We all love a good blizzard video. But can a YouTube video of a blizzard be worth an Oscar nod?
Yes, it can, says Roger Ebert. The movie critic declared amateur filmmaker Jamie Stuart’s Idiot With a Tripod or Man in a Blizzard worthy of “the Academy Award for best live-action short subject. (1) Because of its wonderful quality. (2) Because of its role as homage. It is directly inspired by Dziga Vertov’s 1929 silent classic ‘Man With a Movie Camera.’ (3) Because it represents an almost unbelievable technical proficiency.”
You can tell from the cinematography he knew exactly what he was doing and how to do it. He held the Vertov film in memory. Stuart must already been thinking of how he would do the edit and sound. Any professional will tell you the talent exhibited here is extraordinary.
Here’s the video (below) for your critical review. What do you think? Does it deserve a run down the red carpet?
Image fregreen/Photobucket
The film is not bad, but maybe not Oscar worthy! I too made a short snow-themed film (2min) turned around in 24 hours. On Nov 2010 – Not in New York, but a small fishing town in East Yorkshire (UK). I used a (5-year old) Sony Z1, and a (5-year old) Apple MAC. I’ve been unemployed for nearly 18 months. So I could do with my working being seen and using the recognition to help me make more shorts and find a job! : ) So if ‘Man in a Blizzard’ is deemed Oscar worthy, what I want to know… Read more »
Loved the video but I wish he’d been as meticulous about his titles and credits as he was about the videography and editing. The font gives the first impression of amateurism and a being bit whimsical. Not at all what the film is like.
I’m a graphic designer and a recovering font snob but I’d love it if he would revisit the titles and credits himself or with the aid of a graphic designer and give them the loving, detailed attention they need.
There is no reason something has to be published by a big studio to be “good.” & plenty of things that AREN’T good have won Oscars. I frankly thought the video was…fine? But then, my Oscar opinions are rarely reflected in the Academy’s choices.
Right. I’d even argue that being published by a big studio is a handy way of knowing that a movie probably sucks. The Oscars lost me with “Titanic”; could never take them seriously after that.