And here the cross-check

Milan souvenir anyone?

You are probably wondering what did I do to Berlusconi in Milan.

Let’s start saying that violence is bad. What happened today, the 13th December 2009 is wrong and no one should take this as example. Also I am not that Massimo Tartaglia who threw the souvenir to Berlusconi. Now, considering this page is going to get some good visibility anyway, I think this is a good opportunity for me to share with you all how we, Italians, are feeling about this all embarrassing situation.

Living in Italy today is a nightmare and we hope things will change soon. At the current stage of things, there is no bright future for Italy. The best option for the young people today is to go abroad. Someone hope to get strong enough to help their friends and their country to reborn with different values.
Actually, not all the Italians feel the same, but probably most of the honest ones share the same unease when it comes to Berlusconi.

The Italian culture is beautiful in many way. But unfortunately apart from having a nice weather, lot of history and good food, Italy today is not a nice place where to live. We are not as open-minded and developed as in other countries. To make it short we are a bit rude.
You might already know that, but let me explain it a bit more for those who are confused and can’t understand why Italy is in this poor condition.

It is sad to admit, but Berlusconi is not the real problem (although he is not helping). He is only the result of some big problems that define our culture. We are not proud of this result and we deeply hate Berlusconi and his stupid behaviours.
In italy you can see people taking advantage of the situations in a legal or not so legal way. We called those people “furbi”.
The “furbi culture” (now I am just making up words) is very dangerous. People consider as very smart someone who manage to solve a problem or a situation which is apparently very difficult. It doesn’t really matter if something illegal happened during this process or if someone else get damaged by the “furbo” acts. The “furbo” is cool anyway because he did it.

Berlusconi is a Furbo. People in Italy is willing to close an eye and appreciate the fact that he is (supposed to be) good at doing what he does. The fact that he is reach for someone is more important then knowing if he has stolen those money.

Thanks God not everybody believe that the “furbo culture” is the right way to go. Many young people would like to change this situation, they would like to live in a country where legality is important, where the collectivity is important, where being selfish is not always a quality. The opposite of what Berlusconi is teaching to our new generations.

We have several internal problems today in italy. We need to open our minds, stop dancing with sunglasses at the disco, stop being racist, stop fighting and insulting each other at the football matches, study English properly, make heavier souvenirs of the Duomo di Milano (I’m joking) and so on so forth…
BUT, One of the main problems is that when you are a student in italy, you do not see a future for yourself in this country. We have lost the faith in our country. We do not feel like it is the right place where to live our lives. We need help.

We need you to understand that we are not all criminal, we do not agree with what Berulsconi is doing, we would love to be better (some are trying really hard) , but it is not that easy and it might take some time. We are fighting against our past, against what previous generations let us to deal with.

Please be patience, eventually the interesting side of the Italian culture will come back.

via http://www.massimotartaglia.com/

Rodney Carrington – “Show Them to Me”

Montag, you’re looking at a coward. I saw the way things were going, a long time back. I said nothing. I’m one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the ‘guilty,’ but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself.
And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me, by then.
Now it’s too late.

How familiar those words sound today. Look at Italy and they will fit today’s situation perfectly.

Dear friends, it’s up to each one of us to do something, to say our opinions out loud.
In Italy for too long there hasn’t been a guide, a good example of behavior and morality.
It is our fault, each one of us living in Italy who preferred to stay quiet and relaxed on the sofa instead of talking. And when nobody will listen to your words, then it will be time to scream, scream loudly!

http://www.plankman.com/projects/tuned_stairs/

2 Hidden Cameras – HVX 200 and Sony Z1U
A bunch of Kids
1 Marshmallow each

Not an original idea, but very fun to make.

worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/14675/The-Marshmallow-Test

Used in a series on temptation: watermarkradio.com/index.php?id=153&channel=237&series=150&message=2

E i baffi si bagnano di lacrime salate.

