The AT&T Simplify Your Life video contest is a chance for you to make your own video about AT&T’s Online Services, such as Paperless Billing, Account Management, AutoPay, and Online Support. Each of these services can help to make life simpler.

So here’s the video. PLEASE click on the link and vote for it on Facebook by clicking the “like” button.

my idea

My idea for this was to make a stop motion video using my collection of rotary dial phones, making them into a tree.  At first, I was going to use a person as the tree trunk, but then I thought that would be a long time for someone to be wrapped up in phones and I wasn’t sure the cords were long enough.

The concept is to stay out of the trees, meaning the phone trees and paper trees, and to use the AT&T online services. 

the studio

My family room was converted into a studio for the weekend.  I borrowed the 12′ ladder from work, used 4 bungee cords to strap my Bogen tripod to the top, attached my Nikon D300 to it and ran a USB cable to my computer.

The software (made by Nikon, although there are some other versions out there) is awesome, as you can control almost all of the features and take photos right from your computer. I also set up some JTL continuous lights, another halogen lamp with the same temperature lights and a photography backdrop on the floor.  The video is shot from the top, down to the floor.  Thank heaven for vaulted ceilings!

This is a great plan if you don’t mind your house being in disarray for a little while, and of course, getting some odd looks from your neighbors.  Multi purpose houses are great!

the backdrop

I started with an orange backdrop with some purple and pink accents, but the color just looked to angry…

The concept is to simplify and go green.  After looking at this last test shot, I decided to try a green one.

Yes, this is the color I will use.  Most of the phones are warm colors and bright tones, so they will show up better on the light center of this backdrop.

the props

Here’s the prop list:

• 10 rotary dial phones
• a clock with paper wings
• junk mail
• white paper pulled out of a recycle bin
• an old laptop
• a USB cord painted green
• a hand shovel
• a cell phone (smart phone)
• a really great neighbor for a hand model
• a photography backdrop
• a brown paper bag
• strapping wire

To start, I needed to test what an image on the cell phone screen would look like in a photo image.  Along the way, I decided not to use an image on the phone, it was changed to a glowing light.

The main props used here are a collection of 10 old rotary dial phones.  Making the phones into a tree shape was something that worked in my head, but I wasn’t sure if it would really turn out looking like a tree.  So, holding my breath, I prepared the phones for this task.  I used strapping wire, available at any hardware store (it was in my garage for those of you that know I’m in my one year of no shopping), and I ran it through the cords in order to make the cords go the way I needed them to.

So far, so good.  I started to breathe a little bit.  If you’re not familiar with stop motion, you move your props slowly taking a photo each time you make a move.  There’s no going back without starting the process all over again.  The number of photos in the 54 second clip is 319.  It took the good part of a weekend to create the base images.

Next, the idea was to bring in the paper products, making it look like leaves growing from the tree.  This was done with several sizes of paper, each being replaced by a larger one in the next image.  As it progressed, the paper was moved for the rustling leaves effect and crumpled for movement.

Yeah!  It really looks like a tree!  And no new paper was harmed in the making of this video, as for the junkmail, well that’s another story.

Next is the laptop, as all of the stuff is getting sucked up into the laptop.  This was a challenge, knowing this could not be accomplished without busting out the screen of the computer, and even then, it would need some digital editing.  I pulled all of the phones over the laptop screen, then edited out the cords using a photo taken before they were placed over the top.  The glow effect was added later in Photoshop.

After that, the clock flies in.  The wing movement was one stroke up, two strokes down.  I had to really concentrate not to mess up the pattern.  The wings are not attached to the clock, they are placed separate under the clock body.

the rest

All of the items on the white background toward the last half of the video were all created and edited in Photoshop.  The background is a paper texture, lightened and grunged.  The images of the tree and clock were used, but made into a pop art look with a vivid light dark glow around them.

Once all of the images were ready, they had to be dropped into a video editing program and timed with the chosen music.  Then sound effects were added, the shovel digging, leaves rustling and vacuum sucking.  Then I added some textures, one motion by using the same image turned 4 ways and the other, by just doing a still overlay.

