Web Design [Hi-Res]

Hi-Res is a British web design and media production company. www.hi-res.net. All the work I have seen from these people has really amazed me and inspired me . They have been preffered by the film industry to create film web sites like Requiem for a Dream, Bertoluci's Dreamers, Punisher, Saw and others. They always find a way to create a web art piece even out of the most commercial job like Grey Goose Vodka or Lexus or massive attack's web page. Extremely well programmed and streaming friendly and with a very interesting aesthetic approach mixing moving image and narrative soundtrack, I have found very little competition for Hi-Res so far. And to be honest If anyone has a web design company or individual artist that they have to propose please do...

Dance Teams [Ultima Vez]

For those interested in dance, dancetheatre and videodance I would like to point out two artists that have attracted our outmost attention. One is a director that turned to choreographer and now runs one of the most famous dancethetre groups in the world called Ultima Vez. Hi name is Wim Vanderkeybus and is currently based in Brussels. One of Ultima Vez's most intriguing works is BLUSH which we strongly reccomend as it mixes dance, theatre, poetry and filmmaking into a seamless entity. Blush has also turned into a film recently that tours around the world in videodance festivals. Visit www.ultimavez.com for tour dates, bios and information on workshops run by the team

Arts and Media Centers [ZKM | V2]

ZKM in Karsluhe, Germany www.zkm.de and V2_ in Rotterdam, Holland www.v2.nl are two of the leading institutions in New Media Arts. There is no point to write a longer review as you are bound to read one of their publications or listen about their projects and exhibitions if you are researching into New Media. However I will point out the Book "Future Cinema" from ZKM and MIT Press 2003 which is a key reading for issues regarding the future developments of cinematic forms. A much shorter book by V2_ entitled "Making Art of Databases" is a crucial look into Databases and information theory. Both books are based on corresponding exhibitions in the two institutions.

Net Distribution [Underground Film]

Underground Film is another venew for on line film distribution. It has its own forum and blog space, discussing film festivals and short films and it is open to submissions of films, screenplays and music. www.undergroundfilm.org

Net Distribution [Urban Desires]

The web site Urban Desires uses an interesting alternative for searching their database of films. It offers two sliders with keywords which the user can combine into small phrases. The combinations of words lead to different lists of films, whose contents and subject matter fit the selected phrase. It works in an interesting way as it adds an emotional factor to the selection of a film to watch rather than simply using a genre categorization. They call it the "Slide Rule" and it can be seen in the following URL http://www.desires.com/topicframe.html

Net Distribution [Links]

Wired magazine had published a list of websites related to Web film distribution. The list is quite old, yet it is still valid. We will be posting updates for relevant sites and venues.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.10/multiplex.html

Manovich Link

Lev Manovich is one of the most important figures in new media theory and practice. His website covers a wide range of projects and books on new media and is a must see for digital filmmakers and new digital theorists and artists. www.manovich.net

Computer Games [History]

Digital Filmmaking is immediately connected to New Media including the most influential of them, the computer games. As computer games are a huge economic force but also one of the most important cultural influences of modern society I think their history is of key interest to all new media artists. Web site www.gamespot.com offers a comprehensive and detailed history of computer games in the following address: http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/index.html

Blog Theory

The following link has an interesting theoretical text for Blogs and Video Blogs written by Adrian Miles entitled "Media Rich Versus Rich Media"
Lecturer in Cinema and New Media,
School of Applied Communication, RMIT University
http://incsub.org/blogtalk/?page_id=76

Net Distribution [Atom films]

Atomfilms.com worth checking out in terms of internet distribution of short films.
They use streaming video.
www.atomfilms.com

Videodance and Anima Band

Late night, came back from Anima's concert www.animaband.com . We are planning to make their first music video. Tomorrow we are leaving for Thessaloniki for the 5th Greek Videodance festival www.filmfestival.gr/videodance. Videodance has attracted our attention as an interesting medium for cinematic experimentation. A part of emptyfilm will be focusing on th history, theory and production of videodance works. The Anima band has also expressed its interest in creating music for videodance production but also using videodance visuals in their promo videos.

Enjoy! [Introduction to this Blog]

Emptyfilm.com

is on its way to a beta version in the next two months.
This blog was created as an introduction to the upcoming website.
This first post is also to say hi to Eleni, Alberto, Carina, Manthos, Antonis, Claire, Ramon and Hardeep.
I suggest this blog as a beginning for the web projects we have discussed about from time to time.
You can download a plug-in for microsoft word that will allow you to prepare and post comments on this blog. You can download it from www.blogger.com.

Enjoy...!