Words.

I don't know how many remember me mentioning this video once in class, but I thought I'd post it now for ya'll to check out.

[See Words video here!]

Besides being quite clever and interesting, I think it's a good demonstration of what is truly necessary in a video work, and what you really don't need. (i.e., You don't need to spell everything out for a viewer.)

Our brain is wired to make connections. That's how it works. I'm in a class right now called Creativity and Problem Solving, and our textbook ("Thinkertoys," which I will freely confess that I actually like, so go ahead, slap that "nerdy academic" label on me...) lists a bunch of exercises developed to help you solve problems creatively. (Appropriate for such a class, eh?) One exercise is called "Brutethink" and is concentrated on creating new ideas by forcing yourself to make connections between two seemingly random ideas or objects. (It's kind of hard to explain, you see. However, I am more than willing to discuss it, seeing as how I love the book. Come find me.)
Anyway, in that chapter, Michalko writes, "The human brain cannot deliberately concentrate on two separate objects or ideas without eventually forming a connection between them. No two inputs can remain separate in your mind no matter how remote they are from each other."
(Time out. Our God is so cool. He totally did that on purpose. Time in.)

That's why a video like this one can work. As soon as we see an image of the word "play" and then a sword fight on stage, our minds do not think "sword fight," we think "play!" We make the connection on our own. (Virtual high-fives, all around.)

Another good example of this is in the one documentary we watched in class last week, which featured a son interviewing his father about their family's history. (I don't remember the name of it now... my deepest apologies.) Throughout the film, the audio remained constant, an interview between a father and son, but the pictures shown (a boxing match, a tree, a crowd of photographers...) were completely different from the conversation. When a picture of the boxing match was shown, the two men were not discussing boxing, but the audience was able to make the connection between the verbal fight they were hearing between the men and the physical fight on the screen. It was an interesting way to convey a message to your viewer. I think it could be a creative little sumthin' sumthin' to keep your back pocket as we start working on our next projects, too.

So enjoy the video. Watch it more than once. Listen to the sound effects, the music. Note the crazy variety in locations and shots. And make the connections, find the "words," on your own.

Happy Weekend-ing!

P.S. If you liked "Words," you might also like Moments. (Note: there are a couple graphic clips in that one... like blood... Kinda caught me off guard the first time. Just be ready.) :)