Cinema Redux

March 21, 2004 8:12 AM

Cinema Reduxcreates a single, complete image of a film, second by second, minute for minute, producing a "fingerprint" or a "sort of movie DNA showing the colour hues as well as the rhythm of the editing process."
posted by steef (14 comments total)

If the sampling is off at all the "fingerprint" is going to be completely different. I wonder if he gets indentical results using the same software and hardware. Even a slight time differential could leave you with an entirely different overall image. I would think the difference would be even more dramatic with more contemprary quick-cut films. As far as showing the rhythm of the editing process, this is pretty cool.
posted by anathema at 8:36 AM on March 21, 2004

It would be much more interesting if it averaged the frame data for each second, instead of taking a sample of one frame per second.

With that said, it's still pretty nifty.
posted by Jairus at 8:50 AM on March 21, 2004

Pretty neat. I'd be tempted to by one if they were the same size as a movie poster (27x41), which I think would make more sense for a project like this.

The thing that freaked me out is I've watched all those movies (except Road to Perdition) in the past 10 day. Weird.
posted by dobbs at 9:12 AM on March 21, 2004

What's interesting is that if you take one frame of film, every second from a movie, make it really small and string them together that you end up with something that really looks like one of the $1.99 rugs you can buy at Ikea.

Also, most films are apparently very gray.

I'd find it more interesting if the frames were a bit largers so that color were a bit more apparent.

Next on my list for this guy would be something like Wizard of Oz or Pleasantville, where color is very intentionally played with throughout the film.
posted by obfusciatrist at 9:56 AM on March 21, 2004

What about copyright?

1. Take one frame of film, every second from a movie, make it really small and string them together

2. Set up Cafepress store to sell the poster of the images for $199.00

3. Profit!!!!
posted by banished at 10:13 AM on March 21, 2004

you end up with something that really looks like one of the $1.99 rugs you can buy at Ikea.

The French Connection would go smashingly with the Anja Rand, darling.
posted by moonbird at 10:15 AM on March 21, 2004

What about copyright?

Definitely a problem. If they were one-offs and not prints he would have a better chance of getting away with this. Copyright law tends to be kinder to one-offs, evidenced by the dearth of case law. But as far as multiple prints like this the outcome is uncertain. Since he has already admitted copying, he is already in the hole and would have to legally rely on one of the defenses to infringement. And it's not that he is necessarily that he is making money that is the problem. That is not the legal test. To me this seems analogous to some of the cut-up music of Akufen and Kid 606 etc., using very small bits of looped sampled sound to create rhythm and melody.
posted by anathema at 10:36 AM on March 21, 2004

I wonder if he got a license for each of the films to make the sales legit...
posted by billsaysthis at 10:42 AM on March 21, 2004

Also see: Jason Salavon.
posted by gwint at 12:20 PM on March 21, 2004

He's not infriging on copyright, to my knowledge. Copyright is only a problem if he's using an "'official" still from the film. A person can do a screen grab of any image from a movie and print it up without breaking copyright. I believe this was mentioned in a recent ask thread.
posted by dobbs at 2:24 PM on March 21, 2004

Probably not breaking copyright, but couldn't the DMCA be made to apply?
posted by seanyboy at 2:55 PM on March 21, 2004

dobbs, you have received some seriously faulty information. Email is in my profile if you want more info.
posted by anathema at 3:28 PM on March 21, 2004

Wonder if rugs could be made to those patterns?
posted by klaatu at 4:16 PM on March 21, 2004

Very cool. Not useful at all, which is one of the best things about it.
posted by dg at 8:41 PM on March 21, 2004