OK Go: End Love
June 16, 2010 4:52 PM Subscribe
End Love, the latest music video endeavor from rock group OK Go, was choreographed and filmed at widely-varying framerates, producing a hypnotic viewing experience. [SLYT]
From Jeff Lieberman, one of the video's directors:
From Jeff Lieberman, one of the video's directors:
“The fastest we go is 172,800x, compressing 24 hours of real time into a blazing 1/2 second. The slowest is 1/32x speed, stretching a mere 1/2 second of real time into a whopping 16 seconds. This gives us a fastest to slowest ratio of 5.5 million. If you like averages, the average speed up factor of the band dancing is 270x. In total we shot 18 hours of the band dancing and 192 hours of LA skyline timelapse – over a million frames of video – and compressed it all down to 4 minutes and 30 seconds! Oh and don’t forget, it’s one continuous camera shot.”
it’s one continuous camera shot
No it's not. The end product looks like one continuous camera shot. Important distinction.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 4:58 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
No it's not. The end product looks like one continuous camera shot. Important distinction.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 4:58 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
One continuous camera shot. So they what, spent the night in the park? With all the goose poop nearby? That's dedication.
Also, if those were Canada Geese they'd be hissily attacking the band, not following them.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:01 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, if those were Canada Geese they'd be hissily attacking the band, not following them.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:01 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I love this. Thanks for posting. I loved the crowd interaction at the end. And the goose too.
posted by marsha56 at 5:05 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by marsha56 at 5:05 PM on June 16, 2010
I wish (again) that better songs accompanied these guys' ingenuity.
posted by eugenen at 5:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [10 favorites]
posted by eugenen at 5:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [10 favorites]
eugenen: I wish (again) that better songs accompanied these guys' ingenuity.
Is this better?
posted by knave at 5:08 PM on June 16, 2010 [18 favorites]
Is this better?
posted by knave at 5:08 PM on June 16, 2010 [18 favorites]
A little more about Lieberman from the Discovery Channel, where he co-hosted the awesome and underappreciated Time Warp.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 5:08 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 5:08 PM on June 16, 2010
knave -- YES.
posted by eugenen at 5:10 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by eugenen at 5:10 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
For me the music holds virtually no interest whatsoever: I find it bland, tepid and instantly forgettable, invested with no real energy or spirit. But certainly one of the most entertaining videos I've seen in a long while. Really enjoyed it. Kudos to the director. Thanks for the post, knave.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:13 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:13 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
And knave... another YES here. Yakety Sax triumphs again.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:15 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:15 PM on June 16, 2010
Yeah, flapjax nails it: the video is fun, but the band is capable of much much better music.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:17 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:17 PM on June 16, 2010
I wish I owned the publishing rights to Yakety Sax.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:19 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:19 PM on June 16, 2010
I liked the song. And yeah, holy shit these dudes make good videos.
posted by chunking express at 5:23 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by chunking express at 5:23 PM on June 16, 2010
ok go: a gimmick set to mediocre music.
posted by orville sash at 5:28 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by orville sash at 5:28 PM on June 16, 2010
Gimicky band is gimicky.
posted by BeerFilter at 5:34 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by BeerFilter at 5:34 PM on June 16, 2010
"Why am I Mr. Pink?"
"Because you're the drummer, alright?"
posted by maudlin at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
"Because you're the drummer, alright?"
posted by maudlin at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
Everyone, what about this song? I'll go on record saying this is my favorite Ok Go video & song. Even sober.
posted by Hoenikker at 5:36 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Hoenikker at 5:36 PM on June 16, 2010
...except when your man's head is cut out of the shot, that part is no good.
posted by Hoenikker at 5:39 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Hoenikker at 5:39 PM on June 16, 2010
Also, if those were Canada Geese they'd be hissily attacking the band, not following them.
Even the geese are pissed about the G20?
posted by ryoshu at 5:42 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Even the geese are pissed about the G20?
posted by ryoshu at 5:42 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
For me the music holds virtually no interest whatsoever: I find it bland, tepid and instantly forgettable, invested with no real energy or spirit.
I thought we concluded that about the last OK Go Vid.
posted by philip-random at 5:48 PM on June 16, 2010
I thought we concluded that about the last OK Go Vid.
posted by philip-random at 5:48 PM on June 16, 2010
What is up with that goose anyway? Do you think that it is a pet, or something?
posted by rebent at 5:50 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by rebent at 5:50 PM on June 16, 2010
I quite liked Get Over It (the song: the video predates their inventive phase).
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:52 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:52 PM on June 16, 2010
No it's not. The end product looks like one continuous camera shot. Important distinction.
Where does anything say that it wasn't actually done in one shot? Or can you, uh, tell by the pixels?
posted by zsazsa at 5:57 PM on June 16, 2010
Where does anything say that it wasn't actually done in one shot? Or can you, uh, tell by the pixels?
posted by zsazsa at 5:57 PM on June 16, 2010
Damn I'm sure this comes of as all hipsterish, but these guys used to have some pretty rockin' music. The videos are cool now, but like everyone else is saying - the music is just boring and uninspiring.
