Making a BOC video

depechedaz · Post by **depechedaz** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:03 pm

Bonjour and all that,
I've been watching all these fan made BOC videos for some time now and would love to have ago but I'm pretty clueless on how to do one. I've got iMovie but I haven't a clue how to use it. Is there a simple, free video maker I can use that would give me the result similar to the videos that has been posted? And also where is there a good place to get old video footage from.
If there are any programs out there it would have to mac compatible.

Distant Nebulus · Post by **Distant Nebulus** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:45 pm

Archive.org , you can find quite a bit of old stock video and education/science films.

mc10101 · Post by **mc10101** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:44 pm

Also Stagevu.com has all sorts of downloadable bits and bobs including DIVX full movies you can edit up with a little imagination

breadmaker · Post by **breadmaker** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:26 pm

another thing to consider before you begin - does there really need to be yet another BoC fan video in the world? there seems to be plethora of them at the moment, with new ones appearing daily, and while a few are quite good (this one: https://vimeo.com/69572175 in particular, though even it has its problems) the majority of them seem to be just old film footage paired up seemingly at random with BoC tracks, often with some kaleidoscope effects thrown in for good measure. might i suggest that the "old super-8 film of children" approach is beyond cliche at this point? i doubt anyone is ever going to top neil krug's video here: https://vimeo.com/8023898 so it might not be worth trying unless you've got something amazing up your sleeve. and if you do insist on using appropriated vintage footage, perhaps pay some attention to the content of that footage, instead of just proceeding on the assumption that *anything* vintage will do. i saw a fan video the other day for "nothing is real" that was mostly old and kind of banal footage of cars at a gas station, and also some construction workers. and even though it was competently put together, i had to think "THAT is how you want to visually represent this amazing track? someone pumping gas and someone building a roof?"

then again if you've got something wonderful and original in mind, then by all means proceed.

Vostok · Post by **Vostok** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:38 pm

breadmaker wrote:another thing to consider before you begin - does there really need to be yet another BoC fan video in the world? there seems to be plethora of them at the moment, with new ones appearing daily, and while a few are quite good (this one: https://vimeo.com/69572175 in particular, though even it has its problems) the majority of them seem to be just old film footage paired up seemingly at random with BoC tracks, often with some kaleidoscope effects thrown in for good measure. might i suggest that the "old super-8 film of children" approach is beyond cliche at this point? i doubt anyone is ever going to top neil krug's video here: https://vimeo.com/8023898 so it might not be worth trying unless you've got something amazing up your sleeve. and if you do insist on using appropriated vintage footage, perhaps pay some attention to the content of that footage, instead of just proceeding on the assumption that *anything* vintage will do. i saw a fan video the other day for "nothing is real" that was mostly old and kind of banal footage of cars at a gas station, and also some construction workers. and even though it was competently put together, i had to think "THAT is how you want to visually represent this amazing track? someone pumping gas and someone building a roof?"

then again if you've got something wonderful and original in mind, then by all means proceed.

you prove a good point

a BoC video done right is

it isn't just grainy 35mm film of children playing or anything like that it actually has a connection with the title

ONTHE88 · Post by **ONTHE88** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:40 pm

We should compile the cream of the crop for a TH video playlist. The above Sick Times video looks great and seems to work perfectly with the track. The Gemini video with the movie like intro is another video that springs to mind....

breadmaker · Post by **breadmaker** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:53 pm

yeah that "sick times" video - to me it's a bit too much of a literal translation of the title. but i think this is my own personal bias - when i listen to BoC's music, mostly i visualize abstract things, and so when i see these videos that present very concrete things, it kind of grounds the music too much in reality and some of the mystery vanishes. though i realize that lots of people seem to be very affected by the "sick times" video so who am i to judge?

i think this is the one the above comment refers to: https://vimeo.com/68873460
it's quite effective i think.

thingsthingsthings · Post by **thingsthingsthings** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:15 pm

breadmaker wrote:yeah that "sick times" video - to me it's a bit too much of a literal translation of the title. but i think this is my own personal bias - when i listen to BoC's music, mostly i visualize abstract things, and so when i see these videos that present very concrete things, it kind of grounds the music too much in reality and some of the mystery vanishes. though i realize that lots of people seem to be very affected by the "sick times" video so who am i to judge?

i think this is the one the above comment refers to: https://vimeo.com/68873460
it's quite effective i think.

Reminds me of this Whitewater video:
While a truncated version of the song, the combination of collaged found footage with new animation really shows a higher level of production and thought. Still my favorite BOC video.

