Editor’s Pick: The Coffin Maker

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” Since we launched the contest launched in February, we’ve been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

“The first coffin I ever built was for my child.”

Those somber words from coffin maker Marcus Daly immediately give you a sense of how much the craft means to him. For Daly, crafting the final resting place for someone is a personal experience and he sees it as a doorway to something else. Daly believes the most important aspect of a coffin are the handles and the ability to carry them.

“I think we’re meant to carry each other. I think that carrying someone you love and committing them is very important for us when we deal with death. We want to know that we have played a part and shouldered our burden.”

With the relatively recent innovation of metal coffins, Daly says that Americans are burying enough metal in the ground every year to rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge. His simple, handcrafted wooden coffins are friendlier to the environment.

Produced by documentary filmmaker Dan McComb, “The Coffinmaker” takes the viewer inside an occupation that most never think of. What really makes the video is Daly and his love for what he does. You really get a sense that each coffin he builds means something to him and his passion comes through in the video.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize. The deadline is May 31!

 

Editor’s Pick: Growing the Best Organic Coffee

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” Since we launched the contest launched in February, we’ve been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

In Southeast Brazil lies a town with a population of around 14,000 people that just happens to be the home of some of the best organic coffee in the world.

Coffee Carmo from Minas is a documentary by David Obadia featuring a family of farmers from the town of Carmo de Minas as they go through the delicate process of harvesting coffee from their land and preparing it for the world to drink.

Claudio Pinto is the owner of Paixão Farm and his passion for coffee is only surpassed by his love of his family. He’s worried that the farm may not survive once he’s gone so he is passing on the family traditions to his son Alê, who was born and raised on the farm.

In the documentary, Claudio and Alê explain how difficult growing quality coffee is. First you need workers who know when to pick the coffee when it’s ripe. The climate makes it difficult and workers must pick ripe coffee among the unripe. They also grow different types of coffee and each has it’s own special set of demands. Organic coffee is obviously the most labor intensive.

Once the coffee is picked from the shrubs, workers begin the drying process and put it through a machine to separate the grains. During the separation step there must be sunshine otherwise it will be spoiled. Not only is the weather a concern but Claudio and Alê also take into account the stars. They harvest under a certain moon and a particular constellation, which they believe influences the taste of the coffee.

After the drying and processing the coffee is taken out into a yard for further drying and the different kinds of coffee is separated. From there the coffee is roasted and monitored closely so that it isn’t overdone and to make sure it’s fine ground.

Despite having the coffee growing process down to a science, Brazilians don’t value coffee according to Alê. Because of this and the fact there are few farmers who grow organic coffee, most of the product is exported where it is highly valued.

Coffee Carmo from Minas is a beautifully shot documentary that takes the average coffee drinker into a world far from the Starbucks line at their local shopping mall.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize. The deadline is May 31!

 

 

Editor’s Pick: Wrongfully Admitted to Sunbury Asylum

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” Since we launched the contest launched in February, we’ve been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

In 1945, Maraquita Sargeant, a mother of five young children, was admitted against her will to Sunbury Mental Asylum in Australia. Her youngest child, Tony, has spent the last 50 years of his life searching for answers.

Walking the grounds of the now vacant and dilapidated Sunbury, Tony claims his mother was the victim of an era where there were no contraceptives and divorce was not allowed. Having five children already, Maraquita was not willing to give birth again and soon after was admitted. In 1946, she wrote a letter to the governor of Victoria stating she had been “unjustly detained.” The governor responded with a letter to the mental hygiene director and stated the letter “appears to be from a sane person.” The hygiene director’s response can only be described as chilling:

“She is definitely insane and if released would be a threat to certain prominent people’s reputations.”

With the director alerted to Maraquita’s attempt to write the governor, he shipped her to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where she received a lobotomy—a new and experimental procedure at the time that involved separating the front of her brain from the back. The operation was considered a failure. Maraquita spent her time at Sunbury in the sewing room repairing linen and ironing. Despite the injustice, Maraquita remained optimistic and in 1967 she was released.

Upon her release, Maraquita was disorientated so an attempt to reinstitutionalize her was made. Tony called for a psychiatric evaluation and the psychiatrist reported that there was nothing wrong with her. The chairman of the meeting with the psychiatrist delivered perhaps the most haunting news:

“Mr. Sargeant, there is nothing wrong with your mom. Never has been.”

“Maraquita” is a wonderfully shot and edited documentary by George Clipp. The use of historic photos mixed with modern footage of Sunbury today bring the viewer into the asylum but it’s the retelling of the story by Tony that will give you goosebumps. Sunbury is a dark place for Tony and you can hear in his voice the pain the asylum has caused him throughout his life.

