Hitting the Mark

  These posts are going to serve as a counterpoint to my "Almost Not Quite" series. What makes these videos hit the mark? What qualifies them to be considered good by me? I think there are a variety of components. An interesting concept. It doesn't have to be a wholly original concept, so long as it is interesting and the director has put a unique spin on it. An engaging visual style, or rather a visual style that is able to get across the message the director is trying to convey. Also good editing. All of these things together should then tell a story or elicit a response from the viewer. To put it another way, when its good, really good, you just know.

   The group "Angus and Julia Stone" are a brother/sister duo out of Australia that play folk-blue. Their video for their song "And the Boys", directed by Kiku Ohe, is just great. It shows the emotional turbulence that comes after a break up. We see through a series of quick cuts in the beginning of the video that the protagonist, played by Julia Stone, is in the midst of a deteriorating relationship. Eventually her significant other is gone, leaving her alone, lying on the floor. A fog settles into the room, obscuring the floor beneath Miss Stone. The fog dissipates to reveal changing landscapes below he floating form. Possibly to represent the introspective journey that accompanies a broken heart. This bit reminded me of the video for "And She Was" by the Talking Heads, but upon watching that video again, I realized they weren't as similar as I had remembered. But both do feature floating female protagonists soaring above the lands.

    In "And the Boys" her floating travels end when she lands in a field of colorfully dressed dancers. She herself seems less sad, as if the grieving is over and she has found peace in her lover's absence at last.

Angus and Julia Stone
And the Boys


directed by Kiku Ohe

Good Morning

Its 11:42, I should probably eat breakfast soon. Outside people are pounding upon the house. No its not a zombie invasion, no one out there desires to eat me...I hope. We had some damage to the siding of our house last year during a particularly bad hail storm and they are currently replacing it. But it does sound like the house is either under assault or being heavily fortified. bang-bang-bang, hammer-hammer, crunch-crunch (repeat)

Now for some 80's music. Slow down, relax, we're all just on a road to nowhere. We'll get there when we get there. Its alright.

Talking Heads
Road to Nowhere

Blustery, windy day

Here in the Hundred Acre Forest, 'tis a blustery windy day. Winnie the Pooh anyone? That's what it seems like outside. So I have been racking my brain trying to think of something to go along with the weather and mood. Possibly that video or song that conveys the need to get by a fire and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. I feel like I have seen the perfect one, but I am having a hard time finding it. Okay I will not let you guys down, although I am about ready to give up. After a break to see the Dark Knight, which ended up not happening since it was too crowded and having an adventure, it hit me.

Burning Down the House
Talking Heads

enjoy and stay warm!