COL2007 - it's here!

my copy arrived today.. just about to have a watch

I love the new menu - makes searching by artists so easy.

dai's 'zoabab in africa' clip was breathtaking - thank you for taking a new direction in COL videos!

loved the sauciness of spiral fire hoop dance.

i liked ninaruna's elf ears. makes me want to have hairy feet!

nox incendio looked quite polished, there was excellent lighting, costuming, framing however the cuts were very short.

much respect to the yummy performance by yuta & asuka for their posim clip. lovely atmosphere and blending of fire and glow equipment.

my *fave* video has to be the cheeky, strongly narrative entry by nosh (by grubby pumpkin theatre?), featuring pedro chiba. yay pedro! i'm a sucker for non technical, story, driven work.

this compilation is STRIDES more polished than any previous COL. design, chapter menus, standard of twirling (and i don't mean just tricks - simply artistry. love all the emphasis on dance.

love your work, hop thanks for givin me a chance to share the new direction i've taken in pusuing fire fans work. I'm lucky to be one of the 29 that made it onto the disc.

b

to add to that list, the marvelous (and modest) bender.. always amazing to see you spin mister

also, was that half moon bay?

I got mine today

So inspired by far outstanding performances by amazing spinners

I'm going to go watch it again

I have to agree with the DVD itself, the menus, the artist selection, etc being better than before.
The music as well.
Props for that!

Beyond that, I was disappointed.

There was a severe lack of diversity on this thing. The staves, all done to varying skills, were all done extremely similarly. Same with the hoops. And the fact that it was sooo completely heavy in these areas as well. Watching these every year one can not only determine the hot topic of what prop to use but also what the newest focus of movement groups with that group are.
This also reflects back to another discussion I've been in about how so many HoP spinners now look alike because of the common influence. I could literally look at people and go "Oh, that's Nicks influence"

Story driven was another hot thing this year, in several videos we felt, to the detriment of actually showing spinning skill. There were a few I can think of where the story was far more emphasized and skills were shown but a fraction of the video time. That was *extremely* disappointing, since this is actually a spinning/skill video, not a- as one of the viewers in my living room put it- freshman film class project.

The group thing, the "more fire is better" was big as well, with some of the people in those groups not really doing much but waving something around in the back. To the point where at times it was obvious that was what sent it was actually a performance demo video and not one made for the competition. At that point it felt very much like commercials for these groups.

My favorites were the ones not so contrived. I'm at work so I don't have the exact names in front of me but I love to see people spin in the park in daylight. I love seeing backyard spinners. I love seeing people *spin* more than I care about all of the effects, the stories, the other contrived bit as that is what I thought this was for.

I understand that HoP worked with the videos they were given and they did a bang up job with it.

I also think that there was alot of really good and strong artistry displayed and that I really enjoyed watching it from that aspect.

However, we (as we had a large group viewing it) would have prefered to see more diversity, in styles and in tool list.

Perhaps next year there should be two levels? Amatuer and Professional because, quite frankly, I think that it is *exceedingly* unfair to put the two different calibers in the same competition. If you are going to continue to accept entries of that nature, and you should absolutely!, there should be a dividing line for them then.
And within the "pro" group vs. solo/duo.
Just a thought.

I enjoyed it very, very much and give large kudos to those who worked hard to put it together, but wanted to offer up some feedback about what we thought of it overall, instead of just saying opinions about individuals on the video.


Nice job all.

I have to say I mostly agree with Pele's assessment of the overall project. I loved the menu design and the color chosen for the packaging! It's the color of California poppies. That seems like a silly or minor thing to comment about, but really, it's a nice package.

I was psyched to see so much hoop represented, but I too was struck by the sameness of the hooping styles. I actually think there would be more diversity of hoop styles visible if people focused on normal hoops instead of fire hoops. I could say more on that but that's not what this thread is about.

It seems to me that people all over the world learning things from the same YouTube videos is a contributing factor to the sameness evident in the spinning styles on display here.

All that being said, I'm both humbled and honored to have been included. I feel a little weird about my own entry though, because my hooping style has developed quite a bit since the video was filmed six months ago. Next time it'll be all hoop and no poi. I'm one of those spinners heavily influenced by Nick, and my honest assessment of my own spinning is I haven't yet managed to move beyond that influence and hooping is really where my heart is these days anyway.

Thank you Malcolm & George & crew! Both for your work on this project, and including my little video.

*edit*

Just wanted to mention too it was really cool seeing Nick & Yuta teamed up. It was like watching two favorite superheroes join forces! Also I've never seen Sandy spin before and was really quite blown away.

*2nd edit*

Watched it all again and been thinking more on the diversity of styles/tools question. I disagree that there wasn't a diversity of tools, I thought this collection was quite diverse in that regard. With styles, that has more to do with who submits more than anything else, I think. I do think that the overall level of the technical skills on display is higher on this one than in previous.

Best COL by a mile. I may even be so inspired that I'll pick up my toys for the first time in what feels like years.

*awaits the post man*

i just got it and watched it. Ive only seen some of COL 06 and no others, based on that, I think the video was awesome. I gotta say Contact staff FTW. I'm so excited to see that much staff in the video. I loved it. Great job San Fran crew, Meg, Sandy, awesome. Umm ya good job everyone keep on spinnig.

i've gotta agree with pele. i did feel a lot of the hoop was rather repetitive, and (to me) no specific hoop routine seemed to stand out from the rest.. but thats just one guys opinion..

on the whole though, the standard of CoL itself has been bumped up a notch or two, and well done to Malcolm and George for that

cheeres, petey

I love hearing everybodys feedback! I think there were some brilliant entries this year and personally I love to see the creativity that people put into it rather than just the same old thang. Some of the stories were funny and it's great to see fire dancers personalities coming through the TV. Some of my favorites were: Fire dance with light, Poi Story, Paulino and Short Fusion. I was really disappointed to see that somehow our entry (Fire Groove) got sped up or something Not sure if that happend with our editor or at HOP. Owell. We are honored to be part of the this year and can't wait to find out who won!! Good luck to everybody!