Technically, the documentary is executed very well. The special effects used to re-create the sewing room and bridge the gap between the 40s to now were flawless. I also thought the music added a dark and somber mood to the piece.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

 

 

Editor’s Pick: The Tape Artist

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

We all have our vices. Some people go out and drink. Some people root for the Red Sox. For artist Sarah Anne DiNardo, her vice is rolling tape. Ever since she was young, DiNardo has been fascinated by stickers—Chiquita banana stickers to be exact. The resistance of pulling your fingers off of something sticky was unlike anything else for DiNardo and has led to a new artform.

Using empty boxes and masking tape, the Brighton, Massachusetts, resident crafts beautiful and ornate sculptures that resemble everything from barnacles on a boat to entire cities. I recently spoke with DiNardo to find out more about tape rolling and the video that told her story.

Tell me about the video. How did it come to be?

I’ve been doing this [tape rolling] for as long as I can remember. I’m really good friends with Dana Saint, one of the partners of Gnarly Bay Productions, Inc., and I thought he was one of the most talented people I had ever met. I’m a huge fan of him and his company. When it came time to really take a professional step forward with what I was doing with my art, he was the first person that came to mind. As you can see with my work, it’s not something that you can see and understand everything about it. I really felt as if a video would be an appropriate tool to describe in full who I am and what I do and why.

What was the filming like?

The guys showed up to my house the night before and we sat down and had a nice dinner and talked about the agenda for the next day. We mapped out hourly what we wanted to accomplish and where and what we wanted to shoot. The next day we started at about 7 a.m. and shot until probably 11 p.m. It was a full day of shooting. As soon as it was done, it was about a week turnaround to edit and put that amazing video together.

Once you discovered your love of tape, how long did it take to figure out how to turn it into art?

It’s been a long evolution. In the video you can see there’s a specific shot where I’m holding a black frame with very little tape roll [2:22]. That was actually my very first tape sculpture. Over the years I have really learned so much about the material and the chemicals I use to protect the pieces. It’s a constant evolution, it’s a constant learning process and I finally have found my favorite type of tape so that’s exciting. I think I’ve tried every type of tape that exists. I’m really excited about the color and the texture. I just find the medium to be limitless.

You mention in the video that people see cities or even planks of wood in your sculptures. What do you think they look like? What do you see when you look at a finished piece?

It’s more of a representation of a piece of time for me. Not necessarily a literal trigger of something. It’s more of a very peaceful period of time and I can look at each piece and remember where I found the box and how excited I got about it and what was happening in my life at the time when I was working on it. Similar to a ceramicist, I kind of view each tape sculpture kind of like a test tile and each one is something that teaches me a little bit more about myself and also my process.

Do you have plans to take your tape art and do something else with it?

When this evolves I want to go large. I want to go really big scale. I want to do hotel lobbies. I want to do custom installation work. I really feel as if there could be a huge market for that. I’m having conversations now with interior designers about doing some hotel lobbies so I think that will be a really great step forward.

The video is absolutely beautiful. What do you like about it?

I think the thing I like most about it is the person who created it really knew who I am. When we were kind of spitballing about how we wanted to go about doing the video, I didn’t want it to be a promotional tool or anything cheesy or in your face. I wanted it to be an artist perspective of another artist. I feel like that is what was achieved. Not only visually but also content wise.

The speed and types of shots are stereotypical of Gnarly Bays’ style. They almost have a warmth and charm to all of their stuff that they do. They were very open to talking back and forth with me before we started shooting. We talked about ideas and some ideas we didn’t use and other ideas we thought of in the moment. It was a very open dialogue, which I really appreciated.

How did you achieve the meditation shot in the video?

That was one of the funniest parts of the entire thing. Dana pitched the idea to me and I thought it was going to look so cheesy. The whole video, other than the antique store, was shot in my tiny apartment. We were looking for something for me to sit on top of and the only thing we could find was my metal trash can. So I somehow managed to balance my body on top of this trashcan that I insisted on disinfecting before I sat on and somehow within their process they achieved the look.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: Amp Up the Classroom

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

At Fairmont Heights High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, an unusual class is aimed at students with the gift of music. DJ class was originally designed for at-risk kids who, bored with their core curriculum, are more drawn to music. DaShawn Dillard, the course instructor, believes giving students something to do that they’re passionate about will set them up for success in the future.

Produced by Amy Brothers, “DJ Class: Getting Lost in the Music, Finding Your Way in Life” does a fantastic job of bringing the viewer into the classroom. I particularly liked all of the narratives weaved throughout the video. From the principal explaining why the course was created to the students describing their passion, Brothers crafts a compelling and complex story in only four minutes. The music is pretty good too!

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: The Homemade Rock Climbing Wall

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

A month before moving from Massachusetts to Colorado, 8-year-old Kathrin Houston posed a simple question to her father about their new house.

“Do you think we could build a rock wall in the side [of the garage] we don’t use for the car?”

