What a bit of green cloth can do...

It's a bit mind-boggling to see what isn't real.

Stargate Studios Virtual Backlot Demo from Stargate Studios on Vimeo.

Pan the room...

I can't help it. I absolutely have to share this video! It has brought me endless laughter and joy this week, and this is a week to need endless laughter and joy. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had the sudden urge to show my thanks for the little things, and this was the result. Sometimes, you just have to express yourself, even if it's quick. Behold! My Thanksgiving masterpiece:

Germs and You (and me...and that guy over there)

This helpful educational video comes too late for me, but maybe it can save you!

Jinkies, Toaster Purse!

This just made me laugh. A lot.

Glass Walls

It's not in our language, but the maker commented that it's about breaking the walls of prejudice around us. Love it.

Önyargılarımız...Görünmeyen duvarlarımız from Bulent Keles on Vimeo.

Fairy Mischievous

Fairy Mischievous was my senior project for Moody. Actually, it was more for GCC than Moody. Typically, senior projects are for ministries, but this was so that I could get into ministry. I had been in conversation with Jeff Petersen and Butch Whitmire about an internship with the video team at Granger Community Church, and I panicked when they asked me to send them some work I had done. I knew that nothing I had done during my two and a half years at school would cut it. And GCC was my very best chance to learn from the very best. So, after having a minor meltdown, I sat down with a few of my friends and came up with an idea about a fairy. And that turned into an idea about a slightly hobo fairy. Which became a slightly hobo also slightly insane fairy. And then I threw in a Romanian voiceover because, let's be honest, when is that ever NOT a good idea? My friends really came to my aid, and most of them make appearances. Some of them are acting as tripods because I forgot to check one out. Or acting as my sanity when the equipment I actually did request wasn't fully put together. It's a strange little piece, but it means a lot to me because so many of them were involved. They knew it was important to me. Also, I just really like it.

And even though my professor could only exclaim, "Well, that was different," Jeff and Butch gave the thumbs up. And now I get to learn from the very best.

Baptism!

I'm so silly! Of all the videos I post, I forgot to post one that's very dear to my heart. This is a review of our baptism weekend that happened a few weeks ago. Baptism videos are almost my favorite thing in the whole world, and it is a privilege to edit them. I can't help but giggle when I think about a simple, unexpecting (yes, I made a new word) prayer I said seven years ago about a burning desire to make a video with as much purpose and power as the baptism videos shown at my church. And here I am, editing them. God, thanks for my part in your story.

Thanks to the host of volunteers and staff members that spent hours around the pools with their cameras. What a celebration of a new life of meaning only Jesus can bring.

GCC Baptism '09 from Elle White on Vimeo.

Music that makes me feel little...

I recently got into a conversation with some friends about music we grew up listening to (aka. what our parents were listening to). Today, I found myself looking up all my favorites on youtube and enjoying feeling very little again. I thought I'd share the goodness.

You'll have to close your eyes for this next one. The video's pretty pretentiously petrifying.

"From failing we learn. From success...not so much."

Meet the Robinsons was on Disney the other night.  When I first saw this scene, it struck me.  I mean, could-have-been-an-emotional-epic-like-Forrest-Gump-or-Braveheart struck me.  K, I went too far.  Not Braveheart, but you get the idea.  I am a success-aholic and didn't realize it until I watched this clip and felt my heart jump at the idea that failure might bring about some good.  I know with my brain that good can come of failure if we let God do what He does, but I need to learn that with my heart.  I love to succeed and celebrate the wins, but there's much to be gained from learning what we can from failures.  So, when I failed big time today, I apologized.  I apologized some more, and then I contemplated apologizing again.  I also watched this clip and celebrated the fact that "from failing we learn. From success...not so much."  

And I left the part with the frog in just because it makes me laugh.

I Saw What I Saw - Sara Groves

I had never really heard Sara Groves' music until she led us in worship at Moody Bible Institute's Founder's Week a few years ago. She was a breath of fresh air to us young students in a conference full of pipe organs and new school hymns that were oddly Star-Wars-ish.  Let's leave John Williams to John Williams, yes?  She showed us this video during a live performance of "I Saw What I Saw," and the images and music inspired by them are so powerful, I just had to share.

A Real Blog Post!

