High School Short Film: Dumpy

My friend monitron has been busy digitizing and Youtubing various videos that were produced by my “TV Production” class in high school.  The first one was the first “digital” video that was edited on the computer, called Dumpy.  This video would have been made around 1996 or ’97, when I was a sophomore in high school at the Barrie School.

The computer we had at the time was not powerful enough to do both audio and video, so it was made in the mode of a silent film, though music and narration were added later using a normal Betacam tape editor.  The music came from an old Buster Keaton film, and matches up brilliantly with the story: there are “home sweet home” and “horror” themes that show up at exactly the right times.  We used Buster Keaton to go with the silent film theme and also because even back then we were concerned with licensing issues! (the film we borrowed from was in the public domain.)

The film stars Sebastian, and if, against my better judgment, I post more videos from these good ol’ days, you will see him grow as an actor, indeed.  Monitron directed, and I was cinematographer and narrator.  The film’s themes are really rather grim, though it is meant to be comic.

Enough talk; with special consideration to John Fuller, our teacher, I give you Dumpy:

You’ve Heard the Voices… Now See the Faces

Sadly, the most well-known voice (who you’ve probably never seen) in movies and TV died recently: Don LaFontaine.

He was not without a sense of humor, however.  One of the many tributes I saw to him online linked this video, called “5 Guys in a Limo” which is quite amusing:

Obligatory Fanboi Post

I’ll be the one thousandth person to suggest that you have to watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  Joss Whedon, the creator of Firefly, has done it again.  In 40 minutes.  On the intertubes.

While you’re at it, if you’re like me, you’ll want to start watching the Heroes and The Office webisodes as well.

How I spend my precious time

I just spent nearly an hour of my life watching Street Fighter: the Later Years.

So that I don’t feel so foolish, I invite you to do the same!

Vote for Tim Calhoun!

I’m a big fan of Saturday Night Live. When my friends from work are quoting Family Guy, I inevitably throw something from SNL out there that they don’t get. Anyway, one of the best recurring guests on Weekend Update in recent years has been Tim Calhoun. He’s constantly running for office, even though he may very well be the worst candidate ever.

Here’s his most recent appearance, last Saturday.

My favorite Calhoun line:

Jack Abramoff?

But I barely know Abram!

Internet Video Straight 2 U

I don’t laugh out loud at very many internet videos, but I very much enjoyed this review of Link’s Weapons from the Legend of Zelda by Lore Sjoberg of Alt Text.