Time-lapse videos make scenes captivating


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Last week, I discussed tilt-shift—an emerging trend in video that makes real-life footage seem cartoonish.  This week, I’ll be talking about time-lapse, another popular trend in film today. The time-lapse process is a style that allows us to view life in a different way—an entire sunset, a whole day or even weeks can be seen […]

Campaigning during Oscar season could affect deserving stars


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At the end of January, nominations for the 84th Academy Awards will be announced. For most, the New Year starts on January 1st. For those in Hollywood, the New Year only starts the day after the Oscars ceremony. Apparently, at one point in history, those in the Academy simply voted for those films and performances […]

Lupe Fiasco announces two upcoming albums


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Lupe Fiasco fans, feel free to rejoice now. The rapper from Chicago announced his plans to release two new projects through his official website on a simple post entitled “**BREAKING NEWS***”: “FOOD AND LIQUOR 2 COMING SOON….LUPE AND PHARRELL ALBUM COMING SOON…” Some may find the announcement as nothing special, but long-time fans of Lupe Fiasco […]

Golden Globes do not foreshadow Oscars


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Though many people typically perceive the upcoming Golden Globe Awards to foreshadow the results of the Oscars, recent trends indicate that the Golden Globes maintain more of an influential affect on the Oscars rather than a foretelling one. When the Globe announcements are complete, there are still several weeks remaining before the Oscar polls close, […]

Singer-songwriter Kina Grannis grows as independent artist


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As a college student, USC alumnus and singer-songwriter Kina Grannis  said she used to claim a spot in the stairwells of the New North dorms and Troy East apartments to practice. Now Jimmy Kimmel will be welcoming her to his stage on Jan. 12. This will not be her first appearance on television screens across […]

DGA nominations tighten up Oscar race


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The Directors Guild of America has announced their nominees  for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2011. The list of nominees includes several expected names, including Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist), Alexander Payne (The Descendants) and Martin Scorsese (Hugo), as well as some surprises, such as Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) and David Fincher (The […]

The best of “the best music of 2011”


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With the New Year finally here, we pause a moment to bid 2011 farewell. From music industry megaliths like Pitchfork and NME to rinky-dink bloggers beaming tomes of their beautiful enthusiasm out of Mom’s basement directly at no one in particular, seemingly everybody has been counting down the cream of last year’s musical crop. Now […]

Tilt-shift emerges as new effect in film


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One big emerging trend in video and film is an effect known as “tilt-shift.” Tilt-shift is a style that makes real-life footage seem cartoon-like.  In the style, everything moves at hyper speed. People race around like toys at high speed and huge objects can seem miniature. Gigantic cruise ships suddenly race around the frame like […]

Gaga shines, Rihanna falters at Grammy nominations


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Correction: A previous version of this article said “You and I” is a hit song by Sugarland. The song is from Lady Gaga’s album Born this Way.   To celebrate the end of the semester, my friends and I treated ourselves to attending the 2012 Grammy Nominations Concert at Nokia Theatre. The purpose of the […]