I just saw COL 2008

And I can't believe I got a minus for fire in a fire arts competition!

I concur with the grey thing though

But I completely disagree with costume!!
That was my Mum's skirt, and it was quite a massive part to do with the meaning of the video! and I think it totally fitted the Irish-themed guitar playing... Anyways, anyways...

Watched it all last night...

First of all, regarding mine - we're really disappointed that the clip that made it on to COL is even darker than the one we sent in - but I guess that's true for lots of people, again.

I'm going to upload mine somewhere (when I find the original), so you can see the difference. It does help when you can see what I'm doing!

Also, as might be obvious to some, our camera guy synced up the movement and music track with quite a horrible delay - my choreography actually fits to the music, but it seems to be running a second or so early on the video. Le sigh.


Anyways....


Some people are saying the standard is 'so much higher' this year. I dunno.

The standard rises every year on COL, and there is always a lot of ok stuff, mixed with some lovely pieces. If the standard was to stay the same, we wouldn't be getting anywhere!

However, for me, there were three standout lovely ones...

1. Durbs (Pansy in the Park)... Beautiful movement, cool tricks, nice setting, really good feel to it.
2. Nick (Bali Dreams)... lovely choreography and musicality, great expression.
3. Rob and Seb (In Scotland)... amazing scenery and shots, nice, friendly atmosphere and great spinning... I can't believe you had footage better than this?!

There were some other ones I loved - Meg's was awesome and head-bending; it was great to see FireGroove grooving with clothes; Yuta's was gorgeous and stunning and Infinitos was good too.


Thanks so much Malcolm for all your hard work again this year!!

Clare xx

so, as i wait for the ultraslack members of 'Toast to respond to me, i will write here some thoughts after 2 viewings...

won't be as in depth as last year, but i will say one thing that for me definitely does 'raise the standard' - there are no sketchy videos there. each one is at least pretty good. result!

standout ones for me, in no particular order:

durbs: its a shame you never actually spin like that I'm voting for you to not be allowed to enter it as it's not representative...
seriously, its very nice, very skilled, and you done good.

mcp: much better on a second viewing. could have done with either being one shot or many, not 2. better than last years.

Nick: I wathced this, and said 'i have never had a single spin as beautiful as this'

Firetribe Duet: not ubertechy, but really, really nicely done. and the timing is utterly impeccable. much kudos.

Sandy: i really like the skillz, the style, the washed out colour... but i think the last shot shouldn't be there, and i think a lot of folks won't like the washout.

Glow with the Flow: first time i watched it i skipped on cause of preconceptions about the way the start looked...... second time i watched it and appreciated it for what it is, which is a really nice spin with great editing.

Clrrrrr and will: difficult to talk about this one cause i know both the music and the fire piece so well, and yes, i spotted the out-of-sync-ness... but i love it. and always will.

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I'm pleased that mine and sebs is getting a general thumbs up - makes me want to actually put in a proper COL effort next year, making sure i have tapes that work... now then. who to persuade to come for a long visit.....?

Bluecat, you only get points for snow if you're naked!

Don't encourage him, COL is meant to be family fun, not mind-numbing horror.
Plus, think of the shrinkage

i can post the naked snow footage we have here, but i didn't think it was suitable for the yoof of today...

Meggie so nicely suggested I write something, so here we go, even though for some reason, I seems to say things then offend people, nothing personal here just honesty about my feelings...I am posting only the videos I can remember right now as I sub the 4th grade!!

Congrats to everyone who made it in,
I feel so happy to be on a compilation with so many other colleagues and friends =)

1) Circles in the Anomalous Zone

Khan it started really interesting, but then got a little boring, you have many more innovative tricks now for hoop. But I am little sad you quit poi and CJ, and don't have much in the vid...I did like the above shot from your job (**wink) looks great, you could have worked with that a little more. Ohh mayor Newsome in your video next year
More with two hoops? More contact with the Hoop!!! I am so glad there was a hoop vid in COL though, so thanks. Also thanks for everything you've done for me in the past, spinagogue, inviting me over and everythin...

2) Sage of Sangre del Sol

I dunno, I think sage as a performer might be the best one on this video, with probably poi, doubles and dancing. But ironically enough she didn’t spin them, reminds me of that ejc video with arashi and the hand candles. But, I’d much rather watch sage dance around with a flaming marshmello on a string, than arashi and the majority of spinners that I coulda been watching instead. I was a little disappointed sage didn’t spin, she can really bring it, and is such an inspiration to dance while spinning.


