Strange Attractors

On the ABC web site is a little treasure waiting to be found: Strange Attractors, an animation showcase highlighting 12 Victorian animators. You've got a choice of browsing in Shockwave - ideal for broadband, or html - better for dial up. The 12 animations are designed to be watched on Real player.

Take a look at 'Fog Eyes' - animation by Hamish Koci. It features a little girl sent to a hospital to have her eyes treated. She's placed in her bed by Sister Enid, a Catholic nun, who's determined to teach her how to pray and keep the devil away. The girl gets the idea that the lamp beside her bed, and that the suicidal patient in the bed next door is the devil. What follows is both tragic and comical - as would be expected for a down under production.

Strange Attractors - An Animation Showcase

new hexstatic cd/dvd

hexstatic have a new album/dvd out. masterview is fantastic value - you get a CD and DVD and a set of 3D glasses all for the price of a normal CD! several of the videos are made in 3D. last night i was cooking and i put the laptop on the kitchen table with the DVD running. so i found myself stirring spaghetti bolognaise with 3D glasses on hoping no one would walk in and think i was completely weird!!!! the first CD rewind had some stunning videos that you could use in worship. this one doesn't really - but it is fantastic fun... the updated web site does have videos of the legendary deadly media, timber, natural rhythm, and frog jam as well as some from masterview....

God in the dj booth or on the club floor?

I'm reviewing Gordon Lynch's book, "After Religion: 'Generation X' andthe search for meaning, on the Postkiwi blog. Up to now, I've covered a book in a post. I'm moving to a chapter a post a day - more fun, more in depth critique, and also a chance to dialogue with the author. Gordon Lynch, the decent chap that he is, even responded to my invitation to provide comments - by email at this point. I'd be interested in dialoguing with anybody's comments on my reviews of the chapters, covering:

1. The decline of institutional religion
2. Critique of popular writing on generation X and spirituality
3. Post-Evangelicalism and Alternative worship
4. Tom Beaudoin, MTV and The Matrix
5. Clubbing Spirituality (published today)

Coming up:

6. Douglas Coupland and 'Generation X' spirituality
7. Does Generation X need God?

slow moment

in case you don't follow my blog (!?) this slow moment video (approx 26mb) is stunning. it works wonderfully well with the reading we used at a grace slow service whch is under worship trick 100

war animation

brilliant flash animation - war

visions free downloads

visions have added a download page for video loops. they are all in quicktime format.

stunning animation DVDs

Animation Trip distribute DVDs from a range of producers, mainly in the arena of 3D animation. Some of their titles showcase the short films of 3D animators around the world, such as the stunning Animusic where musical instruments play themselves - yes, it's a symphonic Sorcerer's Apprentice.

They also distribute some stunning videos made by Addictive TV in the UK. The Transambient and Mixmasters series consist of electorinc dance music with video accompaniment. There's great variety in the music and imagery, with many, many stunning visual sequences, both 'real life' and animated.

Their website says:

Our visuals label was set up in 1999 to produce DVDs of integrated electronic music & visual mixes by VJs, DJs, visual artists and music producers. Transambient was released in 2000 as the first audiovisual DVD album; ZDNet called it 'digital perfection' and The Big Issue called it "proper 21st century entertainment". The second release, Spaced Out, was described by DJ Magazine as '2001's best reason to buy a DVD player'. 2001 also saw Addictive TV sign with major US dance label Moonshine for American distribution. Projects feature original work from artists including Quantic, 808 State, Coldcut and EBN's Brian Kane and exclusive mixes from DJs including Baby Mammoth, Tim 'Love' Lee and Spacer. Visual styles range from trippy Super8 to full-on CGI. Music includes everything from chilled electronica to drum 'n' bass.

Animation Trip have downloadable examples, but you can also purchase the DVDs from Addictive TV themselves.

Free Online Videos

Thanks to list-member Rebecca for this link to the Open Video Project that has all kinds of historical footage and other weird and wonderful stuff that you can use. Over 200 clips at present. Formats vary.

Storytellers DVDs and More...

For sometime I have been playing around with ideas of how to create space for a wide variety of gifted people to share their inspiration, spirituality and perspective in a time where questions could be asked and faith explored.... then along comes Sarah McLachlan's new DVD 'Storytellers'. Its basically an intimate unplugged type performance where Sarah shares more than normal about the inspiration behind a limited number of her songs as she performs them.
Its part of a 'storytellers series of DVDs.
At different points the time opens up for questions from the small audience.
SNAP!!
Whether you choose a community venue like a cafe or transform a worship space into an informal setting... the idea is to invite individuals to prepare some input based around their INSPIRATION, SPIRITUALITY AND PERSPECTIVE... make space for Q&A as part of the presentation and ideally include hospitality as part of the event!!