Today is one of those rare days when I feel like actually blogging, thanks to this photo I took yesterday.  I recently purchased a Canon 5D Mark II (with a loan from the generous bank of Dad), and one of the first people I contacted was Tommy.  We went through the video program at Moody at the same time, and we worked on many of our projects together.  Trying to learn and grow in a place that didn't really value creativity, specifically the video kind, was discouraging and gave the students permission to coast through.  Thankfully, I had Tommy to learn from, to try to impress, to teach, and to play with!  We made videos for the school's annual conference, we stood up for each other's work when peers and teachers didn't get it (actually, that was mostly just him - THANK you!), and we documented such momentous occasions as Earth Hour and the discovery of Blue Screen, Blue! Even now, out of Moody and trying to find where our talents lead next, we meet in Michigan City every so often.  I find the same refreshing encouragement all over again on those visits, and I hope he does as well.  Yesterday, we ran around Michigan City with my new camera and lens and drooled over how awesome they are.  This is one of my favorite photos, because if you look closely enough at his glasses, you can see he's also framing me as well.  It just feels like a really good representation of the encouragement and help he's given me these past few years - I'm so thankful for your friendship, Tommy!  Now, we need to get you one of these.

Too far?

This commercial was banned for obvious reasons.  Part of me appreciates the cleverness, and the other part wonders how this ever got past anyone in charge.  

John Williams IS the man!!!

My sister and I have loved this song for a long time, and now I will love this video as well.  Just for fun!

What is that?

Not the most cinematic piece ever, and certainly a slower pacing than I'm used to, but somehow this is captivating and well worth the wait for the ending.

What is that? (Τι είναι αυτό;) 2007 from MovieTeller on Vimeo.

A simple idea - a big result!

I love that this project probably started with a bored animator drawing a random stick figure. What are we missing when we overlook the simple?

Cold Tangerines

I've been reading a book called Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist, and I wanted to post an excerpt from what I read today, because it's kind of awesome.

"I think of myself as an old-house girl, but I guess there's still a lot of new house in me.  I want to love the imperfections, but in a weak moment, I want central air and granite countertops so bad I can't take it...

On my worst days, I start to believe that what God wants is perfection.  That God is a new-house God.  That everything has to work just right, with no cracks in the plaster and no loose tiles.  That I need to be completely fixed up.  I always think that God's kind of people are squeaky-clean people whose garages don't leak, but really a lot of the people God uses to do amazing things are people who don't necessarily have it all together.  A lot of the best stories in the Bible, the ones where God does sacred, magical things through people, have a cast of characters with kind of shady pasts, some serious fixer-uppers.

On my very best days...I practice letting (my house) be an old not-fixed-up house, while I practice being a not-fixed-up person...

I practice believing that, bottom line, God loves me as-is, even if I never do get my act together.  I put my hand on the plaster wall, nubbly and textured, and I think thankful thoughts about the walls.  Then I put my hand on the floor, and I think thankful thoughts about the floor, even though it's scratched and ridged and you can see where one of my black heels lost its little cap and the metal part left tiny round divots in the floor, over and over, like confetti stamped into the wood.  I imagine that God does that to me, puts his hand on my head, on my heart, on my savage insecurities, and as he does it, he thinks thankful thoughts about me."

Good for your heart...

This will make your heart happy.  And if it doesn't, I hope your day gets better.

My Favourite Things from kidswithcrayons on Vimeo.

A Dance of Defiance

I love this scene from Billy Elliot.  Billy's been hiding his dancing from his disapproving family, and his father walks in on him while he's showing a friend some steps.  Instead of caving in, Billy dances his heart out, and at the end of the scene his father walks away.  It seems like he's furious, but he's leaving to find the woman who's been teaching Billy - to make sure that Billy gets every chance for a future doing what he was obviously born to do.

Chalk Animation CRAZY

I would like to try this. Any volunteer sketchers?

Firekites - AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo.

Found

Last weekend, hundreds of people made the decision to follow Jesus, not as a fan but as devoted disciples.  This element prepped their hearts to hear God's call through Mark's message.  These are just two stories of a journey to Jesus.  It compels me to think about my own.

Lost from Granger Community on Vimeo.

A Bit of Beautiful

We all need a bit of beautiful in our day.  Here was mine for today.

A Voodoo Doll's Sacrifice

Is it weird that I'm moved by this?  No.  Because it's awesome.

Sebastian's Voodoo from Joaquin Baldwin on Vimeo.

The Lord's Prayer

No words.  Just watch.

Who is Jesus?

This is my favorite GCC media to date.  I sincerely wish I could have been a part of making this one happen - I helped take down a few of the light bulbs afterwards.  Does that count?  :)  Russ Nelson and Cody Baker: you make me work harder!