Alzado · Post by **Alzado** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:57 am

breadmaker wrote:i saw a fan video the other day for "nothing is real" that was mostly old and kind of banal footage of cars at a gas station, and also some construction workers. and even though it was competently put together, i had to think "THAT is how you want to visually represent this amazing track? someone pumping gas and someone building a roof?"

then again if you've got something wonderful and original in mind, then by all means proceed.

That one is mine. If you follow the video, you'll notice that the first half of it follows the construction of a gas station. The later half shows footage of an abandoned gas station (that i shot myself in rural Georgia) with gas pumps and other equipment completely overrun and reclaimed by nature. The brief middle portion shows nature interrupting attempted human order. Indeed, nothing that humans create is real because nature will eventually claim it back. We are merely guests here. Nothing is Real indeed.

Sorry if that seemed banal to you. I'll try and water it down next time for you.

breadmaker · Post by **breadmaker** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:08 am

thingsthingsthings wrote: Reminds me of this Whitewater video:
While a truncated version of the song, the combination of collaged found footage with new animation really shows a higher level of production and thought. Still my favorite BOC video.

yes i quite like this one too. i like how the images are boldly asserted and yet the "theme" is still quite ambiguous - it presents ideas about architecure, structure & animals without really spelling anything out. it's very open-ended: you can graft whatever subjective meaning you want onto it and there's no real right or wrong interpretation. ultimately i think this is a better approach than creating something that either literalizes the title, or has a single, definite narrative that the viewer either "gets" or doesn't.

Alzado · Post by **Alzado** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:02 am

How do you know that you just don't get it?

thepastinsidepressant · Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:38 am

havent watched all of Samsara yet but saw the other ones, Baraka, and the Qatsi trilogy, all great.
fitting concept for Sick Times that vimeo vid though perhaps not typical BOC visual.

the title and meaning of Circus Maximus in the Naqoyqatsi film:
Competition, winning, records, fame, “fair play” and the love of money are elevated to the prime values of life. Life becomes a game.

Circus Maximus, might be a typical BOC track title though

depechedaz · Post by **depechedaz** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:44 am

Thanks for advice, it wasn't just make a BOC video though.The fan made videos have just inspired me into having ago at making one myself but not necessarily a Boards of Canada one. I do have to agree with you Breadmaker that some of the videos that I've watched are pretty samey.

This one for Gemini is very good though and works so well.

depechedaz · Post by **depechedaz** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:46 am

But I still wouldn't mind finding a simple, free (mac friendly) video maker/editor, if anyone has any suggestions.

Alzado · Post by **Alzado** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:30 pm

If a simple and free solution is what you want, it doesn't get any more simple (or free) than iMovie. Like anything else though, you're going to have spend some time understanding how the software works. Nothing's going to make a video for you. Do a little research. Read some tutorials. iMovie is probably as good a start as any for someone with no experience editing video. Once you learn it, you'll find more feature rich pieces if software easier to wrap your head around. But your original post makes it seem like you want something that's free, easy, and able to produce a video like the ones that you like. I'm pretty sure that software doesn't exist. Your going to have to spend some time getting your hands dirty and figuring it out. Your first few videos will probably look pretty crude. But you can't run before learning to walk.

depechedaz · Post by **depechedaz** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:46 pm

Thanks Alzado, I've done exactly that and used what I already have, iMovie. Watched some tutorials on Youtube and had ago and I'm actually quite pleased with the end result to be honest; ok its a BOC tune with the familiar theme of the nuclear war and footage that others have used before but , to me, its really an exercise in getting to grips with the software.
I have posted it on Youtube but I don't think its being allow due to copyright so I've no idea how to get it seen.

mc10101 · Post by **mc10101** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:52 pm

Try Vimeo or Dropbox

Alzado · Post by **Alzado** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:11 pm

Vimeo! Be prepared for self appointed experts to criticize it extensively. It's just fun and learning so screw them.

depechedaz · Post by **depechedaz** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:41 pm

Cheers Alzado, I no I'll critised for doing what others have done but as you say, Screw them!
I'm presuming Vimeo will allow copyrighted stuff then?

Just uploading it now, lets see what happens and I'll post a link if and when its on there.

Here it is.......

Alzado · Post by **Alzado** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:07 pm

Hey nice job. I liked the imagery of the people witnessing the inferno. You'll find that once you feel comfortable with editing, you're going to want software with more features. That's how you know you're officially obsessed. Have fun!