All That's Left Is Her Picture

October 2, 2005 11:29 AM

Cool Polaroid video.
posted by fandango_matt (24 comments total)

That was pretty cool - thanks.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:37 AM on October 2, 2005

Apparently this is the song from the finale of Six Feet Under.
posted by Plinko at 11:41 AM on October 2, 2005

Song sounds like Tori Amos... but I could be wrong.
posted by twiggy at 11:46 AM on October 2, 2005

Scratch that.. upon getting further into the song, it's probably not Tori.
posted by twiggy at 11:47 AM on October 2, 2005

It says what the song is right at the beginning, it's Breathe Me by the artist Sia.
posted by cyphill at 11:49 AM on October 2, 2005

Great, I just saw the end of Six Feet Under and was finally getting over it.

Also I have the uncontrollable urge to go buy a Prius.
posted by nev at 11:58 AM on October 2, 2005

Same here nev.
posted by birdherder at 12:06 PM on October 2, 2005

That was beautiful, thank you.
posted by piratebowling at 12:08 PM on October 2, 2005

That was awesome, thanks fandango_matt .

I wonder how much post-processing and shortcuts were used and if the "top layer" (the final shots that went into the frames of the QT) was also done with polaroids.

Gads! How much would all of that film have cost, retail?

Loved the stormtrooper helmet.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 12:14 PM on October 2, 2005

Nobody I know could afford that much film; even for a corporation the cost would be prohibitive. I gotta think the "Polaroids" were all done digitally.

Unless it were Halliburton working without a contract.
posted by neuron at 12:18 PM on October 2, 2005

This video (QuickTime link here) uses a similar technique ("You are here" by Sam Bisbee , video made by Tobias Perse, 2004). For those interested, here's every still photo used in the video.
posted by iviken at 12:32 PM on October 2, 2005

is there a way to download the mp3?
posted by docpops at 12:52 PM on October 2, 2005

I'd mix the two (I could do this with technology I have at home - either shake/AE/fusion for starters. I'd probably do the whole thing in DS or a Flame (something I do not have at home -ha) just to keep workflow fast.)

The only shot that'd require a bunch of the polaroids are the hallway shots that have like 100 pics. So, figure...um...12-15 to a pack? 7-10 packs of polaroids...and just reused, as the frames would be digitally replaced. This is how the cool HP commercials are done too.

The shots where the pictures are dropped, are not real. Well, they're exposed shots that are 4 corner tracked and replaced with with frames of video shot normally and freeze framed. The exposed polaroids would be easy to track..especially if they were all black (high contrast is what's necessary).
posted by filmgeek at 12:55 PM on October 2, 2005

docpops: Island Records store, and I imagine iTunes.

Yeah, it's pretty clearly a special effect. The costumes and the blonde waif look made me think of the performance art of Ana Voog. Who has better music.
posted by dhartung at 1:32 PM on October 2, 2005

dhartung - that Island Records Link was awesome. Thanks. I use MusicMatch and her stuff isn't available.
posted by docpops at 1:48 PM on October 2, 2005

very cool--thanks!
posted by amberglow at 2:02 PM on October 2, 2005

I think I just had a seizure.
posted by adrober at 4:29 PM on October 2, 2005

It reminds me of a striking peice of animation i saw called "Pan With Us"

...only not as good.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 4:46 PM on October 2, 2005

Fandango, you ASS. As soon as I finished watching that video the phone rang and a creepy little girl said "Seven Days...". Now I've got to show this video to someone within a week to save myself!!!

Loved the ending to 6FU, loved the song enough to hunt it down and buy it on ITunes. Beautiful song, cool video. Thanks for the post!!
posted by matty at 4:51 PM on October 2, 2005

Nobody I know could afford that much film; even for a corporation the cost would be prohibitive. I gotta think the "Polaroids" were all done digitally.

Thanks, captan obvious.
posted by delmoi at 5:28 PM on October 2, 2005

Was I the only one who stopped watching after a few seconds because it hurt to watch? The flick flick flick made my eyes ache.
posted by neek at 6:34 PM on October 2, 2005

"Daniel Askill took about 2,500 photos over three days to create the finished effect."

See also his other videos: "We have decided not to die" (full version in annoying viewer here) and "Unkle - Reign".
posted by b. at 9:35 PM on October 2, 2005

Nobody I know could afford that much film; even for a corporation the cost would be prohibitive.

I'm sure they got a volume discount.
posted by kindall at 10:27 PM on October 2, 2005

Stunning. Thanks.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:09 PM on October 3, 2005