I saw them in concert prolly half a dozen times between 2000-2002 when I was at the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champagne. Their concerts were a really really good time. They'd play some catchy songs, give people the option of 3 pop songs to cover, play some more of their catchy shit, another cover, then finish it up. Get Over It was probably the last good song I heard from them.
posted by ish__ at 6:00 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I saw them in concert prolly half a dozen times between 2000-2002 when I was at the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champagne. Their concerts were a really really good time. They'd play some catchy songs, give people the option of 3 pop songs to cover, play some more of their catchy shit, another cover, then finish it up. Get Over It was probably the last good song I heard from them.
posted by ish__ at 6:00 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, if those were Canada Geese they'd be hissily attacking the band, not following them.
Pretty sure that the above the line goose is a Canada Goose. Same guy followed me around when I was there. That is Echo Park, right?
posted by dobbs at 6:01 PM on June 16, 2010
Pretty sure that the above the line goose is a Canada Goose. Same guy followed me around when I was there. That is Echo Park, right?
posted by dobbs at 6:01 PM on June 16, 2010
"Everyone, what about this song ? I'll go on record saying this is my favorite Ok Go video & song. Even sober."
You don't need approval from this site to like what you like. Taken as a collective, as far as I can tell, MetaFilter hates everything. Except for Lady Gaga, apparently.
I remember seeing these guys live, before that first video got really big. They were opening for the Kaiser Chiefs. So at the end of the set they were all, "do we have a few more minutes?" And then, "Ok, we're going to do a dance. If you liked us then you'll probably like this. If not, sorry." And they did that dance number from their first video. Awesome. After the show they were talking to people and trying to get us to sign up for the mailing list and selling CDs. They seemed like a nice group of guys.
posted by chunking express at 6:03 PM on June 16, 2010
You don't need approval from this site to like what you like. Taken as a collective, as far as I can tell, MetaFilter hates everything. Except for Lady Gaga, apparently.
I remember seeing these guys live, before that first video got really big. They were opening for the Kaiser Chiefs. So at the end of the set they were all, "do we have a few more minutes?" And then, "Ok, we're going to do a dance. If you liked us then you'll probably like this. If not, sorry." And they did that dance number from their first video. Awesome. After the show they were talking to people and trying to get us to sign up for the mailing list and selling CDs. They seemed like a nice group of guys.
posted by chunking express at 6:03 PM on June 16, 2010
I think what's most interesting about this band is they manage to create their videos in such a way that they get eaten up and regurgitated by meme loving bloggers who can't resist telling the world about them. How do they keep doing it?
posted by crunchland at 6:03 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by crunchland at 6:03 PM on June 16, 2010
They keep making really creative videos?
IT'S LIKE VOODOO MAGIC!?
posted by chunking express at 6:04 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
IT'S LIKE VOODOO MAGIC!?
posted by chunking express at 6:04 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
Alright, I'll defend them. "Of the Blue Color of the Sky" is an absolutely terriffic album. The videos, nifty as they are, actually sort of sell the music short. Their choices for video releases have been a little odd though. Of the whole album, WTF and this song are among my least favorite songs. This one works nicely in context on the album though.
For my money though, they're a better band than you'd think if all you've seen is the treadmill video and the recent ones. They've released three albums and there are very few duds in the whole bunch.
posted by rusty at 6:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
For my money though, they're a better band than you'd think if all you've seen is the treadmill video and the recent ones. They've released three albums and there are very few duds in the whole bunch.
posted by rusty at 6:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
We don't need a new post for every OKGO video.
And Timewarp would have been a thousand times better if they showed more footage and had less ZOMGBOOBIESPHYSICS inane commentary from the two camera mooks.
posted by klangklangston at 6:08 PM on June 16, 2010
And Timewarp would have been a thousand times better if they showed more footage and had less ZOMGBOOBIESPHYSICS inane commentary from the two camera mooks.
posted by klangklangston at 6:08 PM on June 16, 2010
Yeah, the song was "meh" - tho I'm sure it will be remixed into an amazing ambient/chill beat at some point. The video was very much worth the watching, innovative and clever, but...
But.
Chalk lines were visible. The shadows of the crew were visible. Poor lighting decisions combined with poor camera placement decisions. Especially after the fantastic ghillie-suit video, they need to start showing some refinement as well as innovation. At some point the "big idea" isn't enough, and they need to show some appreciation for the craft as well as the art.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:08 PM on June 16, 2010
But.
Chalk lines were visible. The shadows of the crew were visible. Poor lighting decisions combined with poor camera placement decisions. Especially after the fantastic ghillie-suit video, they need to start showing some refinement as well as innovation. At some point the "big idea" isn't enough, and they need to show some appreciation for the craft as well as the art.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:08 PM on June 16, 2010
It's actually interesting to compare there the video for Get Over It (their first single?) with basically everything else that followed. It's a pretty boring stereotypical rock video. (Well, except for the ping pong.) It looks like something their label approved. The video for A Million Ways which followed it is totally out of left field in comparison.
posted by chunking express at 6:10 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by chunking express at 6:10 PM on June 16, 2010
You don't need approval from this site to like what you like.
