James Melzer » Videos

Music

James — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:38:03 +0000

I don’t always listen to music when I write…

…but when I do, these are some of the artists I enjoy.

Revolution

James — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:38:58 +0000

No, this isn’t about eBooks or the publishing world. Truth be told, I hate the term “Indie Revolution.”

It’s about television, and J.J. Abrams’ new show that I just watched the trailer for. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic themes. Not stuff involving zombies, vampires, or whatever other cliché monster you want to throw at me, but rather man’s ability to deal with things gone awry. Like a worldwide blackout that shuts everything off, and it never gets turned back on. Or does it? This is Abrams we’re talking about, so who knows.

Just enjoy the trailer and marvel at the sword play, and then get excited for Monday’s again!

Dark Knight Rises Trailer

James — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:02:48 +0000

Warner Brothers recently released the third trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, which hits theaters July 20, 2012. I’m a huge fan of this series and if the trailers are any indication, this last installment in the franchise is definitely not going to disappoint!

Enjoy!

Take the Shot

James — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:27:02 +0000

I watched this video (NSFW due to language) yesterday from a Kevin Smith Q&A and it really was inspiring, so I thought I’d share it with you all since I know how much you love videos.

Share your thoughts in the comments below and let me know what you think.

Just Dance

James — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:53:33 +0000

So I’m sure by now you’ve all heard the saying, “Dance like nobody is watching,” right? Yeah, me too. It’s a phrase I like, and while I don’t always follow the hidden meaning behind it (*spoiler alert* – it’s not about dancing), I enjoy seeing other people that do. More specifically, I enjoy seeing people who do exactly what it says, and that’s dance.

There have been dozens, if not hundreds, of videos around of people kicking off their Sunday shoes to strut their stuff in public. Recently though I came across this one on You Tube of Angela Trimbur getting down at the Galleria Mall in Sherman Oaks, California. It’s an awesome video to watch, as Angela is not only attractive, but damn, that girl can dance! It’s cool to see the way people interact with her as well, and what she does to grab their attention as they pass on by.

However, what interested me most about this video was not the dancing, but the song that was playing. Fancy Footwork by Chromeo. I’d never heard of it, or the band before until I saw this. So that sent me on down the rabbit hole. First to iTunes, and then on to Spotify (an amazing service where you can pretty much hear anything you want in full before buying it). I’m currently listening to it as we speak, and it’s got me to thinking that I need to stretch my musical wings more. While I’ve never been a big fan/critic of music, it always seems to be there at the most opportune time in my life, and hearing this song made me realize that there’s a whole whack of good music out there that I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to because I’ve just never had the time, or never really cared to go exploring.

So with that said, I’ll leave you to watch the video, and go do some exploring of your own. Who knows, like me you just might stumble upon some new bands that you like, or maybe even make your own video of yourself dancing like nobody is watching. But if you do, be sure to let me know, because I’d love to see it.

Pottermore Opening

James — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:48:44 +0000

Slowly but surely Pottermore.com is finally opening to the public after a lengthy delay. This morning I went to the home page, signed up, got a random username generated for me (GhostSword3939), and presto! I am now a member of the website. The catch is I now have to wait for an email that will tell me when I can access all the features and benefits of this…experience.

*le sigh*

I’m not going to lie, I’m super excited about all this. Harry Potter has been a part of my life in some form or fashion for the last 11 years. 11 years, man. That’s a long time, and with the recent release of the eBooks (I purchased them all on the first day) it has only spurred my interest in this global phenomenon once again. I absolutely cannot wait to delve deeper into the HP universe through Pottermore, exploring all that it has to offer.

So until I get my email allowing me full access to the website, I am left to twiddle my thumbs, write this blog post, and ask, “What about you? Are you excited for Pottermore and this resurgence of the HP craze?”

I just hope it turns out to be all that JK Rowling has promised, and more!

Friday the 13th Tribute

James — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:37:19 +0000

Growing up I cut my teeth on horror with such movies as JAWS, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and of course, Friday the 13th. The 80′s was the era of slasher films, and looking back on these movies today I can’t help but say to myself, “What was I thinking?” There was nothing redeeming about them. They had no likeable characters really, and they were filled with plot holes so big you could fly the Millenium Falcon through them.

So why did we watch them?

For the kills, man. The kills.

The Friday the 13th series is the perfect example of this. Each movie would feature a group of clueless teens heading off into the woods (or space, or a group home, or Manhattan), and low and behold ol’ Jason would be there to pick them off one by one. The only reason we kept watching movie after movie after movie was to see how creative he could be when it came to hacking and slashing his way through said group of teens.

Here then, is a smorgasbord of kills featuring our favorite hockey masked serial killer to bring you back to a more simpler time, when horror was unapologetic, and the breasts were real.

Have You Hugged Your Coke Today?

James — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:41:29 +0000

If there’s one thing Coca-Cola knows about, it’s marketing. The soda giant has been battling it out for decades with Pepsi and together the two have waged a carbonated war all across the globe.

Personally, when I did drink pop (yes I call it “pop”) I was the choice of a new generation. However, you have to hand it to Coke for this little bit of genius shown down below. What a clever idea. Get people to hug a soda machine and presto! A free can shoots out. So they’re getting a free beverage, and associating that beverage with one of the greatest things ever – a hug! Truly a stroke of genius right there.

Well played, Coca-Cola. Well played.

Joss Whedon on Buffy, Firefly, and More

James — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:31:57 +0000

Apparently I need to keep up more with the Internet happenings, because there was a Q&A on Reddit with Joss Whedon the other day and I missed it. Of course, I don’t have a Reddit account, but that could have been easily rectified I reckon.

Anyway, as a longtime fan of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, I found the recap of the Q&A session by The Hollywood Reporter pretty cool. When asked about doing a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to buy the rights to Firefly back and do a season two, Whedon responded:

“Step 2: Cancel Castle. Step 3: Cancel Homeland. Step 4: Generally destroy everybody’s careers. Step 5: Avoid Step 2.”

Basically he was saying that the stars are not aligned. They are doing other things, have other commitments and projects to work on. A second season of Firefly just isn’t going to happen…at least not any time soon (see my inner fanboy holding on to hope there?).

Then, when asked about his reputation for killing off people and the hardest character he’s ever had to snuff, Whedon had this to say:

“I actually find it refreshing… delightful…. vaguely arousing….

Actually, I’m, no offense, very tired of being labelled as “the guy who kills people”. Shakespeare (he’s this hot new writer) does it way more than me, and everyone’s all excited about how he, as it were, holds a mirror up to nature, while I’m like the Jason Voorhees of the writing community. Unfair.

Also, probably Buffy’s Mom.”

Too cool! The Body has got to be in my top 5 episodes of BtVS ever. Hmm, maybe I should do a list about those? To know that he agonized a little over bumping off Joyce makes me smile, because that was such a powerful hour of television. Kudos to you for that Joss, and every other thing you’ve ever done. Well, almost everything (*cough* Dollhouse *cough*).

After reading through the interview a little, I’m even more excited to see Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers now. I mean, I was going to see them anyway, but now…I’ll be first in line!

Speaking of Buffy, I picked up Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the novel collections that were released a few years back. When I get around to reading them, I’ll let you know what I thought.

IMPASSE

James — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:37:29 +0000

Talented director and longtime friend to Jenny and I, Michael Bekemeyer is utilizing Kickstarter to fund his new short film, IMPASSE, which is written by the equally talented Jeanne Veillette Bowerman.

The two of them can explain what it’s all about much better than I ever could, so I suggest checking out their Kickstarter page for more details, or watching the short video below to learn more about the project. I will say that if you decide to help fund this project like I have, you will not be disappointed. Michael is a great guy, a super-talented filmmaker, and his passion for movies is unmatched in anyone I’ve ever met before. You’re money will definitely be going toward a worthy cause, and will help Michael to continue doing what he does best…making films.

Rear Window Timelapse

James — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:58:11 +0000

I’m a big fan of classic movies, and not just horror flicks either. Sure, I like a good Dracula or Creature from the Black Lagoon just as much as the next guy, but I also have an appreciation for those films made during the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema that didn’t try and make you cover your eyes or run from the theater screaming. Films like Giant, Casablanca, It’s a Wonderful Life, and of course, Gone With the Wind. All those and more are what truly made me appreciate the medium and just what went in to making a good movie.

Getting back to the more suspenseful side of things though, is a movie director that was way ahead of his time. He created films that shocked and awed, and yes, made people scream for their mommies. I’m talking about Alfred Hitchcock, and movies such as Psycho, The Birds, North by Northwest, and others, had a deep, lasting effect on me growing up. One film in particular that I remember is Rear Window, the story about a professional photographer who breaks his leg one summer and is confined to a wheelchair. He passes the time by looking out his window at all the neighbors in his apartment complex. Spying on them, really. All is well and good until he suspects one of these folks for committing murder. Then the tension really picks up and we’re left to wonder if what the photographer saw was real, or if his mind is just playing tricks on him (for you modern audiences, see: Disturbia).

Anyway, I said all that to bring you to this. Filmmaker Jeff Desom has taken every scene show from the photographer’s window in the movie, and cut them together into a timelapse work of art that is truly stunning. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know what I mean. If not, I highly suggest going out and renting it, and then coming back and watching this video. Either way, you’re in for a real treat.

Enjoy!

The Most Astounding Fact

James — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:22:06 +0000

When you stop to think…
it really is.

Happy Easter

James — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:32:07 +0000

Just a quick note to wish all my friends and family a happy Easter. Since the holiday is all about bunnies, here’s the furry cartoon critters from Angry Alien Productions summing up some of my favorite flicks in 30 seconds or so.