Fortunately we gave ourselves plenty of time to park nowhere near the course and make it to the starting point with time to spare.  Initially it felt a bit awkward walking through the middle of a huge crowd of swimsuit-clad folks; it was kinda like being at a water park except everybody was in decent shape.  All things considered, I’ve seen worse.

The next thing I noticed was that at least half of them were waiting in line for the porta-potties.  I for one am glad that they decided to use the restrooms then, rather than take care of business during the swimming portion in the Potomac.

The first wave of folks made their way down the temporary pier and into the water.  The little horn blower dude did his thing and the inaugural DC Triathlon was underway.  There was an excitement in the air as if all the anticipation finally had an outlet.  I probably had goosebumps at the time because 1.) It’s always inspiring to see a huge mass of people achieving something and 2.) there was a certain sense of history that comes with this being the first of many DC Triathlons, and 3.) I get inspired easily.

I watched and cheered as my girlfriend eventually made it down the pier and jumped –and I mean, JUMPED– into the water.  Her excitement was contagious!  The horn made its lovely noise and she took off.  I wanted to go to the other side of the viewing area to get some better pictures, and it was at this point that I realized there was almost no thought given to the spectators.  The only way to get to the other viewing area was to walk all the way around the transition area where all the bikes were stored.  I finally got to the other side, snapped a few pictures and then walked all the way around to the swim exit.  Lacey came out of the water just a couple minutes after I got there.

According to the map it looked like there was a good place near the Kennedy Center to watch the bikers come by, but when I got there I was the only one cheering.  Everywhere I looked the sidelines were empty (except for the start and finish.)  I stood in the tunnel where my voice would carry and there I cheered and whooped and even did a slow clap or two.  People need that encouragement and it was disappointing to see so few people along the way.

Next I was able to get in my car and drive relatively close to the finish line.  Why the event organizers put the finish line so far away from the transition area is beyond me.  Nevertheless, I made it there in time to see Lacey and a couple of her friends cross the finish line.

The finish festival was buzzing with the usual excitement and sense of accomplishment that you would expect.  Aside from the massage booth all the vendors seemed adequately prepared to handle high volumes of people.  In fact, it seemed like the athletes were very well taken care of throughout the entire race.  All of the details concerning them seemed well thought out and professionally handled, however, there was seemingly no concern for the spectators.  Namely:

1. Transportation. Don’t schedule an event that closes down traffic before the metro is running.  This was just a stupid call.  I know it gets hot early during the summer, but why was the triathlon scheduled in June in the first place?
2. Public restrooms were non-existent.  There were a host of porta-potties for the athletes, but the spectators just had to hold it apparently.
3. Location. You can forget about the transportation issues if you don’t make everybody walk two miles to get from one viewing area to the next. Put the finish line next to the transition area and make life easier for everybody.
4. Make it convenient (and fun even) for the spectators and I guarantee you will have a lot more people cheering on the sidelines.  The DC Tri wold do well to take a note from the Crystal City BID for their sideline activities during the Marine Corps Marathon.

In the end the DC Triathlon is not a spectators sport.  There is a lot of room for improvement, and I hope they do a much better job with it next year. Congratulations to Lacey and all the participants!  Thanks for inspiring us!

How’s that for managing expectations?  Seriously though, I have the distinct privilege of displaying some of my work alongside illustrator Dylan Byrd. Dylan is a friend and extremely talented artist. It’s worth coming to the show just to see his stuff!

As for me I will be featuring some brand new pieces as well as some old favorites.  You will find a combination of commissioned work and personal projects, photography and graphic design.

Basically, you should come check it out!  In addition to the artwork there will be live music and some goodies to munch on.  …and did I mention that it’s FREE?!  Yeah, what’s your excuse now?  Besides, it’s from 7:00 – 9:00, so you’ve got plenty of time to get your Friday night party on afterward.  Details below:

• What: A stunning visual experience that is sure to make Avatar look like a thing of the past.
• When: Friday, May 7th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM  (and it’s ONLY during that time. One night only.)
• Where: Ebenezers Coffeehouse (201 F Street NE)
• Why: Because it will rock your flippin’ socks off! Gosh!  Besides, it’s local to support sexy artists.
• Who: You! Me, Dylan, and a special guest appearance (of international fame, no joke!)
• Bonus: The first 362 people will get a souvenir high five from Stephen Elliot!  Better come early!
• No need to RSVP, but here’s the Facebook event page if you’re into that sort of thing.

