A "Minimal" Blog Post

We had the opportunity to attend the Green Omaha Coalition's 2016 "Reel to Real" Film Festival in Oct. 27 at Aksarben Cinema. 

Our friend Barb Thompson is on the organization's board of directors, and we did some work for the GOC the first year this event took place. 

Here's the logo I created for them:

This year's event featured the film "Minimalism: A Documentary About Important Things," and a pre-show talk with a local "tiny house" family, Melody and Darren Mike and their kids.

Couple things: 

1.) My wife can attest to the fact that I love documentaries -- my favorite documentary is called "Helvetica" (it's about the font, and the world of graphic design).

2.) I am fascinated with the socio-economic underpinnings of this whole "tiny house" movement. 

Let's start with the movie.

"Minimalism" reminds me a bit of the urban-design documentary "Urbanized" that Gary Hustwit made a few years ago -- especially as it regards consumer habits in the 21st century. 

The difference here is that "Minimalism" focuses less on the impact of an increasingly urban world, and more on a de-cluttered lifestyle, and living a life within one's means. It deals with the notion that the pursuit of "things" doesn't necessarily correlate to increased enjoyment, and can sometimes cause the reverse to happen.  

It features personal testimonials wrapped in subtle advocacy. Many of the examples in the film are people who could afford more, but have chosen to pursue the minimalist lifestyle. Think of it as a diet for the soul. Less stuff equating to more freedom.

The documentary was created by Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. They operate the website theminimalists.com. Both friends had achieved financial success in their 20s, but felt discontented as they approached 30. The two left their corporate jobs in 2011, and started a 21-day program using the principles of minimalism to take control of their life. 

They have written multiple books on the topic, and tour around the country giving seminars.

Finding ways to avoid "over mortgaging" your life -- and reduce debt load and expenses -- is a noble pursuit. 

Along with the film, the Green Omaha Coalition had a "tiny house" family on hand. 

(I'll tell you more about the Tiny House family in a future blog post!)

Read my previous post: Give It New Life

Give It New Life

We've been working to organize the basement. I work down there most of the day (Bridget mainly works upstairs). I have been trying to make it nicer so the space will be more conducive to productivity.

My goal is to try and make the dark, cool space more enjoyable.

The basement was finished in the 1970s -- and, as you can imagine, it is a mix of cinderblock walls and wood paneling (that we painted an off-white color when we moved in).

After 12 years, it is a process of organizing and removing accumulated "stuff."

I added a Bose radio a year or so ago, and my niece Julia helped me create this homage to a 1999 computer store. 

I've wanted to add a TV to the space, but would rather not invest in a new set until this whole 4K UHD thing is figured out.

My first LCD flat panel was a Vizio VX37L HDTV I purchased in 2007. We used it until 2012 -- when the digital tuner went bad.

It is a fairly common issue with Vizio's of that era. It wouldn't be an issue if we had cable, we could hook up a box to one of the HDMI ports.

But since we use antennas to pick up over-the-air digital broadcasts, I couldn't pick up anything with the TV.

We've discussed getting rid of the old Vizio for the last few years, but hadn't yet bid the TV farewell.

So, I decided to give the set some new life.

Various companies sell "digital tuner" boxes to pick up OTA signals. They are largely used with old analog sets, early HDTVs without digital tuners, and projectors. 

Some of the models offer the ability to output in HD via an HDMI port on the back.

I picked up a tuner at the store, along with a new HDMI cord. I have several antennas, and placed the TV on a table along the south wall of my work area so I could place the antenna in a small window in the foundation. 

I hooked up the antenna to the tuner, ran the HDMI to the appropriate port on the HDTV, and followed the onscreen instructions to scan the channels. 

I was able to pick up 21 digital channels (which is typical for our house with the small indoor antennas), and includes all the locals. 

By default, the box output to 1080i on my TV (the OTA signals are broadcast in 1080i), but allows you to set various resolutions including 1080p, 720p, and 480p. 

It has a program guide, and gives you DVR abilities if you hook up an external USB memory stick or hard drive. 

