The sneeze that shook the world -  955 days ago

 

All it took was 5 seconds for you to watch that sneeze from 1894. And this unassuming (and what we would call boring) film that was the first to be copyrighted in the US was a hit. Intended originally for publicity purposes, it was shown at an exhibition along with some other short films for which the audience paid a mere (by today’s standards) quarter to view. It became famous, and Fred Ott in later years claimed to be one of the first “film stars”. How far film technology and technique has come. And yet one thing probably hasn’t changed. People PAY to watch even simple films because there is something compelling to us about moving images. This art form has an influence all its own. It can connect us to situations and experiences in ways other mediums can’t always accomplish. We see it, we believe it, we connect to it. It’s one thing for me to read about the genocide in Rwanda. It brings me to tears and horrifies me. But to see it in Hotel Rwanda takes that experience to a whole new level. I now experience the horror (in very small measure) and see images that burn themselves into my consciousness. What are you doing with your video skills to leverage the power of this medium? Remember the sneeze, and make productions that will truly impact.

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