I like it. I'm ok with it.
posted by Hoenikker at 6:13 PM on June 16, 2010
I like it. I'm ok with it.
posted by Hoenikker at 6:13 PM on June 16, 2010
Where does anything say that it wasn't actually done in one shot? Or can you, uh, tell by the pixels?
The pixels. Cute. Where it says that (to me) is where it says "Over a million frames of video" in "one continuous camera shot"? I could certainly be wrong, but as far as I know (and I work in a very closely-related industry) the technology just isn't there.
They did a good enough job putting it together in post that, in watching it through, there wasn't a cut point that jumped out at me, but the time-lapsey pixellation style lends itself well to hiding cuts and there could have been dozens, if not hundreds hidden in there.
As I said, I could certainly be wrong, but it would genuinely surprise me if they shot a million frames of video in a single continuous shot.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 6:18 PM on June 16, 2010
The pixels. Cute. Where it says that (to me) is where it says "Over a million frames of video" in "one continuous camera shot"? I could certainly be wrong, but as far as I know (and I work in a very closely-related industry) the technology just isn't there.
They did a good enough job putting it together in post that, in watching it through, there wasn't a cut point that jumped out at me, but the time-lapsey pixellation style lends itself well to hiding cuts and there could have been dozens, if not hundreds hidden in there.
As I said, I could certainly be wrong, but it would genuinely surprise me if they shot a million frames of video in a single continuous shot.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 6:18 PM on June 16, 2010
OK, perhaps it wasn't one continuous shot on a magical camera with infinite storage, but it seems as if it was shot in one continuous take, which in my mind is more impressive.
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 6:24 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 6:24 PM on June 16, 2010
I assume they all must have run off to the bathroom at some point.
posted by dfan at 6:39 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by dfan at 6:39 PM on June 16, 2010
This is just great - the music is such that it's not hard to ignore and just enjoy the visuals.
And that goose following them around - perfect! (I think it's a Hawaiian goose, not a Canada one, and is probably just really tame and used to getting fed)
posted by Flashman at 6:47 PM on June 16, 2010
And that goose following them around - perfect! (I think it's a Hawaiian goose, not a Canada one, and is probably just really tame and used to getting fed)
posted by Flashman at 6:47 PM on June 16, 2010
A minute or so in it reminded me of some of the cinematography from Time Warp, so nice to see it was the same director. I always thought he did a good job on Time Warp. Seemed to have a great knack for explaining what was going on.
I don't see why it couldn't be one shot. Digital video plus a storage array.
posted by alikins at 6:49 PM on June 16, 2010
I don't see why it couldn't be one shot. Digital video plus a storage array.
posted by alikins at 6:49 PM on June 16, 2010
I don't think OK Go's videos are gimmicky - I think they're exceptionally creative and really fun to watch. I think their music is pretty meh, but I'll still pass videos like this along to my friends and I'm sure thousands of others will too.
I think it's "viral marketing" at its best. It's not sleazy, it's not trying to trick you into noticing their otherwise boring product, it's not treating you like a demographic. OK Go just makes some cool ass videos. More advertisers need to realize that all the public really wants to see is some cool ass videos.
posted by windbox at 6:51 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
I think it's "viral marketing" at its best. It's not sleazy, it's not trying to trick you into noticing their otherwise boring product, it's not treating you like a demographic. OK Go just makes some cool ass videos. More advertisers need to realize that all the public really wants to see is some cool ass videos.
posted by windbox at 6:51 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
Nothing..., let's say that you bought a small mini-tower that has 4 3.5" drive bays. Let's say that you bought 4 2GB drives for it, and set it up as one big RAID 5 storage drive in Linux, and hooked it up to, say, an AVCHD camera that can save to a USB drive. That gives you a portable HD rig with 6TB -- 6000GB -- of resilient space in a little box you can easily lug with you.
Now, consider this: a 2 hour, 1080p, 60fps Blu-ray disc is only 25GB. That cheap little mini-tower with 6TB could effectively hold 480 hours of Blu-ray quality video. That's a whopping 103,680,000 frames of full-HD video... in a box that weighs less than 10 pounds that you could build from Newegg for less than $1000.
Did they record this video all in one shot? Dunno. But could they record several days worth of high-quality HD video onto a little box they could lug with them? As long as they had a power source -- and that could be a portable generator or power outlets in nearby streetlights -- sure they could.
posted by eschatfische at 6:54 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Now, consider this: a 2 hour, 1080p, 60fps Blu-ray disc is only 25GB. That cheap little mini-tower with 6TB could effectively hold 480 hours of Blu-ray quality video. That's a whopping 103,680,000 frames of full-HD video... in a box that weighs less than 10 pounds that you could build from Newegg for less than $1000.