(I didn't have a drive available, but might try it at some point down the road). 

The picture looks nice (the TV had a good looking picture for its day), and I used an RCA cable to run the sound from the box to the Bose radio (the TV speakers are fine, but it sounds better via the stereo).

So there ya go. I have a "new" HDTV in my workspace and it cost me ~$50 in supplies.

What Is A Pinning Ceremony?

Tonight my niece Lauren -- and the 24 other International Baccalaureate students at Omaha's Central High School -- took part in the annual "IB Pinning Ceremony" at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. 

Here are tidbits about International Baccalaureate:

-- The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (it's spelled that way on the official website) is offered at only three (3) high schools in Nebraska: Omaha Central, Millard North, and Lincoln High.

--  The DP is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education.

-- It addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students, and is respected by universities across the globe.

-- Each of the IB’s programmes, including the DP, is committed to the development of students according to the attributes shown in the IB learner profile.

More information can be found at http://www.ibo.org/

In a nutshell, it is a special curriculum program for students. It is relatively new.

At some schools, the "pinning ceremony" involves junior diploma candidates in IB getting a pin from seniors. 

Tonight's ceremony didn't involve that practice. The event only included seniors.

Each student came up to receive his or her pin. The principal of the school read information on the research paper each student is working on. 

Photo courtesy of Danielle Rowe

The papers (no longer than 4,000 words) focus on varied topics like "To What Extent are Patients Harmed By Favoring Either Biomedical or Psychotherapy Treatments for Depression?" and "The Expansion of Drones Through Businesses" (which Bridget enjoyed reading).

My niece is doing her paper on "An Analysis of the Impact of History on Charles Dicken's Novels."

Each student received a purple gerbera daisy to give to their project supervisor.

Afterward, there were cakes and refreshments. 

This was the first time I had been in UNO's Weitz Community Engagement Center. It is a terrific facility (which UNO administrators have suggested might be the only facility of its kind on a college campus in the U.S.), and was a nice locale for this evening's festivities.

Congratulations, Lauren.

Read my latest blog post: Say Hello to "Planet Earth II"

Say Hello to "Planet Earth II"

Adding a little serenity to your Sunday, I present the extended trailer for BBC Earth's upcoming series "Planet Earth II": 

This sequel to 2006's "Planet Earth" boasts it will offer the latest advances in filmmaking technology, and present a fresh perspective on the natural world.

Sir David Attenborough will once again handle narration duties (no word on whether his narration will be replaced for U.S. broadcasts, as was the case on the Discovery Channel for "Planet Earth").

"Planet Earth" introduced a generation to the benefits of HD technology when it debuted (at a time when HDTV adoption was still in its growth phase). It became a bestseller on Blu-Ray (and Microsoft's now-defunct HD DVD format), and quickly became reference material for video enthusiasts across the globe.

It ushered in a slate of follow-up series including "Life" and "Frozen Planet," along with various theatrical releases using edited footage from the series.

But none ever matched the scope and grandeur of “Planet Earth."

The premiere date for "Planet Earth II" is yet to be announced. It will air on BBC One in the UK, and should arrive in the U.S. shortly thereafter.

If you haven't had a chance to see "Planet Earth," be sure to check it out. It is currently available to stream on Netflix, and also available for purchase from various video retailers (try to avoid the standard-definition DVDs -- they simply don't do the series justice). 

Read my recent blog post: British TV Envy

It's…Peculiar

There is this new movie about an awkward teenager who finds "belonging" among a bunch of kids with unusual powers and abilities.

No, he isn't a wizard with a lightning bolt-shaped scar. 

This teenager lives in balmy Florida, and works at a grocery store. His name is Jacob (Jake for short). 

He is close to his grandfather Abe. During Jake's formative years, Abe enchants him with all sorts of fantastical stories -- illustrated by old black-and-white photos of creepy gothic characters with special abilities Abe met during his younger years.

The beings in the pics didn't live at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, or even Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. 

They lived at "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." 

