Black-Capped Chickadees in Ultraviolet (06/12/10)
Prolefeed Studios recently received a grant from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology to study the plumage of Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) under reflected sunlight in the near ultraviolet spectrum (300-400 nanometers). Many birds and insects can see a wider range of electromagnetic radiation than humans can, including the 300-400nm band. Several researchers have theorized that Chickadees, which appear uniformly black and grey to the human eye, might exhibit more distinctive markings under UV illumination.Using a specially built lens and an astronomical "Venus" filter, we were able to restrict the range of light entering a video camera to the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. We then set up two cameras side-by-side, one sensitive only to UV light, the other unfiltered and sensitive to the visible spectrum, and videotaped birds on a bird feeder. By mapping the UV image to blue and then superimposing the UV and visible light images, we were able to create a false color video that simulates how Chickadees might look to other birds. Preliminary results are shown below.
Areas that reflect a high degree of UV light are shown in blue. These distinctive markings on the side of the bird's cheeks and back may help with identifying mates. The next step in this project will be to try to videotape male and female chickadees to see if, as expected, there are marked differences in the UV markings of each gender. This may have to wait until fall when the birds form flocks, since nesting pairs are rarely seen together on bird feeders in the spring.
For more information, take a look at Prolefeed Studios' complete grant application and bibliography.
Read More → ^ TOP
The Cost of War (06/01/10)
The Clarence Kalin Chapter of Veterans for Peace has created a moving Memorial Day tribute to the 5,550 American service men and women who have died in the Iraq and Afghan wars. This is the 5th year of the "Memorial Mile," a row of tombstones along Monona Drive in Madison, Wisconsin.Prolefeed Studios recently donated cinematography assistance to the Wisconsin Film School's Jim Carrier to document this year's Memorial Mile. Here's what Jim had to say about the project:
"I pretty much left the film as shot, in one take, with all the bumps, detours, traffic noise -- and, of course, nearly five minutes of unending sorrow. To me it contains powerful symbols, including passing cars burning oil from the Mideast, oblivious walkers, the sound of bumps eerily echoing tramping boots, and patches of grass at beginning and end, marking the period before 9/11 without war, and a space where new grave markers will be added in the days and months ahead.
Pass it on."
^ TOP
Blink Again! on AV Club Madison (03/31/10)
Scott Gordon of the Onion wrote a nice preview of tomorrow night's premiere of Prolefeed Studios' latest documentary: Blink Again!You can read Scott's article here.
Thanks, Scott!
^ TOP
Prolefeed Studios Releases "Blink Again!" Documentary on Madison Temporary Art (03/19/10)
What: World Premiere of "Blink Again! A Year in the Life of Madison Temporary Art."When: Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Just Coffee warehouse, 1129 E. Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703
Map: http://www.justcoffee.coop/map/us
Price: Free!
Contact: Brian Standing, 358-6567 prolefeed_studios@yahoo.com
If you've been to Madison over the past year, you may have seen some odd things cropping up around town. Things like:
- oil derricks and dancing bears suddenly appearing on the Lake Monona ice;
- a wooden gypsy caravan towed by a tandem bicycle promising "Things You'd Like to See;"
- a bagpiper playing in the middle of John Nolen Drive UNDER the Monona Terrace;
- hundreds of surveyors' flags depicting assorted flowers all along State Street;
- photos of your friends and neighbors staring back at you along the bike path and from storefront windows;
- posters asking for your help to find a lost carrion-eating beetle;
- oversized peapods, giant electrical outlets and huge, mobile iron seabirds;
- giant spiders, skeletons, witches and zombie Greek warriors invading the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
They're all gone now. You may wonder if you dreamed it... or hallucinated it. But they are... or were... all real... and all funded by the Madison Arts Commission Blink! grant program. The Blink! program (as in "blink and you'll miss it") is a city-funded grant program that specializes in ephemeral, temporary exhibitions and performances.
Over the past year, veteran Madison documentarian Brian Standing (director of "Pedalphiles," "War is Sell," and "Scoop Perlman's Guide to Art," among others) followed 15 Blink! grant awardees. The result is "Blink Again! A Year in the Life of Madison Temporary Art," a 98-minute documentary that provides an intimate look into the creative process. In their own words, artists describe how they overcame (or occasionally were defeated by) balky materials, creative frustration, bureaucratic red tape, the challenge of collaborating with pre-teens and teenagers and even vandalism to create startling works that linger in the mind long after they're gone from the scene.
"Blink Again!" will soon be available on DVD from Prolefeed Studios, and will be licensed under a Creative Commons license to allow for free redistribution, broadcast and public use. Come celebrate the release of this latest film from Prolefeed Studios and Madison's great tradition of offbeat, quirky culture. The filmmaker and artists will be available after the screening for questions, singing, dancing, and merriment. Read more to see some stills to whet your appetite... Read More → ^ TOP
Inside a Car at Madison Horror Film Fest October 4th (09/20/09)
Inside a Car, Shea Standing's latest thriller short, will have its Wisconsin premiere at the Madison Horror Film Festival on Sunday, October 4th at 2:15 p.m.
Director Shea Standing and videographer Brian Standing will be available after the film for questions and are also available for interviews. Stick around afterwards for the "Women in Horror" presentation hosted by Elske McCain and Scarlet Salem. Don't miss this opportunity to see this young Madison filmmaker's work on a big screen!