Did they record this video all in one shot? Dunno. But could they record several days worth of high-quality HD video onto a little box they could lug with them? As long as they had a power source -- and that could be a portable generator or power outlets in nearby streetlights -- sure they could.
posted by eschatfische at 6:54 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
AFLAC
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:58 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:58 PM on June 16, 2010
A friend of mine was the goose wrangler on this shoot. I can only hope to come up with an ounce of the interesting things they do with video in their OK Go projects.
posted by shinynewnick at 7:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by shinynewnick at 7:06 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Anyone who's open-minded but doesn't think they like Ok Go's music should give There's a Fire (from their first album) a whirl. Such a great song.
posted by haveanicesummer at 7:11 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by haveanicesummer at 7:11 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Neat. I enjoy these guys a lot; got big with a fun video, continuing to make fun videos.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:43 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:43 PM on June 16, 2010
shinynewnick: can you elaborate on what wrangling took place? My assumption (I've watched it twice now) was that the park geese saw these people moving really slowly for hours and just stuck around to see if anyone dropped food, and the band + crew decided to just roll with it rather than chase the goose away. Was someone compelling the goose to stay in shot?
Also like an hour after I watched this video yesterday I ran across this other goose thing which I'm still compulsively re-watching every few hours.
I also agree with windbox above - say what you will about the music (I'm not a real fan of it, but I don't really dislike it), I think this band is one of a few who are really changing the game in terms of how rock music is marketed. Between clever, style-over-substance videos and stupid moves like suing your fans or endorsing random products, I'll take OK Go's approach.
posted by chaff at 7:50 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
Also like an hour after I watched this video yesterday I ran across this other goose thing which I'm still compulsively re-watching every few hours.
I also agree with windbox above - say what you will about the music (I'm not a real fan of it, but I don't really dislike it), I think this band is one of a few who are really changing the game in terms of how rock music is marketed. Between clever, style-over-substance videos and stupid moves like suing your fans or endorsing random products, I'll take OK Go's approach.
posted by chaff at 7:50 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
BeerFilter: "Gimicky band is gimicky."
I wanted to respond to this too: don't wanna be rude, but imho rock and roll is fundamentally a theatrical medium. Neil Young's stoned mystic farmer thing is a gimmick. AC/DC's cheeky Aussie schoolboys thing is a gimmick. Bob Dylan . . well you get my point. Gimmick is just a pejorative term for something interesting about the artist that exists outside the music.
posted by chaff at 8:01 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
I wanted to respond to this too: don't wanna be rude, but imho rock and roll is fundamentally a theatrical medium. Neil Young's stoned mystic farmer thing is a gimmick. AC/DC's cheeky Aussie schoolboys thing is a gimmick. Bob Dylan . . well you get my point. Gimmick is just a pejorative term for something interesting about the artist that exists outside the music.
posted by chaff at 8:01 PM on June 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
I thought for sure someone would be all, "Metafilter: hissily attacking the band, not following them." But no.
Don't know whether to be annoyed at being ignored, or pleased that this meme is played out.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:08 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Don't know whether to be annoyed at being ignored, or pleased that this meme is played out.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:08 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine was the goose wrangler on this shoot.
Small world. A friend of my goose was a goose on this shoot.
posted by ericost at 8:09 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Small world. A friend of my goose was a goose on this shoot.
posted by ericost at 8:09 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Can you really call OK Go a "rock band"? I mean, aren't they more like what can be charitably described as a video production group that also happens to release albums? Or what I would describe solely as "a gimmick"?
posted by DecemberBoy at 8:14 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by DecemberBoy at 8:14 PM on June 16, 2010
(I think it's a Hawaiian goose, not a Canada one, and is probably just really tame and used to getting fed)
It's got an orange beak and legs, so I think it's actually a toulouse or female pilgrim goose.
/grew up on a farm with geese
I enjoyed the video. The song is forgettable, but seeing as how I've had Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" stuck in my head for days I'm actually quite amenable to "forgettable".
posted by oneirodynia at 8:15 PM on June 16, 2010
It's got an orange beak and legs, so I think it's actually a toulouse or female pilgrim goose.
/grew up on a farm with geese
I enjoyed the video. The song is forgettable, but seeing as how I've had Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" stuck in my head for days I'm actually quite amenable to "forgettable".
posted by oneirodynia at 8:15 PM on June 16, 2010
I'll give it to 'em... They work like dogs for it.
posted by MeatLightning at 8:34 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by MeatLightning at 8:34 PM on June 16, 2010
Someday, these guys are going to make a pretty good sitcom. I promise you that.
posted by pokermonk at 9:19 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by pokermonk at 9:19 PM on June 16, 2010
I must say that I'm kind of baffled at how many people are complaining about/making fun of OK Go's music. I've never been a fan of OK Go, and while I've always thought their music videos were really creative and interesting (their treadmill video is brilliant in both it's creativity and in it's simplicity), I won't deny that most of their music is forgettable (notice that I remember nothing of the song accompanying the video I just mentioned, despite seeing it several times).
But is there anything wrong with being just an okay pop/rock band that is better known for making amazing music videos? In case you haven't noticed, the number of bands/artists/musicians/DJs out there who have both horrible music AND unwatchable music videos AND nauseating everything-else-they-do are pretty close to infinite. I feel so sorry for you that everyone who actually gives a shit about producing an innovative visual product is not a paragon of artistic integrity in every way. Since when have any of you done anything with a fraction of the creativity of this video?
