#let's enhance

[fckyeahnetart]

[hottestproducts]

Image upscaling supercharged

[astroni800]

Let's Enhance!

My effect of searching the most naive computer based plots.

[187footballheads]

Season 2 Episode 9a - Freeze Frame

ENHANCE.

ENHANCE.

[spokoloko]

[cutsandcakes-blog]

Superheroes of Supercut Culture: Duncan Robson

How would you define “supercut”?

I usually give a half-remembered version of Andy Baio's definition.

How do you became someone who makes supercuts?

I'd been reading Andy's blog for a while. I think since his post about House of Cosbys. When I read his original supercut post I watched and enjoyed many of them. Later as I discovered more on YouTube I added some in the comments and eventually I made one of my own (My Arse). I'd done a little editing before and always enjoyed the power over story it gives you which is way more than you have working in vfx or animation.

Your supercut Let’s Enhance got 2 million clicks on Youtube so far. Does this make you famous?

I don't think so. I'm not getting too many emails. I don't get recognised in the street.

Do you make any money by creating supercuts?

So far, no.

What makes a supercut good?

When it is an idea you wish you had thought of. When it provokes a discussion or makes you laugh.

Is there a specific kind of supercut that you like?

I like the ones which take otherwise mundane elements and transform them into something mesmerising. I prefer the funnier ones.

How would you describe the kind of supercut that you do?

I've not made many so I'm not sure there are any recurring themes. Tumbleweeds, Three Point Landing and this new one I'm working on all have original music and I treat them like music videos rather than essays. Coins, Time Time and Subscribe are more like jokes.

Where do you get your ideas for supercuts?

Usually when I'm watching a film or tv show with my wife. Sometimes from watching trailers or other supercuts. My current project started out as shots of people trying to shut down machines but those became too hard to find and it turned into "Percussive Maintenance". Friends suggest them to me sometimes. I'm interested in videogames and I'd like to make a videogame supercut some day (or maybe a supercut videogame).

Does TvTropes play a big role in your research?

Definitely. Not sure I could have made Let's Enhance without it. It can give you a good starting point but it's far from comprehensive and seems to have a heavy sci-fi and anime bias. Subzin.com is great for dialogue searches. IMDb keyword searches can be useful. For Tumbleweeds I brought home stacks of western dvds from the library and watched them on fast forward. One of the best tumbleweeds came from a search on Google books. Friends have helped. My wife has emailed her co-workers at Pixar. Sites like ask.metafilter.com can be useful too. It's good to try searching in a variety of places so you have a wider range clips to choose from.

Sometimes Joel Robson makes music for your supercuts. Is he related to you?

He's my brother. He lives in the famous musical city of Sheffield where he has played in various bands. joelrobson.bandcamp.com

Andy Baio wrote on Wired.com that 73 percent of supercuts are made by superfans. Do you consider youself as a superfan?

Not really. There are certain bands, directors, actors, writers, comedians who I admire but I'm not too interested in remixing their work.

You spoke on a panel on the supercut with Andy Baio, Rich Juzwiak and Aaron Valdez. Do you think there is something like a supercut community / supercut scene?

Not that I'm aware of. There is maybe a remix scene but I don't feel like I'm part of it. I really enjoyed ROFLCon and would like to meet more people doing this kind of work but it's a pretty small group with widely varying tastes and spread all over the world. ROFLCon was rare because flights were paid for by the sponsors. Occasionally there are other remix/found footage events at festivals. Everything Is Terrible had a supercut show at the Cinefamily theater in LA in 2011. http://www.cinefamily.org/films/supercuts-trash-compactors-feat-fourfour/ I'd go to that if they did another one. Kleptonite in London sounded like fun too. http://www.drinkinlondon.co.uk/events/britannia/kleptonite

Do you consider supercuts as art?

I had one commissioned by an art museum and would like that to happen again so yes. Absolutely. The highest form of art!

My serious answer would be "sometimes". 

People who are only making stuff for youtube or vimeo should try showing their work in different contexts like film festivals or art shows. It would also be cool to see people like Christian Marclay or Tracey Moffatt put some of their work online.

Do you think of yourself as an artist?

Yes but not a very good one. I like to see people making the things they want to see rather than debating what is or isn't art. You've given me an idea for a supercut of people talking about art.

[tonynacho]

There's always a guy getting caught by his fuckin reflection