Michael Dudok de Wit (born in 1953, Utrecht, Holland) is an animator, director and illustrator. In 1978, he graduated from the West Surrey College of Art with his first film The Interview. After working for a year in Barcelona, he settled in London where he directs and animates award-winning commercials for television and cinema. In 1992, he created the short film Tom Sweep, followed by The Monk and the Fish (1994), which was made in France with the studio Folimage. This film was nominated for an Oscar and has won numerous prizes including a César Award for Best Short Film and the Cartoon d’Or. Michael also writes and illustrates children’s picture books and teaches animation at art colleges in England and abroad.

His most well-known film Father and Daughter (2000) won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, the Grand Prix at Annecy, and dozens of other major awards. His most recent short film is “The Aroma of Tea” (2006), drawn entirely with tea.

All of his films since Tom Sweep feature Michael’s trademark brush stroke drawing and his use of ink and watercolour, very much inspired by Chinese and Japanese art.

(from wikipedia)

This music video was shot for Sour’s ‘Hibi no Neiro’ (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album ‘Water Flavor EP’. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam.

Director: Masashi Kawamura + Hal Kirkland + Magico Nakamura + Masayoshi Nakamura

SOUR official site: http://sour-web.com

2009 Neutral Nine Records

LYRICS —————————————- ——————

Your heart that gently reflects in the puddle
is your tone, as you pass through the maze of everyday

Footsteps of spring
the city starts adding color
The melody flowsLE LU LA LI
Through the colored lenses

ReggaeDubHiphopTechnoLatin
Between the waves of all the different values
JazzRockPops Category no more
Whats the most important thing?

Spinning and turning on the overpass
as we overtake that season
this and that, which color is your melody?
Sometimes you could get confused

ReggaeDubHiphopTechnoLatin
Between the waves of all different values
JazzRockPops Category no more
What are you thinking of now?

If we can embrace all the differences
It will shine the sky in rainbow colors
Your heart that gently reflects in the puddle
is your tone, as you pass through the maze of everyday

You can see it in any color, because of your clear feeling
Dont worry about it, lets just go as we are.
If we can embrace all the differences
The rain will stop, and the sky will shines in rainbow colors

Your heart that gently reflects in the puddle
is your tone, as you pass through the maze of everyday
You can see it in any color, because of your clear feeling
Let your tone shine like the rainbow

Pass through the maze of everyday
And start playing your tone

—————————————- —————————–

SOUR “日々の音色” のためのミュージックビデオ。（ミニアルバム “Water Flavor EP” 収録曲）このビデオを作り上げるために、世界中のSOURファンに協力を募りました。 ビデオで使われている映像は全て、ラップトップのwebcamによって撮影しています 。

Director: Masashi Kawamura + Hal Kirkland + Magico Nakamura + Masayoshi Nakamura

LYRICS —————————————- ——————

そっと　水たまり鏡に写る心は　日々の迷路抜けた君の音色

春の足音にわか色付く街並み
流れる「レルラリ」メロディー色眼鏡越し
ReggaeDubHiphopTechnoRatin氾濫する価値の波間に
JazzRockPops Category no more大切なものは　何？

まわりまわる高架追い越した季節に
あれやこれ 何色のメロディー？　とまどう時も
ReggaeDubHiphopTechnoRatin氾濫する価値の波間に
JazzRockPops Category no moreいま何を思うの？

全ての違いを受け入れたら　虹色に輝く空を射す
水たまり鏡に写る心は　日々の迷路抜けた　君の音色

何色にも見えるのは澄んだ気持ちのせいだ　
気にすることなんかないよこのままゆこう
全ての違いを受け入れたら　虹色に輝く雨上がりの空

きっと　水たまり鏡に写る心は　日々の迷路抜けた君の音色
何色にも見えるのは澄んだ気持ちのせいだ　虹色に輝いて　君の音色

日々の迷路抜けて　奏でる君の音色

—————————————- —————————–

SOUR official site: http://sour-web.com
2009 Neutral Nine Records

Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias as it fell was Oh no, not again. Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.

