The following excerpt is from an Inc. Magazine article about how to make your website more effective. I love this particular tip because it’s such a great example of what our little video business can offer your huge corporation – a personal touch.

“Transparency on the Web is the hottest and the biggest thing as far as getting people to purchase or relate to your services. Our portfolio page was always No. 1 for the seven years we’ve been in business. But then we created videos of each one of our employees talking about what they do and why they love it. That page is now No. 1. By far, the people behind the process, behind the product, are extremely important. We’ve had clients say ‘we went with you because we got to kind of meet everybody before we even walked in the door.’ The buying process starts with a relationship. That process can start with a video and tell you personally what I do rather than just a photo and a title. Really show them rather than tell them.”

- Marvin Russell, creative director of The Ocean Agency in Chicago

NOTE: To see the web page that Marvin mentioned, you can visit
http://www.ocean19.com/agency.html.

So in the interest of continuing our discussion on Banksy, I thought this morning’s blog should be about not one but TWO pieces of news that have originated within the last 24 hours.

Number One. According to BBC News, Banksy’s film “Exit Through the Gift Shop” has been nominated for a BAFTA award.  A quick visit to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts website shows that the nom is in the category, “Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer,” for both Director Banksy and Producer Jaimie D’Cruz. Though this isn’t the documentary’s first nomination for an award (Banksy’s own website shows a very long list of both noms and wins), this one is perhaps the most mainstream to date.

Number Two. As of this morning, Banksy’s identity was potentially going to be revealed by an eBay seller who claimed to have determined his full name by matching tax records to Banksy’s sold works. Only one problem with this: Banksy’s website clearly states that “”Banksy neither produces or profits from the sale of greeting cards, mugs or photo canvases of his work.” Further, “He is not represented by any of the commercial galleries that sell his paintings secondhand.” Whoops. An eBay search revealed no such auction, so I’m wondering if it’s been yanked.

On the subject of Number Two, an April 2010 article on CNN has a quote from an art consultant named Heidi Lee that I find interesting:

“He has built a superhero image for himself like Batman, going around the streets at night, anonymously doing good for society and never revealing his identity. It’s this heroism that attracts people more than anything.”

And perhaps I think that’s true. A revelation about Banksy’s true self might be entirely defeating, both for his image in the media, and for our image of the artist. As with most things in life, our fantasies about reality are far more engaging than reality itself.  Though I’d like to see him win the BAFTA award, I really don’t think I’d like to know anything further about him. I’d prefer to enjoy his art with a twist of mystery.

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Since Raymond Klecker’s “ART ATTACKS” blog about the Banksy film “Exit Through the Gift Shop” has been our most-viewed blog to date – today I’m offering a piece about graffiti artist Shepherd Fairey.

Fairey is now best-known for creating the Obama “Hope” design. But until today, he was in a legal battle with the Associated Press, whose photographer snapped the photo that Fairey altered.

Fairey and the AP settled today, though the financial terms of the settlement are of course confidential. According to a statement issued by the AP, “The A.P. and Mr. Fairey have agreed that neither side surrenders its view of the law.”

Further, “The two sides have also agreed to work together going forward with the ‘Hope’ image and … to collaborate on a series of images that Fairey will create based on A.P. photographs.”

Which leads me to wonder – what will we see next from Fairey? And will this graffiti artist’s “sanctioned” work ever be quite as cool as the “street” art? Only time will tell.

But here’s to hoping.

I referenced the following articles for this blog:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/arts/design/13fairey.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/01/hope-image-flap/

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Rolling Stone publisher Matt Mastrangelo was recently interviewed for a piece on Adweek.com, and he made a point of saying that he now has the power of web video to elicit sponsorships from companies like Starbucks.

“Video’s a big, big thing for sponsors,” Mastrangelo said.

And he’s right.

Here are some eye-popping statistics from comScore, an internationally trusted source for digital intelligence:

• More than 177 million U.S. Internet users watched video content in June 2010.

• Americans viewed more than 4.3 billion video ads in the same month.

• Video ads reached 45 percent of the total U.S. population an average of 31.5 times.

• 84.6 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video.

• Video ads accounted for 12.2 percent of all videos viewed.

According to the Adweek.com article, “Rolling Stone is making a big push to jazz up online, and videos… are a key part of that strategy.”

Maybe (just maybe!) video should be a key part of YOUR company’s strategy this year . . .

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Happy New Year everyone, I hope that 2011 has been good to everyone so far, and that it keeps on coming! However, with a new year comes new year resolutions, and i wanted to let you in on mine and hopefully i keep up with it the whole year and many more after that. I have three things i want to do this year 1. I’m going to do more social media post, so there will be more twitter posts, facebook posts and more blogs from me! 2. I need to get into better shape and you know thats one of the top ten new year resolutions among fat people like me LOL. 3. I want to be a better person, more positive and being around positive people! I know that I will do everything on my list and i will keep everyone posted either on my twitter, facebook or here on Eyesview Media’s blog!! Again I hope everyone has a great 2011!!!!

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After reading and notating the book, “John Titor: A Time Traveler’s Tale”, we look into a recent video and website released by the John Titor Foundation.

STREET ART INSPIRES MOTION CAPTURE

Conceived by creative dynamo and Graffiti Research Lab co-founder Evan Roth, Graffiti Analysis studies movement executed while scribing graffiti and then translates the motion into a three dimensional model. A camera records the artist at work and Graffiti Markup Language (.gml) analyzes the subtle gestures versus the time spent to create fluid and appealing 3D designs. These digital 3D renderings can then be projected anywhere; a night club’s wall space, a theater’s skrim, even a municipal or urban structure. For projector professionalism and “Oh, that’s cool” results, look no further than Laser Tag, another GRL collaboration. To accompany the software is 000000book, where the .gml files can “be archived in a free and open database…where writers can share 3-D animated representations of their hand styles”.¹

I would love to see video incorporate Graffiti Analysis by adding to how the story unfolds. Essentially, the program animates whatever is drawn, it is not limited to words or script. Visually, this program could alter the evolution of a chase scene, add elements to a fight’s choreography, or create characters themselves by utilizing how the engine represents motion. To see how this technology has been parlayed into another medium, check out these sculptures here.

Strapping a light to your writing instrument of choice (spray can, marker, fountain pen, even your finger) allows the GML to track your motion and turn your 2D image into a 3D interpretation that is unique to the execution of your penmanship. Not big on working with raw materials? Check out DustTag, it’s Graffiti Analysis for iphone. Utilizing only your fingertips and the touch screen of the iphone, the same custom results are achieved, minus all the supplies.

One small spray for street art, one giant mural for man kind.

Graffiti Analysis 3.0 from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

SOURCE¹

Eyesview helped out out good friend Nick Gargasz create a submission for this years Pepsi / Dorito’s CRASH THE SUPER BOWL contest. Shot on the Canon 7D we shot the spot in one day with a small crew. Take a look at the spot below and cast your vote on the website. Thanks to Nick for involving us and to everyone else involved. CLICK PIC BELOW TO WATCH!

Eyesview recently traveled to Atlanta Georgia to shoot a music video for hip hop artist J ARA. Shot completely on DSLR cameras – the shoot spanned over 2 days in various locations. The Canon DSLR technology allowed us to set up fast and move quickly through out our day – giving us the rich, cinematic look we wanted. Take a look at the video below and if your interested in shooting a music video contact Eyesview Media today!

J ARA – Rumors from Eyesview Media on Vimeo.