January 31, 2006

"Culture"

You might say this is a music video. You might also try putting a television, a magazine, some cigarettes, a pair of pretty lips, and your brains into a blender for a few minutes. Pour into a tall frosty glass, top off with a mutant frog and drink. Mmmm!

This audiovisual refreshment was created by Escape Mechanism, aka Minneapolis-based collage artist Jon Nelson. Jon hosts the internationally heard and fully respected sound collage show Some Assembly Required, heard locally on Radio K. Don't wanna be a slave to the analog? Then check out Jon's new baby: Some Assembly Required blog+podcast.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:55 AM | Comments (1)

January 30, 2006

Neighbors

You might know Hans Eisenbeis as Editor-in-Chief of the much-loved Rake magazine. Some weirdness in his neighborhood prompted him to pick up a camera and wrassle with iMovie, all for you, dear viewer.

The final shot is a boarded up townhouse down the street from Hans. That's where the murder took place.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:55 AM | Comments (6)

January 27, 2006

Eternal Life

Couldn't you just live forever?

(p.s. - have a good weekend and send in your stories.)

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:19 AM | Comments (13)

January 26, 2006

Toobin'

Vloggers are poppin' up all around Minnesota. Perhaps a sign of early spring? More likely people are discovering the joys of freevlog.org and blip.tv.

Today's video is a bit of critter tomfoolery from Dan and Jen's Animal Friends. Their hedgehog, Spike, acts an awful lot like a kitten. Speaking of kittens - I hope you don't hate them, because we've got a few feline videos in the pipeline. Don't worry, they're entertaining. And you don't have to watch them all at once. Unless you really want to.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:08 AM | Comments (5)

January 24, 2006

Another Night of Birth

Let's collide artforms again today. Michael K. Gause wrote a collection of poetry called The Tequila Chronicles. He challenged Starfire to translate his poetry into video. Here's the first. Enjoy.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 11:54 PM | Comments (4)

Remembering McCarthy

Senator Eugene McCarthy, poetic politician and moral beacon, is remembered today at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas (more info). He is also remembered in the work of "Media Mike" Hazard, whose documentary Eugene McCarthy: I'm Sorry I was Right will be available for free at the memorial service. You can also watch it online.

Today we're lucky to have three powerful and sad short poems told by Sen. McCarthy, brought to new visual life by Media Mike: "Vietnam Poems" and "The Maple Tree."

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:37 AM | Comments (2)

January 23, 2006

Graphic Noise

Last Friday, graphic design and rock intersected at MCAD's opening party for Graphic Noise: Rock posters at 1,000 dBs. It's a stunning showcase of both national and local poster art running through Feb 19. Minneapolis bands The Deaths and STNNNG played in the cafeteria. Sadly we missed The Deaths, but STNNNG really, uhh, killed.

RELATED VIDEO: STNNNG at Minnesota Music Awards

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:20 AM | Comments (11)

January 20, 2006

VoxPop: Why is President Bush...

Today is VoxPop, short for vox populi, "voice of the people." I asked people of all stripes one slightly loaded question in downtown Minneapolis. Everyone who responded is in this video, save for one victim of equipment failure.

I was hoping for more diversity of reaction, but hardly anyone found much good to say about President Bush. I had the hardest time getting older white guys in suits to stop and talk. Maybe I should try Apple Valley next time? Suburbanites with cameras, email me. We need you.

Check out reaction to the same question from all around the country (plus Germany!) in today's Rocketboom episode.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:22 AM | Comments (18)

January 19, 2006

Broomball Tourney

Duane Kuss says: This past weekend the 25th Annual Broomball Tournament was held at Pioneer Park in Cold Spring. This may be the longest running outdoor broomball tournament in the world.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:23 AM | Comments (0)

January 17, 2006

City Whitetails

Jeremy Wilker says: Relax from your stressful life with some calming images of nature... I grabbed these photos and short video in our backyard this past Saturday morning. The deer hung around for over three hours and it was mildly exciting to get the video footage (I was shaking a bit). And this is in the city, too! (well, 4.5 miles from downtown Minneapolis).

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:44 AM | Comments (4)

January 16, 2006

Save Oak Street Cinema

The fate of the Oak Street Cinema is up in the air, thanks to financial mismanagement at Minnesota Film Arts. MFA staff called an impromptu meeting last Saturday before screening Citizen Kane. The house was packed, a few board members were present, and accusations flew. Here's a video recap, a bit longer than usual at six minutes.

Sorry the video has a strange animation look to it – I went overboard trying to reduce video noise.

