thinglets: A Manufactured Landscape

From a pretty cool doc that came out of Canada a few years ago called Manufactured Landscapes, this long tracking shot served as the introduction to the film. As you watch the over 4:30 minute long video, while one Chinese uber-factory is traversed, you get a sense of scale that is rarely conceived.

Very thought-provoking in its persistence and simplicity.

thinglets: My Best 90 Second Video Find Ever!

via nfb.ca

The video embedded above is a very cool 27 minute film documenting the first ever game for the newly-baptized Quebec Nordiques in 1972. It is one of a 12 part series produced by the NFB called "Adieu Alouette" and the theme song at the beginning is priceless.

Even if you're not a hockey fan, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE watch the first 90 seconds for the cheesiest, grooviest, theme song about cultural identity I've ever seen - all in glorious period animation. You won't regret it.

Thank you once again nfb.ca!

thinglets: Ken Carter - The Mad Canadian

This short film from the National Film Board of Canada gives me such a 70's retro feel. Remember daredevils at the local fair or track. This 10 minute account of one man, one car, one jump is very nicely-paced. Shows the crazy life of someone trying to make a career from dangerous entertainment. Certainly not a feelgood film by any means. If you've got 10 minutes, and feel nostalgic for the Dukes of Hazzard, give it a watch.

thinglets: C-61: A Speculative Documentary

As with all dystopian stories, the video clip gives an alternate future of Canada if Bill C-61 had been passed by our previous Conservative government. Much like the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Bill C-61 threatened to send Canada down the path of lawsuits and lobbyist scare tactics. For those of you reading from the US, check out a cynical perspective on our version of DMCA. You know, us top-of-the-list international pirates.