Description:
Bring a little hysteria to your life and ride the chaos. Art, Movies, Philosophy, Politics and general randomness. This is Hysteria so start screaming...
Contents:
New Hysteria Productions ID Tag
Busy busy busy...
I’ve got some exciting things to show off over the next few days.
First an all new ID Tag for Hysteria Productions. I always wanted to make a western movie, so that’s what I did (even though it’s only 40 seconds long). I actually filmed this about two years ago while I had a camera hired out for another job. Operating the camera was Brad Armel, Chris Daniels played the Sheriff and I was the gunman. It only took an hour or so to film it and we did it full guerilla style.
We shot it on the Sony HDV Z1. A great little camera but such a shit format. It has to be one of the worst created. At first glance the footage looks good but when you try and grade it in anyway, it just falls apart. There is just too little information remaining after the compression has butchered it. This is the main reason why it has taken so long to complete.
I knew what I wanted as far as the look went but was just unable to achieve it with the format. So I shelved until a few weeks ago. I opened it up, had another look and thought it’d be a real shame if it doesn’t get seen. So I took a deep breath and gave it the best grade possible. It’s a huge compromise from what my original vision was, but I think it’s come up ok.
Lesson learned. NEVER shoot with HDV again EVER!
There are two places to see the movie. The fairly small download on YouTube or the higher resolution version which is about 10Mb
Usually an ID Tag is meant to be about 20 seconds and in reality this is too long for most projects (I’ll probably end up only using the last shot for most projects) but wherever possible I’ll use the whole thing.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
It’s all about nerds
 I thought I’d stray slightly from the darker side of things and create a new section in the store. That’s right I have a fun side. Hard to believe I know. What’s not hard to believe however, is that I am a nerd. So that’s what I’ve focused on. Two new designs and in fact my first ever designs for t-shirts.
The first “Nerd & Loving It!” is for the nerds out there who are proud of what they are. And why shouldn’t they? Nerds are the ones who have created this world.
Technology, art, music, television, science, philosophy... All in the realm of nerds.
The second design “Yes.. I am a nerd, Stop Staring” is to help us nerds who find ourselves being the centre of unwanted attention. It’s inevitable that the normal folks are going to stare in awe of the brilliance of the nerd. Tell them to go away by wearing a t-shirt or sweatshirt with this message on it. It’ll save your concentration being broken to tell them yourself.
Both designs are made up of thousands of 1’s and 0’s that make up binary code. The binary code is real and when converted, tells the history of UNIX as told on wikipedia. Ok ok, I know... I clearly had too much time on my hands this week.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
The Electric Sunset
 I’m starting to get on top of this new web site and have placed a secon peice of artwork up. It is called ‘Electric Sunset’
Raw power and energy. Cables strewn across the land, supported by gigantic statues of steel. A grand achievement of power and construction. To harness electricity was the dream and vision of scientists such as Benjamin Franklin and Nikola Tessla. To distribute it to all mankind was the dream and vision of Thomas Edison and those alike. Yet with centuries of science and discovery, experimentation and manipulation, our greatest achievement in true power, pales in comparison to that of natures.
The massive, overpowering and overwhelming orb of the Sun hangs on the horizon, observing our feeble efforts. Burning for billions of years, with a billion more to go. By the time she flickers her last gasp, memories of our existence and evidence or the planetary scarification we have inflicted, will have long disappeared.
This image is, at a glance, tranquil and almost peaceful, yet on deeper inspection there is a fierce war raging between man and nature. Will we ever stop and realize it is a battle we can not win. All that will happen is our own annihilation. Until we learn to live and work and play in unison with nature, our future is limited.
This image is part of the 'Moody' series of images for the tone it sets. It makes a great gift idea as a framed poster for the office or home, to remind us of what real power is.
My choice would be the small framed print as it captures the cinematic fell of this dramatic image.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
The Moody Blue Truck
 A lonely pick-up truck left to battle the onslaught of decay. Deep battle scars on display for all eternity.
I found this old blue truck while wandering around in some hills outside of Ballarat in country Victoria, Australia. It was just sitting there, all beat up and rusting away. It was obviously the end result of a night of joy-riding and vandalism. I couldn't help but think that this "machine" was once a useful part of the community, helping people to commute while transporting heavy goods. It could have even been the life-blood of some ones small business. I wonder if at some point this was a representation of their dreams, a way to achieve a better life. There was a certain sadness at seeing it's final resting place and thinking of the abuse it had suffered in it's final hours.
Some may say it's only a car, a truck, a machine... But do we really treat people any differently?
I am very proud of how this image turned out and feel that I have returned some dignity to this former work-horse.
Because of its atmospheric and sombre tones, I have added this image as part of the 'Moody' section of the Planet Hysteria store. This image makes a great gift idea as a poster, journal, throw pillow or as greeting cards or postcards.
This is the first image I have placed in the new store as it is one of my favorites. There are many more pieces to come, including ‘Electric Sunset’ which will be the next image added.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
Why so moody?
 The first section of the Planet Hysteria store is title ‘Moody’ It is a collection of photos and images that are atmospheric, brooding and, well, moody. They set a tone and inspire emotion.
I have never really thought of myself as an “artist” or a “photographer”, but more like a story teller. I always try and convey a story with the images I create or the photos I capture. Sometimes I set out with a story already conceived in my head and I try and capture the images required to tell it. Other times there is a story that is hidden within an image that may have been taken as a quick snap of the camera. In that case, it’s only when the image is processed through Photoshop that the story becomes clear.
The clutter of color may be stripped away or a focal point highlighted or hidden layers revealed as the story begins to tell itself. All you have to do is watch carefully as the image reveals its true meanings and transforms into something special.
