My Favorite Commercial. Ever.
Commercial for Sony Bravia Hi-Def LCD televisions involving the dropping of an enormous amount of super balls from a rooftop and the bouncing of those super balls down the streets of San Francisco (Big download, but worth the wait).
It isn’t computer generated. Here’s what guys that made it had to say:
How we did it
In an age when CGI is commonplace, this makes the commercial all the more extraordinary. Every single frame was shot over two days - with the main sequence involving a 23-man camera crew and only one chance to get it right. An entire block was closed off and special compressed-air cannons shot the balls into the air, while earth moving equipment poured thousands down the street. Not that you’d know it from the finished product, but these balls can do some damage, so all the cars were props and crew members went so far as to having protective shields and crash helmets.
You can also check out behind the scenes footage.
By the way, if you like the song from the commercial it is Heartbeats, from the Jose Gonzalez album Veneer
Rilo Kiley at Kilby Court
M. Ward opened for Rilo Kiley. We actually had a baby sitter, so it was the first show Adrienne and I both went to in a long time.
I came to see Rilo Kiley but ended up transfixed by M. ward. A smallish 20-something with a baseball cap pulled low, he played the guitar like he had sold his soul, and he sang like he was channeling a chain-smoking Louis Armstrong. He is a one-man musical time-machine. I bought his album, Transfiguration of Vincent, and have just been looping it over and over and over.
It wasn't that long ago that I saw Rilo Kiley at Kilby and there were only about 20 of us there, and it was probably the best show I have ever been to. This time the place was packed and the set list wasn't exactly what I would have chosen, but it was still a great show. I have to say though, the couple of songs they played with M. Ward were actually some of my favorites of the night.
The only real negative to the show--I managed to stand directly in front of a speaker hanging from the ceiling. Being 6'6“, the sound actually went directly through my head, was amplified by my skull, and then went out to the rest of the crowd.
The Christian Astronauts
My new favorite song ever, Count Down and Blast OFF (mp3), by the musical geniuses, The Christian Astronauts.
I have listened to it at least 35 times today. I recommend you do the same.
