Canon launched a campaign called "Beyond the Still" to advertise their new photograph cameras which features the ability to record HD video. As part of their campaign, Canon approached a LA filmmaker with a photograph and told him to shoot a video with their camera under three conditions.
One, to start the short film with their still. Two, to end the video with another still. Three, to judge a contest with the public continuing with the director's last still. The contest lasts for seven chapters with the top five videos for each chapter winning various canon gear. The 2nd chapter winner following the director's still was just announced, the winner's final frame (the still) starts the next chapter. What I find most interesting about the contest, other than recreating the game of storytelling by multiple storytellers through film, is that technology is no longer the limiting factor for professional look. Creativity is now the most important thing.
I watched the first video, the winner, and a few of the admissions (115 in total) (muppet one kinda funny, definitely a different take in the direction of the story) and now it is no longer the quality of equipment but the storytelling (most films under a few hundred bucks) (though directors still have to deal with acting talent and props). It is amazing that Canon sells an $800 camera that a month ago was $1650, that 3 years ago was $10,000.
This video is the director's film interpretation of Canon's still, a teddy bear on a sidewalk. Check out the contest site and the 115 other videos.
Chapter 1: The Cabbie from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.