Sorry if it seems like I'm ranting, but I just don't understand the need to qualify the like of this video with "yeah, but their music sucks". What, are you worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think you have bad taste in music? The Horror!
posted by ChestnutMonkey at 9:28 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
But is there anything wrong with being just an okay pop/rock band that is better known for making amazing music videos? In case you haven't noticed, the number of bands/artists/musicians/DJs out there who have both horrible music AND unwatchable music videos AND nauseating everything-else-they-do are pretty close to infinite. I feel so sorry for you that everyone who actually gives a shit about producing an innovative visual product is not a paragon of artistic integrity in every way. Since when have any of you done anything with a fraction of the creativity of this video?
Sorry if it seems like I'm ranting, but I just don't understand the need to qualify the like of this video with "yeah, but their music sucks". What, are you worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think you have bad taste in music? The Horror!
posted by ChestnutMonkey at 9:28 PM on June 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
The video for A Million Ways which followed it is totally out of left field in comparison.
Well, that's the thing. The label wasn't going to foot the bill for videos. "A Million Ways" wasn't even intended for release but was a practice session sent around to friends and a legitimate viral success. For the next album they faced the same funding conundrum and tried the treadmill thing and it worked. Since then there has been a much more conscious use of the format, but still brilliantly and effectively tapping into whatever it is that makes people pass these things around.
shinynewnick: can you elaborate on what wrangling took place?
Regardless of the plan, I believe it is a production requirement if animals are present to have a wrangler, such that the ASPCA standards can be adhered to.
Chalk lines were visible. The shadows of the crew were visible.
To me, this is a feature and not a bug. Part of what they do is tap into this self-aware artifice that's part of the YouTube culture.
Anyway, I don't think of them as a rock band; they're really more indie pop with a rock sound.
posted by dhartung at 9:29 PM on June 16, 2010
Well, that's the thing. The label wasn't going to foot the bill for videos. "A Million Ways" wasn't even intended for release but was a practice session sent around to friends and a legitimate viral success. For the next album they faced the same funding conundrum and tried the treadmill thing and it worked. Since then there has been a much more conscious use of the format, but still brilliantly and effectively tapping into whatever it is that makes people pass these things around.
shinynewnick: can you elaborate on what wrangling took place?
Regardless of the plan, I believe it is a production requirement if animals are present to have a wrangler, such that the ASPCA standards can be adhered to.
Chalk lines were visible. The shadows of the crew were visible.
To me, this is a feature and not a bug. Part of what they do is tap into this self-aware artifice that's part of the YouTube culture.
Anyway, I don't think of them as a rock band; they're really more indie pop with a rock sound.
posted by dhartung at 9:29 PM on June 16, 2010
I mean I guess they could have done it in one take, but that would sort of imply that the camera crew stayed up for like three days, and there's absolutely no reason to do it in one take.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:31 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 9:31 PM on June 16, 2010
That is Echo Park, right?
Yep. I miss my old hood. =(
Thanks for the look into it again. =D
posted by carsonb at 9:34 PM on June 16, 2010
Yep. I miss my old hood. =(
Thanks for the look into it again. =D
posted by carsonb at 9:34 PM on June 16, 2010
shakespeherian: "I mean I guess they could have done it in one take, but that would sort of imply that the camera crew stayed up for like three days, and there's absolutely no reason to do it in one take."
18 hours of band filming time, which included many long fixed camera shots when crew can switch out (they sped through like 8 hours of the guys in sleeping bags). 192 hours of a completely fixed time-lapse shot of the sky at the end.
The reason to do it one take is that it is the whole reason the video is interesting. Because they choreographed 18 hours of action at different frame rates. It may have been possible to do the same thing with post effects, but that's not interesting. Their gimmick has been one-shot choreography for a while. This is how they were able to push the envelope. It's really cool.
posted by team lowkey at 9:54 PM on June 16, 2010
18 hours of band filming time, which included many long fixed camera shots when crew can switch out (they sped through like 8 hours of the guys in sleeping bags). 192 hours of a completely fixed time-lapse shot of the sky at the end.
The reason to do it one take is that it is the whole reason the video is interesting. Because they choreographed 18 hours of action at different frame rates. It may have been possible to do the same thing with post effects, but that's not interesting. Their gimmick has been one-shot choreography for a while. This is how they were able to push the envelope. It's really cool.
posted by team lowkey at 9:54 PM on June 16, 2010
i actually kind of liked the song. It's got a good beat, you can dance to it. 808 hats, 303 bassline. I'd totally play this at an indy dance party.
posted by empath at 9:56 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by empath at 9:56 PM on June 16, 2010
What, are you worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think you have bad taste in music?
