Miabi Films

Scene 315

Greg — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:38:39 +0000

So a couple of months back I wrote about this really neat project created by developer Casey Pugh called Star Wars Uncut.

Here’s the basic gist: Star Wars: A New Hope has been split into 15 second segments and posted on the internet. Fans were to “claim” scenes and re-create them any way you like, as long as it was creative. Once all scenes had been re-done, the highest rated ones as voted on by fans would be put back together and walla! Star Wars.

I really liked the concept- make a collaborative fan film with hundreds of other people. The website was cleverly put together and intuitively organized. In the end, it was just about having fun.

My friend Bryan and I decided we wanted to take part, so we claimed scene 315. Luke, Han, and Chewie have just sprung Leia from her holding cell and they’ve jumped down the garbage shoot to escape. We got my other friend Khendra to play Leia and shot it in my bathtub. I thought rubber duckies would make a good visual so I bought a bunch of them to fill out the tub. (Wish I bought more.)

The project is now over and our scene was selected to be in the final cut of the film. Which is totally exciting. (You can watch the entire movie, clip by clip, here) I’m fully aware that it’s because Khendra looks great in a bikini and had nothing to do with the rubber duckies. I can’t wait to attend the NY screening. It should be quite ridiculous. Every 15 seconds a different group of people will be cheering for their scene. They’re working out a few legal loose ends, but I hear George digs the concept.

Here’s my favorite part though. Casey Pugh, the brains behind this whole operation, just won a Creative Arts Emmy for the entire concept! Kudos to him for a great idea and his tireless work and for allowing me to contribute to an Emmy winning project. Naturally, I’ve been going around claiming to be an Emmy winner myself. Why not? Good times.

Here’s scene 315. And if you’re compelled to, go the SW Uncut site and “like” our scene. Oh and here’s a NY Times article about it.

Small Portions

Greg — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:02:03 +0000

Welcome back. Though I posted once or twice in August, It’s been nice to have pretty much taken the month off from this site. Did a little traveling. Got caught up on some tv and movie watching. Took more beatings at work. Had a nice time. But I’m back for the Fall. And so happy for it. It may be taboo to say it but I generally don’t like the Summer. Especially Summer in the city. I can’t stand sweating profusely and constantly being uncomfortable. Bring on the cool breezes and pumpkin apple potpourri that awaits in the next few months. Definitely my favorites of the year.

So was the break from doing this site fruitful in any way? Why yes. Yes it was. Here’s what I discovered this summer… Small portions. Ben & Jerry’s has come up with a god damn brilliant little item. It’s a little mini bucket of goodness. Only 3.6 ounces of ice cream. I’ve gotten a few of them. You can easily try all of the flavors. There’s even a spoon… built into the lid. Bite sized, serving sized meals are on the brink of a revolution. Just look at the sliders craze. It seams like every bar and restaurant in town is serving little White Castles now.

Here’s what else they need. Little 1-2 hotdog-sized packets of sauerkraut. I hate having to make an entire can of sauerkraut when I’m only trying to outfit one dog. I don’t mind the extra work, I’m just really really against wasting fermented cabbage.

Can you guys think of any other food that needs to be given the small portion treatment?

Make little portions so fat asses can remain fat asses...

...with only a fraction of the guilt.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

Greg — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:57:17 +0000

OK, it’s a few days late, but I’m breaking from my August vacation to post this delightfully adorable video by Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate. Marcel was too cute to ignore.

Put A Ring On It

Greg — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:04:13 +0000

Emotional pornography I produced for WEtv.com. Stay for the money shot.

No related posts.

What’s for dinner?

Greg — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:42:03 +0000

No idea what to make for dinner? Check out this terrific single serving site that’ll help you decide.

http://www.whatthefuckshouldimakefordinner.com

Foolish Games

Greg — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:02:43 +0000

This was kewel of Jewel.

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel from Jewel

No related posts.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Greg — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:14:25 +0000

Dolphins never cease to amaze. Had it not been for a few evolutionary detours, these things would be ruling this planet. And probably doing a better job at it than we currently are.

Apparently some dolphins in a tank at Sea World started creating these incredible bubble rings from their blow holes. Not just a series of tiny bubbles that may resemble a ring, but a singular torus-like bubble that writhes in the water. Kind of like how a smoker creates a nifty smoke ring- only the dolphins can play with it, pass it along, and generally have a blast. What’s really interesting is that at first only a few of them knew how to do it, but those early trailblazers managed to teach the behavior to their dolphin brethren, and it appears as though most of them in that tank are now participating.

If only a few dolphins could figure out how to clean up oil and teach it to their pals, we might be saved.

Double Complete Rainbow

Greg — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:21:45 +0000

I’m not sharing this because I think it’s something you need to see. By now you’ve probably already seen or heard about this video. It’s been on internet news sites like Huffington Post and probably in your inbox. A guy named Bear captured a DOUBLE COMPLETE RAINBOW ALL ACROSS THE SKY at Yosemite National Park. I’m sharing this for two reasons. First, you’ve got to love this guy’s enthusiasm. There’s a certain genuineness to it. Even if Bear is on some kind of psychedelia (which is not confirmed), you can tell that we’re witness to a moment of sincere awe. And I suspect we’d get a similar reaction with or without any drugs. I just like Bear.

Secondly, I’m sharing this because I myself am still in awe of the culture we live in. We live in a world where a guy posts a home video to some website and it spreads like a virus to you and me. The concept of the viral video or internet meme still intrigues me and it’s been a part of our culture for almost a decade now. It’s especially exciting when it’s organic like this video. When there are no marketing dollars behind it. When people finesse the concept, remix it, and just have fun with a silly video.

The original

One remix, with autotune!

The Key Change

Greg — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:33:41 +0000

Yep, I love me a key change.

It’s impossible to nail down the greatest key change of all time. Not just because it’s completely a matter of opinion. It’s that they’re all equally powerful. Not one key change can be greater than the other. Sure I could say the key change in MJ’s “Man in The Mirror” is the best or Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”. But it doesn’t matter, because they both exude the same power. Because of the wonder of the key change.

The key change (Also called phrase modulation… Who knew?) get’s a bad rap from pretentious song writers who feel that it’s a cheap way to liven up a song. That’s bupkis. While I don’t think it should be over-used, as most song writing tools shouldn’t be, I do feel it’s a perfectly valid instrument for emotional evocation. Don’t be afraid of them boys and girls.

What are some of your favorite key changes?

Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror. Key Change at 2:17

Cheap Trick – Surrender. Key Change at 2:38

Bon Jovi

CPR

Greg — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:22:58 +0000

Why does someone always try to stop someone else from performing CPR? You’ve seen this scenario a hundred times at the movies or on a TV show. At some climactic point, a main character drowns or gets electrocuted and is rendered unconscious. Another main character, usually the love interest, is left trying to breathe life into the fallen star. Trying vigorously to rescue him or her from certain doom. At which point, a third character, usually part of some love triangle says, “Give up. He’s dead. He’s dead! It’s over! Give up! Stop!” There is usually a long dramatic pause as the two of them are left with the realization that this person might in fact be dead. But every time, the love interest or doctor or whomever refuses to accept this and feverishly goes back to work, against the urging of the other person. “Live! Live damn it! You’ve got to live!!” And every time, our fallen star coughs to life.

Why are we always trying to stop someone from performing CPR? Just let them perform the damn CPR. It’s gonna work!