I am not a movie reviewer/critic. I just like to share my enthusiasm for some movies and hopefully my giddyness interests you to seek the movie for your own visual stimulation.

Now, since I love storytelling let’s start at the beginning.

The Story

The other day I was reblogging a couple of posts on my Tumblr and changing some of the CSS. When I went back to my dashboard I skimmed a few of the latest posts from those that I follow (something I rarely do these days), and I saw this one from Meaghan. It caught my attention because of the colourful books on a stove. I thought: Are they going to burn those? Is this Fahrenheit 451 (another must-see movie)?

As I started to read the post I clicked the first link — noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com. This is where/how Miranda July promotes her book of short stories titled “No one belongs here more than you.”. It’s a simple yet clever site that just requires you to click and read intriguing messages written on a “whiteboard”.

From there I went on to the Amazon page for the book. After that… blank. I’m not entirely sure how I ended up discovering that Miranda directed (and acted in) “Me And You And Everyone We Know” in 2005, but here I am; I’ve seen it.

The Review

I like to watch movie trailers. Apple’s Trailer page provides some superb high-quality visuals to treat the eyes. Lately, I have done to see movies without even watching the trailer. This gives an element of surprise; I don’t know what to expect. I like this.

I watched the trailer to “Me And You And Everyone We Know”, but still didn’t know too much about it. Nevertheless, Rachel, Mitch, and I sat down and watched it together last night. In some ways reminded me of “Little Miss Sunshine“. And reminding me of that meant the word “sunshine” also reminded me of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (and movie I adore). However, “Me You And— let’s just call it “MAYAEWK” from now on, okay?

However, “MAYAEWK” has it’s own unique style and story.

It’s awkward, romantic, inspiring, and all-around life exploding content. This is the kind of movie that makes you want to live life. I could care less about ramming into a bunch of cars and jumping off a bridge like Angelina Jolie did in “Salt”. No. “MAYAEWK” is something you can appreciate. “MAYAEWK” is a movie you can share with the whole family (as long as your family has mature-aged brains).

Rachel and Mitch were frustrated that they didn’t know what the movie was about prior to watching. At around the half-way point of the movie Rachel left the room to go do things on her computer. Mitch left soon after.

As I wrote in my Scott Pilgrim review, I laughed at that movie quite a lot. Often at times when no one else did; I find the funny in everything. That was equally true for “MAYAEWK”. I laughed harder than I have in a long time. Really hard. I laughed on top of laughs on top of laughs. You know when something is just so outrageous that you can’t help but laugh and then something funnier happens and you have to laugh louder and harder? Yeah, that was me.

The movie is open-ended. (If Rachel had hung around to the end, then she would have hated that.) It leaves you to fill in the gaps with your own life.

I invite you to visit the MAYAEWK website (flash site) to discover more about the film.

Buy the DVD or rent via Amazon OnDemand.
Download and keep or rent via iTunes.

THERE’S A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THE LINKS IN THIS POST WILL EARN ME ONE OR TWO CENTS. I JUST LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THESE THINGS SO YOU DON’T THINK I’M HIDING SOMETHING OR SOMETHING. SOME THING.

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/1280

When Lisa Bettany started tweeting (and blogging) about an iPhone camera application she had created I had very little interest.

I have several paid and free camera applications on my iPhone, but the app I use most (at this point in time) for taking photos is — funnily enough — Gowalla.

(Side note: If you want to add a photo to a location on Gowalla, then you must use Gowalla to take the image (you can’t choose a previously taken image from the iPhones ‘Camera Roll’). I like this feature because it means you HAVE to be at the location; no faking.

Other than that I use the default iPhone camera app.

As I saw reviews and videos of Camera+ in the wild I began to notice it’s potential and value. Plus, I discovered that the company tap tap tap actually created the app; they’ve made some great apps.

I decided to by the app at its “Introductory Price” of US$2.99, and test it out. In the App Store the description said “BUY NOW BEFORE THE PRICE INCREASE”. (That may not be word-for-word, but you get the idea.)