RELATED LINKS:
SaveTheOakStreet.com
MNspeak thread
Star Tribune, PiPress, City Pages articles
The Bug
New Patriot
MPR Movie Maven

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:44 AM | Comments (5)

January 13, 2006

Rocketboom [Behind the Scenes]

This is stretching the "Minnesota" in Minnesota Stories a little thin, but Lori and I were lucky enough to spend the week vacationing with the crew from Rocketboom this week. Of course we had to bust out the camera and capture some behind-the-scenes action. What you see here is the fun part - shooting the episode. What you don't see is the hours of work gathering links, writing the script, and editing that Andrew Baron and Amanda Congdon put into each episode.

Be sure to check out today's Rocketboom episode... it's pretty funny!

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:31 AM | Comments (4)

January 11, 2006

Iraq Candlelight Service

Chuck T. reminds us not to forget the human cost of war, or that liberals are indeed found with their families in churches.

Check out his newly revived blog translator. Good stuff there, boiling down the news into their core elements, from a lefty perspective of course.

(I'm still waiting for a conservative-leaning video, but so far no takers.)

CONTRIBUTOR: Chuck T. + Alex + Ella, EllaGoes.com

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:59 AM | Comments (0)

January 10, 2006

Rats!

Starfire takes a rat to a better place.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:48 AM | Comments (2)

January 09, 2006

Welcome to the Future

* Turn down your audio before watching this video. Seriously.

Many of you have seen this video. It got some attention from the New York Times who said it "may be one of the best music videos of the year." I don't know about that, but it's been hiding deep in the archives of my personal vlog and I thought it deserved a spot on Minnesota Stories.

This video is my experience shooting some video clips of a Soundtrack of Our Lives show at a certain local rock club. I like to say that cellphone cameras have replaced lighters at rock shows. You see them as far as the eye can see. Photos, video, audio – people capturing moments. We're living in an age of personal media explosion. Unfortunately there's friction between that reality and those with an overzealous desire to control and protect commercial copyright. So here's me, caught in the friction.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:48 AM | Comments (2)

January 06, 2006

WCCO Radio

Yesterday I was a guest on WCCO radio's Pat Miles Show with Susie Jones to talk about videoblogging. I had a really great time. Talk radio must be a lot of fun. Pat and Susie seem like sassy, fun-loving suburban moms. (I mean that in the best possible way!) Watch for a possible MN Story from Susie's 12-year old son in the future.

Of course I brought my video camera along. I like getting behind the scenes of local media (See also: KARE-11 Morning). Pat Miles brought up a very good question. I have to get permission to tape her, don't I? It's sure a good idea to get permission, but we have a lot of freedom to capture images on both public and private property with important exceptions. Here are a couple of good articles explaining a photographer's rights, which in many cases applies to videography as well:

And of course, to start your own vlog for free visit freevlog.org.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:00 AM | Comments (6)

January 05, 2006

Christmas Cheer 01-01

Clark writes: 2001 was a very strange year. Weird stuff went down, and some humans reacted in interesting ways. These specimens found a very new way to celebrate Christmas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gather round with some egg nog and witness an art happening of sorts, if you will...

This is a strangely therapeutic video from our friend Clark ov Saturn of ZipZapZop.com, who visits Nordeast Minneapolis every year. Check out Clark's sweet New Years Song and Christmas episode!

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:24 AM | Comments (3)

January 04, 2006

Grim Racer 2005

Jeremy Wilker writes: The premise was a Halloween bike race (The Grim Racer) with costumes and silliness but either these people were too hard-core in racing or the wind drag of most costumes was simply too great and only a handful of racers dressed up. The weather and location were great, however, and while this doesn't have much of a story to it, I hope you'll enjoy the fall biking scenery.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jeremy Wilker, moonpost productions

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)

January 03, 2006

Happy New Year

2005 was an incredible year for Minnesota Stories. We posted 116 videos since flipping the switch in July, many of them from people like you with video cameras and a hankerin' to share. This little blurb from the Jan. 1, 2006 Pioneer Press says it best:

" 'Minnesota Stories' wouldn't exist without the contributors," Olsen, 34, says. "One of my greatest joys producing the site is hearing someone say 'I have a 'Minnesota Story' for you.' People actually go out and film specifically for 'Minnesota Stories,' and that's a huge honor. I prefer to measure the success of the site by the number of people inspired to create stories rather than the number of eyeballs."

This video is a hastily-assembled thank you to everyone who contributed a story, or makes Minnesota Stories a nutritional part of your daily online regimen. This is a really exciting time for media... it's shifted into our hands. We got the tools, and a place to share the weird stuff we make. That's pretty friggin' awesome.

In 2006 let's blow the lid off this mother. The only way to do that is for YOU to make a video and email story@mnstories.com! Stop procrastinating, and call today. Vlog operators are standing by. I talk to people all the time with amazing story ideas, just begging for someone to whip out a camera and make it happen. That person is you. Learn how by signing up for the IFP videoblog class (click "Education" then "Web Design") or learn yourself for free: freevlog.org. Or just drop me a note.

Your pal,
Chuck

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 06:15 AM | Comments (5)