3) Unhurried, Ian Smith

I dunno, I know this guy, kinda unfair for me to say something. But he dances, more modern and slow. I did think his spinning could have varied a little in tempo, yeah the song kinda sucked. Overall though good showing but could have been a little shorter. But I watched you slap it together in hot ass Richmond Virginia, so good for getting it done on time.

5) MCP

Meg nice T-shirt. Where’s you cute little asian girl costume. Good doubles and such, but we’ve alls seen the other long ass doubles videos you’ve made….next year dress up and do something different. But I do like how your video wasn’t trying to be all cool and emo like yours last year, more down to earth. (or increased lazy-ness) Ohh, you look like ROCK, maybe serpentine, either way add some movement!! Like Bhutto, or salsa 6)

Direction change

Boo me. I coulda tried harder, but I like the locations if you look close in the contact staff shot there are bison in the way back. Way cool!

7) Bali Dreams

Dang, one of the best filmed burns ever. But I seen it already in the Nicks new DVD. Little different than original. Actually considering the high quality of the vid in Nicks DVD “Moves” I am surprised that his COL entries quality was kinda, eh.

8)Meet me here

Very boring introduction. I am not so into the candle stuff unless it has more manipulation in it. Like Ima or maybe Arashi. Had a big hippie vibe to it, like then there was this guy standing next to the waterfall, then the props are now poi... I thought that the music could have been a little better. Also the video quality was sooper poor….i like the spinning a little when it started.

11) Shilly Shally

I love Chris, Corey and Sully.
More tech from others than Chris, or just make it all Chris. More meteor with chris. Excellent camera, nice capture of images. Chris, where are you!!! Come back to the USA soon…

12) Sandy

I like this video a lot, shows a wide variety of skills and techniques. I guess I could have done without the five ball stuff, that was a little over the top. Nice smooth contact, the camera colors with the green were good. I like your martial arts movement things going on. I thought that scene with the three poi wibbling actually was really funny, especially the angle. Only bad thing is Sandy's serious face, more happy!

13) Goropika

Hilarious. Does appear to be a pretty good performer though. Not so much on tricks. Such a big guy with such a little staff is kinda funny. Especially when it goes between his legs…hehe… Seems very similar to Dai’s video last year. Lots of drumming and screaming japenese guy. Unless there is a lot of that in Japan.

14) Spinning in headphones

IMHO best video of COL 2008, neat-o style with the gliding and whip catching. Nice locations. I like the sweat pants, makes you look like some kinda british hip hop ruffian who likes dub step. Also they actually ripple when you slide around which is kinda cool. Also the vest makes up for that a little. I hope you win. Would make me happy.

15) Torch Poi

Dang this guys facial expressions are even more real in person. So real you might not be able to even look at him when he spins. Innovative-ish prop, torch poi, but not the best execution, learn more tricks and make them more innovative.

17) Firegroove

SEAN BARRY EXPERIENCE!!! I really like the song, I like how much more relaxed this video is than fire grooves previous ones, much less being cool (although the location is still super cool) and more on spinning. Nice partner doubles jade and lester. Good spinning from Hannah as well. I dunno, maybe next time you should go to like a crappy place in la and shoot instead of all these nice ones…I still think this video looks very fire groov-ish, I’d like to see you all outside of the cool box more often.

18) Ebino

Did Yuta really condone this? Nice spinning from Yuta, but sorry to say not as interesting as I might have hoped. The moon effect is not as cool as it was initially intended though. I want Yuta to make a new routine!!!! With Cat-eyes!! And no stalls


20) The Erasing Rubber Art Duo

Some crazy beautiful sunset shots in there. I am going to assume that the staff juggling wasn’t as good as it coulda been because of the cold. I was kind of disappointed in the level of the partner staff stuff. I’ve seen you and Sebastian juggle better, two years ago in paris. Also many of the shots don’t show the juggling s good as it could. I love the location, and the water and stuff, like conan the destroyer… Finally where’s Robert Heart!!!

Okay if you want me to write somethin about your vid and i didn't let me know, thats all I remember right now....thanks for listening.

My copy hasn't arrived yet and the anticipation is killing me.

Noel & Richee, I have to say I agree with your comments on my video. I was pretty psyched about it when I first made it, and still am pleased with it as a visual exercise and for the feeling of it, but not so much with the hooping.

I had more stuff planned with the City Hall location, but I was asked to stop because they had to set up for a prom, and I didn't have time to go back and shoot more. I only got about 6 minutes of footage in that location and some of it is just the blank floor. I spent more time setting up the camera than actually hooping. Some of it could've been cut and replaced with better hooping from the park, but at the time I wanted to use as much of the interior footage as I could, because of what a pain it was to get. Probably not the soundest artistic decision.