A week later it was available for US$0.99. I was infuriated. I was lied to. All of my peers — many of which also bought the app — were just as ticked off!

In a time when transparency equates to trust I just don’t understand why they would have blatantly lied to make more money. I care less about the extra money I paid than I do being lied too. Rah!

Back to the app.

When I first downloaded it I used it once, then never again. It just didn’t fit into my workflow.

There was an update or two since its launch, but the extra filters and support for iOS4 didn’t really matter to me.

That is, until the latest update (version 1.2) when they added the double touch feature (tap tap tap refers to it as ‘Touch Exposure’). Watch this video to see how amazing this feature is:

Should you buy this app? Only if you regularly use your iPhone as a camera — rather than a point-and-shoot or SLR.

If you do decide to purchase it, then you may want to wait until Thanksgiving/Black Friday or Christmas; when many apps go on sale. It currently sells for US$1.99 (AUD$2.49) on the App Store — this is apparently “60% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME”.

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/1166

Last night I watched the documentary movie, “Food, Inc“, with Rachel.

In past years I’ve watched movies such as “Super Size Me” and “Fast Food Nation“. Such films can gross people out and even change the foods they choose to eat.

I’m happy to say that I stopped eating McDonalds when I was about 17 (2003; before “Super Size Me” was released). Yes, since then I’ve bought the occasional box of cookies or a drink, but I avoid McDonalds at all costs.

I generally avoid fast food places that I consider similar to McDonalds; such as, In-N-Out, Arby’s, etc. I know the fact that I don’t like In-N-Out will shock some people, but seriously, there’s a huge lack of a menu and it’s all quite boring. No, I don’t even like the fries.

NB: I’m not a vegetarian, but I rarely eat any meat other than chicken.

I digress.

Throughout much of my life my Mom has been persistent to only buy free range chicken and eggs. I never really cared that much about that fact until my Mom explained what it meant: “The chickens get to roam around and be happy.” The way I see it, if you’re happy before you die, then whomever eats you will receive those happy genes. Was that too creepy? It makes sense though; don’t you think?

Yes, I’ve seen those horrid videos of chickens that end up at KFC. Though, they’re just some poor attempts from activists; I never know how valid they are.

Food, Inc really shows how animals and vegetables are treated like food from the moment they sprout to the moment they’re packaged for consumption.

In nature, cows eat grass and their manure fertilises the grass for it to gain nutrients and continue to grow. In these mass-produced farms, cows eat corn, there is no grass, and they walk on feces. By the way, corn costs money and is trucked in from hundreds of miles away; grass is free and grows anywhere. That’s just a teeny tiny part of what Food, Inc touches on.

As soon as the movie was over, Rachel and I started researching places nearby where we could obtain organic meat and vegetables. Sadly, this isn’t always available at the supermarket. (According to Food, Inc., Wal-Mart now stocks organic meat and vegetables — but we all know how we feel about Wal-Mart’s ethics. I have been able to buy free range organic eggs from Wal-Mart though.)

Surprisingly, there are many organic farms all over the United States. I’m sure there’s many in your country too! Most of the time organic food is going to cost more money, but if it keeps you healthier (read: the way nature built humans, not the way “man” has changed humans into the pill-popping, fast-food-obsessed people that many of us are), then you’ll probably end up paying less for medical costs.

Go to pickyourown.org to search for organic farms in your US state or your country.

Don’t take my word for it. Watch Food, Inc. now.

Rent or stream Food, Inc. on Netflix | Rent or buy Food, Inc. via Amazon OnDemand

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/957

I must have seen the trailer to Avatar a year or more ago.

I believe it was one of those films where they release a trailer over a year before the actual film is released. You know, you watch it, think ‘that looks awesome’, and then forget about it until the trailer is re-released.

I go through most of the new trailers on apple.com/trailers every month or two, so I’m pretty sure I saw the Avatar trailer a long time ago.

When all the hype about Avatar started cropping up in the middle of 2009 I decided to watch the trailer again. I remembered it. I also remembered how it didn’t do much for me.

