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Mister Rogers Google Doodle
It's a beautiful day in Google's neighborhood. On the 51st anniversary of the show, the tech tycoon honors everyone's favorite neighbor with a nostalgia-inducing stop-motion short full of Mister Rogers goodness. The animation is backed by the iconic voice of the man in the cardigan himself, singing his legendary theme song.
Extremity
Deus Ex Machina celebrates the need for speed in the California desert. Captured by filmmaker Jeff Zwart, the custom motorcycle shop puts stuntman Riley Harper behind the wheel of a 1949 belly tank Lakester and lets him loose at Soggy Dry Lake.
TK630: A Star Wars Fan Film
Brendan Banks is here to fill your Star Wars void until the franchise returns in 2019. The filmmaker has set up shop in a galaxy far, far away to bring you a nine-minute fan film. Taking place on a remote forest planet, the short follows an abandoned Imperial scout trooper on the hunt for a Jedi.
Slow Motion RC Broncos
Another RC Channel has created the ultimate off-road video by filming his Traxxas TRX4 Broncos in super slow-mo. The effect paired with the angle almost makes you feel like your watching a couple a full-size 4x4s shredding the beach. He follows it up by taking his toys to the forest trails of the Pacific Northwest.
Where Cork Comes From
You probably know the exact region or even vineyard your wine comes from. But what about that cork in the bottle? Although they seem menial, that plug is just as vital to your glass of Cab as the grapes inside and the method used to harvest the cork to make them is equally as strenuous. The delicate process begins in Portugal with a group of harvesters that have been keeping the tradition alive for generations.
The New York Public Library's Collection of Weird Objects
From a pair of Jack Kerouac's boots to the foot of Charles Dickens' cat Bob, the New York Public Library has its own museum-worthy collection of literary artifacts. The assortment of paraphernalia is the work of two brothers and includes anything from locks of hair to prayer bells. In this short profile, Director of Exhibitions Declan Kiely walks you through the unusual objects that make up The Berg Collection.
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Carry On Cocktail Kit
Booze is readily available on most flights. But the ingredients needed to make anything more complex than a Jack and Coke are nowhere to be found. Unless, of course, you're packing a Carry On Cocktail Kit. Available in six styles — Old Fashioned, Gin & Tonic, Moscow Mule, Champagne Cocktail, Bloody Mary, and Hot Toddy — these self-contained, TSA-friendly tins includes everything you need to make a couple real drinks at 30,000 feet. Inside each kit are the proper ingredients for the cocktail such as bitters or craft tonic syrup, along with tools like jiggers and spoons, a recipe card, and linen coasters. All of which should help make that mid-morning flight from Omaha to Reno a little less boring.
![Light L16 Camera]( "Light L16 Camera")
Light L16 Camera
Fitted with 16 camera modules, the Light L16 Camera can replace that bulky DSLR. The compact camera uses multiple lenses and sensors with varying focal lengths to capture high-resolution images. Although relatively small — the whole thing weighs less than a pound and can fit in your back pocket — it's still equipped with a zoom range of 28-150mm. By capturing multiple perspectives at different exposure values, you can adjust the focus or enlarge your photo once the shot is taken. It's finished off with a five-inch HD touchscreen that features on-camera adjustments allowing users to edit their pictures and transfer them to their desktops while still on location.
Presented by Light Camera.
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The Tables
There might be ping pong tables in your basement or at the office, but none are like the ones in New York City's Bryant Park. Not because of their metal net or the unpredictable elements, but because of the players that use them. The Tables draw in people from all walks of life and unite them in an unexpected way.
Uncharted
Nathan Drake is a treasure hunter, explorer, historian, and really good at getting himself in trouble. Until now, his exploits have been confined to gaming consoles. This fan film, directed by Allan Ungar and starring Nathan Fillion, takes Nathan and partner Victor "Sully" Sullivan out of the game and into real life.
TANK
In the 80s, vector graphics were the cutting age of gaming. Classics like Star Wars, Battlezone, and the original Tron movie used vectors to simulate 3D before texturing caught up. Stu Maschwitz created TANK using Adobe After Effects and custom tools to make this excellent short film that drips 80s nostalgia.
A Visual History of Light
From the first spark of fire to the physics of today's hydrogen fusion, light has had quite an evolution. The Atlantic goes back to where it all started in 400,000 B.C. to give this chill timeline tracking the history of one of our most beloved resources.
Extreme Discount Card
Channel your inner Ben Gates. Vollebak has teamed up with adventurers Jason Fox and Aldo Kane to create the ultimate treasure hunt. Up for grabs is a one-of-a-kind hand-carved Rosewood sculpture crafted by Saena Ku. The piece took her over three months to complete and is impossible to duplicate, so don't even try. It's currently hidden somewhere on planet Earth and the only clue you'll be given is this short film by Oscar-winning director Orlando von Einsiedel, documenting the trek to its undisclosed hideout. Whoever can uncover the card's whereabouts will earn themselves free Vollebak clothing for life.
12K NYC
First, there was 4K. Then it was 8K. Now, we've reached mind-blowing clarity with 12K. Just to put it into perspective, it's 48.5 times the resolution of HD 1080p. Filmmaker Phil Holland showcases the stunning resolution with a cinematic flyover of New York City.
I Heart NY
The I Heart NY symbol is almost as iconic as the city itself. Designed in 1977 by Milton Glaser, the symbol was first created as an advertising campaign for the city. The campaign turned into the state's trademark logo and can still be seen in every souvenir shop 40 years later. This short film sheds light on the man behind the design and shares how his own relationship with the city inspired his now infamous graphic.
