
A Poem by Bethany Henderson
Lights, Camera, Action!
I know a man who had a dream
to tell stories with a camera;
to make that dream come true he started small
so he could not fall.
He worked and worked each day
till the job was done.
Finally he got to say
lights, camera, action!
- Bethany Henderson, 2008
Stake in the Outcome
Phil Cooke made an interesting observation:
The people who complain the most, are the people who have no stake in the outcome.
People who’s job depends on performance don’t complain much because if something fails, it’s their fault. But the members of you team or employees in your office that aren’t directly responsible for the success or failure of your project or company, are usually the first ones to whine and moan.
Good constructive criticism is good. But whining and complaining sow seeds of strife that will destroy a project, company, or organization.
So make sure every member of your team has a stake in the outcome. Make sure they’re responsible for something that matters. It will make a dramatic difference in their attitude – and your chances of success.
Internet 2.0
Blogging, podcasting, rss feeds, comments, trackbacks, pingbacks, twitters…you name it. The internet has truly evolved into something different, something interactive.
Seth Godin explains it well:
You can contact just about anyone you want. The only rule is you need to contact them personally, with respect, and do it months before you need their help! Contact them about them, not about you. Engage. Contribute. Question. Pay attention. Read. Interact.
Then, when you’ve earned the right to attention and respect, months and months later, sure, ask. It takes a lot of time and effort, which is why volume isn’t the answer for you, quality is.
That’s a great way to get a job, promote a site, make a friend, spread the word or just be a human.
The Mind
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
Plutarch