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We’ve moved!

Come check out all our new blogposts over at http://www.captevate.com/blog/

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A Surprise in a Glass – Everything is Not as it Seems in this Video!

A short video today – but you’re definitely going to want to watch it more than once! What starts out as a simple video of ice water being poured into a glass turns into something much more remarkable. This is another brilliant example of how clever film editing can turn a humdrum, everyday action into something new, exciting, and powerful!

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So you think your internet is slow?

Watching TV and movies streamed over the internet has become the new normal: a recent Business Insider article claims that the average Netflix user streams about two-hours of programming EVERY DAY. So what would happen if this was taken away? How would we cope?! Johnny Harris, a filmmaker for Vox, explores that topic in his examination of the black market media trade in Cuba. Although the country lacks a strong internet connection with the outside world, many Cubans still gain access to the latest apps, movies, and TV shows through their weekly purchase of "El Paquete Semanal" - a 1TB hard-drive jam-packed with pirated media. It just goes to show that having a poor internet connection is no longer an excuse for not having caught up on Narcos…

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Is it a boy or a demon? A clever take on the announcement video

This husband and wife team have come up with the best (and most frightening) way to announce a new addition to their family. Instead of a more traditional upbeat or funny announcement video, LA wedding photographers Judy and Gavin Holt have crafted their video as a horror film trailer. You really have to appreciate the time and effort that has gone into making this piece: the shots are moody, the music is appropriately creepy, and the ‘blood’ scene at the end will definitely make you cringe! Whether you’re a horror film fanatic or a parent-to-be, this video is definitely a must-see!

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The Poetics of Star Wars

“It’s like poetry – they rhyme”

George Lucas once said that there is a certain rhyme to the Star Wars trilogies. To test out that claim, filmmaker whoispablo has compiled a comparison of scenes from each of the six films. The result is an impressive look at the cinematic tropes that echo through the earlier and later works (something that gives us just another excuse to watch through the Star Wars films again before the release of The Force Awakens this winter!)

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What’s All the Fuss About Aspect Ratios?

If you don’t know, the aspect ratio of a film is the ratio generated between the width and the height of the on-screen images. We’ve all probably noticed those black bars running along the top of TV screens – and it’s the aspect ration that determines how narrow those bars are (or if they exist at all!) However, as YouTuber Now You See It explains in this short video, aspect ratios have an impact beyond screen size – the ratio chosen by the director has a massive effect on the emotional impact of a film as well! If you’re in any way a film lover, this video is certainly for you!

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Hell’s Club – A Club Full of Absolute Characters

We haven’t seen such a clever piece of editing in a very long time! ‘Parisian mash-up whiz’ AMDS Films have combined club scenes from classic films into one incredible super-cut. Characters from Star Wars, Boogie Nights, Carlito’s Way, and Blade (among many other films) dance and share glances on the strobe-lit dance floor of ‘Hell’s Club’ as the Bee Gees’ ‘Staying Alive’ plays in the background – an ironic choice given the film’s explosive ending! The cuts are clean, there’s a great narrative, and the grading is superb – watching this film is an excellent way to begin your Tuesday morning!

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Game of Thrones Re-Edited

Are there any Game of Thrones fans out there?! In a series known for its many vicious characters and blood-soaked storylines, to say that the much loathed Joffrey Baratheon stands out from the rest due to his intense cruelty speaks volumes. However, Youtubers “BloodBlitz Comedy” have produced a video that instead casts the blood-thirsty nobleman as a romantic hero. Re-editing scenes from the TV series, the filmmakers actually manage to portray the character as – dare we say it? – a likeable young man! It just goes to show the power of carefully placed edits! 

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Is CGI Ruining Movies?

Do you think CGI is ruining movies? Do you yearn for the golden years of film, when dinosaurs were constructed on sets instead of on computer screens? Think again.

In this video, RocketJumpFilmSchool breaks down why CGI has received a bad rap in recent years. In short: we only ever notice bad CGI. By looking at the strengths of the medium, and pointing out how CGI is silently working in the backgrounds of many movies we enjoy, the filmmaker makes us realise just how under-appreciated this art form actually is! 

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LA Hyperlapse

How do you translate the enormous passion you feel about a particular place into film? With great skill and a remarkable degree of patience, it seems. Filmmaker Vadim Tereshchenko has created a beautiful hyperlapse/timelapse of Los Angelese that really shows off the best bits of the city, and this process certainly took time. Tereshchenko spent two years scouting locations and trying to capture the city at moments of transition (at dawn and dusk, for instance). From the stunning shots to the careful edits, you can tell that a great deal of skill has gone into this video. 

Captevate’s sister product eva will be heading to LA for their next launch party, and they look forward to seeing all the sites on display in this film!

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Ever wanted to jump into a video game?! These guys had that chance!

Get excited video gamers! Realm Pictures has created a real-life first person shooter in their back garden! Surprised Chatroulette users took over the actions of an action-hero (one very similar to the main character from the classic Doom games) fighting his way through a deadly zombie apocalypse. Some Chatrouletters fell along the way, but those that made it all the way to the end – past the final boss fight – were in for a great surprise! It just goes to show how a little ingenuity (and many actors in zombie makeup) can create a unique, and engaging video experience!

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Impossible Free-Running

It will take more than practice alone to learn these parkour tricks – you’ll need to use a bit of camera trickery as well! Working with Red Bull, freerunners Jason Paul and Pasha Petkuns create a mind-blowing video that is so chock full of forced perspective that it will – quite literally – have you questioning up from down. Impressively, no special effects were used, only cleverly selected camera angles! Just don’t try any of these tricks at home…

If you liked this video, be sure to check out the Behind-the-Scenes footage as well!

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One man, many voices - The Lion King’s Circle of Life in A Cappella

Musician Sam Robson has pulled together an a cappella version of ‘Circle of Life’ from The Lion King. Using his voice and some percussion instruments (as well as what seems to be more than 50 takes), Sam creates an impressive adaptation of the Disney classic. He writes that he had tried to to arrange the musical piece five years earlier, but that he had given up because it was such an imposing project – we’re certainly glad that he gave it another shot!

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Morning Remixed

Using a series of clever edits (and even more clever camera angles), filmmaker Andrew Huang has produced a video remix of his average morning routine. Using Sony ‘Action Cams’ tied to shower heads, toothbrushes, and coffee cups – and capturing the audio that is associated with each action – Huang transforms the everyday humdrum into something fresh and unique. If only every morning had this good of a beat!

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Star Wars in the Style of True Detective

In honour of the True Detective finale this week, YouTube user Star Wars Minute has reimagined the season 1 intro as an homage to Star Wars. The result is very impressive and sure to please fans of both productions! Be sure to watch the side-by-side comparison as well to really appreciate how perfectly this has been edited together. Star Wars has never felt so seedy!

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Hollywood Funk

Uptown Funk may be all over the airwaves this summer, but you probably haven’t heard it quite like this! YouTube user dondrapersayswhat claims to have spent 3 months editing this video montage of Hollywood classics in tribute to Mark Ronson’s hit tune. We certainly won’t be hearing this song – or even watching these films – in the same way ever again!

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Sometimes it’s Not What You Shoot, But How You Shoot It…

Video marketers Wise Guys have created a video that shows Niagara Falls in a whole new perspective. Using the tilt-shift technique — a method of filming that creates an image that is half in focus and half blurry — the filmmakers have shot the waterfall to appear as if it was in miniature. The people, the boats, and even the roaring waters themselves are transformed into tiny versions on the screen, offering a really unique take on the famous landmark. It goes to show that how you decide to shoot a film is just as important as the subject itself!