Overwhelmingly Positive's video is a finalist at an international film festival in LA this weekend
So… I’m going to Los Angeles this weekend for the Tarzana International Film Festival. And not just to be there! The music video for the title track of my That Darn Racket album was not only accepted as an entry, but it is a finalist in its category.
If you know The History of Peter Coffin™, you should immediately understand why this is strange. I have had a long career of satire, ideological criticism, etc. I’ve made a lot of parody songs. I’ve done a lot of completely unserious things, and a lot of overtly political things.
But the first time I release a straightforwardly sincere original song (maybe a little humorous but not particularly), people actually enjoy it?? Which, in and of itself, is enough for me to be pretty happy. I wasn’t expecting people to listen to it or really care about it, let alone like it. If anything, I was expecting internet weirdos that hate me to give it more attention, but lo and behold, over 12,000 people all over the world have listened to the album. I’ve gotten a lot of fun feedback, too. I’ve seen a couple of reviews, and they are actually rather positive. I did an interview the other day! I’ll link it when it’s out. Strange times, friends.
You could say the TDR album is full of songs, or full of potential music videos. For me, the videos are ways to explore using generative video that isn’t just “press button get content.” As much as I am very pro-AI, I don’t believe it’s capable of meaningfully replacing human creators (as a human and a creator, I wouldn’t want that anyway).
Instead, I think it’s worth finding ways to employ it to do what I cannot do as a “filmmaker” (video creator). A “director” (I am adjusting to sincerely using these words because I am being recognized as such) for a video with a real budget would otherwise be leaning on an art department, set designers, camera people, etc. to accomplish the same thing, so I think to approach generative video in that way, with an understanding that things are going to require a lot of finagling (editing and often a lot of compositing) to become the thing in your head… that’s the fun of it.
And because I am using AI like this, I am a finalist at a film festival. The tools you use can not trump the sensibilities you develop and the effort you put in. I made the equivalent of a comic book movie crossed with that goofy late ‘90s/early ‘2000s music video humor. It’s attempting to be a little bit cringe for fun, but I haven’t seen anyone call it that.
So I will be in Los Angeles this weekend. If you’re interested in buying tickets to the block I am in, it’s the first AI Showcase at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $18. I have no idea what to expect, as I have never been in a film festival before.
Wish me luck! Thank you!
Break a leg! Or something!