I dream of being a filmmaker. For now, I’m a photographer.  And lately I’ve had an unshakable desire to pursue filmmaking again. Then this book came in the picture, and now I’m really not comfortable with things.

One of the decisions I made was that I need to attend one of Robert McKee’s Story seminars.  The only problem is the timing.  He only does two seminars a year in North America.  The first one is wrapping up today (likely as I am typing this); the second one happens in New York City this week.

When I first saw the schedule two weeks ago I looked at my calendar and my wallet thinking it probably won’t happen this year, but I haven’t been able to get the thought out of my head that I need to go.  I honestly can’t tell if it’s an act of faith or selfish ambition, but at very least I feel compelled to let my thoughts out.  Maybe God will use this simple post to encourage someone else, or make a connection, or kick me in the pants, or, or or…. who knows.  Either way, I’ve got to do something with this desire to make films, and this is a small step in that direction.

I would love to hear how/if you have discovered a rhythm or guidelines for what gets blogged instead of journaled or tweeted etc…

Nevertheless, I walked out of the theater and couldn’t seem to stop making notes about it (which have now been polished into the blog post that follows).

SPOILER ALERT! Enter at your own risk…

I’m speechless…
Never before have I been so awestruck by a film.

Technically Speaking…

The movie blew me away! I don’t suppose I can realistically classify myself as anything more than a special effects enthusiast –maybe hobbyist on a good day– so I tend to mentally unpack visual effects shots in an attempt to imagine how it was created. While watching Avatar, my brain just locked up. I couldn’t even begin to guess how they created everything.

Yet, the technology never eclipsed the story. It wasn’t about doing something that had never been done before. It wasn’t a build-up to a special effects climax. It was merely what was necessary to tell the story in the best way.

James Cameron very wisely waited until the time was right to tell this story. He knew he needed to let his ideas simmer and percolate for a few years before he could make this film without compromise.  He definitely made the right choice.  It makes me wonder how many other stories have been told prematurely and suffered because of it…

Enter Pandora…

The story takes place in an alien world called Pandora. The concept artists did an outstanding job of creating a world that is completely extraordinary, yet totally believable and strangely familiar. This greatly aids the audience’s ability to connect with this foreign world and helps us leave our preconceived notions of reality back on earth.  Yet it is loaded with all the trappings of good fantasy –giants, floating mountains, planets, moons, spirits…  It all feels so magical, yet it’s not presented as magic; it’s simply the order of nature on Pandora.
     Imagine if you spent your whole life on Mars and then came to earth and saw birds, waterfalls, flowers, and even humans for the first time. Don’tcha think it would all seem magical?  That’s what Pandora is. It’s a magical reality.

The subtleties of the fantasy world really helped sell it as a believable place. The special effects really sing when you take your eyes off the obvious things and notice the attention to detail that is prevalent throughout the whole film. I think this is most clearly demonstrated in the night scenes, namely the rays of light emitting from footsteps.

It seemed like a lot of the wonder came from massive scale differences. One of the most simple yet awesome examples of this is the HUGE tree where the [avatars] live. It is such a commanding presence, yet it looks just like any tree you’ve seen before. Another scene involved enormous vines that were twisted like a DNA double helix. Again, it’s amazing, but not completely foreign.

In addition to the visual imagery, Pandora is rich with history and culture. Similar to Lord of the Rings an entire language, religion, and way of life was created for the film.

About halfway through the movie I found myself hoping it wouldn’t end any time soon. I wanted to keep discovering this new world.

The Story…

The film itself is partially told as a sort of self documentary, giving it a more personal feel than I expected from a Hollywood blockbuster. Even some of the camera work suggests the notion of a personal video diary –handheld zooming and panning shots, as well as some shots that resemble web cam footage. It subtly adds a personal touch to the film.

Unlike most sci-fi/action flicks in recent memory, Avatar’s story is king. It’s deep, and it slowly unfolds in front of you. It shows two parallel worlds in similar fashion as The Matrix, but takes it a step further by overlapping them. A key shift happens when Jake Sully says that “the real world” feels less like reality than his avatar world Na’vi. Not surprisingly, I began to feel the same way as I watched from my seat.

Eventually you find yourself on the side of the Na’vi and, if you’re anything like me, actually start hoping that they will demolish the humans. It’s amazing how the film leads you to cheer for the destruction of man. If that doesn’t demonstrate the influential power of film, nothing will.

