Video Friday

Here are two ways to do scary science fiction (okay, the first one isn’t terribly scary). First is 88:88 by Sean Wilson and Joey Ciccoline, a well done film with minimal dialogue. Here’s the official description:

Val has lost control of her life. Those around her deny the reality of the extraordinary experiences she feels powerless against. Realizing she must stand alone, she has only one remaining option—to find a way to fight back.

You can visit the film’s website, too.

Vessel by Clark Baker (is it weird I keep reading his name as “Clive Barker”?) has a bit higher budget than 88:88 and is also well done. Part of the funding came from a Kickstarter campaign, which I wish I’d known about! The official description:

VESSEL is a very ambitious scifi / horror short in the vein of Alien, The Thing and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. VESSEL features a blend of old school, practical creature effects and slick, modern day VFX. The story focuses on Liberty Airlines’ Flight 298 and its passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the passengers encounter an otherworldly force and are thrown into a fight for their lives!

Please to enjoy!

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Magpie Monday

Here are some shiny things that caught my eye recently:

♦ The summer solstice (the longest day of the year) was last week, and in celebration Irene Gallo rounded up a collection of paintings her artist friends “thought best represented the season [of summer].” Picturing Summer is a fine collection, but here by far is my favorite, Summer by Gérard Dubois—so playful!

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Video Friday

Today’s videos are all delicious animated shorts. First up is Now You Know It Anyway from Polder Animation. The official synopsis:

At a sunny flea market, Robin tries to sell her own made-up stories. As she tells one of her stories with increasing confidence to a potential customer, all the main characters come alive and anxiously listen in.

You’ll be charmed:

Swelter is California Institute of the Arts student Jacob Streilein’s second-year film. Some very fine work here:

Last, but certainly not least, is one fun ride: Anikey Studios’ Little Quentin, an unusual little noir that, like many of its live-action counterparts, offers some inspired twists on the formula (NSFW in parts):

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Magpie Monday

Here are some shiny things that caught my eye recently:

♦ Michael Cunningham is one of my favorite authors (I have not read By Nightfall yet, so don’t tell me about it), and when I saw a link to a post titled “My Library: Michael Cunningham” on the Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux blog, Work in Progress, I was, of course, intrigued. Imagine my surprise to discover that his home library is in his bathroom! Granted, the space is gorgeous, but I can’t help but wonder about the humidity…. Below is one of eight images taken by photography Joshua Simpson—do check out the link for more images.

Roberto Ferri is an Italian artist who specializes in gorgeous mythic art in the tradition of Renaissance painters like Caravaggio (his blog is here). I found out about him via a post on Neil Gaiman’s tumblr (do click through; Gaiman quotes an insightful reading of Ferri’s work). I hope I can find a book of his work or even some prints soon! Some artistic nudity behind the cut:

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Video Friday

This animated short film is serious messed-up fun. Murder, by Yang Tzu Ting, is about twin Cooper brothers, scientists who are working on a machine that clones organisms in body and soul. After his brother is violently murdered, William tests the cloning device on himself. Of course, things don’t go as planned….

The animation here is pretty spectacular and super-stylish (check out the length of those sweet lab coats!).

While we’re on the subject of cloning, check out writers-directors Trent Hilborn and Mark Mazur‘s Cycle, a live-action short film about cloning, though a bit longer than Murder (I found Cycle via the comments on Murder). Here’s the official description:

A scientist trapped in perpetual grief and the sub-level of a science facility is forced to the edge by his eternal need for redemption. Abandoning moral uncertainty, he attempts to be the first to create life without reproduction.

Enjoy!

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