Inspired by a magazine photo showing a professional climber with a rock wall in his house and fueled by her passion for the sport, Houston set out to build her own custom rock wall. But it wasn’t until her father showed her where the wall would go that she actually believed it would happen.

The narrative of the video is driven by Houston, who is very entertaining—my favorite parts of the video include her losing track of the question or going off topic (“I like bacon…”). This is a great example of how you can find a story anywhere. The editing makes you forget that nearly the entire video was filmed inside of a garage.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: Michigan’s Spectacular Upper Peninsula

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

There are few places in the United States more picturesque than Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In fact, in 2011, we named the UP one of our “Destination America” locations. When Northern Michigan University student Mike Kvackay submitted his timelapse video of the UP we were instantly captivated. We recently had the chance to talk with the cinematography major about his video and what inspired him.

What made you get into cinematography?

I guess I just wanted to explore the world that I live in, in the UP. It was my first time in the UP when I went to school here, and it’s sort of a hidden treasure. Not too many people know what’s up here. They kind of associate Michigan with down-state in Detroit. It’s a beautiful area up here, and the nature and wilderness that I live in is what brought me into photography and timelapse more specifically.

 Are there certain subjects or locations that you prefer to shoot?

For photography, I primarily do timelapses and nature and landscapes. As far as my videos go I center myself around action sports. I’ve done a lot of shooting with professional ski and snowboarders, and that’s where I would like to take my career.

What kind of gear do you use?

I use a Canon 7D, which I purchased two-and-a-half years ago. For timelapses, I started using a 6-foot dolley slider made by a company called slidetracked.com. I was one of the first people to buy their product. It’s fairly cheap and works really well.

How did your UP timelapse come about?

I’ve been in the area for the last three years and I’ve always wanted to explore when the fall colors are at their peak. This year I started to invest in better equipment and I thought it would be a good opportunity to show people there is beauty in the UP. It’s a beautiful area and nobody really seems to know about it. I wanted to put the UP on the map.

How long did it take you to shoot the video and how many photos did you take?

It took me about three weeks. I started shooting when the fall colors were at their peak, which is the first week in October and ended towards the end of the month. I probably spent two weeks driving around in between class and work to go to these locations and shoot. Overall, I shot about 15,000 pictures.

What makes a good timelapse in your opinion?

I think flow. You have to worry about composition and how the shots come together. A key aspect for me is saturation, hue and lighting. If you have the right light you can make any shot look beautiful.

What’s next for you?

I’m graduating in about three weeks and I plan to move to Bozeman, Montana, with my girlfriend. I want to explore Big Sky Country and start a career in Montana or somewhere out in the Western United States.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: The Beauty of Letterpress

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

Johannes Gutenberg invented letterpress printing in the mid-15th century and it remained popular until the late 20th century when the digital revolution made printing as easy as pressing a button on a computer. Thanks to letterpress technicians such as Paul Collier of England’s Plymouth University, the 500-year-old process is experiencing a revival.

Filmmaker Danny Cooke captures a day in the life of Collier as he goes through the elaborate steps to create typographic works of art. The wide range of shots mixed with archival footage gives the viewer a look at the true quality of letterpress. The soundtrack Cooke chose for his documentary should also be mentioned as it does a lot to set the pace of the video. Stay tuned until the end of the video, where Cooke comes up with a clever way to display the credits.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: Life of Samiulla

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

“Do not cry for your father because now it is you who has to be the responsible one.”

Those were the words spoken to Samiulla at his father’s funeral. In 2009, a bomb blast killed his father, and Samiulla was left to provide for his family.

As the oldest in the family, Samiulla spends his days running a store in the local market. He wakes up early and returns home late at night. He had to give up his dream of going to school.

Videographer Khurrum M. Sultan captures this amazing story that is all too common in Pakistan. He hopes that by telling the story of Samiulla children in the region will soon be able to live free from terror and fear.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.

Editor’s Pick: Amazing Chicago Timelapse

Every week on this blog we will feature one video that Smithsonian.com selects as an “Editors’ Pick.” In the two weeks since the contest launched, we’ve already been blown away by the high quality of the submissions. Note: these videos are not selected by the contest judges and have no bearing on the final result of the contest.

The featured videos are meant to inspire and encourage.

There is a lot of waiting around when it comes to shooting timelapses but when executed properly the results can be spectacular as seen here in photographer Eric Hines‘ “Cityscape Chicago.”

Based out of Northwest Indiana, Hines shot over 30,000 photographs on a Canon 5D Mark III between July and October 2012 in downtown Chicago. The inspiration for the video comes from his fascination with the city, particularly at night.

“For me, there has always been a mysterious sort of feeling to Chicago at night,” Hines said in the caption for his video.

Feeling inspired? Head over to our submission page and upload your video for a chance to win our grand prize.