All in all, this was a fun project.  This is an overview, but hopefully it gives you an idea of the process.  If you haven’t voted for my video yet on Facebook, please help me by doing that.  Even if I don’t win the contest, I could win the prize for the most votes.  :)  Thanks!!!

Angry cartoon women wearing makeup. This was the first thing I saw in Nordstroms.  It’s the new Villain line of Mac makeup put out by Disney.  Now I don’t wear much makeup, sometimes a little eye shadow and lipstick, but I’m really not wanting to look like Cruella Deville, Isma or a wicked witch.  Does evil cartoon characters on cosmetic packaging really make women want to buy this stuff?  Maybe so, but I don’t get it.  The colors are fun and the display grabbed my attention, but I’m ADHD, so any shiny object will do that.  And the cosmetics department is full of highly attractive and graphically stunning displays that don’t require ADHD.

Brushes with genius. This is a set of magnetic brushes.  Smart, maybe, but it’s not creating world peace or curing diseases.  Again, these are good and probably great if you carry makeup stuff with you.

Trash display. I’m not sure what the product is here, but it did make me laugh that it’s displayed right over a trash can.  Interesting merchandising concept.  Maybe not the best subliminal message on this one, but this one?  I get it.  

*** Before moving on to the skin care section, I need to say if you are into this makeup thing and you buy Mac makeup locally in Frisco, you should go to Nordstroms in Stonebriar mall and buy it from Farren.  She is an absolute pleasure to talk with and people like her make retail shopping pleasant.  She is also very knowledgable and took time to find all the right products for Susan.  If you’ve never worked in retail, it’s not easy work.  Kudos to all people in retail, as your hard work is noticed.  :)

Did they just call me fat??! Fat girl scrub?  Fat girl slim?  Fat girl sleep?  Okay, if I’m fat, I really don’t feel to good about being called that.  And can someone explain to me why fat girls need all this stuff?  Just don’t get me started on the bottom shelf here with the body butter…  Completely baffled on this one.  Please explain to me how this is a good marketing plan.  It reminds me of that movie Crazy People, where they had all those honesty ads.  Good movie, but do people want the truth?  You can’t handle the truth!!  Oh, sorry..

Over-the-counter prescription. Hmmm, I have a desire to get a bow and arrow and shoot the apple off Dr. Perricone’s head.  Nothing against him, it’s all about the floating apple.  For $95 you can get “bright eyes and glowing health”.  I’m not a fan of the loosely used word ‘prescription’.  I guess anyone can prescribe anything, as long as it’s not a controlled substance.  This guy is probably the center of many jokes at the DEA office.  And why is the eye care kit bigger than the total body kit?  That scares me.  Time to leave Nordstroms and head out into the great, big mall.

Oh, the irony. Apparently I look down when I walk because I find all kinds of interesting things.  I’m not sure if I’m subconsciously looking for stuff on the ground or if I’m just looking to see where I’m going.  At the top of the escalator, there was a rose petal.  The proverbial rose petal trail, luring me into the well organized little spaces, walls lined with magical products that will enhance my life.  Surely it will enhance the life of everyone I know, because this is the place where I must buy many gifts, according to the signage.

White market, black market… pink market. Oh no!  Pink has crept its way into the black and white store!  Equal opportunity colors?  Maybe I don’t want to buy pink stuff from a store called black and white.  Oh well, they do say that pink is the new black.  Now we know where that originated.

Pit stop. Okay, I had to go into the Apple store.  It was right across from the other makeup store.  I played with the new MacBook Air and the iPads.  Cool stuff, but nothing I need.

Christmas is coming… It’s not even halloween yet, and most of the stores are merchandised for ‘the holidays’.  Stocking stuffers of every kind, 3 for $10.  I’m thinking some printing company just made a big bunch of these signs and sell them to retailers at a discount… 3 for $10.