As one of the people in this thread who expressed an essentially negative opinion about the song, and a very positive opinion about the video, I reckon I'm one of the people to whom you've addressed this question. So, allow me answer: No. No I'm not worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think I have bad taste in music. Not one whit. I happen to enjoy expressing opinions in this forum, however. Occasionally that includes a opinions that are not especially positive, although more often than not I do express positive opinions music or film or something that people post to Mefi. You appear to have a problem with folks expressing anything other than 100% positive opinions, but personally I find negative opinions, when expressed thoughtfully or interestingly, to be, well... interesting. You don't? Fine. No problem. But, you're on kind of a high horse about it!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:24 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
As one of the people in this thread who expressed an essentially negative opinion about the song, and a very positive opinion about the video, I reckon I'm one of the people to whom you've addressed this question. So, allow me answer: No. No I'm not worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think I have bad taste in music. Not one whit. I happen to enjoy expressing opinions in this forum, however. Occasionally that includes a opinions that are not especially positive, although more often than not I do express positive opinions music or film or something that people post to Mefi. You appear to have a problem with folks expressing anything other than 100% positive opinions, but personally I find negative opinions, when expressed thoughtfully or interestingly, to be, well... interesting. You don't? Fine. No problem. But, you're on kind of a high horse about it!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:24 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Sorry for the somewhat garbled sentences above... should've previewed more carefully.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:26 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:26 PM on June 16, 2010
Since when have any of you done anything with a fraction of the creativity of this video?
I did something this afternoon that was at least three-quarters as creative as this video, maybe as high as seven-eighths. I'm waiting for the assay report.
posted by philip-random at 10:33 PM on June 16, 2010
I did something this afternoon that was at least three-quarters as creative as this video, maybe as high as seven-eighths. I'm waiting for the assay report.
posted by philip-random at 10:33 PM on June 16, 2010
Threads like this make me step back from metafilter a few more feet. I am afraid it will soon be quite a distance for me from this place, not dissimilar to other sites I check in on every few days or weeks, either because something gets mentioned with a keyword that attracts me, or because other people linked to it.
People post interesting links to things, stuff that is obviously new, obviously hard-worked on, and it just gets shit on. And then the people who shit on it get shit on. Someone raises a voice to say something about the original subject, but they're drowned out at this point. Everything becomes a beating of the original subject and then a beating of each other when the subject's either been beaten down to oblivion. It's kind of tiring.
Nothing is good enough. Nothing is worthy of respect, with the exception of, seemingly, someone dying, but even there it's merely that the assault on the dead person is held back for a few dozen posts (mostly due to "." posts before resuming in earnest).
Matthowie and gang had some wonderfully elaborate/simple approaches to handling community and quality on here, some of which hold out nicely. They need another round of brainstorming.
posted by jscott at 10:39 PM on June 16, 2010 [5 favorites]
People post interesting links to things, stuff that is obviously new, obviously hard-worked on, and it just gets shit on. And then the people who shit on it get shit on. Someone raises a voice to say something about the original subject, but they're drowned out at this point. Everything becomes a beating of the original subject and then a beating of each other when the subject's either been beaten down to oblivion. It's kind of tiring.
Nothing is good enough. Nothing is worthy of respect, with the exception of, seemingly, someone dying, but even there it's merely that the assault on the dead person is held back for a few dozen posts (mostly due to "." posts before resuming in earnest).
Matthowie and gang had some wonderfully elaborate/simple approaches to handling community and quality on here, some of which hold out nicely. They need another round of brainstorming.
posted by jscott at 10:39 PM on June 16, 2010 [5 favorites]
One debate point that I wanted to step in on:
The "continuous shot" debate is a little silly, and mostly because the term "continuous shot" is confusing. It's a continuous shot from what is probably a single camera capable of multiple framerates, and the planned-out track of stop-motion shots are all designed to dovetail.
But it's animation; by its very nature it's not "one continuous shot".
It's a technical achievement, a very wonderful one in fact. There's a lot of great work on there, previously complaints about chalk-lines and framing aside (go back to the Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" video and enjoy the freeze-frame/staging irregularities in that video, if that's your sort of thing). But fundamentally it's not "a continuous shot".
I will enjoy viewing it many times to come.
posted by jscott at 10:45 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
The "continuous shot" debate is a little silly, and mostly because the term "continuous shot" is confusing. It's a continuous shot from what is probably a single camera capable of multiple framerates, and the planned-out track of stop-motion shots are all designed to dovetail.
But it's animation; by its very nature it's not "one continuous shot".
It's a technical achievement, a very wonderful one in fact. There's a lot of great work on there, previously complaints about chalk-lines and framing aside (go back to the Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" video and enjoy the freeze-frame/staging irregularities in that video, if that's your sort of thing). But fundamentally it's not "a continuous shot".
I will enjoy viewing it many times to come.
posted by jscott at 10:45 PM on June 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
You appear to have a problem with folks expressing anything other than 100% positive opinions, but personally I find negative opinions, when expressed thoughtfully or interestingly, to be, well... interesting. You don't? Fine. No problem. But, you're on kind of a high horse about it!
I guess I had more of a problem with the people throwing around the "gimmick" insult, as in "this video would have been interesting if only the music was also interesting by itself". I didn't mean to suggest that any negative opinion of their music was unwarranted (I didn't exactly give an glowing review of it myself).
posted by ChestnutMonkey at 10:53 PM on June 16, 2010
I guess I had more of a problem with the people throwing around the "gimmick" insult, as in "this video would have been interesting if only the music was also interesting by itself". I didn't mean to suggest that any negative opinion of their music was unwarranted (I didn't exactly give an glowing review of it myself).
posted by ChestnutMonkey at 10:53 PM on June 16, 2010
Sorry for the cliche, but this video blew my mind. It surpasses their previous videos, which are generally terrific.
