SOLANGE DOES SELENA - "I Could Fall In Love"

Live at Webster Hall, New York City - February 25, 2013

AMERICAN ON VINE

After the initial buzz surrounding the launch peaked a few weeks back, I recently downloaded the Vine app for my iPhone 4GS, and quickly became obsessed with the new realm of creating / sharing six second clips in the same manner that I fell in love with Instagram (and twitter... and facebook... and blogging for that matter).

In a world where it seems like there is a new social media app-of-the-moment every few months, most people are resistant to adopting yet another platform into their already robust portfolios. So it begs the question, why bother with one more icon on your already cluttered home screen? For me, whether I'm acting as a photographer, copy writer, video director or editor-- or when I'm concepting marketing campaigns, the answer is simple:

I like telling stories.

Each channel lets me tell different kinds of stories. I love Vine because it's inspired me to look at things from a fresh perspective, and has unlocked a deeper form of narrative storytelling unseen in other social media sharing apps. A find myself searching for a completely different type of subject: telegenic opposed to photogenic, unexpected tableaux of motion.

The user interface and flow is also really nice. I like being able to control the "takes" and "shots" within each six second clip. It's already impressive to see the wide diversity of styles and results generated by the relatively small group of initial users. Hopefully, we'll continue see the community and stream of awesome content grow as more and more users join the network (which technically is run by and a part of twitter).

GET ON VINE. 

Follow me on Vine @ Jeff Cleveland
Download Vine here: https://vine.co/

STICKS & STONES

Loving this new video from British import Arlissa.

Swamps, check.
Waistline, check.
Motocross Gang, check. 

Minnie, the Fashionista

Disney and Barney's are plugging in for "Electric Holiday" a short film highlighting the season's biggest fashion trends and celebrating some very notable figures (Linda Evangelista, Daphne Guinness, Naomi Campbell, and Lady Gaga... just to name a few).

The stylish video gives us a glimpse into Minnie Mouse's ultimate fashion fantasy as she strolls the streets of Paris, walks the Lanvin Runway, and hob-knobs with all the beautiful people. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

Shutter Bug

This really hits the nail on the head.



Thanks gothamist!

Happy Hitchcock

Yesterday, my boo and I went to see "Dial M for Murder" (1954) in 3D (!!) at the TIFF - Bell Lightbox here in downtown Toronto. Neither of us had actually seen the whole film before, so it was really interesting to watch on the big screen. Grace Kelly's red dress in act one was probably my most-favorite part of the design:

Keeping with the running Hitchcock theme, here's an awesome video project from earlier this year where jdesom painstakingly stitched together a stunning panoramic timelapse of "Rear Window"  footage.

What a Wreck!

Here is your morning moment of zen-- an endless parade of trucks getting their lunch served via a low clearance bridge.



You're welcome.

via gothamist

BILLY MEETS MADGE

I absolutely LOVE this clip from The Conan O'Brien Show featuring everyone's favorite pedestrian lunatic Billy Eichner for a few reasons:

- He quiz's everyday New Yorkers about the upcoming election.... and the upcoming fall tv line up.
- When the crazy lady makes the inadvertent Jon Benet Ramsay reference at 3:05
- I agree with Billy that Honey Boo Boo is a TOTAL escape.
- The fierce New York City attitute at 3:54
- Yankee Stadium is like a stone's throw from my apt in Harlem.
- Billy gets on-stage during rehearsal to MEET MADONNA during sound-check. 
- "Vogue, Mother Fuckers!"
- All the awesome, behind-the-scenes shots of the totally awesome staging by Tait
- Rocco's cameo
- "Love you in Dick Tracy!"
- How generally excited he is to meet Madonna.

GIRLS ALOUD - Something NEW

This is everything.



More details about their reunion here.

TOGETHER AGAIN

Two of my favorite lil' celebrity 'mos Jeffery & Cole are back together in this great video supporting MARRIAGE EQUALITY currently on the ballot in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.
 