Douglas Adams was the best-selling British author and satirist who created The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In this talk at UCSB recorded shortly before his death, Adams shares hilarious accounts of some of the apparently absurd lifestyles of the world’s creatures, and gleans from them extraordinary perceptions about the future of humanity

Charming stop motion video by Tomas Mankovsky.

My moustach are getting curling for the pleasure. Have a look at the making of and some photos from the backstage at:

http://www.sorry-im-late.com/makingof.html

Impressive and exciting at the same time!

What a simple idea and nice way of showing this company out there.

Bravo!

Ella Johansen is a 9 year old kid with some volatile parents. When her schoolteacher organises a ‘career day’ in class, asking all the kids to come in with their working families and speak out what they’d like to do when they’ll grow up… well, Ella finds herself at a loss. Her mum and dad are ‘running for their lives’ and she surely doesn’t feel like growing up. And in the end, you’ll probably agree with her.

Title: Career Day
Direction: Vivieno Caldinelli
Year: 2005
Production: Canada

Title: Spider
Year: 2006
Country: Australia
Director: Nash Edgerton
Production Company: Blue Tongue Films
Funded by: Qoob

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye
– Mum

Spider is a 9-minute action-thriller that gives an all-new meaning to old Peugeots, stunning blondes and love-jokes. The movie, written by Nash Edgerton and David Michod and soundtracked for the occasion by Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, was shot on location in Sydney and features in the cast Nash himself (as Jack) and rising star of the Australian film scene Mirrah Foulkes (as Jill).
Just remember: it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

More about Nash Edgerton here:
qoob.tv/nashedgerton

More films by QOOB:
qoob.tv/qoob_films

http://muscle.namco-ch.net/

‘Well, M. Poirot, what does one do? Go to Inspector Grange and say – what does one say to a moustache like that? It’s such a domestic, family moustache.’

Poirot’s hand crawled upwards to his own proudly borne adornment.

‘Whereas mine, Mademoiselle?’

‘Your moustache, M. Poirot, is an artistic triumph. It has no associations with anything but itself. It is, I am sure, unique’

‘Absolutely.’

Those who know about moustache grow a pride for their adornment, which, you will understand, cannot be explicated. From Hercule to Hercule, have confided in each other many times. Much we have in common and much we have talked about.

Moustache. The gentlemen of atomike studio have pictured some of the most distinguished mustache, starting with the world’s most famous plumber, Mister Mario, also known as Super Mario for his ability to master difficult situations (I suspect Mister Luigi’s moustache being slightly touched up – possibly for excessively willing to keep up the pace with Mario. I told Luigi many times that he has nothing to envy to Mister Mario).

But do not take all the moustache for Gospel truth. There are some who put their moustache to a bad use. Mister Maurizio Costanzo, for instance, has some terrible and trivial moustache. I wonder what went through these gentlemen’s minds to base their shirts’ commercial on such a cheap moustache.

I would like to mention two facts, about this Maurizio Costanzo, supporting a theory which I have been developing for some time, according to which behind a bad moustache might hide a bad person:

1.
In 1980 [..] he is involved in the scandal following the retrieval of a list of members of the Masonic lodge P2. His member card is number 1819 (his file number 626) with the Masonic title of ‘master’.

2.
In June 2007 the piece of news caused a sensation (reported by the newspaper Il Giornale) of the showman supposedly being paid by Telecom 7 millions Euros for his consultancy services. This discovery by the Guardia di Finanza corps, whitin the investigation about the communication company’s expenses, has been confirmed by Costanzo himself, who maintains the complete regularity of these operations. The Guardia di Finanza corps have nevertheless found no record of the professional services that would explain such expenses.

Going back to the moustache – moustache don’t lie, it is a unique feature.
The true moustache, that which arouses emotions and opens minds towards wider thinking - elates the individual, mirrors creativity, iconizes the person – Poirot, Mario Bros, Dalì, Chaplin are all exceptional testimonials.
Still the moustache is a mighty instrument and can create real monsters when misused.