Looks like Dasher is making a little money on the side this year, but who can blame him?  He’s got a family to feed and working one day a year won’t pay the bills.

Ahh, the line of Bath & Body Works ‘holiday’ line.  The line is call Philosophy, which leads me to think they have pondered several marketing angles and the Philosophy is to sell as much as possible.  A product called Silent Night.  So if I rub this on my kids, I can have a silent night?  Cool!

The problem with seasonal stuff is that you really end up liking it, but then it’s not available come January.  So you decide to wait until the next holiday season to buy more, only to find that the marketing and product design people decided to take a different route this year.  Bye, bye stuff you like.  Welcome to the product cycle.

The end. Not really, it’s just the beginning.  The cultural Christmas chaos is here in its infant stage.  Please enjoy the holidays responsibly.  ;)

This is SO incredibly accurate, it’s scary.  This is a must see for all graphic designers!

I also see that Jimmy Lee is one of the guys heading the national small business lending division of Capital One.  So is Jimmy Lee actually Lee M.? I have no idea, but I do know this.  This is the designer’s ‘get out of jail free’ card if some non-designer cracks the secret language code.  If you’re a designer, keep a few of these with your business cards.  ;)

See the full article on trashsociety.com.

Session Description:

Social media is a reality and necessary for business and churches alike, but one size does not fit all. In this breakout session you will learn:

• How to get started
• Your strategy
• Maintaining your conversations
• Tips & resources
• Case studies
• Tracking what works

If you have questions you would like answered or social media topics you would like to discuss, please tweet to @embracechaos.  #smreality

One thing I thought of when I was working on these, is that I can’t buy art supplies.  I’m low on many paint colors and without this challenge, I would just go and buy.  I’m looking on craigslist for supplies, and might hit eBay too, but for now I’m just careful to use what I have and not worry about running out.

What kids of art can you make by repurposing things you already have? Here’s a few more of these panels painted by the kids in my neighborhood.  (artists:  Lauren C., Grace T., Joe W., & Landry M.)

The Art of Peter Max

Publish date: October 1, 2002  ISBN:0810932709

Booklist review: Peter Max created a delirium of gorgeously imaginative and technically innovative posters and album covers during the sixties that perfectly capture the liberating power of rock and roll in brilliant colors, kaleidoscopic patterns-within-patterns, and bold, art deco-inspired graphics. But as instantly recognizable as Max’s work is, his life story is not well known, and what a tale it is. Brilliantly hued reproductions of his prismatic and enchanting work are accompanied by equally energized and enlightening commentary.  His euphoric work, cogently analyzed by Riley, was everywhere; he appeared on the cover of Life magazine and The Tonight Show, and then he left it all behind to paint in splendid isolation for a decade. – Donna Seaman

Fondue review: Peter Max has been an inspiration to me for a long time now.  And the reason he’s listed here is because I got to meet him last month!  I never thought in my lifetime I would get to meet Peter Max.  He was at the Russell gallery down in Austin.  My kids got to meet him as well, however I don’t think they fully get it yet.  He not only signed our book, but drew in it as well.  So now if the house is on fire, obviously getting the kids out first, the Peter Max book is on the top 3 list of things to grab.

Publish date: April 1, 1998  ISBN: 0670879835

Booklist review: There is no denying the creativity of someone who can persuade one of the 50 largest private companies in the U.S. to create a position for him called “creative paradox,” or someone who can convince the accounting department of that same company to write off to the company art collection the purchase of more than a dozen roll-top desks to be used in his “creative lab,” or someone who could come up with such a goofy title for a book. MacKenzie worked for the Hallmark greeting card company for 30 years, first as a sketch artist and eventually as an upper-level manager, until he escaped the “hairball” by creating his own niche.  –David Rouse

Fondue review: This book is an easy read, good for those ADD types.  This book is over 10 years old, but is so relevant in dealing with ‘the corporate red tape’ while trying to foster the creative process.  This, by far, is one of my favorite books!