I generally like their music, although I agree with rusty that this is one of the weaker songs on the album. Their sound may be bubblegum, but I think that's a great sound when it's fully embraced and well-executed. OK Go has managed to craft a few pop gems, in my opinion, although this isn't one of them.
posted by Edgewise at 11:20 PM on June 16, 2010
I generally like their music, although I agree with rusty that this is one of the weaker songs on the album. Their sound may be bubblegum, but I think that's a great sound when it's fully embraced and well-executed. OK Go has managed to craft a few pop gems, in my opinion, although this isn't one of them.
posted by Edgewise at 11:20 PM on June 16, 2010
I just this second watched the this via my friend's Jenny's blog about Echo Park, before stumbling onto this thread during my first Meta-check of a busy day. Serendipity and all that. As for the video, I like it. It looks hand-made, even though it's technically complex. There's a food metaphor in there somewhere: you can see and feel all the work that went into it, yet it still feels light. And even though they're scruffy musicians in tight sweatsuits, the Easter Egg colors (and the goose) make it all fun rather than painfully hip.
posted by turducken at 11:26 PM on June 16, 2010
posted by turducken at 11:26 PM on June 16, 2010
I had my finger on the snark button ("Hey, same criticism as almost everybody else!") when I realized that, by moving said finger a few inches to the right, I could press the mute button instead. Voila! Curmudgeonly cussing re: contemptible cacophony curbed!
I think what did it for me was the fountain flickering to the beat when Pinky Pinkertron gets his closeup. This is a fun few minutes.
And I hope the goose gets to go on tour with them.
posted by Chichibio at 11:27 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think what did it for me was the fountain flickering to the beat when Pinky Pinkertron gets his closeup. This is a fun few minutes.
And I hope the goose gets to go on tour with them.
posted by Chichibio at 11:27 PM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sorry if it seems like I'm ranting, but I just don't understand the need to qualify the like of this video with "yeah, but their music sucks". What, are you worried that a bunch of people on the internet are going to think you have bad taste in music? The Horror!
yeah, it is tired. somewhere between beavis/butthead and janeane garofalo people seemed to get this idea that the quickest path to creativity without having to do any of the work yourself is snark. unfortunately, they remain under the delusion that anyone else finds it interesting or attractive. i wish them ill.
posted by fallacy of the beard at 12:55 AM on June 17, 2010
yeah, it is tired. somewhere between beavis/butthead and janeane garofalo people seemed to get this idea that the quickest path to creativity without having to do any of the work yourself is snark. unfortunately, they remain under the delusion that anyone else finds it interesting or attractive. i wish them ill.
posted by fallacy of the beard at 12:55 AM on June 17, 2010
The cartoon-like motion blur they achieved at low framerate was really phenomenal. That's a video effect I've never seen before.
posted by painquale at 2:24 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by painquale at 2:24 AM on June 17, 2010
I like OK Go. I liked them back when they were opening for They Might Be Giants and Pitchfork was slamming them for being too glossy, and even though the new album isn't my favorite, I respect them for trying out a new sound. I saw them play in Portland the day before they performed at Sasquatch in Washington, and I figured they'd do a shorter set, since they'd be in front of a festival crowd in less than twelve hours. But they did a full-on, guns-blazing twenty song set, maximum energy, holding nothing back. These guys are hard workers and the complexity of their videos reflects that.
But the next one goddamn better be "White Knuckles."
posted by brookedel at 3:14 AM on June 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
But the next one goddamn better be "White Knuckles."
posted by brookedel at 3:14 AM on June 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Back in the early days of MTV, it seems like there were a bunch of people who were average, or slightly-above-average, or competent, or whatever--your favorite band is awesome and I'm not trying to pick a fight here--musicians who made really, really great videos.
OK Go almost seems like a throwback of some kind.
posted by box at 5:01 AM on June 17, 2010
OK Go almost seems like a throwback of some kind.
posted by box at 5:01 AM on June 17, 2010
I had assumed the one goose that hangs out with them was stuffed, and was being moved around the scene by an assistant, and that the other geese were just walking around as normal.
posted by Alt F4 at 5:39 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by Alt F4 at 5:39 AM on June 17, 2010
But it's animation; by its very nature it's not "one continuous shot".
There's a difference between animation and time-lapse. Any video, be it 24fps, 30fps, 60fps, is not one "continunous shot" either. At what framerate do you, personally, draw the line?
If this performance was executed in one continuous take, from the moment the video started through the 3+ days it took to perform, that's a continuous shot. Makes no difference if the camera jumps from 24fps to 12fps to 2400fps while they're performing it.
That said - at such low framerates, you could splice a few takes together and hide it pretty well. But your camera angles and locations, even with chalk lines, aren't likely to match up. Especially with random people visible in the background.
posted by scrowdid at 7:00 AM on June 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a difference between animation and time-lapse. Any video, be it 24fps, 30fps, 60fps, is not one "continunous shot" either. At what framerate do you, personally, draw the line?