Who Is Jesus? from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Five Pictures I Love

I love this picture for three reasons.  1) I love this man, and I look like him.  2) I'm pretending I know what hand signals are cool, and I'm passing on my fake knowledge. 3) My daddy bought me a hat!

Meet Daniel.  Every girl should have a friend like Daniel in their lives - someone who treats them like they have value, isn't concerned with making a move, and watches out for them when dads aren't around.  In this photo, Daniel and I are playing air-instruments to Keane outside Giarodano's.

This pretty much sums up Kerri and I as kids.  Kerri's obnoxiously concerned with being awesome, and I'm obnoxiously concerned for my safety.

What's not to love about this?  Kerri being undeniably adorable.  

That's Kelly on the left, Tamara on the right, and Melissa's taking the picture.  We had just ushered for the Nutcracker and were caught in a snowstorm on our way back.  I was annoyed that my friends absolutely had to have a photo of us in the snow (me without a scarf, hat, or proper shoes), but alas!  It turned out to be one of my favorite photos from Moody.

I Love the Whole World!

I want to steal this idea and make it mine.  "The world is just awesome."  Well said, Discovery Channel.  Well said.

Rainbows are shining through!

I like today.  Good morning!

True Love

This was a song special during one of 8 identical services GCC offered this Easter weekend.  I thought it was awesome - all I could think was that God must have just basked in the glory given to Him from this.  What a celebration!

True Love from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Want to Clean My Room?

Today, my sister and I cleaned each others' rooms.  They were both in dire need of it, and we had been putting it off for far too long (weeks for me).  After a joke or two along the lines of "want to clean my room?" we decided that yes, we would actually like to clean the other's room.

We both started by doing the bare minimum: stashing clothes in drawers, flinging papers into piles in other drawers, pushing shoes into crammed closets, etc.  But, then we each saw little things that the other was doing that was a little bit better than what we had already done.

"You're folding my clothes?  Just stuff 'em in there, really!"

"You're vacuuming?!  Leave that out when you're done."

"Don't come in!"  Haha - it had turned into something more serious than we had intended.  It was over an hour later that we finally revealed our handiwork - Trading Spaces style.

"OoOOOoOoOo!!!  I can see my dresser!"

"You dusted?!"

"Look!  All of my DVD's are in one place!"

"You hid my printer - genius!"

I really enjoyed cleaning up my sister's crap.  Knowing that I was making her life less cluttered and more enjoyable made the task almost like a game.  I think maybe that's why sharing other types of loads with people we love can be so rewarding.  We didn't make the mess.  It's easier for us to deal with because the shame and guilt isn't tied to it - only the people we care about.  I've been reading Mark Waltz' book Lasting Impressions (a fantastic book written by a fantastic leader) and he talks a lot about being responsible to vs. being responsible for others.  This one point has been echoing in my head for days:

"When I'm responsible to people, I talk to God a lot on their behalf.  When I'm responsible for people, I talk to people a lot on God's behalf."

My sister wasn't responsible for my mess.  She didn't make it, and she certainly didn't like looking at it.  But, she stepped back and helped me fix it.  Thankfully, she does this in my life on many accounts.  I'm so thankful that she doesn't just clean my room, but she helps me clean up the messes I make in my life.  She's responsible to me, not for me.  And vice versa.  

Kerri, want to clean my car?

Tommy - serving Christ with his camera

One of my dearest friends from Moody was also my best ally in the video department.  He was the only person I completely trusted creatively, and we learned together while helping each other on our projects.  Tommy did his internship in Africa (!!! I know !!!) and took tons of photos while there.  This is a video he put together for the family who serves there filled with several of those moving images - well done, my friend!  I'm so proud of what you've done and your heart behind it.

I Am Second - Karen's Story

Hemlock from Tyson Ibele on Vimeo.

The talent of other people challenges me in two ways.  One is that it makes me want to do better, because I know they're the ones dreaming bigger - working harder.  And then I'm challenged to get past jealousy and into contentment.  I can wish that I could make something of this calibre, or I can bring what I have to the table with an attitude of thankfulness that I have anything at all.

Samson by Regina Spektor

I'm not a music person.  I like music and believe in the whole "save the music" thing, but I rarely connect with music on a deep-in-my-soul personal level.  Then there's this song.  Honestly, I don't have a clue what she's saying about Samson and who got left out of the Bible (can you tell I'm not a lyrics person, either?), but this song sounds like something important.  It gives me chills.