I'll be sure to speak with the Mayor about making a cameo in the next one. Maybe if I hoop in front of his office...

And for the record, I haven't "quit" poi and cj...I just hoop more (and still not enough...)

I'm really looking forward to this one...maybe it will be waiting for me when I get home later.

Thought id post a little about the ones i can remember as standing out as ive lent my copy to a friend.

Meg: up to your usual standard, some lovely doubles patterns but the contact looked a bit lazy, sorta like you couldnt be bothered. Locations were nice but more would have been good.

Nick; Beautiful. All that needs to be said.

Noel; nice, a couple of the locations were a bit dodgy though as you couldnt see the sticks very well against the background. And you could work on your footwork a bit for some of the contact but i LOVED the negative space poi.

Clare; A bit hippy for my tastes but that was the best fire hands ive ever seen so really enjoyed it.

Durbs; yea rockin'! watched it with Bags and had an argument over your whipcatches, i liked them, he didnt. Dancey popping stuff was tre cool.

Bluecat and Bastl; I think your too hard on yourself, your video was great but i can see how you could have put more stuff in there. Locations were the best on the dvd and i'll give you credit for juggling in baltic temperatures even if others wont.

I did have some thoughts on others but without the dvd here i cant remember which ones. Overall though very good, i think its going to continue to get harder to judge every year.

Finally got round to watching my copy the whole way through, some thoughts and feedback...

COL2008 DVD
Pros:
Better menu system, nicer intro scenes (the solarized stuff), good quality of entries
Cons:
A couple of typos, artist names missing in credits (as in actual names, not just names of video), less prop variety than last year (I thought anyway...). Also I think the order was a bit strange; contact staffer followed by another contact staffer, then 3 poi-ers - for me it emphasised any skill differences which detracted from the artsy side of some videos.

Circles in the Anomalous Zone
Pros - Settings, costume, movement.
Cons - Isolation work was a little sloppy.

Sage
Pros - Movement, as Meg said - keeping orb interesting is an impressive feat!
Cons - I don't know why, but it bugs me this was just a filmed performance. One (off centre) camera angle, no close ups, just seemed to suggest a lack of overall effort in terms of putting an entry in. Also meant some of the dacning wasn't that clear.

Unhurried
As the name suggests, slow style - though this, for me, meant the whole energy level was quite low. Nice skills and setting though

Meggy:
Obviously of silly-high tech quality, and pleasantly light-hearted with drops and cheese-poses a-plenty. Wasn't sure about the background. Modern, but a bit too plain. Don't see how you can diss my "costume"

Noel:
As others have mentioned, the backgrounds sometimes made it hard to see the staffs, but the n-space poi was cool and it had a nice overall feel to it. Nice ice-lolly.

Nick:
Lovely spin, single-take wonderfulness. Normally I'd say it would need more camera angles/shots or different locations, but the spin and performance were good enough to keep it interesting.

Cluuuuuuuur:
Video quality issues aside, I liked the presentation of it. My only real grip would be I've seen you spin poi a lot cleaner than that. I think i also would've zoomed in a smidge too to capture the full wiggle factor. My faveourite bit was Will's smiley strum close up.

Glow with the flow:
I really liked the presentation, though I'm sure I saw a cameraman in the background a couple of times.

FireTribe Duet:
I really liked the 2-person stuff, especially the subtle switch into 2 poi each. Costumes didn't really work for me (I just don't like zorro masks, sorry).

Shilly Shally Fire Arts:
Meh, as with Sage's I couldn't help but feel it was a minimal effort entry - just filmed at a spin-meet. Skills and performers aside, it didn't really work for me.

Sandy:
Smile I liked the look of the video, and the skills were top-notch. I thought the ball-juggling was a little unnecessary (though good) but really liked the ground-staff work.

Goropika:
Certainly interesting, use of live drummers was novel and spinning was good.

Me
The video kind of changed from what I'd envisioned it being, the after-effects weren't really needed (aside to cover up sloppy timing), and sort your encoding quality out.
Also, note to self, after cycling to nice locations, remember to un-tuck trouser leg from sock - looks very gay.

Torch Poi:
You scare me, possibly in a good way. Couldn't work out whether it was genuine or sarcastic/playful. Interesting prop, which could be developed further.

Red on Fire:
Think this was the belly-dancing fire fans? A nice routine, though a little too dark throughout which obscured some of the dancing. Nice though

Firegroove:
Wicked location, good to see a less promo-y feel to this entry. Good skills as always, though I miss the skimpy costumes

Yuta:
Nice spinning, nice lighting, the location was a little barren, but a highly watchable video.