We have seen how Maurizio Costanzo even used his little moustache for commercial purposes – the deceiving moustache – and became with time a wicked person plotting against the nation and involved in murky matters.

Having mentioned Mario, I cannot fail to mention his alter ego: Wario.

Wario, is intended, has a moustache which is, to say the least, out of place. It is not comparable to Costanzo, but still it  is a moustache of a very bad taste. It lacks tact and with such a nose it is a proper offence to Etiquette. Wario is in fact greedy, clumsily coloured, rough-edged and wicked. I am not surprised that is not really popular in the Mushroom Kingdom.

More Moustache. It was 1935 when Charles Darrow patented a game called Monopoly. This board game claims to be “the most played (commercial) board game in the world.” It is easy to guess why. The Monolpoly logo again exploits the moustache as a means of gathering attention.

The moustache has contributed to make this game the most played in the world. Still, this moustache has no tact, no style.

It is like an outdated cliché.

The colour is obviously fake, as you can see in this image. This imperfection is unavoidably mirrored in the game itself which, you may have noticed, is tediously boring after playing a while. I am sure that a better moustache would have made a better game.

I will end this reflection mentioning another terribly wrong moustache – the worst of those I mentioned before. The psychopath Adolf Hitler had some very tipical moustache, which are still very typical nowadays.

It suffices to have a look at tha moustache to realize how ridiculous he is.
I can barely look at that hairy thingy but I feel the urge to turn my eyes away. He looks like an air-inflated rabbit. I do not want to state that the responsibility for all his atrocious deeds must go to his moustache – of course not – but we all know history and that thingy cannot be a coincidence.

Some know-it-alls might raise their hands now and could suggest that my dear friend Charlie Chaplin’s are the same of Adolf the psychopath. I hope you are not among those – I would be extremely disappointed.

Of course, it is not simple to apprecieate the essence of the moustache and the people who put thier moustache to a bad use are an evidence of it. So for those who are a bit slow and cannot effectively use their gray matter, here is a small hint.

This is a very clever ad. “It’s the hat.”
Of course there is much more to it  than a hat, but it is well a witty simplification.
With just a little, that thingy becomes – to say it with Miss Henrietta Savernake – ‘an artistic triumph. It has no associations with anything but itself. It is, I am sure, unique’.

In Paris – la plus belle cite de la monde – there is a studio artigianal de films courts called MrHyde. Their  logo is a bright dimostraction that le choix des détails is simply exquisite. Who better then a French could carry ahead our secular  tradition of refined video production – when are just they tho ones who truly invented this fantastique medium?

A très intéressant initiative promoted by this studio is called The Hyde Tube where you can see many of theur works.

Clients will contact The Hyde Tube in order to pass on a project to a specific director, who is then free to decide whether or not to accept it. If accepted, the director will write a treatment or make an animated test within 3 to 5 days. For this work you will receive approximately 500€.

If the client is happy with the treatment and decides that the director will make the film, The Hyde Tube will connect the director with the client, and Mr Hyde or one of its affiliate studios will oversee the production until the film delivery.

The director’s fee will be 10 percent of the budget, the first half payable on the first day of production and the rest upon delivery of the finished film.

Oh dear, how many boring words, , budget, percentage, money.
What matters and I am interested in is to show you the videos you can find on thehydetube and the chance that you have to get in touch directly with their directors to create your own project.

The film courts are at the base of the cinema. Auguste e Louis Lumière please me each time that I have the chance to watch their projections.

This morning I have decided to let things flow with ease and let me go to the irony de L’arroseur arrosè, with which Auguste and Louis made laugh and excite many French. It was the 1896 at the Gran Café on the  Boulevard des Capucines in Paris.

During one of my explorations on the cyberspace I landed on a video which made me smile for its semplicity and the potency of the idea which is behind it.

