2009
So, my cousin Michael has been staying with us all week for his spring break. While he was here, he decided to do a video for one of my micronaut tracks, and here is the result. I should mention that he's on spring break from high school, not film school. He's 16, and he shot and edited this entirely on his own.
I think it brings up an interesting point of order, though. I was pondering the fact that when I was 16, I had to sell a cow (long story; short version is that I was raised on a cattle ranch) in order to get an Atari 800 so I could play side-scrolling shooters coded in BASIC. My young cousin, on the other hand, at the same age, is competent enough with an NLE that he can edit an abstract video to an IDM song that, I feel, compares favorably with a lot of adult shit I've come across.
It's a strange and wonderful world we're living in, my friends.
posted March 26, 2009 by subbasshead
I was about to crosslink a video by a very well known & influencial electronic composer who had the same budget (none), however, whose video is made of 100% pure hydro-grade Fail...
..but these days I am trying to be, um, more about the positive, and less about taking bloated mofo's down a peg.
So instead, I just will say- Well done, Michael. Keep at it. It was subtle, crisp and mature. (and see if you can get credit for it for one of your classes)
posted March 26, 2009 by mad ep
I'm jealous, at 16 I was editing MIDI tracks on an Atari ST with a hex editor because my sequencer didn't support control changes. At least I didn't have to sell livestock, though.
posted March 26, 2009 by Michael Moncur
posted March 26, 2009 by mutilatedlip
He did a damn good job, but I don't think it would really be fair use him as a measuring stick for what today's youth are capable of. Either this kid has quite a bit more talent and smarts than his peers, or I am just really out of touch. I'm thinking he's just an anomaly. You must have some good genes running in your family.
posted March 26, 2009 by afreshcupofjoe
I have a good friend who works for MTV over here in Europe and he routinely farms out various creative jobs to various kids (well.. between 19 and 24) who always amaze me with both their dexterity with a variety of media/skills/software and the quality and creativity of the stuff they come up with. One guy who does computer animation for some interstitials also did graphics for the brand and happens to be putting together really hi-quality t-shirts using a silk screen setup in his basement which he sells thru various stores. And he does 2 or 3 other different things on top of that. And I know many young people like this. Filmmakers making their own soundtracks, musicians making their own videos, etc etc... Multi-skilled and self motivated, and lucky for them because these days it seems more necessary than ever.
Forget about the Chinese, get ready to meet your new overlords people.. The young.
posted March 26, 2009 by gregoreck
The crazy thing is that he did the whole thing while texting his friends and updating his facebook page more or less constantly. Multi-tasking comes so easy to that generation, it's fucking unbelievable. (Although, to be honest, I find the whole texting thing to be somewhat tedious. It's hard to have a conversation with someone who is staring at their cell phone.) I can have a running conversation with both Adam and my wife, surf the web, and check my e-mail at the same time, but don't expect me to remember _anything_ I did. And if I actually have to work, I can't be interrupted at all.
-CR
posted March 26, 2009 by Chris Randall
When I was 16 I was busy playing Sega and hanging out at the mall.
posted March 26, 2009 by D' MacKinnon
I really enjoyed that...great job Michael..particularly the glitchy bit, the sense of rhythm and composition was very cool.
posted March 26, 2009 by quantize