Aquadettes by California is a Place 

A film on  Life, Death, and Synchronized Swimming

I know what you’re thinking. an inspirational story about senior citizens who make it to the olympics of synchronized swimming. Or at least that’s what i thought. 

Little did I know that this video would be about so much more and go in directions I never conceived of, putting a face not only to the world of senior citizen synchronized swimming but also to the ‘legalize marijuana’ support faction. 

But that’s the thing I love most about great journalism. It flips stereotypes on their heads, exposes the world to a multitude of perspectives, and if you’re lucky… hits right into the emotional core of what makes life worth living. 

Another piece of brilliant storytelling from the California is a Place crew! 

“Big Vinny” from the California is a Place series. 

Once upon a time, he was a local celebrity. He earned his nickname after doing a tv commercial for a Round Table pizza named The Big Vinny. For over twenty years, he was the face and voice of a successful used car business in small town Alameda. He sold and he sold and he sold and Californians drove away happy. Today, everything has changed. The business is dead. The lots sit empty. Big Vinny is out of work. But he still remembers the good times.

The opening of this video is a great example of the power of contradictions. From the beginning, the booming voice of “Big Vinny” giving us his famous car pitch is juxtaposed amidst the imagery of a deserted and broken-down car lot. In just 10 seconds, the audience is already in a mood of melancholy.

This sentiment only builds further as the cinematographer employs shifting focus shots, directing the audience’s eye towards the lock on the fence or a dilapidated banner still floating in the wind from a previous sale. Natural shadows obscure parts of the frame to convey the fall of the business. 

Additionally, candid soundbites and slightly overhead angles on Big Vinny keep the piece fresh and help convey the story of a man who’s still just as passionate about his work despite it being long-over.

Living off the grid in Slab City

People tend to think that The New York Times produces the best multimedia journalism of a major news org, but I would argue that The Los Angeles Times is one to watch as well. (Plus, it doesn’t hurt that The Los Angeles Times has 100% free content while on The New York Times, one is constantly worrying about the subscription pop-up box of death.) This piece is all about life in Slab City, a desert community about an hour outside of San Diego where rent is free and nature is abundant. I love the piece’s combo of still photography and video.  Click here to view the short. 

fabthings:

Intel Visual Life: Michael Wolff

This video is a testament to the power of effective b-roll. Throughout the short, b-roll is used to capture the world through Wolff’s eyes and tap into his obsessive curiosity for life. I love how the video portrayed normal things in beautiful ways. Overall, a very inspiring video.

Intel Visual Life: The Sartorialist

A great short about the man behind one of my must-visit sites on my daily internet perusals. The cinematography is beautiful and the story is really well put together. 

Caine’s Arcade by Nirvan Mullick

This short about a boy creating his own arcade out of cardboard boxes never fails to make me smile. The short’s message about ingenuity, perseverance, and the power of imagination, make it the perfect video to kick off The Documentarium