Hannah
Fire Groove

Fire Groove- I have to say something about your routine, I noticed a great improvement in your technical level from last year, well done

I loved the DVD, great improvement from last year's.
cant wait to hear the results.
The S staff video was great. some of my other favourites were Burning Match, Nick & Yuta, Sandy, Meg, Fire Groove, Flow Garden, noel-ski greg and dave.

by the way, anyone have some criticism on my routine? (asaf & elhanan)

I'd say that there is a line between the actual judging process and as a HoP members personal views so do not let there be a mix up there.

I think that what Pele is getting at is a general (group viewing) opinion and not a judgemental criticism in regards to being a HoP appointed judge.

As with any judgement of Col, that shouldn't be public knowledge and be kept between the judges and HQ.

I'm looking forward to seeing Col and the entries this year and making my own decision, I have heard so much since it's release and feel that I need to see the dvd for myself.

Durbs, thanks for your post! Good point re: the relative newness of hooping. I've been pondering this myself...of all these disciplines, hooping in its current incarnation (as opposed to circus-style hooping with lots and lots of hoops) I feel is about where poi was 3 or 4 years ago. There are still many discoveries to be made.

Also: it seems to be only a small subset of hoopers plugged into the general spinning community -- there's more variety of styles of hooping apparent all over YouTube than was represented on the collection, and I think that's because it was mainly fire hoopers that submitted and are tuned in to HoP and COL. At least in San Francisco, I'd say most hoopers don't hoop with fire and aren't part of HoP or the local fire spinning scene at all. As someone part of the two communities (hooping and spinning), I can say that it really is two distinct communities, at least locally. There's some that do cross-over, of course, but many, many more that just hoop and don't light up. So there's lots of styles out there that just weren't submitted.

Durbs, I didn't critique any single thing as a judge publically. I wouldn't do that.

It seems that you are assuming I have anything to do with establishing rules for entry, and I don't. I never have.
The only thing I have ever asked, and even begged for and that has been public and as a judge, is for people to use a light source other than the fire as it is completely inhibitive. It is still a *tremendous* pet peeve of mine on submissions.

I don't mind artsy in this comp, as long as it doesn't look like a promo and as long as the focal point is still the arts. In fact, I rather enjoy it. It is not a judges viewpoint that I say putting pros in with backyard peeps is unfair. If I were to enter, I would feel that way completely.

And whether or not someone came in 3rd last year has no bearings on your attempting to invalidate my *PERSONAL* opinions, since you don't know who I voted for last year, or who I am contemplating voting for this year.

But what I am understanding from your post Durbs is that I am not allowed a personal opinion outside of being a judge.
And let me tell you, my personal opinion varies greatly from the judges eye that I view it with.

I also find it sad that, according to you, I can not feel free to post *constructive* criticism of the over all video here without it being turned around. I offered thoughts on improvement and did address any single act, but instead the overall of the video.

I am a person Durbs, and a member of this forum, and as such am allowed to express those viewpoints. I stand by every single one. Once again, my position as judge (or moderator) does not kill the human part of me or remove me from having personal emotions and opinions, or being able to express them here.

If any single entrant of the video would like to know what criteria I use in judging, and/or my opinion and critique (the positive and the need-improvement) of *only their* submission, I will be more than happy to share it through PM or email.

Firebabe, it's interesting to hear that part of it was sped up. I had wondered about that. I'll note that when I watch it again. Thanks!

PoiBoy, please PM me if you want my opinion, and please remind me in the PM which ya'll were.

Ok ok , i'll back-track a bit here

I fully respect you can have a judges view and a personal opinion - i just personally ( ) feel that a judge shouldn't air either of these publically (There was a lot of "we" in your first post - regardless if it was crit of not). To quote standard competion rules; "No correspondence will be entered into regarding the results blah blah blah". If only for the reason people might take offense.

FireBabe - apologies, I didn't realise that was the case

Aaaaaanyway - my copy arrived this morning, so i'll watch it when I get back home tonight.
I'm fully prepared to eat my own words if I find my self in full agreement.

Just watched it

Nice - best COL yet.
I thought there was a fair amount of variety - though seemed to be much more fire than in past COLs?

Personal highlights:

Zaobab in Africa - Kick ass. More screaming whilst spinning!
MCP - Hmmpf, suppose that was actually quite good. Darn
FireGroove - Nice, good spinning this year as well as nice location. And hot chicks spinning fire is just watchable. (Incidentally, was it filmed in wide-screen?)
Nick & Yuta - Lovely, but would've liked a bit more spinning
M.3.2 - Sandy, nice, almost "Effortless"
Poism - (Was that Yuta again?) Very pretty.
The staff fight one was actually quite amusing

On the whole, the group stuff didn't really do it for me - tended to be more concentration on costumes (or lack of with most girls ) and lots of fire rather than actual spinning. But to each their own

Other general musings - nice layout, good music and the standard overall was very good.
Occasionally I felt the music was added as an after-thought - in a couple of vids there didn't seem to be a relation between the music and spinning style...
UK (yet again) hugely under-represented - though I can't really complain about this, as I'm equally slack.
Erm...

But yeah, i'd for for 4 stars out of 5