I quickly put together some footage from two different days of Olympic celebration. Some protests, some fireworks, some fun... what a way to kick off the event!
The opening ceremony itself at BC Place was pretty impressive. I expected something underwhelming, but the way BC Place was transformed into an icey cold, winter wonderland, with an uber animated light projection on the floor, I was impressed. Very very cool, and I'm very happy with the way things ended up, despite the hyrdolic issue at the very end.
My best memory from Friday, would have to be running from Robson Square all the way to Waterfront Vancouver Convention Center, along with the flash mob chasing Wayne Gretzky with the final torch. It was like a scene out of a Nike commercial (or a old school Mortal Kombat spot)... you know the one with crazy people running through the streets. That is something I will never forget, and I survived to tell my kids about it. What a fucking party. haha. And it's only the beginning!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
VANCOUVER IN 2010
Everyone seems to have something to say about the 2010 Winter Olympics in the host city of Vancouver, Canada. And whether those opinions are in favor of, or against the major sporting event, it is clear you just can't talk about Vancouver without mentioning the homeless issue in one way or another, despite the cities squeaky clean image depicted in numerous advertisements.
Vancouver isn't as saintly as some would think, and many tourists will realize this once they arrive in the city. All they have to do is take a walk through Chinatown/Gastown to see that despite all the efforts of the city to improve and revitalize the area, there are still many homeless. Building condos, and coffee shops to usher in hipsters an yuppies, doesn't really change jack.
Of course if I were designing an ad for tourism Canada, I wouldn't show the dark side of the city either, being counterproductive to the job of attracting tourism. Then again, you have to feel sorry for the tourists that will easily get lost in the seedy part of town, and not to mention being hassled by panhandlers all over Vancouver.
Truth be told Vancouver IS a fantastic place to live, work, and play. I love this town. There's lots to see and do, and the general vibe is that of a relaxed west coast feel, and the majority of things are pretty clean. But there is a clear contrast like any major city between those who prosper in times of change, and those who are left behind, in the mix of growth.
All the more relevant the last few years, since Vancouver was chosen as the 2010 home of the Winter Olympics, homelessness is a hot topic. Showing the world the types of issues Vancouver faces, could only be a benefit to the city in the long run.
Doing my part to share these issues with the world, I recently filmed a video in which I attempt to show Vancouver as it is currently, in 2010. Taking various shots from around the city, I cut it into a short piece that doesn't really force any issue, but rather leaves the viewer with something to think about.
Hopefully it is entertaining, and somewhat enlightening. Scored by an excellent composer from out of the Netherlands, Herman Witkam, the score is a combination of orchestral music, with clips of voice-over to create a unique sound you really have to hear.
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics short video experiment
New Project
So, I'm working on a new short film project, while Lazy Susan is out there trying for festivals, and while CREEP is getting it's post audio mix and music done, I wanted to try something a little more raw, and unscripted. The project -- which I like to title "Vancouver 2010" -- centers on Vancouver, as a cosmopolitan city, with a seedy underbelly. The great divide between the rich and the poor becomes a focus of the film, but I'm hoping it doesn't come off as an entirely bleak pov.
The video below, was shot as an accompanying piece to the actual film. This may or may not be included in the final cut, which will be less about testimonials, and more about the city, just speaking for itself. If that makes any sense.
The interview is with a local resident of the downtown eastside community. He basically speaks about his issues trying to find support for his condition, and difficult situation. For those in Vancouver, that actually know about the downtown eastside, and hang out in the very diverse area, this issue with the drug ridden, poverty stricken people, is a hot topic especially with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics just weeks away.
The downtown eastside, and the east Vancouver area in general is great. There is a neat art community, restaurants, and lots of Vancouver history in the eastside, that unfortunately has been overshadowed by the image of the less fortunate.
In any case, please watch this interview, and stay tuned for the actual full short coming next month.
HEY EVERYONE! I hope you all had a great holiday. I sure did. But now the vacation is over, and it's time to get cracking on some new stuff for the year.
I hope to be doing more custom toys, and more short films, so definitely stay tuned to this blog, or any of my facebook fanpages.
My short film Lazy Susan, should be in at least one festival this year, hopefully more! Be sure to spread the word about LazySusanFilm.com
I also shot a new short film, (this time strictly for the web), when I was in LA, called CREEP. The website for the short should be online soon, and the film itself should be done within the next few weeks. It was a one day shoot, on a zero budget, but we made it happen, and it turned out great!
2009 was a tough year, full of challenges, like the long production of Lazy Susan, which seemed like it would never end, or even see the light of day. But thankfully, it's done, and I feel like it was a BIG accomplishment. Now I feel like I can take on anything!
Lastly, here's some footage I took while in Vegas during the Holiday.
Vancouver's Winter Olympic Mascots, look like they just came out of the world of Hello Kitty
Today was the unveiling of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic mascots. Featured on just about every local newspaper in town, the simplistic and cartoony characters were no doubt a hot topic of discussion for those following the games. Is this what will be representing Vancouver?
After a call for artists to submit proposals -- in which 177 artists responded to the call -- Meomi Design was selected. Quatchi, Miga, and Sumi the Aboriginal-inspired characters designed by a local artist Vicky Wong of Meomi Design, look like they could be mistaken for something found at a toy store in Chinatown, or Asian stationary shop like Sanrio. They aren't exactly unique. In what is supposed to be characters based on First Nations' legends, these characters don't resemble anything aboriginal. The art style is distinctly Asian and looks as if it could be quickly done with a vector program like Adobe Illustrator or Flash.
The cute designs appeal to all children, and no doubt will make for great merchandise. But in terms of representing Vancouver, that is debatable. The artistic style commonly thought of as being uniquely Asian, reflects Vancouver's large Asian population, a demographic which continues to grow as we approach the Olympic games itself. These designs appeal to the Asian market. Yet they miss the boat in terms of conveying Aboriginal characters. The characters are neither memorable or unique, and could blend in with any cutesy design in stores. The style itself could have been pushed to take on some characteristics seen in aboriginal art. That would have been better artistically.
If it wasn't for the Olympic Logo slapped on the characters, would you be able to tell these creatures are from aboriginal legends? Probably not.
Vancouver's Winter Olympic Mascots, look like they just came out of the world of Hello Kitty