Kony 2012.

The Internet is a really weird place sometimes, as a user, you can be pottering around for weeks hoping someone will discover your genius and it never happens, or, weeks, maybe even months later, it does, and then you're viral.

The viewing stats for this weeks biggest viral offering 'Kony 2012' are mental. Jumping from barely anything to 58K on Monday, to 2.7 million yesterday, up to 3.1 million today at the time of writing. But it's a really big deal that it's viral, I mean it really is, and it's important that anyone with access to the Internet watches it and does their bit to put Joseph Kony in the media spotlight, it's the 29 minutes of your life, and it's important.

Director, Jason Russell and his Invisible Children campaign are aiming to oust Ugandan dictator, Joseph Kony for his appalling war crimes that include the abduction and indoctrination of up to 30,000 children. With so many young girls being raped and young boys becoming child soldiers under Kony's violent reign, it's really easy to see why a man like this needs to be stopped. Kony is the 'top' war criminal on the ICC list at The Hague yet has never been brought to justice.

Obviously a campaign like this, and on this scale should be able to do some good, and I really hope that it isn't a flop, because getting major backing from 15 year olds on Tumblr, isn't necessarily the definition of success, but I'm hoping that it makes a difference and that there's more to it than that. Perhaps in creating notoriety for someone like Joseph Kony, more room will be created for additional 'forgotten war criminals' like Charles Taylor - who actually directly relates to the United States, with Liberia being their first and only attempt to colonise.

I genuinely hope that this opens doors and I believe everyone needs to know about issues like these, and that they need to remain top priority. Sadly 'African issues' do tend to only become important when mainstream media dictates, despite the fact that the problems are deeply rooted and show very little sign of disappearing. I hope I don't sound ignorant or too cynical but this campaign is a small part of an massive, incomprehensible problem which includes many other African countries ravaged by civil war. Saying that, I want to be wrong and I want the power of social media mentioned in the film to be as great as Russell thinks, because people can do amazing things, when they can be bothered.

Based on the statistics of the video alone, as well as the fact that the campaign has already gained attention from celebrities and both national and international press, something might be happening, and it might be big.

The Official Kony 2012 Website
Facebook Event for London Kony 2012 Event on 20th April

Last night on Channel 4.

Something that I really hate about Channel 4 is that usually their best stuff is on really late at night and they never tell anyone about, despite the fact that they probably still feel like they need to get over the loss of Big Brother.

But anyway, at around midnight last night they showed the Oscar-winning short, Logorama. I was pretty impressed, it had an almost perfect balance of social commentary and comedy. The animation is set within a fictional Los Angeles that is comprised of corporate logos. They have been really smart in the way that they have done this, watch out for the Adidas logo as flowers at the end.

I think it's very well put together and I've managed to find it online (demonstrating that the Internet is better than television), so I'd definitely recommend that you watch it, it's only 16 minutes of your life. I think that it's a must for communication design enthusiasts as well as graphic designers.

Official Logorama website
Logo.Design.Love blog post

Pipe down.

Apparently, on reflection, neither myself or Moon did what we'd planned to do yesterday.

Just made this; nom, and I am in the process of editing together another short.

via Meehkseen Durdles

I was thinking about trying my chances with the Youtube Ridley Scott project, but I've almost abandoned that. They want raw footage, which I can provide them with but I've got lots - as I got the rules muddled up, so I'm going to put together another of my own.

I figure I should enter because someone who I don't even speak to anymore emailed me and told me I should but, there is almost no chance of me getting to Sundance due to all the births/miracles, to which a casual day wandering around Kew just doesn't compare.

Just realised this is the most blogs I've ever posted in one month, this could be because I am extra lame this month or because I'm doing extra things. Both? I bet the 30 day challenge bumps this up a bit too... I still have a few more days of the month left and no doubt quite a bit to still talk about.

I'm Here.

The short Spike Jonze movie, 'I'm Here' is currently being streamed on the official movie website.
This makes me very happy, I won't talk about The Creators Project and not being able to go anymore.

www.IAmHereMovie.com
UPDATE; watched it, amazing, do it, it's half an hour of your life you should happily give up

Shawtie.

So I made it.
This is an attempt at POV shooting as well as a Day-in-the-life-of storytelling, this is what I did on the 28th May 2010. I only just edited it together now. I think I might make another when I'm doing something a bit more interesting than just grabbing a sandwich and going out. Plus there are a few things I missed out from the day that I wish I'd put in. But I'm quite happy with this, I just think if I were to do it again, there are definitely things I have learnt that will make the next one better.