Erasing Rubber Arse Duo:
Pish, stop being so hard on yourself Roblet. Best locations on the DVD, some fine staff play and beautiful visuals. Maybe not the greatest tech video, as sometimes you're a little too silhoutted, but for eye-candy it's top notch.

Infinitos:
Felt very much like a promo, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Often there was just too much happening on screen to actually take any of it in - though bonus marks for quantity of fire

Apologies for those I've missed, my memory's not what it was.

Hey beige is a lifestyle choice, not a costume.

Thanks Sandy and Durbin... And Durbin - you try your fancy slidey stuff in a big long skirt and uneven wet surface

Noel... hmmm. Lots I could say here about comments you made about me, and other people. But I'm not going to.

Just one thing: "I thought that the music could have been a little better"

Really?

Will is an exceptional musician and an incredible guitar player. The music used in my video was one of very few that was 'real', not just a generic track ripped off the internet.

I could rant on about this for much longer... but I'm going to stop here.

As for the hippy-vibe... I didn't see that

The Tao comment, my mum's skirt, the title (which was also the name of the track) all tied in to the meaning I was trying to get across - obviously not very well

Anyways...

Oh, and Sandy... I thought yours was great too (fantastic editing by Sy!), just very no-nonsense - and when I think of you, I see you smiling in a cheeky way

i never meant to offend anyone, just my honest criticism's (lets not start this thread again)

oh no am I the new Meg!

I didn't realise the thread had stopped...

And no, you're definitely not the new Meg

i meant the "honest criticism" topic that often happens when people have a hard time accepting certain forms of critique.

Not this thread, i would love to hear more from others about COL

I think it's fair to be critical of criticism if the person that is the critic has totally missed the point of the video.

Like if I were to be all like critical of 'unhurried' saying he didn't do like five matrixies and loads of anti-spin contorted hand isolation doubles, it would entirely miss the point of the his video, which clearly isn't about that.

But hey, I can be harsh again if you want, just ask! I was being super heaps nice and when I look back at my first post I kinda cringe. It looks like a cuddly censored bluecat style of post. I'm so middle aged now. I can be mean still. I promise.

Thanks Clare, but i edited it not Sy. Although he did all the camera work for me. No mean feat for a cripple!

Yea i could have smiled more i guess, i did in some bits but they just didnt make it through to the final edit. Besides, i take my spinning very seriously dont ya know

Hehe... no worries Meg... we all know you are the mother of mean...

And Sandy... wow, I thought Sy edited... good work then indeed

More smiling next time please

x

and meg? if you want me to be less cuddly, i will.

just wait til i tell you what i REALLY thought of your vidoe

Hey! I didn't even use the word 'pandering'.

panda-ing?



i kick your ass.

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when do we get judgement, in a moment of on-topicness?

BLUECAT BIRTHDAY
!!!
Take that!

I think the birthday cat would rather go for wine

Or perhaps just hang out looking mysterious

cool... I never thought about it before, but "blue cat" is the name of a very fine chocolatier in brisbane cbd...

mmmm... chilli chocolate truffles...

To quote MCP's opinion of COL2008:

"There was no really truly bad stuff this time."

I was on COL2008. That means MCP thinks that I am not truly, absolutely horrible at spinning. If she put that on a button and gave it to me, I would wear it. I'm not even joking.

MCP - To answer your question, the torch poi entry it was filmed after FireDrums. I had never seen 1.5s before FireDrums, and it gave me the idea to try them with torch poi.

Noel - I agree. I have a long way to go in spinning, and need to learn more. But I'm glad I got torch poi on a COL....Hopefully, my entry will encourage others with more skills to try their hand at torch poi (and then they'll teach me how to make those things sing).

As a side note, Noel, my entry for next year's COL will only be facial expressions, with no props of any kind.

Two words: antispin eyebrows. You heard it here first.

Good heavens. The USA elected Obama and the Red Sox just signed 2008 MVP Dustin Pedroia to a six year contract. Verily, friends, it is a great time to be alive right now.

:ditto: Compliments from Meg are amazing. I've printed mine out and am going to have it made into a t-shirt

whereas i'm keeping a collection of all my mcp-insults and am hoping to publish soon....

Ohhhh, where's my preview copy?

Tis not fair. You never insult me to my face. I feel unloved.

*looks at Photo of Meg*

Bitch.

So when do the judges reach their decision and announce this to the world - "Winners will be announced in November"