Paris, je t'aime
Contrary to popular belief, Paris is not, in fact, for lovers. Especially when you're waiting for the subway. Ignoring the guidebook's recommendation not to make eye contact, a man finds the rougher side of love in the City of Lights in this short from the Coen brothers.
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Vague Grey Fade Submariner Watch
Vague Watch Co.'s Grey Fade Submariner gets its name from the dark grey bezel insert, meant to mimic the sought-after "ghost bezel" effect found on the faded black bezels of well-worn vintage sport watches. Adding to the vintage look are intentional but subtle distressing marks of the case sides. It's built with an automatic movement, meaning you'll never have to change a battery, as the watch is powered by the movement of your arm during wear. With a stainless steel case, a screw-down back, and a 100-meter depth rating, the watch is also rugged enough to handle some serious time in the water. On top of that, it ships with a sharp military-inspired case, watch tool, and a classic nylon NATO strap to switch out with the stainless oyster band.
Aesop Jet Set Kit
Combining a few of their hair and body essentials, the Aesop Jet Set Kit keeps grooming simple and effective during travel season. The pack includes their Classic Shampoo, Classic Conditioner, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, and Rind Concentrate Body Balm in carry-on friendly sizes. The cool mix of mint and citrus is great for a quick in-flight refresh or to simply maintain daily upkeep while abroad.
Classic Shampoo: 1.7 oz / Classic Conditioner: 1.7 oz / Body Cleanser: 1.7 oz / Body Balm: 1.7 oz
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Speed Record on El Capitan
Deemed unbreakable, climbers Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds did the impossible by surpassing the speed record for El Capitan. The duo scaled Yosemite's infamous rock wall in just 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 44 seconds, beating the old record by just 4 minutes. In this time-lapse, Tristan Greszko condenses the impressive feat down to an enjoyable 5-minutes.
Stems
"Puppet-making begins by gathering stuff." In this short film, animator Ainslie Henderson, who specialized in stop-motion, describes the process behind his puppetry in a love letter not just to the medium but also the characters that help create it. The piece is scored by musician Poppy Ackroyd.
A New View of the Moon
We spend nearly half of the day with the moon but we seem to be taking our natural satellite for granted. With a telescope in hand, filmmakers Wylie Overstreet and Alex Gorosh head to the streets of Los Angeles to get people reacquainted with the moon. Nearly every person that took a look had the same reaction, proving that our fascination with space is just as strong as ever.
A Man Like You
Men are confident. Men are strong. Men are independent. Men cry like babies during razor commercials. In this short film by Harry's, the shaving company reminds us the in today's world the real definition of a man is not so cut-and-dried.
Papers, Please
Set in a border crossing station in the fictional, Eastern Bloc-like Arstotzka, a border agent is the only thing standing between broken families, desperate workers, and political insurgents. Based on the game Papers, Please by Lucas Pope, this short film tells a story much like its source material — and the limits and limitations of empathy.
The Brothers Behind Adidas and Puma
Two of the biggest shoe companies in the world were founded because two brothers couldn't get along. Adidas and Puma were started by Adolf and Rudolph Dassler respectively, after the popularity of their Dassler shoes tore them apart. As they say, the rest is history — and sibling rivalry.
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The Life of a Camera
Before there were smartphones, people actually took pictures with cameras on film. This 35mmYamasheta is one of those cameras. Now broken and dead, The Royal Ocean Film Society takes a look back at the life that it lived through the photos it took.
Instravel
Instagram is full of cliché photos. More than ever, people are not only oversharing but also overusing the same gimmicks to document their journeys around the globe, crowding our feeds with airplane wings and Leaning Tower of Pisa ice cream cones. To poke a little fun at the social media obsessed, Oliver KIMA collected some of the most stereotypical travel pictures a compiled them into a face-paced ode to mass tourism.
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Dear Basketball
Kobe Bryant had a legendary 20-year career but before he was ever drafted, he had a deep infatuation with the game. In this animated film, the icon reads his love letter to basketball over hand-drawn illustrations, directed by Disney animator Glen Keane. The short was played at his jersey retirement ceremony and is now up for an Academy Award.
Dreaveler
In the future, science has greatly expanded the lifetime of humans, to the point where natural death is nearly an unheard of experience. The Dreaveler corporation has stepped in to fill the gap, offering a kind of VR euthanasia for those ready to shed the mortal coil.
Up and Above
The rise of drones has taken aerial photography to new heights, giving us a unique perspective on the world around us. In this short film, Bogdan Teodorescu takes advantage of this medium to capture a different angle of the landscapes of Romania.
The Floor is Lava
As a kid, we all pretended that the floor was lava as we hopped from a pillow to the couch. Well, RocketJump imagined that childhood scenario in real life. In this short film, three roommates must navigate their lava-filled apartment to get to safety without getting scorched by the liquid hot magma.
Gremlins: Recall
Christmas came early this year. After almost three decades, Gremlins has returned. Although it's not an official third film, this fan-made short is the next best thing. The Ryan Patrick-directed story follows a shady salesman who claims to have found a medication to keep your mogwais cute and fuzzy but like any good movie anecdote, there are always a few exceptions.
The Working Man
You hate your job. You've had it with your boss. What do you do? Spend a year animating a seven-minute short showing exactly how you feel. Tim Searfoss did exactly that in this excellent piece of storytelling about being a drone on the line.
