Category: Films

RAMS: A Documentary About Dieter Rams

Posted on Posted in Design, Design Legends, Films, Industrial DesignTagged , , , , ,

Gary Hustwit, the director of the documentaries Helvetica, Objectified, and Urbanized, is directing the first feature-length documentary about the life of legendary product designer, Dieter Rams. He has put together a Kickstarter to fund the rest of the filming and production. The backer rewards are great, including posters designed by Michael C. Place of Build. This is a great project that will preserve Rams’ life and work. I’ve backed it.

The documentary will include in-depth conversations with Dieter, and detail the process behind some of his most iconic designs. We want to get past the legend of Dieter, and get into his philosophy, process, inspirations, and even his regrets.

dieter-rams-film-1dieter-rams-film-2dieter-rams-film-3dieter-rams-film-4

Bentley Intelligent Details: The Bespoke Driving Jacket

Posted on Posted in Apple, Fashion, Films, TechnologyTagged , , ,

Last year, Bentley produced a short film shot entirely on an iPhone 5s. They’ve produced another Intelligent Details film for their bespoke driving jacket, and this one was shot entirely on an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Two things fascinate me about this film.

First, it’s amazing the level of quality the iPhone camera can produce. This film is beautiful. Granted, professional film techniques were used by pro filmmakers, but it’s incredible what can be achieved with the iPhone. The only quality the footage is still lacking is shallow depth of field. You do get some bokeh on the iPhone 6, but not shallow enough to where it gives the footage that dream-like film look. Maybe one day.

They also produced a behind the scenes showing what went into creating the film. I love how they used an anamorphic lens to produce a wide 2.4:1 aspect ratio.

The second thing that I love about this film is the peek into the bespoke tailoring world. I love fashion, and to see it done at this level is wonderful. The film features four bespoke houses from Savile Row designing and tailoring a bespoke driving jacket for Bentley. My favorite designs are from Henry Poole and Gieves & Hawkes.

The Birth Of A Tool

Posted on Posted in FilmsTagged , ,

The Birth Of A Tool is a three-part documentary series showing the hand-crafted process of how John Neeman Tools are made. The films are beautifully shot, and are just mesmerizing. Seeing a master craftsman at work is a thing of beauty. There’s something special about making something real with your hands.

John Neeman Tools is a small Latvia based company that produces super high quality knives, axes, chisel and longbow using traditional techniques. The way they combined wood, metal and leather is superb.

Above is Part I, and here is Part II and Part III.

Il Capo

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This is an excerpt on NOWNESS from the documentary, Il Capo (The Chief) by Italian filmmaker Yuri Ancarani. The film follows a marble quarry boss who uses simple hand gestures to guide his crew. The topic is fascinating, but what strikes me the most about the excerpt is the wonderful aesthetics created by mixing the beautiful landscape, excellent cinematography, and a super minimal sound design. All you hear are the sounds of the machinery and the massive marble blocks being extracted. It’s all wonderful and worth a look.

Via Kottke

Coast Modern & Build — Live Through Architecture Not For It

Posted on Posted in Architecture, Design, Events, FilmsTagged , , , ,

Build Coast Modern Poster

To kickoff the UK launch of the documentary film Coast Modern the filmmakers invited Build to exhibit a series of prints designed exclusively for the event. Build designed the poster above for the show, that will take place at Mead Carney gallery in London. The A1 poster is a two color screen print on Lustralux 215gsm paper, and printed by K2 Screen.

The exhibit will also feature a very limited set of 5 typographic prints, each with a word or statement taken directly from the film.

The filmmakers and the Build team will be at the show, and the film will be screened on Saturday 14th June at 4pm. The prints will be available for purchase at the shop, and on Build’s shop.

Wish. I. Were. In. London. Damnit. More info below:

Mead Carney
45 Dover Street
London
W1S 4FF

Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 June
Open Saturday 10am – 8pm & Sunday 12pm – 6pm

Bentley: Intelligent Details

Posted on Posted in Films, TechnologyTagged , ,

Intelligent Details is a short documentary film that features Luc Donckerwolke and SangYup Lee, heads of design at Bentley Motors, talking about the Bentley Mulsanne.

What’s really interesting about the film is that it was completely shot using an iPhone 5s, and edited on an iPad Air mounted inside the Mulsanne. The end of the film seems more like an Apple ad than one for Bentley.

The films is proof that consumer products like an iPhone and iPad can be used to create professional quality content. Granted, they used some expensive gear with the iPhone to achieve a lot of the results, but you can still get close to this with just an iPhone.