Visit thefour2012.com for more info.

ABOUT 'LAST NIGHT'

The boys from KAZAKY are at it again, writhing around nearly naked in the video for their latest single "Last Night".

Which, as usual, is fine by me.

Love the simple, yet effective mirror image/kaleidoscope effect. And the abs.

ALL OF THE LIGHTS --- "Luminous" by Jeward

Twinsy pop duo Jeward's video for "Luminous" totally surprised me.

Never would have expected it, but I'm actually really into what they are up to here.... 

SUPERHUMAN

Latissimus65 got the title of this youtube video all wrong-- it should read:

RIDICULOUSLY GOOD-LOOKING, GENIUS-STUD WITH A KILLER BODY DOES ONE-HANDED PUSH UPS WHILE SOLVING RUBIK'S CUBE IN 25 SECONDS



I'm mean, seriously. And I totally love how he enters the frame, hits his mark.... then returns to point the camera DIRECTLY at his crotch before he drops on all fours. Really.

Thanks to buzzfeed.com for the eye-candy. Click here for the gifs.

How You Gonna Fix It?

New Music Crush: BONFIRE by Donold Glover Childish Bambino

I was sold after seeing his first live tv appearance on Jimmy Fallon a couple of weeks ago, but now I'm going gaga for DONALD CLOVER aka Childish Bambino:


Bonfire from Donald  Glover on Vimeo.

Dior GAMES

Totally obsessed with this progressive, albeit unexpected approach Dior is taking with their new visual identity.

Lost & Found

Rihanna lets us have it (yet again) with her new video for "We Found Love". It's dark and dangerous, and dares to be everything Britney's "Criminal" is not.

It's shaky, hand-held vibe and fast cuts are jarring, and the art direction makes me go-- wait, is this a Levi's commercial? And then I'm all like, no way... RiRi is a ho for Armani Jeans, right?

Right now somewhere in the world Ryan Mcginley is going "huh?".

But I dig it.

Let's break it down:

Okay, so RiRi lives in the big city, but it's kinda gloomy out-- so she's not that into it.

  

But she's got a fine man in her life... and  he's totally artsy.

 

 And he doesn't like that it's so bleak either.

 So, they take a bath.

Together. (Love the product placement, btw)

 And smoke.

 Together.

Go forth. 

"Levi's... getch your Leviiiii's...."

 

I'm not even going to dignify this with a remark. 

 Look familiar? See the Too Cool For Pool invite for yourself. We were way-way ahead of this one.

 

They eat dingy fast food.....

 

Things are gettin' stormy....

 The try to let off some steam at an underground local skate park.

 But that's not enough, so they take some pills. A lot of pills. 

Their eyes go all Requiem-for-a-Dream. 

 The room goes crazy. 

 They go freak-nasty...

  Great, now there's a mosh pit.

Oh, gawd-- it's just too much to try explaining. Just go watch the hot mess for your self. 

PS - when do I get to make a full-time job of analyzing pop music videos.

PPS - who said the music video was a dead medium. 

Cover Up

I am officially obsessed with Rick Genest aka Zombie Boy, and I know how important Dermablend is to some pretty important people in my life aka the cast of La Cage aux Folles.

Pete Cashmore Talks Connectivity & Technology For Good

"There's so much you can do when you're just MORE connected."

I just walked in the door from "another day at the office" and turned on NY1 to see semi-dreamy (?) techno-digi-social wonder boy Pete Cashmore, CEO and founder of mashable.com.

Having worked in the Experiential Marketing / Brand Consulting realm for a minute, I was truly struck by the closing line of the interview.

"If we can just get the tools of connectivity into people's hands there's amazing, magical things they can do with it, far more than figuring out how to launch a media site from rural Scotland. You know? They can change the world, build trade in their countries, they can create livings for themselves they can become self-sustaining. There's so much you can do when you're just MORE connected."

Gordon Voidwell

I officially have a big crush on you, dude.

click here to read the story on KEEP COMPANY