http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgL9gr2rYuY&feature=related (Seriously Dr. B and anyone else, if your going to watch this, watch all 9 minutes. I promise it will be worth your time.)
Backstory: Around the end of 2003, me and my older brother decided to create a parody of J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Hobbit" using nothing but The Lord of the Rings action figures, self created props, a Mac Powerbook (TM) and a cheap digital camera that could record only two minutes of film at a time. The Goal: to enter and win the Ambiguous Film Competition. After literally thousands of takes and some crafty musical editing from my brother, we sent off the 40 minute parody only to have it sent back to us because it was ONE day too late from the entry date! Although disappointed, we decided to continue our venture, but we did not show our genius film to the public. So around 2008, we launched a mock television show that not only incorporated the action figures of TLOTR and Star Wars, but of numerous other genres, from other television shows, cartoons, and video games. We called this "television show" Akshun Figyers. (creative, I know) It was not near as good as our The Hobbit on the comedic and creative level, but at least it was shot with a better camera. And so, my brother went on to and completed film school at SCAD (He studied Directing) and I, well, I am writing this Blog. Ok, on to the assignment.
So this youtube video is the fifth installment of our "television show." I picked it because it is my favourite. (If you like it, I encourage you to go back and watch episode 1 and up!) This is obviously the Cinema Fandom point on Media Convergence. Me and my bro incorporated all the fine points about films, such as credits, camera angles, montages, action sequences, plot twists, cinematography, editing... you name it. Yes this show is pretty stupid, but it was done in a very professional manner.
I read from Jenkin's book about all the various fan-made Star Wars films. About how it was free-formed (Like this parody, which was the basis of the underlying comedy in our The Hobbit minus any bad language or lewd references: http://download.theforce.net/theater/tpm/tpm.html) before a certain time frame, and afterward the fan-based films had to follow rules, which put many limitations on the film makers. The book explains that George Lucas loved the enthusiasm from all the amateur film makers, (especially George Lucas In Love) and how he even supported them by creating websites for them to put their films and blogs. He even created a website to allow these film makers to use Star Wars sound effects. But due to the copyright laws, Lucas had to cut back on the freedom of these films so that it would seem that he is still abiding by the laws. (Convergence Culture)
I am relating my video to this to show that even parody film makers must give credit to original content. We gave credit (to the music, movies, shows, action figures, directors...etc) to show our appreciation of the whole industry and to show that we are not trying to steal in any way. We copyrighted our show and movie, but we did not mass produce or sell copies to anyone for fear of possible violation of copyright laws of the trade marks. Convergence Culture is about bringing together the "three Cs": Computing, Communications, and Content. Our show involved computing and is accessible only from computing. Our show presents a mock of communications, a satire on the television show industry. And the content is that of a parody, following a set of rules and ratings, which is appropriate for all ages.
This Picture... well, it really doesn't make sense. Darth Vader, in the ocean, scooping up ocean water, filtering it, putting in a water bottle, only to be put back in the ocean. My take on this picture in relation to Media Convergence, is of the New Frontiers. This picture could imply the stupidity of the "Participatory Culture" that Jenkins defends: "Rather than talking about media producers and consumers as occupying separate roles, we might now see them as participants who interact with each other according to a new set of rules that none of us fully understands." (3) I have no problem with the participatory culture, but this picture is not photoshopped. Even though this picture is staged, (Or is it?) that is a real human in a Darth Vader suit, at the beach, in the water, doing whatever. I imply from this picture that the participatory culture not only lacks common sense, but cognitive sense as well. This is satirically photographed stupidity at the sublime level, and I like it.
Well I have already seen the video, and I think it is very funny. I'm very impressed that all of the voices were done by 2 people. The picture is also very funny. It seems to be making fun of many people who use photoshops to craft an image to make a statement. Some people don't realize that the image that they have made really doesn't make sense to anyone but themselves.
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