^ TOP
Inside a Car by Shea Standing Released (07/19/09)
Prolefeed Studios has just released the online version of Inside a Car, nine minutes of pulse-pounding terror from wunderkind director Shea Galen Nunez Standing.The youngest member of the Prolefeed community, Shea has already racked up impressive credentials, producing the radio documentary Wild Turkeys in 2008 and Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla vs. Megalo-Godzilla in 2004. Now, Shea's back with Inside a Car, a shivery tale of ghosts, locked cars, mysterious human skulls and finally... madness.
Inside a Car is also available in downloadable 3gp, wmv, and high-definition mp4 formats, among others. Check back for more of Shea's work later this summer.
^ TOP
"Here, Kitty Kitty" on Wisconsin Public Television -- BROADCAST PREMIERE (03/24/09)
Here, Kitty Kitty, Prolefeed Studios' engaging look at the effort to make feral cats fair game in Wisconsin, will have its television broadcast premiere on April 18, 2009 at 10:00 p.m.(Central Daylight Time) on the Wisconsin Public Television network.
Here, Kitty Kitty wowed audiences at the 2008 San Francisco and Newburyport, Massachussetts Documentary Film Festivals. Don't miss this opportunity to see the film the Isthmus called "impressive... nuanced and well-researched." The Onion said, "Here, Kitty Kitty casts a sharper and funnier eye on public life...," Phoenix Cinema called it "...fascinating stuff...," while Blogcritics.org described it as "...a pretty interesting piece of work... permeated with humor... an easy watch that will keep you involved until the end."
More information about Here, Kitty Kitty, including an online trailer, reviews and DVD ordering information is available here.
Update 4/17/09: Yesterday, the LaCrosse Tribune published a Chris Hubbuch article on the Here, Kitty Kitty television premiere on Wisconsin Public Television. The article features a brief interview with Mark Smith, the original proponent of Question 62, who declined to participate in Here, Kitty Kitty. Smith says of director Andy Beversdorf, "I kind of wish I'd talked to him. He didn't pick sides and didn't beat anybody up." The LaCrosse Tribune article was also reprinted in today's Wisconsin State Journal. The Associated Press has also picked up the story, leading to articles in the Chicago Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Wausau Herald.
^ TOP
Vote Jesus, Vote Vermin (01/25/09)
Our good friend, clown and professional rabble rouser, Vermin Supreme (last seen running for President of the United States in 2008) recently informed us that he has an alter ego: Christian evangelical Ken Stevenson.Here's what Vermin has to say about his other life:
"This,my fine feathered friends, is the link, to the trailer, to the movie project of the millennium. It is Vermin Supreme's most sublime prank of the decade. It is, Vermin Supreme through the right wing looking glass. The movie is so close to completion , you can almost taste the backlash.
Four years in the making,The documentary, "Vote Jesus", chronicles the presidential and spiritual voyage of my altered ego, Ken Stevenson, as he travels through the parochial backwaters of mainstream religious extremism, in modern America, today.
The movie features extensive , exclusive footage of Ken Stevenson, candidate and host , interviewing and interacting with such deeply committed people as young earth creationists, anti-evolutionist activists, athiests against creationists , Jerry Falwell as himself, Navy SEALS for Christ, faith based and faith biased political action committees, Bible Man and Bible Girl, and athiests against faith based political action committees.
Many others are presented, for your consideration and edification, including the ever eye-opening antics of the Westborough Baptist Church's, God Hates America crusade. The film also highlights The Battle Cry Ministry for Teen Abstinence , Billy Graham's Final Crusade, The Creation Museum Grand Opening,The Mega Creation Conference, and The Value Voters Summit in Washington DC.
I believe we have achieved our goal of making a film that is educational, informational, and entertaining. So regardless of your political or religious orientation , please, pull up a chair, take your shoes off, ( for the security screening .) and enjoy. Please comment your thoughts, and enjoy the film.
important disclaimer : Vermin Supreme reserves the right to deny everything."
^ TOP
Creative Dissent DVD Released (12/27/08)
Have you enjoyed Prolefeed Studios' short online works, but are tired of hunching over your laptop screen to see them?
Prolefeed Studios director Brian Standing has been producing documentary videos in Madison, Wisconsin for over a decade. Creative Dissent takes the best of his short works, all previously only available online, and presents them in their full-resolution, DVD glory. Order yours today.
^ TOP
Regime Change: The Trial of George W. Bush (11/27/08)
On November 22, 2008, the Madtown Liberty Players conducted a trial of George W. Bush on the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Charges were brought by a 10-foot puppet of Lady Liberty herself, and the court was presided over by an equally imposing blind Justice. About 25-30 bystanders (including Madison music legend Art Paul Schlosser) served as the jury. The verdict: guilty on all counts. The penalty: Mr. Bush's statute was sentenced to be torn down by the crowd.Unlike the toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad in 2003, this act required no assistance from U.S. military equipment. Mr. Bush's tinfoil likeness was dragged down by the mob, kicked and beaten with shoes by the jubilant crowd. "That's right! Get out your frustration!" exhorted the emcee.
Prolefeed Studios was there, and brings you this video report.
Regime Change: The Trial of George W. Bush by Brian Standing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
. ^ TOP