This is the latest effort from light goth filmmaking master Tim Burton. Back in the day, his movies "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands" fascinated viewers with eye-popping visuals, ironic humor, endearing characters, and hummable scores by Danny Elfman. 

The movie is based on the popular children's book series by Ransom Riggs, who started his eclectic career as a filmmaker and blogger (there is hope for me yet). 

When Abe mysteriously dies -- and leaves Jake with a clue-filled volume of Ralph Waldo Emerson writings -- the "hero's journey" is sparked, and Jake sets forth on a trip to Wales to investigate the cause of his grandfather's death.

All of this sounds like fertile (albeit familiar) territory for an intriguing tale of confounding clues, odd characters, and weird worlds. 

The main issue is that the pacing feels a bit slow (particularly early on), and the story takes a while to hit its stride. 

Jake is portrayed by actor Asa Butterfield, who has made a career in the fantasy genre (Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" ranks as a favorite of mine, and he recently starred in the movie based on "Ender's Game"). He capably plays a sullen teen, even if he is a bit "low energy" in this movie. 

The rest of the cast features the likes of Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Chris O'Dowd, and Terrence Stamp. Dame Judi Dench even makes an appearance.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the main antagonist, Barron. He seems to be having the most fun with the material, and Barron comes across as a "Halloween version" of the pitchman Jackson plays on the "Capital One" credit card commercials. 

I don't want to give away too many of the main plot points, but Jake eventually finds Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Along the way we learn that there are "loops" in our world that allow characters to bend time. There are evil beings referred to as "hollows" who are attempting to thwart the peaceful existence of the "peculiars." 

Jake meets a girl named Emma -- a "peculiar" who floats like a balloon and can control air. Emma is portrayed by 16-year-old Ella Purnell, who does the best she can to harness her inner Christina Ricci/Helena Bonham Carter for the role. 

There exists all variety of weirdness throughout the tale -- characters eating wiggling eyeballs, cotton candy employed as a weapon, a boy who transplants living hearts into inanimate objects, and a child who can project his dreams using a jeweler's eye loupe. 

As a concession worker at Aksarben Cinema mentioned, "the last third of the movie was really weird." 

While I found the tale to be intriguing, I felt there were some miscues by Tim Burton.

First and foremost is a compelling musical score. Movies like this depend on musical stylings, and much of the movie lacks any sort of melodic undertone. 

Secondly, despite having a character who keeps living hearts in jars, the movie lacks a rhythmic pulse. At times it feels like a paint-by-numbers effort by Burton, where the whole isn't greater than the sum of its parts. 

My nieces Emily and Lauren have both read the Ransom Riggs novel, and both enjoyed the movie, but pointed out its drawbacks. 

If Halloween fare with a dash of "creepy" is what you're looking for, check out "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." While it won't achieve "classic" status in the genre, it is entertaining. 

Trailer: 

Rated PG-13. Runtime: 2 hrs, 7 min

Read my recent blog post: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors and Tidbits

Twitter's NFL Stream is Pretty Nice

Follow up to my earlier post on Twitter winning the streaming rights to Thursday Night Football this season...

I typically watch these games on my HDTV using my over-the-air antenna..

But I decided to also watch Twitter's stream of tonight's Thursday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. 

There is a delay with the stream (as is typical with live content), but the quality is really nice.

If you go to @NFL on Twitter, they have information on watching the stream.

The iOS Twitter app doesn't allow direct AirPlay mirroring to my 3rd generation Apple TV, but you can mirror the screen.

If you have the latest 4th generation Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Xbox One, you can watch via a new Twitter app for those platforms that is dedicated to video. 

Pretty cool. I still think Twitter is an unorthodox choice to stream the games. But the platform offers a clean, quality stream (a benefit to cord cutters who can't watch the broadcast over-the-air). 

Read my previous post about "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors & Tidbits

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors and Tidbits

The second (well, third if you count the terrific "teaser") trailer for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Wars Story" was unveiled this morning in the U.S. on ABC's "Good Morning America" (and on the web for fans to pour over):

I am super excited to see this movie. 

