Hello all
ok so here we go with another debate on whether sampling is a valid form of VJ'ing. I've heard this once or twice too many times, but seeing as this discussion is about a piece of my work which got some widespread attention I feel obliged to interact...
We [inside-us-all] have been VJ'ing for around 5 years, and a very large portion of the content we produce is from origional footage we shoot/create ourselves. Occasionally tho there is good cause to delve into other production techniques, such as in this example -sampling.
Metropolis was made back in the 20's, and the point fritz lang was making about where our society is heading is a point I/we feel very strongly about. So I chose to take samples from that film and juxtapose them with footage we created of how society really is at the turn of the millenium. This comparison was illustrated through the medium of VJ'ing as a means to attempt to get a message to the viewer.. is this not art?
OK so there was some sampled footage in there, but I see no other way of making the point I wanted to make - this is my artistic justification for the choice I made to use sampled footage in this submission.
Now for the commercial justification of my decision to sample, We had entered the diesel-u-music competition in the previous 2 years and short listed, both pieces were 100% origional footage. This year we decided would be the last attempt at winning the diesel award, as we were less and less appropriate candidates for entry as our business becomes less & less newcomers to the scene. So we made the decision that this year we were going to win it. So we looked at who was judging the competition this year [Addictive TV] and decided that as their current shows feature a large portion of sampled footage [the italian job remix, Bond remix etc etc..] it would be a good idea to submit something that was sample based.
At the end of all this discussion I think the most important consideration for any VJ should be the audience, after all they are the ones who ultimately dictate the market and pay your bills. From my experience over the last few years the audience doesn't give a flying fuck whether the VJ has got his footage from his own library or anybody elses, all they care about is the show. So when we feel its artistically justifiable or commercially appropriate we will sample footage.
just a footnote that the only reason we make 'commercially appropriate' decisions is because we want to get our artwork and the positive messages we work so hard creating out to as many people as possible, and ultimately fund projects that help as many people in as many walks of life as possible. for more details visit
http://www.inside-us-all.com
Dave