I know it's subtle, and of course it's easy to giggle at the woman who is having way more fun those indifferent babies, but just look at those downer dads!
And since this was the last vid I posted before we got shut down, I am asking you to take another look...
Wow, the difference between these two videos is astounding. The newer one, while funny enough, is mostly the kind of thing you could find anywhere on the internet to amuse yourself with for 5 minutes then forget. The earlier video, in contrast to the mundane nature of the first, is an unforgettable work of intriguing, hilarious art.
ReplyDeleteEither you are moving away from this unique style of videomaking, or laziness is eroding the edge you had in the past. I pray it is the former rather than the latter, but worry I'm wrong!
I'd like to supply an example if I may, without meaning to offend: While well edited and cleverly selected, the baby video tended to drag on a bit, as many unintentionally funny 'found' videos do. It seems to me this new drier style would only exempt many from getting to the feast the fantastic sad dad dance at the end provides.
Again, if this new shift is a stylistic choice I do not fault you for it (even if I wish it could stay the same), but I worry it is more a stroke of laziness that is the culprit here.
Your work has been absolutely stunning, and I sincerely hope it continues to be so. I'd be very sad to see this captivating EIT brand you've built go to the same waste that an ebaums world or the like does. Your artistic flavor defines you, not your competent editing skills!
Was that legal? I know our last President didn't think we had to follow The Geneva Conventions, but I thought that changed in January. Isn't torture illegal? I'm sure those daddies agree with me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSomeday I hope to dance to a jaunty Mexican/Fanfarish song with my child.
ReplyDeleteIn the first video, what's with the older kid at around the 2.07 mark? Is he supposed to be lip-syncing? And what kind of person doesn't know the words to "Rock-A-Bye baby"?
ReplyDeleteHoly cow...now I have more face exercises to learn.
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you like 'Face Magik.' That video was made a mere 2 weeks ago, so take it easy- we haven't changed our entire site based on one video made from 2-3am last night. No board meetings took place to make the baby video, and not one Venn diagram or pie chart was created to show how we are moving away from our 'unique style' to go for a more ebaumsworld audience.
Honestly, we do this everyday so it cannot be masterpiece after masterpiece Monday through Friday. Sorry to break it to you. However, when you said '...laziness is eroding the edge you had in the past' were you being serious or were to trying to sound like the biggest blowhard ever? I do thank you for your analysis, but the fact that you take it so seriously makes you look like a real jerkface.
You simply took the fun of it.
I see several of the old videos are now back up on Vimeo! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe baby video was vastly entertaining. Each time the dads prancing in a circle thrust their babies forward I imagined them instead clinking their heads together and shouting "cheers!"
ReplyDeletePersonally I like the videos that don't have overt changes done to them. The Face Magic one looks like it would be more than scary enough without the visual effects, and in fact adding them kind of blunts the ridiculousness of it, since you can't always tell what's actually from the original video. But anyway, I love your site and visit nearly every day. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteIs anybody going to make the obvious joke about the instructional video being called "Facial Magic"? I want to, but that kind of lewd humour is below me.
ReplyDelete@Ghoul Skool
ReplyDeleteI could see how you would have the impression you do, but you took that quote about laziness out of context. I made sure to say that if what I was worried about was a stylistic choice, that would make my concerns moot. In learning they were only made weeks apart I can see thats clearly the case here, so I need not worry for you.
Again, I didn't mean to offend, but merely wanted to let you know that I think you're doing a great job pushing the envelope of one of my favorite genres of surrealism/comedy and breaking new ground with it. Because of that though, like it or not, you're an artist above a video editor now regardless of your obligations to daily website content. So even though I was mistaken about how long ago that video was made, and you clearly AREN'T being lazy now, I still beg you to be wary the super common pitfall of 'slapping it together for tomorrows post'. At your level of skill, it's better to create nothing than to do that! Your audience will forgive it when you make it up with quality.
Yes, my comments are of a serious nature without any ass-kissery or attempts at humor, and that may appear to you as me being a blowhard, but you must realize that you are broadcasting now to thousands if not millions of people, so prepare to be taken seriously by those who are deeply into this shit, like me. It's ironic that if you saw my work you probably wouldn't call me a blowhard, you would laugh. This is because I take my comedy seriously. Thankfully after reading your thoughtful (even if a mite touchy) response, I'm comforted to know that you too take your comedy as seriously as it should be taken, and no more or less than that. Don't stop doing it.
"It's ironic that if you saw my work you probably wouldn't call me a blowhard, you would laugh. This is because I take my comedy seriously."
ReplyDeleteI bet this is the Straitjacket Jesters guy.
http://www.everythingisterrible.com/2008/03/sometimes-terrible-is-right-in-front-of.html
The facial (snicker) video was a bizarrely sublime way to end the youtube account on, what with the ominous music slowly building up and up and up and up, and then...
ReplyDelete1:18 of the baby video - Kevin from the office?
ReplyDeleteI thought Face Majik was totally hysterical, one of the recent best.
ReplyDeleteDuring 'Facial Magic' I thought that scene from Raiders of the Lost Arc where that guy's face melts would fit perfectly, but it's been done to a face melting death. Great video.
ReplyDeletepause video one (the babies) at 0:27.. the middle kid has really long legs. hehe.
ReplyDeleteIn the baby video, the frightening woman with the bi-level haircut magically changes her baby into not one, but two different stuffed monkeys!! She's an evil witch!
ReplyDeleteWow. The silly ass still shot I saw before pressing play did prepare me the scare-the-hell-outta-me experience I just had from watching that. Good job.
ReplyDelete"Rooooock-a-bye baby, the cradle is greeeeeeedddd...Bob is a nobley puppet from greennn...and baby's a lady and wear a god wing..."
ReplyDeletethey must have hired a bunch of gay guys to be in this video... no straight man would risk being seen in this video... watching this makes me want to punch each one of these people in the face...
ReplyDeleteIf you need a video that gives you instructions on how to play with your infant, you should not be a parent. Ever.
ReplyDeleteblah blah..."Yes, my comments are of a serious nature without any ass-kissery or attempts at humor, and that may appear to you as me being a blowhard, but you must realize that you are broadcasting now to thousands if not millions of people, so prepare to be taken seriously by those who are deeply into this shit, like me."
ReplyDelete= blowhard taking fun out of same
ah, medieval baby dancing. A lost art.
ReplyDeletenice use of throat singing in the music.
ReplyDeleteAhhh the faces video was amazing! The stretching faces took me by surprise and I started laughing when the screaming started. This video and the rejuvanique video are my favorites
ReplyDelete