Surely some people will say this is manipulation, or brainwashing, or politics; I’m saying it’s phenomenal storytelling! It leverages our territorial instincts to protect what we know and what we care about. By getting emotionally invested in the Na’vi culture our allegiance shifts from what we know (i.e. the human race) to what we have grown to love (i.e. the Na’vi). Personally, I think it’s brilliant!

Miscellaneous…

The horse-like creatures didn’t feel right. Their movement seemed very unnatural to me. That was the only thing that reminded me that what I was seeing was largely computer generated imagery.

Colonel Miles Quaritch (aka the bad guy) was perfectly played and scripted. You respect him, but really want him to be dead already. Very good tension built between him and Jake Sully.

Oh! Yeah, um, apparently Michael Jackson had a cameo in this movie. Trudy Chacon, the rebel pilot chick, looks way too much like MJ in some shots. I have to believe this was purely an accident, because it seemed so very out of place.

There were no stones unturned. Every element that was introduced served a purpose by the end.

It absolutely acknowledges the spiritual realm. I’m glad to see this thread woven into mainstream stories like this although I’m not suggesting that it paints an accurate picture of spirituality. It adds another layer to the story, making it that much more intricate and deliberate.

Jake’s handicap almost subconsciously helps you cheer for him. His avatar provides an escape from his human condition and gives the audience an ideal, underdog hero. It creates an emotional entry point without committing much screen time to develop.

The Director of Photography deserves a nod from the Academy here. There were so many sweeping camera moves that really aided the story without feeling like gimmicky 3D. Many of the action sequences involved long takes that actually showed what was happening. …unlike the cheaters behind Transformers. (Don’t get me started…) By clearly showing the audience what is happening they evoked many involuntary responses –”Holy wow!” “Are you kidding me?!” etc… Remember what you thought when you saw the World Trade Center slowly collapse on 9-11? Well, it’s kinda like that; it pulls a response out of you.

Conclusion…

I LOVED it!

Everything about it was so well done. My brain has been spinning with questions and ideas since I walked out of the theater. It has inspired me to learn and develop the craft of filmmaking and storytelling on a whole new level. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Unlike most of the initial reviews, I’ve actually had a couple weeks to use it and see how it holds up in day-to-day life. Here are the notes I’ve made along the way:

• The touch screen is very fast and responsive; it never lags!
• Multi-touch would be a welcomed addition, particularly for zooming. The “double tap to zoom” feature isn’t awesome, though it’s not frustratingly horrible either.
• Occasionally it scrolls down the page when you just try to tap something. I haven’t had this problem much lately, so I think it was just a matter of getting used to how it responds to your tap.
• Android (the phone’s operating system) is VERY impressive! The innovation behind Google is something I already endorse every day via Gmail, Maps, Calendar, etc… Knowing they are behind my phone’s interface is very reassuring.
• I love the way it syncs with my contacts from Gmail and Facebook. All of my Gmail contacts were showing up in the phone when I left the Verizon store.
• Contact grouping minimizes repetition in your list. If you have multiple entries or email addresses for someone it will automatically combine them into a single contact. However, it did get rather confused when it saw that I have an uncle named Steve Elliot…
• Until the most recent firmware (or Android) update on December 11th it had recurring problems syncing with google. The remedy linked above wasn’t working for me, and it kept giving me the error message. Fortunately it has worked flawlessly since the update. (This makes me VERY happy!)
• The Android Market is abundant, though not as plentiful as the iPhone App Store.
• There are three keyboards:

1. Virtual Vertical: A bit too small for my fingers. I’ve gotten better with it, but I still can’t type as fast as I would like. It is however great for one-handed use.
2. Virtual Horizontal: my personal favorite. I can access the buttons easily and the keys keep up with my typing as fast as I can go.
3. Slide-out QWERTY: it’s all right, though not spectacular. I frequently hit multiple keys at a time (on accident) when typing on it. I do love the multi-directional arrow pad though. I will often slide the keyboard out just to use it. It makes it much easier to reposition the cursor wherever you need it.

