niknak wrote:After watching it a couple more times i like it even more. It's very well edited. The choice of shots is good. Some of the underwater shots are stunning. I think it has a great feel of light and sun and colour. The transiton from the edge of space to the clouds to the sea to the waves is fantastic, and i think done really well for a four minute video.
I don't really understand why people are knocking it for using stock footage. For one thing we have no idea how much of it is actual stock footage. For all we know all the water based part of it was shot specially. We've all read in interviews how they age their recordings artificially, so there's no reason to think they wouldn't do the same thing with their videos. Anyway, the choice of footage and how it is put together is what is important, not where it came from. I think the use of grainy, aged stock footage is entirely in keeping with the whole BOC aesthetic anyway, especially now. Just look at the artwork for TCH. I'd really like to know what people were expecting. I think if some people are disappointed because they have surfers in it, it's due to associations with crap extreme sports videos. If that's the case I think it's a little narrow minded. I think the choice of surfing shots they used were really nice, showing it to be a graceful activity. And i think the main reason to use them at all was to provide some sense of scale with the waves. Pictures of crashing rolling
waves would be pretty dull with nothing there to give some perspective.
Niknak you and I are in agreement on these shared views
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject:
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I can see how people are having mixed feelings about the video. Not me though cause I think its great. Here are my reasons:
1. the theme of the great outdoors is central to the very spirt of BOC and the use of sky, sea and light is therefore conceptually spot on.
2. the integration of these elements is perfect with the texture of clouds uniting beautifully with those of water.
3. The very genesis of BOC comes from the inspiration of the visual world and how others have portrayed it - namely the national Film board of Canada. So it is entirely appropriate that they should use film stock as well. Pink floyd did it with Crystal Voyager and Eno did it with the moon landings in Apollo - atmospheres and soundtracks, so why noy BOC
4. In my mind BOC has attracted extreme sports types when they want to chill after snowboarding or surfing (correct me if this demographic is wide of the mark) so using the surfer stuff fits as well.
5. The images sync well with the music. A flawed beauty in both.
Anyway, there's my thoughts. I don't think it's a masterpiece or anything, but i do really like it. I'd be really interested to hear in more detail from those that don't. This is BOC's first ever video after all. Let's keep this discussion going!