If this performance was executed in one continuous take, from the moment the video started through the 3+ days it took to perform, that's a continuous shot. Makes no difference if the camera jumps from 24fps to 12fps to 2400fps while they're performing it.
That said - at such low framerates, you could splice a few takes together and hide it pretty well. But your camera angles and locations, even with chalk lines, aren't likely to match up. Especially with random people visible in the background.
posted by scrowdid at 7:00 AM on June 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
The goose's name is Orange Bob, and he has a fan page on Facebook. And a wicked coke habit, if the rumors are to be believed.
posted by rusty at 8:28 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by rusty at 8:28 AM on June 17, 2010
The unfunniest part of this whole "continuous shot" debate is that the director was clearly joking when he shouted out, at the end of the interview, "And don't forget, it's one continuous camera shot! (wink wink nudge nudge)"
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 9:35 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 9:35 AM on June 17, 2010
So.. I emailed Time Warp guy (and all-around awesome guy for writing me back) Jeff Lieberman about all this. Here's what he said:
Hey Ian -
It's one take, not one shot. Apologies for anyone who took it wrong, but the important thing [to us] was that it was filmed continuously, all at once instead of separately. It required three different cameras - a sony EX3 for normal 30fps shooting, a dSLR for the long time lapse at the end [which was mounted in the park on a tree] and a Phantom high speed camera for the two slow motion shots. Technically it's relatively straightforward though - the EX3 has dual card slots that you can hotswap - so it recorded continuously for 18 hours (it has variable framerate so night time we took it down to 1fps to save space); the phantom cannot record more than a few seconds at 1500fps (the top speed we recorded) so it has to be cross cut. We had a generator on hand and a hot-swap battery attachment for the EX3. When shooting 2 hours in 4 seconds you have plenty of extra frames to let people use the bathroom and in fact, eat...
I'm quite sure we'll put together a making-of video, so people can see all the detail work. Having them lip sync at 1/500x was probably one of the bigger challenges (a single line took ~40 minutes).
Your loving camera mook,
Jeff
posted by zsazsa at 9:41 AM on June 17, 2010 [10 favorites]
Hey Ian -
It's one take, not one shot. Apologies for anyone who took it wrong, but the important thing [to us] was that it was filmed continuously, all at once instead of separately. It required three different cameras - a sony EX3 for normal 30fps shooting, a dSLR for the long time lapse at the end [which was mounted in the park on a tree] and a Phantom high speed camera for the two slow motion shots. Technically it's relatively straightforward though - the EX3 has dual card slots that you can hotswap - so it recorded continuously for 18 hours (it has variable framerate so night time we took it down to 1fps to save space); the phantom cannot record more than a few seconds at 1500fps (the top speed we recorded) so it has to be cross cut. We had a generator on hand and a hot-swap battery attachment for the EX3. When shooting 2 hours in 4 seconds you have plenty of extra frames to let people use the bathroom and in fact, eat...
I'm quite sure we'll put together a making-of video, so people can see all the detail work. Having them lip sync at 1/500x was probably one of the bigger challenges (a single line took ~40 minutes).
Your loving camera mook,
Jeff
posted by zsazsa at 9:41 AM on June 17, 2010 [10 favorites]
Cool-- thanks for checking into it. 3 separate cameras makes a lot more sense.
posted by Nothing... and like it at 9:53 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by Nothing... and like it at 9:53 AM on June 17, 2010
I wondered how the lip syncing was done. I can't wait for the making-of for this.
posted by rusty at 11:26 AM on June 17, 2010
posted by rusty at 11:26 AM on June 17, 2010
I was in an OK Go video once. I'm the second segway rider you see in Do What You Want (wallpaper version.) It was a really fun day of shooting-- lots of cool and talented people doing cool and talented things. The band was really nice and had a great attitude (those suits were HOT.) It was recorded with the music going twice as slow, which gives it that cool narrow-shutter-angle look. I'd love to do another one sometime.
posted by hellphish at 1:14 PM on June 17, 2010
posted by hellphish at 1:14 PM on June 17, 2010
There's a difference between animation and time-lapse. Any video, be it 24fps, 30fps, 60fps, is not one "continunous shot" either. At what framerate do you, personally, draw the line?
I draw the line at a framerate that allows you to rearrange the elements of the frame between the time the frames are taken.
posted by jscott at 3:42 PM on June 17, 2010
I draw the line at a framerate that allows you to rearrange the elements of the frame between the time the frames are taken.
posted by jscott at 3:42 PM on June 17, 2010
It's like the best Sesame Street video clip ever!
posted by harriet vane at 6:38 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by harriet vane at 6:38 AM on June 18, 2010
Hadn't checked back in with this thread, but I'll update when I talk to my goose wrangling friend again. A few excellent filmmakers I've had the privilege to meet have worked on a few of the OK Go videos, and it is always fun to hear their stories after the fact.
posted by shinynewnick at 8:00 PM on June 19, 2010
posted by shinynewnick at 8:00 PM on June 19, 2010
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