For example:
1. Invite a musician to perform their own tunes and those of their influences, explain how the songs inspire, shape their faith or what perspective they have on the issues it raises.
2. Invite an artist to curate an exhibition of their own works or significant ones [display stills or video by big screen]
3. Invite someone who is into alt.worship high tech multi-media experiences to put together some 'best of' stuff an lead people through some experiences
4. Invite someone like myself to share stories, movie scenes and songs that inspire and shape faith and explain whyAND so on....This could be done as part of an existing alternative or contemporary worship program, four times per year focused on being 'out there' in the community, at significant times like Lent and Advent and/or as a way of connecting to schools or particular communities of people in your local setting...

I'll be on the lookout for places to trial these events in the next 12 months!!

Find this idea, youth ministry 'unreliable ideas', worship unplugged suggestions, music, movies and my own less than academic observations on the world and my interests in it!!
At www.pumphouse.blogspot.com comments welcomed...
I try not to steal too many of the ideas from members of the youthmulti-media egroup...

Princeton Youth Ministry CDs

The Princeton Insitute for Youth Ministry in the US gives away two excellent youth ministry resources.

Each year since 1996 they have hosted a lecture series on Youth, Church and Culture, with presenters such as Jurgen Moltmann, Kenda Creasy Dean, Dorothy Bass, Will Willimon, Mark Yaconelli, Michael Warren, Sharon Parks and others. A copy of the lectures is available free. You can download them here.

Information about the next lecture series in January and April on the theme "With Imagination and Love: Leadership in Youth Ministry" is here.

Cloud of Witnesses is the Princeton Audio Journal on Youth, Church and Culture. Now at Volume Seven, on the theme of Mission, the free CDs feature talks, interviews, music, Bible studies, sermons, stories and more. The presenters consist of youth pastors, young people, clergy, theologians and others. And its free.

Previous volume themes include Play, Story, Vocation, Suffering & Hope, Spirituality, and Ministry.

To find out more click here.

the cyber schoolbus

The United Nations have a sensational web portal for students called the cyberschoolbus. I know, "cyber" and "schoolbus" don't seem to add up, but hey.

All kinds of great informational on global issues
- comparative statistics on countries around the world (as distinct from other countries....?)
- quizzes about global stuff (currently flags and water - that's two quizzes, not one!)
- curriculum resources of peace, poverty, human rights and more
- info about special days such as World Environment Day
- a link to the previously posted Aftershocks art exhibition

Currently an interactive Flash cartoon exploring work for children in terms of human rights called 3PLUS-U

Lots of great resources for educational use.

Growing up with War and Terrorism

Aftershocks in an online display of art and memoirs by young people growing up with war and terrorism. (don't call it 'terror'. Grrr)

The artwork and journals in this online exhibit were created by teenagers who lived through the war in Bosnia and children in New York City who witnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center.

As well as art and journals, the site contains a video documentary of some of the artists.

Well worth a visit.

the art of speed

the art of speed is a project commissioned by nike with 15 talented young filmmakers interpreting the idea of speed. all 15 films are on the latest dvd that came with creative review magazine (you have to subscribe to get the dvd which comes out twice a year). but all 15 films are available to download from the web site. the large size ones are pretty big so you'll need broadband connection. my favourite is the associates in science one which has the most useable sequences for worship. grace are doing a service at greenbelt called 'slow' looking at speed and slow - handy eh?!...

the web site also contains links to several other interesting things. i particularly like this hand clock

Global Images of Christ

Like many of us I gather pictures of Jesus from various places and
use them in various ways, often rather neglectful of the copyright
issues involved.

So I've been ecstatic to come across an excellent resource called "The
Christ We Share" which has given me a legal way to do this.

Produced by the Church Missionary Society in the UK, it contains 35
full colour images of Christ from various cultures around the world.

The images come as A5 mini posters, AND on CDROM as high and low
resolution images and two Powerpoint presentations - one with music by Proost.

But wait there's more... The pack also contains an excellent range of
activity sheets and worship ideas enabling people to explore how and
why various people and cultures see Christ through different eyes.

some of the images you will have seen before, particularly in WCC
publications - some will no doubt shock and disturb some.

It costs only 15 pounds sterling (where is that pound symbol when you
need it...!) and for me an extra 6 pounds for air freight to Oz.

Highly recommended - its stunning.

They don't have online ordering so you have to fax the details.