Some say a picture says a thousand words, sometimes I think it’s more like a whole novel. As I introduce more artwork, I will tell each story as I see it. This doesn’t mean that it’s the only story the particular image has to tell. Let the pictures take you away and inspire emotion and imagination.
The images in this area will be available as poster prints, greeting cards, postcards, journals and more fantastic gift ideas.
I would love to hear any feedback on the images or anything, either by adding a comment below or by sending an email through the contact page.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
Hysteria goes Planetary...
 Well it’s taken five or more years of me talking about doing this, but finally I have found the time. An online store where I can present and sell all of the photographic artwork I have created over the years.
The store is called PLANET HYSTERIA and will also be the place to get any merchandise associated with Hysteria Productions. But for now it’s art, art and more art...
There is presently only one piece of art work up but I’ll be adding new stuff regularly. I didn’t realize just how much stuff I have created over the last few years.
So here’s the blurb or the sales pitch or the greeting or whatever you want to call it when you arrive at the shop front.
Explore the photographic images, mystical art and enchanted pictures as they take you to a universe of fantasy, imagination and dreams. Sometimes dark and moody other times inspiring and funny. All make great gift ideas and turn life into a form of expression.
Amazing posters, greeting cards, t-shirts, clothing and many other gift ideas are available with this poetic and often philosophically inspired art.
From scenic images of apocalyptic destruction and dark fantasy to tranquil realms of nature and wild beauty, mystical visions of enchanted forests and faeries to deeper philosophical imagery with thought provoking quotes and some just plain goofy and funny images too. All emotions are covered in this emotive and evocative art.
So now all you need to know is where to go to get this awesomely great stuff.
www.planethysteria.com
Remember it, bookmark it, send it to your friends and tell everyone you meet... The planet is turning hysterical...
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
Not so Lost after all...
 Some great news today...
DVDempire have decided to sell Lost:Black Earth on their new VOD (Video On Demand) website. Finally this little film that I directed way back in 1999 and put together over the following four years, will get to see the light.
The biggest problem we have had in trying to get it distributed, is the length of only 49 minutes. With these new online technologies, this is no longer a problem. Seems fitting that Lost gets distributed with new media distribution techniques, as the movie itself was cutting edge at the time it was made, being one of the first DV movies made. It certainly pushed some boundaries with regards to the visual effects at the time too.
For those who don’t know Lost:Black Earth is a post-apocalyptic, science fiction, adventure movie.
Synopsis
Over run by the alien Kryslum Empire, a devastated Earth is victim of their slow terra-forming technologies. With the human race enslaved and on the brink of destruction, four misfits join forces to start the rebellion that will bring upon a new dawn for human survival
You can purchase it for download here at DVDEmpire
For more information about the movie visit the website at www.lostblackearth.com
You can also read a great review of the movie at www.quietearth.us. This is a great website dedicated to genre film and everything Post Apocalyptic.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
New Web Site
The last few weeks I’ve been putting together a new web site that I’ve been planning for the last 5 years or so. Ok so it takes mw a while to move on new things...
The web site will be a new online store where I can sell artwork on a whole range of printed products. But more about that later.
Over the years I’ve started blogs and lost interested, then started another one and then lost interest. So I’ve ended up with blogs all over the place with a whole lot of uninterest. So my first task for this new site is to consolidate all my blog postings over the years into one place that makes sense. Apparently this is better for search engines and stuff too.
So here it is the new blog.
Enjoy.
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2008 James Cole
Faster than a speeding scientist...
 Podcasting, though still in its early days, is becoming a wonderful thing. Hours and hours of free downloadable content. And, like I’m sure many of you, I have gone nuts downloading more things than I could possibly have time to watch. But that’s not what this story is about...
So I’m slowly working through the masses of videos in my iTunes collection and get to episode 19 of MacBreak. It’s a great tech show about all things Mac. I start listening and the hosts are talking about having just attended a keynote speech from Steve Jobs. The big announcement was of a new media centre that at the time was being called iTV.
Well today we know it as Apple TV (due to some legal issues over the name of a British TV channel I believe) and I could have sworn it was ancient technology. So I’m wondering how old this podcast is. I have a quick look at the release date and am instantly flabbergasted.
If you would’ve asked me how long the Apple TV has been out, I would have sworn it to be at least three or four years. It really does feel that long. Well the release date for the podcast was 13th September 2006.
Unconvinced the date was correct, I did a bit of research and found that not only was the date about right (the actual Keynote was held on the 12th of September) but the Apple TV didn’t even ship until 21st March of this year.
Is there something truly wrong with my head (don’t answer that) and my perception of time, or is technology exploding out so fast that we think of six month old creations as old news. How long can we keep this rate of invention up. It almost seems that things are coming out too fast. But to be hypocritical, I am caught up in the whole speed of advancement too. Always wanting the latest and greatest gadget or techno-toy. In fact this year alone I’ve spent thousands of dollars on upgrades of software.
It’s interesting to think that only three generations before me, people were lucky to see a dozen great technological leaps in their lifetime. Now we are seeing them almost every day. In fact they are so regular that we don’t even know about most of them, just the ones in our own chosen fields of interest.
I wonder what will come tomorrow?
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2007 James Cole
Food For Thought
 Just a quick entry today to let you all know that I have just uploaded a new movie from the archives. This would actually make it an old movie but as it’s never been here before so I’m claiming that it’s new even though it is actually old.
You can look at it here
I’ve also written about what went into making it.
Enjoy
J.C.
www.planethysteria.com
www.hysteria.com.au
©2007 James Cole
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