• The keyboards disappear when changing orientation, so you have to tap the text field to get it to pop up again.  This is mildly annoying.
• Auto-complete is excellent and doesn’t get in the way. Ninety-five percent of the time it gives me exactly the word I meant to type. I don’t have to waste time correcting the idiocy of auto-complete.
• The Body Glove case (optional accessory) is the perfect balance between a rubbery grip and a hard case. It’s nice that you can still slide out the keyboard, but it makes the top row of keys a bit harder to hit (for my big fingers). It makes the overall size of the phone appear much bigger than it really is. (I will be using the phone without the case for the next week to see which I prefer.)
• Slide out keyboard means moving parts, which means more places for dust to creep in.
• Dedicated “Back” button makes everything better.
• Multiple windows in Browser is revolutionary! It works just like tabs in Firefox. It’s one of the best examples of Android’s ability to run multiple tasks/apps simultaneously.
• Perfect response time for switching orientation to/from vertical to horizontal. No waiting and shaking like the iPhone.
• The built-in LED flash is fantastic. I don’t care for the direct flash in my photos, but it can be used as a flashlight with some of the apps. It’s much brighter than a screen whiteout.
• I wish it would allow one more row of icons on the home screen. There is a lot of wasted space –particularly if you use Widgets.
• Names and info from your contacts are automatically added to the user dictionary. Makes life easier.
• Speaker volume almost seems inconsistent. Sometimes it’s too loud and other times it’s not loud enough. (I guess there are a lot of variables to consider though –ambient noise, connection strength, recorded volume, etc…)
• Screen resolution is very impressive. Sharp detail and easy readability. Bright enough to see clearly outside on a sunny day.
• There needs to be an option to disable the camera sound. Unless you put the Media Volume on silent the camera’s “shutter” sound is loud and annoying.
• Accelerated scrolling is very well weighted. Makes it very easy to get through a long list or page without a lot of finger flicks.
• The Facebook app leaves much to be desired. It’s not intuitive at all. Just opens the browser for most commands.
• I can “Bump” with iPhones, thus making me a part of the cool kids club.
• The Chipotle app is not currently available for the Droid. …That is almost a deal breaker for me. =)

The obvious comparison: If the iPhone has taught us anything it’s that cell phones aren’t just for making calls any more. Ultimately it comes down to the various apps available, and currently Apple has a better offering.

The iPhone has proven that consumers are willing to put up with a second-rate carrier (AT&T) to get the bells and whistles of the hardware. Verizon finally has an impressive phone on their great network, but I don’t think anybody expects it to actually replace the iPhone. At least there is now a comparable alternative.

Conclusion: I LOVE the Droid! It’s been a remarkable tool for me, and has drastically increased my productivity. At the end of the day, it depends on what you’re looking for in a phone. I personally wanted to be able to check email, surf the web, and have GPS for local searches. I haven’t downloaded a single game, song, or movie on my Droid even though I can. It’s just not important to me right now.

If all of your friends have iPhones and you want to be like them, get an iPhone. If you’re on Verizon and want a great phone, get a Droid.

Each year all of the Gaylord Hotels do a thing they call ICE! (all caps with the exclamation point, if you wanna be picky).  Basically they setup a tent, chill it down to nine degrees Fahrenheit, bring in two million pounds of ice, and then sculpt it into a totally awesome winter wonderland.

But, you may be asking, how do you keep the temperature at nine degrees in a tent?!  And why does it have to be nine degrees if water freezes at 32?…  Honestly, I don’t have a clue.  What I do know, however, is that it’s worth checking out!  It would be an understatement to say that it’s impressive.

Aside from the amazingly detailed sculptures and the sheer volume of the work involved there are four slides made entirely of ice.  Just to make sure it was safe for kids I decided to test it out myself.  …five times to be exact.  =)

I was pleasantly surprised at how non-miserable the temperature was.  Don’t get me wrong, nine degrees is butt cold!  However, it is certainly bearable.  The wonderful thing is that there is virtually no wind.  Your toes will inevitably freeze stiff if you don’t keep walking –I did a little running man dance action to keep the blood circulating to my toes; now I just wish I had video of this…

Anyway, I’m rambling.

Moral of the story, if you’re near one of the four Gaylord Hotels this Christmas season, be sure to check out ICE!  You’ll be glad you did!

P.S.  I heard that one of the hotels is doing a Charlie Brown Christmas theme this year for ICE!  Needless to say, I’m SOOO jealous!  Hmm…  Hey Gaylord, do you need someone to photograph that ICE!?  I know a guy… =)

Tomorrow I’m finally making that happen.  In 7 hours I’ll be getting on a bus headed to New York with little more than my camera and moleskine.  Life is too short to keep putting it off.  Can’t wait to see what happens…

I gotta say a big thanks to my friends Rodney and Lacey for subtly encouraging me to pursue this simple dream.  I’m so thankful to have friends who inspire me!

…meh.

It’s been over a week since I saw it, but judging by the fact that I didn’t feel compelled to write a review immediately (as is normally the case), one could safely guess that it didn’t leave too big a mark on  me.  In a nutshell the movie was forgettable. The day after I watched it I had to jog my memory just to recall how it ended.