I decided to discover what all the hype was about. I read a couple of reviews¹ online, but most of the information I received was from the short reviews people gave on twitter.

Okay, so the storyline isn’t amazing, but the computer-generated effects are supposed to be mind-blowing. Sure, I’ll see it just for that, but do I really need to? NB: I’m in the digital/new media business. Would it be important for me to see it in 3D on an IMAX screen the size of a sky scraper?

For an adult to see a movie at a major cinema it costs AUD$17.00 (US$15.00; $C16.00; 10€; 1,425¥). Obviously, concessions are less, and on ‘Cheap Tuesday’ you can get a ticket for about AUD$11. That’s expensive!

I’m told it’s between US$5-$10 to see a movie at the cinemas in the USA. (La dee da; everything is cheaper there; blah blah.) That’s not a bad price!

Price aside, there really isn’t much that excites me about the cinemas anymore. The popcorn is covered in butter and I don’t care for that; I don’t drink soft drinks (water is $5+ per bottle); I buy my lollies/candy elsewhere; even the seats in Cinemaxx don’t excite me that much anymore.

I like my couch, our large LCD screen (or even my computer screen), and my loved ones by my side. I LIKE THE PAUSE BUTTON!!!!!

Alrighty, back to Avatar.

Maybe the fact that I can’t get 3D at home (yet) is reason enough to go see it. I saw Final Fantasy in 2001 (wow, has it been that long?) with my Dad and we were pretty amazed at how realistic the animated human characters looked. Is Avatar any better?

Despite all the amazing reviews, I don’t plan on seeing Avatar at the cinemas. I’m sorry if that upsets you. (Change my mind? Or try to.)

Avatar reviews I’ve read: Quick review of Avatar by Dave Winer, Maria and I went to see Avatar… by bloodtasteslikepennies, and this funny tweet from Phillip Ryu.

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/586

On Saturday (less than two days from now) I’ll be the photographer for one of my best friends’ wedding. I took some great casual photos at her older sister’s wedding a few years ago, but now I’m the photographer.

Last night was the rehearsal — heh, it’s like an acting job — and I feel fairly confident in the area. Especially after I was told I can roam around and do whatever I want. Another person at the rehearsal jokingly told me he’d give me a Freddo Frog for every person I stop on. I told him “you’re on!”

I’ve been studying the art of wedding photography through many different websites, and I feel as prepared as I can be. Though, I think I’m going to hire a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens for some wide perspectives.

Here’s my list of equipment:

Cameras:
Canon EOS 400D (Rebel XTi)
Canon EOS 450D (Rebel XSi)

Lenses:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens
Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Canon EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Canon EFS 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens

Flash:
Canon Speedlite 430EX

Moreover, I feel I’m covered for all focal lengths. I’ll use the 50mm f/1.8 on one camera and alternate between the 55-250mm f/4-5.6 and the 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 on the other camera. I’ll probably keep the flash on the second camera because the 50mm f/1.8 will be fine for the available light.

Here’s a bunch of fantastic sources I’ve found for wedding photography ideas:

- 21 Tips for Amateur Wedding Photographers
- Wedding Photography Sydney Directory (tips and locations for wedding photography in Sydney)
- Taylor-Made Photography (Trudi was my photography teacher at college and marked gave me full marks for my final assessment.)
- Ryan Brenizer’s Amazon Blog (NYC Wedding Photographer)
– Ryan Brenizer’s amazing slide show for a fun wedding (which I found from his Flickr)

Do you have any further tips for me?

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/350

Yesterday, Jackie showed me this service called polyvore; a web-based application for creating collages using images pulled from the web.

Polyvore’s about page states: Polyvore is a unique, easy-to-use web-based application for mixing and matching products from any online store. Items are pulled together into a visual set of products that can be shared with anyone. Each product within the set is then linked back to the online store where it is available for purchase.

It is a lot more than that though. Jackie has been creating unique artworks all day.

Polyvore has an interface very similar to Flickr, so creative Flickr users will feel very much at home.

My polyvore profile.

Short URL: http://djsteen.com/wp/p/15