Ohana :: The Bear and the Hare

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The John Lewis Christmas Ad is one of the most anticipated of ads in the UK every holiday season.  It’s kind of like the much awaited window displays in the larger department stores down Regent Street.  The best part is that you can now watch these ads anywhere in the world.

John Lewis

Admittedly, John Lewis is encouraging the public to buy the greatest gifts of the season but their message is always a good one- do something special for those you love this Christmas.  We could probably take a lesson from that other times of the year too.  I think my favorite part of this video is that it doesn’t seem to matter what species the characters are- they all come together to celebrate.  And of course don’t forget that they do what they can to include those who wouldn’t usually be able to be there.

I couldn’t help but post this as well- the making of The Bear and the Hare.  I am always in awe of animation production, but this takes it a whole new level.

Blink

So there you are, two videos in one post and hopefully they made you smile even during this stressful time of year.

Ohana :: Growing Up

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Mark Nickelsburg

Once again, here is another film that is not quite a documentary… in fact it isn’t a documentary in any way.  BUT I think it has a very good message- maybe we should listen to toddlers more.  Plus, this makes me laugh.  Perhaps they know more about life than those of us who’ve been around the block a few times…

Ohana :: Inheritance

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Process Creative

What do we inherit from generation to generation?  Of course there are the material items that we pass on, but what values and lessons do we pass on?

I love this film because it’s not just about the items that we pass on to one another, but how we pass on morals and advice to one anther through many modes of communication.  I also love it because it is beautifully filmed and I think the music brings it to another level of nostalgia.

What are we passing on to the next generation?

Ohana :: Grandparents

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Andy Ellis

Spring time with Obaachan seems oddly familiar to me.  Probably because it reminds me of spending time with my grandparents in their final days.  Its been several years since most of them passed away and I miss them every day.

As a teenager it was hard to make the time to go and spend time with grandparents but I’m glad that I made the time to see them and still try to spend as much time as possible with my one surviving grandma, but its not easy.  Life takes over- work and other activities etc. and I have to make a conscious effort to at least call several times a months. Grandparents are those precious people that hold the key to the family past- they are the ones that remember some of those moments that make your family what it is today.

I love this film because of the memories that it evokes and for the cinematography.  It may be slow, but I think it helps capture Obaachan, as well as what her life has become.  A slower version of days of old and enjoyment of the little moments.  I love the cherry blossoms and it makes me look forward to spring even more than I already am.

Ohana :: Mothers

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Matt Bieler

I don’t think we ever realize how much a mother sacrifices for her children- time, a social life, sleep…. I’ve seen small glimpses of what its like while watching friends as they embark on the journey of motherhood.

Here is to all those women, working or not, who give everything they have to their offspring.

Making time for ohana

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It’s that time of year again when chaos descends on us all and life seems to get even more hectic than usual.  All this because its the holidays.  Even those that don’t celebrate Christmas feel the impending stress as the number of parties increase exponentially and budgets tighten.

For many, the cause of stress comes from the mandatory time spent with family.  However, Family is the reason that I love this time of year.

Family-Gathering

Since I moved out of my parents house, this is one, if not the only time of year that my family puts time aside to spend quality time together.  We are lucky that we actually enjoy spending time together- well, for the most part.  This year I am especially looking forward to it as I have seen very little of my parents in the last 12 months.

I’m not Hawaiian but I love the word Ohana.  I love that doesn’t only address those that are related to us by blood, but can mean any group of people that you feel close to.  So after spending Thanksgiving with the extended family and looking forward to the upcoming weeks I’m dedicating this month to those people that mean the world to me- even if they sometimes drive me a little nuts.

Classroom :: The Three P’s

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Leo Zuckerman

I had a hard time deciding what class I would have learned some of this information from while I was still in school and decided after much debate that it fit the three Ps perfectly: Phys Ed, Philosophy and Psychology.

Saying that one video includes Phys Ed, Philosophy and Psychology probably sounds like a bit much, but if you have ever dedicated yourself to a sport, you’ll know that being and athlete is about the mental power used just as much as the physical exertion.  This is the very reason that I like this video.  It encapsulates all of the different qualities that an athlete needs to have beyond a strong body.

From a technical point of view, I love the editing in this film.  I think that for something that could become a generic ski video, and you have to admit that there are a lot out there, this one is very well put together.  It goes deeper than a series of stunts caught on camera and delves into what it really takes to become a pro skier.

And last of all, and I am very excited about this, it is almost ski season…  I’m hoping for a great snowpack.

Classroom :: Art

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I openly admit that I have an addiction to typography and it seems to be getting worse as I spend more time working on design projects for work. Why didn’t I go into graphic design?  I didn’t realize that I liked it until I got waist deep in video and there was no turning back then!  Anyway, I had to share this find:

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/77176032 w=640&360]

lynda.com

I was never that great at drawing at school although I still try from time to time.  I don’t know if I would be any good at creating type- maybe someday I will try it.  For now I will continue to find fonts that I like online and use them in my video and the odd print design that I have to come up with.

Classroom :: Geology

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Al Boardman

I never took a geology class per se, but I did take oceanography and we examined a lot of rocks and sand particles our Thursday afternoon labs.  I know the ocean is a far cry from our highest mountains, but really it’s not as far as you many think.  They are remarkable linked due to the rock cycle.

I like this video for many reasons- one is that I happen to live in the Pacific Northwest where there are mountains on either side of where I’m currently living.  As anyone who’s been reading my blog for a while will know, I love going up into the mountains and hiking as much as possible in the summer.  Another reason I love this video is the animation and the presence of Mt. Kilimanjaro- a mountain that I have actually summited, and Ojos del Salado in Chile, which I’ve looked at from a distance.  It all boils down to the fact that mountains make me feel at home and I love that someone has created an ode to these magnificent natural monuments.