UWOL X "WWF" by Markus Nord at DVinfo.net

Markus Nord · September 1st, 2008, 12:56 AM

So, this is it!

Film: WWF – World Wildlife Fund, Sweden
by: Markus Nord

The WWF have during the summer run a campaign about stopping the pollution of nutrients to the Baltic Sea. That is the biggest problem right now and the effect of the sea is scary. This PSA is about showing that with effort to stop the pollution the important Bladderwrack will reestablish it self and the Baltic Sea will flourish again. As you all know The Baltic Sea is my main concern and I put al my work in to this, teaching kids about the environment and trying to make a change in people’s minds.

What is the PSA about?
My idea was to change between a good and bad place and in the end the good survives. It starts with an overgrown bottom where you don’t fine much life, and a sinus sound shout tell you that the heart have stopped. Then the heart start pumping and the good spot are coming back. And in the end the good spot survive. The text says “Stop the over-fertilization” ”Save the Baltic Sea”

My deal with WWF in Sweden is that they’ll use this PSA to the next year’s campaign. It may be like this that they wan to change something about it, I’m not sure right now. But this is the PSA I produced for the challenge.

Link:

Marj Atkins · September 1st, 2008, 12:35 PM

This PSA/commercial is very classy - simple but sophisticated in approach. The extra wide screen is aesthetically extremely effective. The graphics and text used for your message are well-conceived.

I like your concept of building your message using alternate views of healthy and not so healthy bladderwrack, very effectively supported by your sound effects.

However, I have to confess that I don’t think I would have realized what I was looking at without your explanation in your feedback thread so the full impact of the message may have been lost on me. I’m not sure if others feel the same way but perhaps you need to rethink that a little for the ignorant and uninitiated like myself.

Another thought: you mentioned in your pipefish movie that the bladderwrack was the nursing home of the Baltic sea. Perhaps as the unfolding of your message progressed and the heartbeat became stronger you could have added some of those species - the life that finds protection in the bladderwrack to emphasize the full impact of its good state of health.
Well done on completing such an ambitious project as this one for WWF.

Ryan Farnes · September 1st, 2008, 05:18 PM

Visuals are fantastic. The aspect ratio makes it feel awesome. Music doesn't hurt either, but I have to agree its hard to understand exactly what is up. I think I sort of figured it out...

Excellent underwater footage is very well done though.

Nice and simple.

John Dennis Robertson · September 2nd, 2008, 12:59 AM

Hi Markus
Stunning underwater footage as always.What a great organisation and cause you chose to film your PSA on.
good entry

Meryem Ersoz · September 2nd, 2008, 11:15 AM

Wow, Markus, the World Wildlife Fund, I am impressed. You really aimed high with this one.

Your underwater photography just gets more and more beautiful. The lighting here is just gorgeous. I don't think I know enough about how the good spots should look compared to the bad spots, in order to quite understand where you are going with this -- they both looked beautiful to me, maybe you have to do something to make more contrast between the good and the bad. You are such a good shooter, and the lighting is so nice, that the bad spots still looked beautiful to me, just more sparse...so I did not quite get the good v. bad set-up until you explained it.

This looks like the beginning of a very good relationship for you. I hope that you can do more work with WWF - Sweden.

I would like to know more about the Bladderwrack and why it is so important to the health of the Baltic Sea...guess I better go look it up!

Markus Nord · September 2nd, 2008, 11:57 AM

Hi all… thanks for viewing and writing a comment.

Marj – This was my concern that the pictures was not enough to explain. I did not get much response from my contact either so I don’t know if they like it or not…
The idea sounded good in my head but maybe wasn’t that got on film. The problem is just what you pointed out, people don’t know anything about this problem and especially not how it should look like, so it’s hard to show a bad spot…

Ryan – The problem may be that I didn’t push the heartbeats pitch high enough. The heartbeat is the essence of the film and the association from a dead heart to a living.

John Dennis – Thanks, I just hope that my messages get through.

Meryem – maybe a bit too high?!?
I first hade the idea to film a total dead bottom with white sulfur spread out (that’s the result when the bottom is dead). The problem is that people don’t know what that is either so this is a hard thing to explain. We didn’t got any huge algae bloom this summer (it probably drifted east) so I couldn’t shot that, ‘cause that is something that people se and know about. Watts goes on under the surface is not well known.

I definitely struggled with this theme. Not what to do or with who, but how to show the essence of the problem.

Thanks again to you all…
Cheers from Sweden

Dale Guthormsen · September 2nd, 2008, 02:34 PM

Markus,

Great shots as always:

I liked the low key shots being contrasted the high color shots
I liked the pulsing background increasing is speed and intensity to the end.

I feel it was a very effective piece

With lots of time I think a couple of your shots could be slightly better color matched.

fine job

Jeff Hendricks · September 2nd, 2008, 09:39 PM

Ahh....the battle between good and evil, that most primitive of human emotions. You sucked me into the story...I didn't need to understand the language to get the message. Anyone could watch this even without sound and titles and see what you were talking about. I am glad that the good wins in the end...we need to see that there is hope out there.

