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Typography is.

Ted — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:38:25 +0000

Skip to the third paragraph if typography bores you

I have come to recently understand how important type is not only in design, but in video. As a consequence, I am currently reading The Elements of Typographic Style. I have heard it is a “must read” for anyone seeking good type in their creations.

I have already made a couple adjustments to tedvid.com based on what I have been reading. Unfortunately I have not read the entire thing, which means I’m certain that though I may have corrected myself in one or two areas, it probably has created other issues elsewhere. Nevertheless, I hope to eventually have a solid enough grasp on typography that I can hold a decently intelligent conversation over the matter.

Now for the life-type connection

This new interest in typography is more of a life transition than anything. All of high school up through your general education courses in college, you are hit over the head repeatedly with a broad base of potential life skills. Yes, you begin to formulate what you are going to do as early as the day you could say a combination of the words “fire” and “man” but you are at such risk of changing your mind five or six hundred times that the educators and purveyors (I just wanted to say purveyors) of our world find it necessary that you simply learn a little about a lot until you figure things out.

However, I am done with the bulk of my general education courses, I only have a year and a half of school left and life is coming at me fast. And to be honest, I’m excited. Now that I have been doing what I love for some time and realize that video and the web are (to use a very early 2000s buzz word) converging, I can begin to hone my skills in all of the unnoticeably noticeable aspects of videography and motionography. To clarify: those parts of a video that make it excellent, reputable and set apart but are not readily apparent to the average viewer.

Also, just as I have begun to focus on these “unnoticeably noticeable” aspects of video-making, I have also began to work on these things in my personal life. As most of you know, I am a Christian. And for those of you who didn’t know – I’m not afraid of your initial reaction to that statement. Everyone has a different response to that word based on their experiences with people – good or bad. I have grown up in the church (I’m even the son of a minister), seen absolutely ridiculous things happen and while I think most people see this as a way to discredit Christianity, I have had just the opposite reaction. I believe it affirms Christianity. And if you want to ask more about why I believe this, you can email me: ted@tedvid.com or comment. I can promise an honest, gentle response.

So as I work on letting God correct my imperfections by being made more fully aware that the imperfections of man are only made complete in Christ, I will also be letting Robert Bringhurst bring to light my typographic mistakes. *Note: these two things are in the same sentence, but no on the same plane of importance ; ) haha!

Thanks for reading.

Ted

Movie Posters

Ted — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:21:42 +0000

Well, suffice it to say.. I have failed epically on posting two videos a day for you all. So, I owe you guys at least an explanation as to what I have been doing before I get back to doing that again this next week because judging by the traffic bump on the site, you all enjoyed it.

Besides doing lots of work for iThemes this summer (Yeah, every word to this point is a link to something I’ve made, so pick a word and check it out), I’ve been gorging on movies and music. Also, I’ve found some time to do some reading and audiobook listening which is always a bonus.

To help break it down more for you and to make sure you’re spared the boring details here’s a simple list of things that apply to my life currently based off some inspiration from a blog post by my friend, Nathan Reynolds.

Movie Posters
Passion Pit
Titus
New MacBook Pro : )
Dwelling
Commutes
Future
Positively Overwhelmed
Compassion
When does football season get here?
Friendship
EmperorZurg.com

___

If you want more detail you’ll have to ask below, otherwise – why give you information you don’t want/need?

Last thing – I was messing with GarageBand and my brother’s musical ability, and have put together a pretty catchy 45 second audio clip you can download/listen to here.

See ya this week!

- Ted

What I am doing this summer

Ted — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:47:05 +0000

It’s hard for me to believe that summer is here, but I can assure you that I am incredibly thankful. Anyway, I figured I’d write out a blog post for what seems to be the most asked question as of late: What are you doing this summer?

I’m working for iThemes.com – doing video, motion graphics and whatever else Cory Miller decides I need to work on.

When I’m not working, I’m going to be working with my brother, Caleb Harrison doing an Internet video series through Pearodies.com and YouTube. I promise you, we will bring you nothing short of ridiculous so be sure to check that out and follow Pearodies on Twitter for more details on that soon. (one will star my good friend, Jonathan Kennedy and you should just go ahead and get excited for that)

Then, when I’m not doing the other two aforementioned things, I’ll be writing a book. Will anyone ever read it other than me? Probably not – but I have an idea in mind and I already have the outline as well as the first two pages or so written which is much farther than I would have ever expected to get.

So when I’m not creating, which is what all three of the above are, I will be spending some time in Scripture, reading various literature, and training to run a half marathon by the end of the summer while finding some time to hang with friends.

If it sounds like a lot it’s because it is. Do I expect everything to go as I have it laid out in my head? Two years ago I would have said yes – today I already know that life happens and I’m going to be okay at the end of the summer.

Thanks for reading, and if you would, answer the question, “What are you doing this summer?” in the comments. I’m interested, promise!

- Ted

91 centimeters

Ted — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:34:42 +0000

Skhizein (Jérémy Clapin,2008) from Bertie on Vimeo.

The more I find myself browsing through the increasingly infinite web, the less I feel I can come up with something unique.

Or, I should say I thought this.

I was wrong. This beautifully done video turned that idea on it’s head and then some. Is the video entirely original? No. Is the animation the best there is? No. The world has already been created (everything from ideas and thoughts to trees and oceans) so creativity is rarely (if ever) in developing an entirely new concept, but rather in finding a way to contrive something new out of the old. Those who can make what already exists relevant are the people who are going to find success. The one who spends his/her time trying to be outside of the self will only find frustration and disappointment.

This whole post may not be a new concept, or something you have never heard, but you have never seen it presented this exact way. You have never been presented with this combination of video, words, and minimalistic blog design that I hope is an invitation to go create something. Seriously, go do it.

Don’t get stuck 91 centimeters away from creating something.

Semester Number Three

Ted — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:56:37 +0000

Is over! I am now officially a Junior in college.

Honestly, this semester of college was probably the most difficult semester of school I have ever had. Oddly enough, it was not because the courses were difficult, or that the workload was astronomical, it was just simply hard to stay motivated.

Hard to stay motivated because I’m ready to begin doing what I’m going to do with my life.

Now, that may be a bit ridiculous considering I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do with my life, but I can almost guarantee you that my career will not involve things like Geology. Anyway, I’m hoping to process all of what happened this past semester (including the transition from one website to five) while also doing a lot of self-teaching and experimentation with web code/design and video over this Christmas break. I just purchased a Sony HVR A1U that should arrive soon and I’m currently writing a 3-5 minute short mockumentary to produce before my break is over – you will probably see more about that than you can handle over the next couple of weeks. Also, I am going to be doing some speaking and promoting of Heavyladen.org (you should definitely click and check it out) while also working on the site itself over this break.

Now that I look at that, I wonder when I’ll do my reflecting.

“Have mercy on me oh God – according to Your unfailing love – according to Your great compassion – blot out my transgression”

Asking that daily ^^

Ted