CMS Partnership House, 157 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UU
Switchboard (020) 7928 8681 Fax (020) 7401 3215
Direct Line (020) 7803 3376
E-mail: anne.key@cms-uk.org
URL: www.cms-uk.org

in motion - new DVD

Im Motion is a new DVD produced by OSBD for RUN (reaching the unchurched network). it has clearly been a huge project in the making with 4 sections -

5 stories of faith (it was surprise and fun to see barry taylor on there!)
3 dramas
5 excerpts from 'the street bible' performed by rob lacey on location (street bible is being published in the USA as 'the word on the street' i think)
4 reflective visual pieces designed for meditation or worship

it's all new material - over 80 minutes worth, useable in lots of contexts. i think it is well suited to churches looking for creative material or small groups wanting a discussion starter. i can imagine the street bible being played for the bible reading in a service - would be great... the most useable bits for alt worship are the reflective visual pieces. my favourite is one that has shots of eyes overlaying each other with things going on in the reflection of the pupil of the eye - very nicely done! it actually reminds me of an eye we filmed close up as part of grace ten. our concept there was that grace comes to us through sight if we have eyes to see.... the loop on the dvd is rather more sophisticated...

there are some samples of the video on the osbd page......

free image archive

pixelperfectdigital is a source of free high resolution images - thanks to the ooze blog.

may the font be with you

I'm a font junkie. I admit it. I have way too many.

I have some favourite font designers. Here are some...

The Type Quarry - home of "Marydale" and some great old style handwriting, not to mention "Speed Bump" with its sensational dingbats that I've used on many occasions
Robot Johnny - home of "Girls are Weird"
Font Diner - great retro stuff
Kiwi Media - the amazing 'violation'

A few freebies on these sites.

Some of these may be Mac only....

Craig

free images from osbd

free images from osbd

Best Kept Secrets

No doubt some of you know Lamb very well and some have never heard of them. Well I've heard of them for a while and just got their "Best of" album - "Best Kept Secrets".

I know nothing about the duo except that people keep mentioning them... Much of the album is stunning and makes me want to check out the rest of their stuff.

Andy Barlow does the instrumentation - an astonishing mix of lush, fat, backward, odd-tempo and weird beats and sweeps. From sublime to strange, from chill to choke, from dream to dance, from sigh to spew (yeah, some it doesn’t work for me).

Lou Rhodes does the vocals. On many tracks she has gorgeous phrasing but you feel you want her to come back and sing it in 10 years time, just because her tone is still getting there. But that is to understate her ability and interpretation. On many of the tracks she is fabulous. I don't know who writes the lyrics but the overall interpretation is moving. Here is the sense of a band pushing towards something, and in doing so they stretch us towards something as well.

One of Lamb's gifts is that they keep surprising you in every song. The beats and sounds change, the songs have several 'movements'. The mood goes places that songs rarely go. Not up or down but other places.

The lyrics of the songs that hit me are a mix of spiritual and sensual. "God Bless", "Gorecki", "Heaven", "Gabriel", "Wonder" and "Stronger".

Love songs? Questions? Dreams? Yes.

I hope some others might tell more of their music and background.

Here's the official website

http://www.lambstar.net/

Some live video stuff there too

"God Bless" - Lamb

You're gonna feel the wind at your heels you know
You're gonna feel a sparkle in your step
Everything will touch you in a different way
Let it come, soon come, let it come
'Cause I'm gonna make you feel lighter than the air above
Let me breath it into you
Let me breath it into you
Let me breath it into you

Here's to happiness
God bless the day
That made my feel this way

An angel's smiling on everything we do
Let them try to stop this good thing growing
'Cause there's no dark cloud
Gonna leave a shadow on there
Gotta keep it strong
Keep it true
Keep it strong
I'm gonna build you up
And build you up
Keep this natural thing
Keep this precious thing
Gotta keep it going on and growing strong

Here's to happiness
God bless the day that made me feel this way
Here's to happiness
God bless the day that made me feel this way, feel this way
Here's to happiness
God bless the day
That made me feel this way
Feel this way
Here's to happiness
God bless the day that made me
Feel this way
Feel this way
Gotta keep this naturel thing
Gotta keep this precious thing
Gotta keep this naturel thing
Gotta keep this precious thing
And I'm gonna keep it going on
And growing strong
Here's to happiness
God bless the day that made me feel this way, feel this way

Here's to happiness
God bless the day that made me feel this way
Feel this way
Feel..this..way
Here here here heres to happiness
Here here heres to happiness
Here here here here to happiness
To happiness
To happiness

Plug-Ins for iMovie

If you're an Apple iMovie person (and which newbie film-maker isnt?) then you might like to know about the plugins you can get to allow you to do VFT (very funky things)

Some of these plugins are OK and some are pretty cheesy. Some have free samples, most have free demos.

http://www.geethree.com/
http://www.stupendous-software.com/
http://www.ezedia.com/products/eZedia_plug-ins/
http://www.virtix.com/imovie/index.asp
http://film.arts.geckotribe.com/iMovie/
http://plugins.bkms.com/
http://www.imageip.com/

As someone who uses Final cut for serious stuff, I can't say i've tried them. The eZedia stuff look pretty good though.

BTW these were all listed on the Apple website.