Stunning camera work as usual. Great job.

Loved the Epic music...made me feel like I was watching the climax to The Lord of the Rings or something.

Stellar work

Trond Saetre · September 3rd, 2008, 06:30 AM

Hi Markus,
I was expecting a new underwater video from you. :)
The mix between the "dead" and the good places was a great idea, and I think it worked well for you. Maybe (as been commented already) a bit more difference between the good and the bad to make the message even more clear.

Well done!

Geir Inge · September 6th, 2008, 11:29 AM

Hi Markus.
Well done on delivering video for uwolx.
Nice choice of music together with accelerating heartbeats.
Still I would like one or two dramatic scenes together with that dramatic music :)
I know your fight for a clean Baltic Sea and so I understand your aim with your video.
I would have liked the text to stay just a little bit longer though, at around 00:22

All the best
Geir Inge

Rob Evans · September 8th, 2008, 06:04 AM

Hey Markus!

Wow, you hit the big one with this! The quality of your film was stunning, I loved the concept, the heartbeat - it felt very ethereal, the transitions were just perfect. I almost understood it without needing to have a translation. A very professional piece, i would be very happy myself to produce something like this ;-)

Markus Nord · September 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Dale – Thanks dale… it’s hard to colour match with shots from different depth and with/without direct sunlight. Thanks for you comment.

Jeff – I always try to give hope in my films, ’cause I think that it’s to much ”Scary-info” out there and people are getting sick of it. I think that’s the wrong way of getting the info out there… It’s better to give people hope…

Trond – Hi Trond, I tried to change the difference between good and bad a much I could… maybe I could have chosen a different spot for ”bad”.

Geir – Thanks Geir from you comment… How do you mean ”more dramatic”… a really bad spot or some pollution shot?

Rob – Thanks Rob, I’m glad that you almost understood without a translation.

Thanks everyone for viewing and making a comment.

Markus

Mat Thompson · September 12th, 2008, 06:14 AM

Hey Markus

wow...visually stunning and what an organisation to punt at ! however as others have said lacking message.

SO

What you need is more of a comparision between healthy and unhealthy as the unhealthy looks pretty in its own way. In the first shots you need something people will instantly see as dead or unhealthy or even.

A dead pipefish floating sadly through the water maybe. Then in the healthy shots 2 pipefish intertwined mating or something.

Instantly readable visuals that the viewer doesnt need any knowledge to read!

September 1st, 2008, 12:56 AM	#1
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	UWOL X "WWF" by Markus Nord So, this is it! Film: WWF – World Wildlife Fund, Sweden by: Markus Nord The WWF have during the summer run a campaign about stopping the pollution of nutrients to the Baltic Sea. That is the biggest problem right now and the effect of the sea is scary. This PSA is about showing that with effort to stop the pollution the important Bladderwrack will reestablish it self and the Baltic Sea will flourish again. As you all know The Baltic Sea is my main concern and I put al my work in to this, teaching kids about the environment and trying to make a change in people’s minds. What is the PSA about? My idea was to change between a good and bad place and in the end the good survives. It starts with an overgrown bottom where you don’t fine much life, and a sinus sound shout tell you that the heart have stopped. Then the heart start pumping and the good spot are coming back. And in the end the good spot survive. The text says “Stop the over-fertilization” ”Save the Baltic Sea” My deal with WWF in Sweden is that they’ll use this PSA to the next year’s campaign. It may be like this that they wan to change something about it, I’m not sure right now. But this is the PSA I produced for the challenge. Link: __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

September 2nd, 2008, 11:57 AM	#6
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Hi all… thanks for viewing and writing a comment. Marj – This was my concern that the pictures was not enough to explain. I did not get much response from my contact either so I don’t know if they like it or not… The idea sounded good in my head but maybe wasn’t that got on film. The problem is just what you pointed out, people don’t know anything about this problem and especially not how it should look like, so it’s hard to show a bad spot… Ryan – The problem may be that I didn’t push the heartbeats pitch high enough. The heartbeat is the essence of the film and the association from a dead heart to a living. John Dennis – Thanks, I just hope that my messages get through. Meryem – maybe a bit too high?!? I first hade the idea to film a total dead bottom with white sulfur spread out (that’s the result when the bottom is dead). The problem is that people don’t know what that is either so this is a hard thing to explain. We didn’t got any huge algae bloom this summer (it probably drifted east) so I couldn’t shot that, ‘cause that is something that people se and know about. Watts goes on under the surface is not well known. I definitely struggled with this theme. Not what to do or with who, but how to show the essence of the problem. Thanks again to you all… Cheers from Sweden __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

September 2nd, 2008, 02:34 PM	#7
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Markus, Great shots as always: I liked the low key shots being contrasted the high color shots I liked the pulsing background increasing is speed and intensity to the end. I feel it was a very effective piece With lots of time I think a couple of your shots could be slightly better color matched. fine job __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