I should mention that my familiarity with the GI Joe franchise is nothing to brag about.  I was always more of a Lego kid than a GI Joe fella, but still, you’d have to be living under a rock for the last 30 years to not know a thing or two about GI Joe –it’s iconic!  Personally, I think that set the wrong tone for the film.  If they had given it some random title and therefore distanced it from the nostalgic icon then I think it would be a decent flick, not necessarily great, but decent nonetheless.  They set the expectations much too high for this film making it an easy target for critics, not unlike Transformers.

It has always seemed to me that GI Joe was based in reality, an exaggerated one, but reality nonetheless.  Isn’t the motto “A Real American Hero” after all??  Sadly this movie runs 180 degrees from that; it’s pure science fiction no matter how you slice it.  Personally I had an easier time believing that Spiderman was real.

On a technical note, I have to say that the film had some really sweet transitions in it.  The visual effects team pulled off some very sublime storyshowing by creatively bleeding one scene into the next.

And that’s all.

SPOILER ALERT!! For realz, if you haven’t seen the movie then you shouldn’t read this one yet.

From the very first moment of the film I found myself saying “Wow!”  It was a five second animation that was not only very well crafted, but also set the stage as an elegant recurring theme –perhaps even with a bit of foreshadowing.  It had texture and character and an articulate way of getting the point across.  Like a well-designed logo, it was simultaneously simple and subtle.

The next thing that jumped out at me proved to be one of the greatest strengths of the film.  Unlike most movies, this one gave the audience a simple tool for understanding how all the pieces fit together.  Namely, they gave us a clear 500-day timeline.  At any point in the film the audience was given a solid understanding of context. They didn’t tell us everything up front, but rather they gave us glimpses of what lies ahead and what happened in the past.

Personally I think that was a revolutionary decision.  One of the inherent differences between a book and a movie is the sense of time.  In a book the author can pause time, fill in as much back story as needed, and then pick up right where it was paused and the reader never misses a beat.  In film, however, we have this built-in understanding that time is still moving forward because we are seeing events unfold in front of us.  500 Days of Summer tackles this problem brilliantly!  They used a visual tool –the timeline– to give the editor liberty to juxtapose virtually any two scenes and have them make sense.

Rather than using cliche flashbacks, dream sequences, or text overlays like “Three months earlier,”  which can get redundant if not confusing, the use of the timeline allowed the filmmakers to focus on enriching the story without having to worry about whether or not the audience will be able to follow along.  Additionally, it opened up new opportunities to add extra touches for humor and subtlety.  It’s a fantastic juxtaposition of imagery!

I’m not really sure how to phrase this, but it felt like the film had its own personality.  Some people are blessed with a tremendous ability to tell stories; they know how to captivate their audience by giving them just the right details at the right time –not just a chronological rundown of events.  This movie feels the same way.  It’s a masterpiece of storyshowing!

The director and editor seem to have a very keen grasp of film as a visual medium.  Though the movie is full of dialog, the actors never had to explain anything because we got to see everything firsthand.

The audience never sees Summer’s husband, and I think that was a very wise decision.  We don’t really need to know anything about this guy –all we know is that he’s not Tom and therefore we don’t like him, so we don’t need to waste time developing his character.

The split-screen effect of Expectations Vs. Reality was pure genius! They brilliantly wove together the elements of Anticipation, Action, and Reaction. Most filmmakers would have done a canned dream sequence, but Marc Webb (director) creatively raised the bar here. The voice over and the Expectations built the anticipation perfectly.  The Reality showed the action, and then we were all taken by surprise with the reaction (ie. engagement).  You could demonstrate it like this:

1. Anticipation = voice over + Expectations
2. Action = Reality
3. Reaction = “Whoa! I did not see that one coming…”

The fact that the film chose to focus on the dude rather than the girl, to me, gave it a lot more credibility.  Us guys can relate to it because it’s a chick flick about a dude who’s not perfect. Heck, he’s not even Mr. Right.  Like it or not Summer was “the one that got away,” yet the story never loses sight of Hope.  It keeps looking forward.

In the final scene when Tom meets a new girl I found myself doubting the potential.  After all, we spent a year and a half falling in love with Summer, and then this new girl arrives on the scene and is supposed to change all that?  Fat chance!  I had come to the conclusion that he would never find another girl like Summer, and just when I was ready to hang my hat Autumn comes and changes everything…