MIX/VHS | Week 010

Welcome to the 10th edition of Austin Cinemaker Space | blog's MIX/VHS! We're got some exciting, eclectic visual art for you to experience this week, from a video game about taming dinosaurs to a captivating time-lapse of flowers, and everything in-between. We hope you enjoy!

Shiny (dir. by Daniel Cloud Campos & Spencer Susser)

WATCH IT HERE!

Made entirely of clothes, a couple props, and a wooden floor; this piece has that 'wow' factor that makes you wish you had come up with it first.  This takes stop motion to an extreme by playing with physics, slow motion, and even features a really solid fight scene.  In under 4 minutes, it suspends your disbelief and really gets you wrapped up in a way that only a really great film can.

-  Carrie

Ark: Survival Evolved (pub. by Studio Wildcard)

WATCH THE GAMEPLAY TRAILER HERE!

So, I haven't actually played this game, as I've been pretty busy, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. Currently, it's a work in progress, so it may be a little buggy, but the concept alone is amazing. You basically get to capture, tame and ride different kinds of prehistoric animals (aka DINOSAURS!!!) to defend against/attack other players and player castles in the game. Check it out on the Xbox store.

-  Hamilton

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (dir. David Zellner)

WATCH IT HERE!

This film is beautifully shot and has a bizarre plot that keeps you guessing even after its finished. Kumiko, a strange 30 something office worker becomes obsessed with the film Fargo, which she mistakes for a documentary. Fixating on a scene where stolen cash is buried in North Dakota, she travels to America to find it. This film is also based on the urban legend of the disappearance of Takako Konishi in 2001. I definitely recommend it!

-  Felix

Flowers (dir. by Thomas Blanchard)

WATCH IT HERE!

I just love everything about this. I was introduced to Thomas Blanchard's Vimeo page a few days ago through a different recommendation, but Flowers just gives me the feels. It likely has to do with the music. This timelapse film took Blanchard 4 months to get all of the shots. Treat yo' self to this happy short!

-  Brooke

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King (dir. by  Jeanie Finlay)

WATCH IT HERE!

I'm a bit obsessed with this documentary. From beginning to end it's captivating, keeping you fully invested in the winding mystery that is "Orion". Whenever you feel like the story couldn't get stranger, it does, and keeps on until the very end. I highly recommend checking it out. Even if you're not a huge Elvis fan, it's an extremely interesting look into the darker side of the music industry, and some of it's insane tactics to sell records.

-  Sloane

Hamilton (created by Lin-Manuel Miranda)

WATCH THE TONYS PERFORMANCE HERE!

This small snippet doesn't fully pay justice to the genius of this musical, but what I hope is that it intrigues you enough to listen to whole soundtrack and become insanely addicted to listening to it as much as I have been. Hamilton's fresh use of R&B/Rap music in the medium of musical theater may seem like a gimmick at first, but slowly becomes the only way to interpret the story of the young, scrappy, and hungry immigrant on our 10 dollar bill. It's powerful stuff; a once-in-a-generation show that lives up to that headline.

-  Spencer

Elephant (dir. Gus Van Sant)

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!

Gus Van Sant's most impeccable film, and easily his best, is also probably his least recognized. Understandably, too. The subject material is very difficult to take in, the pure grit and rawness of everything more than difficult to grasp. I am fully aware that this is a difficult time in our modern history to recommend such a film, but I suppose I am not one to stray away from rawness of emotions and reality. Elephant is impeccable, and one of the most emotionally complex films you will ever see.

-  Jake

Like this mix? Tell us what you think in the comments below, and let us know what you’re watching this week!