This will apparently be the final theatrical trailer, but I would expect additional content to surface leading up to the movie's Dec. 16 release.

HOW WE GOT HERE...

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is the first attempt by Disney/Lucasfilm to "Marvel-ize" the "Star Wars" franchise by creating what they refer to as "anthology" movies.

This isn't part of the main "trilogy structure" of the series. "Rogue One" takes place during the period of time leading up to "Star Wars: A New Hope", and is the story of a ragtag group who unites to steal the plans to the original Death Star (led by Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones). 

The story is based on a concept by John Knoll, who is the Visual Effects Supervisor and Chief Creative Officer at Industrial Light & Magic.

If you are a SW fan, you might remember Knoll in the terrific documentary "The Beginning" included with the "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" DVD. He has also appeared in other "Star Wars" docs, and various other "making ofs" focusing on ILM's work. 

This is a fun video from April showing Knoll (and the rest of the visual effects crew for "Rogue One") watching "fan reaction" videos for the movie's teaser trailer: 

For years, I saw his brother Tom Knoll's name whenever my copy of Adobe Photoshop 5.5 was opening up. That is because both Knolls created the software (thanks guys!)

Chris Weitz ("About A Boy") and Tony Gilroy ("The Bourne Identity") worked on the screenplay. The film was directed by Gareth Edwards, who directed 2014's "Godzilla."

THE SCUTTLEBUTT

There has been some interesting production news about "Rogue One" over the past few months. 

Earlier this summer, rumors were swirling about reshoots taking place, which unleashed a wave of concern among fans across the internet.

This "Entertainment Weekly" article from June talks about the reshoots (which sources at LucasFilm said had been pre-scheduled): http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/03/rogue-one-reshoots

There were rumors suggesting over 40 percent of the movie was being reshot (false) and that Christopher McQuarrie (who wrote and directed "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation") had been brought in to direct those reshoots (also false). 

Disney CEO Bob Iger has referred to "Rogue One" as "an experiment of sorts," and a profile of Felicity Jones in the "The Hollywood Reporter" suggests some $30 million was spent on the reshoots: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/felicity-jones-rogue-one-reshoots-937569 

In addition, composer Michael Giacchino (who has collaborated with J.J. Abrams on numerous projects) was brought in to replace Alexandre Desplat (an Oscar-winning composer who has worked on various scores -- including music in the "Harry Potter" franchise).

According to reports, the reshoots prompted the change as Desplat was unavailable to do the work: (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-rogue-one-replaces-929387)

I loved Giacchino's work on the "Star Trek" reboot movies, and think his musical stylings are well-suited to the "Star Wars" franchise. 

But the reports -- taken in total -- have created head scratching among fanboys about this new adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? 

I have no idea how the movie will compare to last year's "The Force Awakens." But the storyline sounds intriguing, and the visuals look stunning. 

Each of the trailers up until this point have presented new bits of information, and the kid in me (who grew up playing with "Star Wars" action figures) loves seeing visuals of AT-ATs surrounded by sand and palm trees (they are AT-ACTs in "Rogue One" because these models include a dedicated cargo bed for construction sites):

Tonally, the movie looks to have a far grittier and more militaristic vibe than its predecessors. But "the force" appears to provide a spiritual undertone to Jyn Erso's heroic journey, which has been key to the "Star Wars" franchise. 

The main unknown is how fans will react to a movie that doesn't feature familiar characters (although, Darth Vader is set to make an appearance). 

I'm excited to see something different, and look forward to experiencing a different take on the "Star Wars" universe. 

As is the case with any new "Star Wars" trailer, YouTube is filled with oodles of "fan reaction" videos.

One of my favorites is by self-proclaimed "Geek Priest" Father Roderick Vonhogen of the Netherlands: 

This won't be the only "anthology" movie in the "Star Wars" saga. A young Han Solo movie is set for release in 2018. 

But first things first... 

As the release date edges closer, you can count on endless buzz and a full-on marketing blitz in support of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story".

I will be here to talk about it all... 

Dec. 16 can't come soon enough! 

Read my latest blog post: British TV Envy