I was listening to Giuseppe Verdi‘s masterpieces to mitigate my morning’s need of good music, when all of the sudden the Jewish under detention started to excagerate the sudden changes of tone and – in addition -  to move on the stage ruining the sophisticated equilibrium of the master-work. A trhill sensation got me, my hairs were standing on the end excepting. Myself, was going to call some friends of mine to press charges against those terrible people.

When at the end I realized that it was all an advertisment, a vortex of emotions fought inside my mind.
Hence I wanted to share this my opinion with you: Advertisment needs style.

The video was an adv from Loewe, and althought I wanted sue them at first, it is a small and bright example that man can be smart if really try.
In the same way our beloved  Carosello used to do – this video pays me back for the attention and time I spend on whatching it – I get payed being in front of a brilliant idea.

Advertisment world is too much often vuglar, gross. It lacks of style. Screams and screech to catch people attention, using strong and provocative images to compensate the lack of good ideas.  Mr Oliviero Toscani in the latest years seems to represent generally pretty well this concept throught his provocative images too often not much – let’s say – aristocratic.

There are some emotions which are easy to sollicit – such as disguss and compassion.
Those who keep on solliciting the mentioned emotions have no talent, has not much to say and I say no style.
Fear is a dressy feeling. There are many film de horreur that do not scare, instead they are simply disgusting.

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock is a master of emotions. Bruno Munari is a master of creativity creatività. Paul Arden is a visionary. Oliviero Toscani is a gentelment whome a long time ago was innovative and provoucator. Nowadays is bitterly pumped up and a short of brilliant ideas.

My hairs, which I conserve and cure jelously,  standed on end when a while ago a cher ami told me how Electonic Arts Gentilments were going to announce a new digijeux (in English a digigame, term that I consider much appropriete) based on  Dante Alighieri‘s life and his masterpiece, the Divina Commedia.
Pauvre poet, what would he be thinking today if he would see all his poetry spread, stained and tranferred in that digital machine. Each apostrophe studied to perfection, approximatly translated into a vaugly sqare pizel.
Each word, as far as evocotaiv, becomes a terrible binary combinatión  soaked of zeros and ones.

I believe that those Gentlements at Eletronic Arts have had a good idea to get good money presenting again someone’s else masterpiece. Of course, I am horrified just thinking that so much art is on the hands of  programmeurs ignorant – maybe even americans… Brhau!

Let’s try to better understand. O’er the risk, maybe a life danger one,  of letting The Master Piece on the hands of a group of chaps-eater Yankees, I must admint that I am vaugly happy to notice how – at least – someone realize of how the better sories ever have been written by the best writers ever.

Afterall, why would you bother to write terrific stories today, when we can always draw on and choose among many a number of masterpieces from the past?
Mytology, ahh, heroes whom story and glory goes are full of charm – could ispire the best digigame in the same way they already inspired many movies.

When my dear friend  Jacques-Louis David, on the 1799, gave light to the Intervention des Sabines, he endow us not only of a masterpiece but also  of an inspiration. This painting talls us, with passion and beauty, of a violent story, anchient and fashinating hand down to us by Tito Livio. Intervention des Sabines is one of the oldest stories of the Impero Romano. Who could tell if we will ever have a movie whorty to recount the “Roma di Romolo” and the violence of that time.

davidoreilly.com

A troubled relationship between a Cat and Mouse set in the distant Future. Winner of the Golden Bear for best short film at the 2009 Berlinale.

Written, Directed & Produced by David OReilly, Sound design & Voice synthesis by David Kamp, Sound design & Music by Bram Meindersma. Distributed by Future Shorts.

I started writing a column called “Au contraire” on Picame magazine.
On the issue number five I have mentioned the “Shouting Saints” by Dario Albini. The image above is one of the saints.
You can download the magazine and read what I wrote at www.picamemag.com

Hi. So we start without too many compliments.
Au Contraire is my blog where I’ll write about creativity, I will say my words and would be glad to open an open discussion with you all that will read me.

Au contraire with you soon on the Internèt!