September 2nd, 2008, 09:39 PM	#8
Jeff Hendricks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Carson Valley, Nevada Posts: 248	Ahh....the battle between good and evil, that most primitive of human emotions. You sucked me into the story...I didn't need to understand the language to get the message. Anyone could watch this even without sound and titles and see what you were talking about. I am glad that the good wins in the end...we need to see that there is hope out there. Stunning camera work as usual. Great job. Loved the Epic music...made me feel like I was watching the climax to The Lord of the Rings or something. Stellar work __________________ www.tahoestarr.com

September 6th, 2008, 11:29 AM	#10
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	Hi Markus. Well done on delivering video for uwolx. Nice choice of music together with accelerating heartbeats. Still I would like one or two dramatic scenes together with that dramatic music :) I know your fight for a clean Baltic Sea and so I understand your aim with your video. I would have liked the text to stay just a little bit longer though, at around 00:22 All the best Geir Inge __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

September 1st, 2008, 12:35 PM	#2
Marj Atkins Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Johannesburg South Africa Posts: 768	This PSA/commercial is very classy - simple but sophisticated in approach. The extra wide screen is aesthetically extremely effective. The graphics and text used for your message are well-conceived. I like your concept of building your message using alternate views of healthy and not so healthy bladderwrack, very effectively supported by your sound effects. However, I have to confess that I don’t think I would have realized what I was looking at without your explanation in your feedback thread so the full impact of the message may have been lost on me. I’m not sure if others feel the same way but perhaps you need to rethink that a little for the ignorant and uninitiated like myself. Another thought: you mentioned in your pipefish movie that the bladderwrack was the nursing home of the Baltic sea. Perhaps as the unfolding of your message progressed and the heartbeat became stronger you could have added some of those species - the life that finds protection in the bladderwrack to emphasize the full impact of its good state of health. Well done on completing such an ambitious project as this one for WWF.

September 1st, 2008, 05:18 PM	#3
Ryan Farnes Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 220	Visuals are fantastic. The aspect ratio makes it feel awesome. Music doesn't hurt either, but I have to agree its hard to understand exactly what is up. I think I sort of figured it out... Excellent underwater footage is very well done though. Nice and simple.

September 2nd, 2008, 12:59 AM	#4
John Dennis Robertson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johanesburg South Africa Posts: 217	Hi Markus Stunning underwater footage as always.What a great organisation and cause you chose to film your PSA on. good entry

September 2nd, 2008, 11:15 AM	#5
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	Wow, Markus, the World Wildlife Fund, I am impressed. You really aimed high with this one. Your underwater photography just gets more and more beautiful. The lighting here is just gorgeous. I don't think I know enough about how the good spots should look compared to the bad spots, in order to quite understand where you are going with this -- they both looked beautiful to me, maybe you have to do something to make more contrast between the good and the bad. You are such a good shooter, and the lighting is so nice, that the bad spots still looked beautiful to me, just more sparse...so I did not quite get the good v. bad set-up until you explained it. This looks like the beginning of a very good relationship for you. I hope that you can do more work with WWF - Sweden. I would like to know more about the Bladderwrack and why it is so important to the health of the Baltic Sea...guess I better go look it up!

September 3rd, 2008, 06:30 AM	#9
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Hi Markus, I was expecting a new underwater video from you. :) The mix between the "dead" and the good places was a great idea, and I think it worked well for you. Maybe (as been commented already) a bit more difference between the good and the bad to make the message even more clear. Well done!

September 8th, 2008, 06:04 AM	#11
Rob Evans Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 390	Hey Markus! Wow, you hit the big one with this! The quality of your film was stunning, I loved the concept, the heartbeat - it felt very ethereal, the transitions were just perfect. I almost understood it without needing to have a translation. A very professional piece, i would be very happy myself to produce something like this ;-)

September 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#12
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Dale – Thanks dale… it’s hard to colour match with shots from different depth and with/without direct sunlight. Thanks for you comment. Jeff – I always try to give hope in my films, ’cause I think that it’s to much ”Scary-info” out there and people are getting sick of it. I think that’s the wrong way of getting the info out there… It’s better to give people hope… Trond – Hi Trond, I tried to change the difference between good and bad a much I could… maybe I could have chosen a different spot for ”bad”. Geir – Thanks Geir from you comment… How do you mean ”more dramatic”… a really bad spot or some pollution shot? Rob – Thanks Rob, I’m glad that you almost understood without a translation. Thanks everyone for viewing and making a comment. Markus __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

September 12th, 2008, 06:14 AM	#13
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	Hey Markus wow...visually stunning and what an organisation to punt at ! however as others have said lacking message. SO What you need is more of a comparision between healthy and unhealthy as the unhealthy looks pretty in its own way. In the first shots you need something people will instantly see as dead or unhealthy or even. A dead pipefish floating sadly through the water maybe. Then in the healthy shots 2 pipefish intertwined mating or something. Instantly readable visuals that the viewer doesnt need any knowledge to read!