on vacation

I don't have a video for you, since I'm at my parents house with a modem connection and no camera. I just thought I would post to let you all know that I'll be out of posting range for at least a couple of weeks. I hope you all have a great holiday season.
-serra

foster care for kittens

For the last couple of weeks headsoff has been fostering three baby kittens for the MSPCA. The MSPCA fosters out kittens that are too young to be given their shots and get neutered. So their staying with us 'til they're two pounds. If you're interested in helping the MSPA or having a bunch of cute little kittens run around your house for a couple of weeks check out the MSPCA foster homes page and give them a call.


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:09

Technorati Tags:

Green Thing #26 Searches for a place where it fits in

Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 1:10

Music: The Shins - Weird Divide

Technorati Tags: Green Thing

December snow, and why I haven't posted in a while

As some of you have noticed, I haven't posted anything in a while. I think about it a lot, and even take some footage here and there, but its the end of the semester and I have a documentary to edit (finally done shooting thank god) and my master's project to brush up, and work is picking up again for some unknown reason, and I'm starting an internship... I know, this is a lame excuse. So here, I have edited together some footage for you from my commute in to Emerson. Thanks for your encouragement and support.


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 36 seconds

Technorati Tags: snow, boston common, emerson, serra shiflett, headsoff

Farmer's Market II

I really appriciated all your comments on the first cut of this mini-doc. We decided that although we loved it, there was some basically inaudible audio in the middle and the story was a bit scattered, so we re-cut it and here is the second cut. Any of you who watched the first, let me know what you think about the changes. I'd love it. Thanks again everyone! enjoy..


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:39

PS: The first cut is here.

Technorati Tags: farmer's market, farm, harvard square, cambridge, headsoff

Get Off My Case - Part 2

After Mike so rudely yelled at Merlin to "get off his case", Merlin went upstairs and took his aggression out on the bathroom faucet. Partway through, he wised up to the fact that this also doubled as a new and excited method of hydrating himself...


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 45 seconds

Previously on "Get off my case"

Technorati Tags: Merlin, cat, faucet, headsoff

Pumpkin Carving Party

You wanted more pumpkin carving headsoff banter with a little extra zombie rights activism? Ask, and you shall recieve....


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is just about 10 minutes

Technorati Tags: halloweenvlogfest2005, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern, pumpkin carving, halloween, zombie, headsoff

Pumpkin Carving Music Video

We had a jack-o-lantern carving party. Some of you may know that I'm obsessed with pumpkins in general, and take out a lot of my artistic vision on them around this time of year. To me, its like I'm being a camera - sculpting the light by removing layers of pumpmkin emulsion.... or something. well, anyways, a longer and more scriptually entertaining version of this party will be coming soon, but for now you get the quick and dirty music video. The music is Rusted Root, Agbadz. Enjoy


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 1:16

PS: the other pumpkin I carved this year is here: http://www.lanugo.org/FrogPumpkin2005.jpg
and to see lots of pumpkins I carved before this year go to Artistic Pumpkins

Technorati Tags: halloweenvlogfest2005, halloween, pumpkin carving, jack-o-lantern, headsoff

Trick Or Treat

Here is our first somewhat invented video blog. Mike and Joe take our friend Laura trick-or-treating in order to get candy for us to give out to trick-or-treaters. The people giving her candy have no idea what they're up to. We're thinking of leaving notes on their doors with the vlog address... maybe we'll gain some new viewers that way? ;-) If you are one of the very kind people who gave us candy, please leave a comment and let us know what you think! Don't worry - we did actually buy most of the candy we gave out ;-)


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 4:36

Technorati Tags: halloween, trick-or-treat, candy, trick, treat, headsoff, halloweenvlogfest2005

Farmer's Market

I'm taking a documentary class at Emerson this semester, and this is the first project for that class. The assignment was to make a documentary about anything at all, but it must be between 2 and 3 minutes long and use at least 3 documentary techniques (ie: interview, voiceover, narration, b-roll, live action...). My group decided to do a day in the life of a farmstand at the Harvard Square farmer's market.


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:26

Technorati Tags: farmer's market, farm, harvard square, cambridge, headsoff

Wine Production: Grape Crushing

Our friend Aaron makes wine every fall. He's a big brewer of beer but he says that, while he prefers beer to wine, it doesn't make quite as nice a holiday gift. So here the adventure begins. Join us as we help crush grapes and watch as Aaron plays "mad scientist", striving for the perfect wine.


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 5:34

Technorati Tags: wine, grapes, headsoff

Road Node Cambridge: Mr. Big Time

At our meetup, organized by Road Node 101, we got to meet some interesting folks. Among them was Phil Hamilton, and his big time.How cool is that?


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:14

Technorati Tags: Road Node 101, Phil Hamilton, headsoff

PS: Phil posted a video of us from this night, also! Check it out here!

Road Node Cambridge: Cookie Factions

Road Node 101 dropped by on Sunday evening, and when they realized we had cookies for them they decided to re-work American politics.


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:50

Please feel free to state your party offiliation below, after veiwing.

Technorati Tags: road node 101, cambridge, cookies, cookie factions, oatmeal, chocolate chip, headsoff

Serra Styles

I guess this pretty much speaks for itself...


Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)

Runtime is 53 seconds

The Solo

This is a video I made about 4 years ago when I was an undergraduate at Evergreen. I just came across it sorting through my hard drive, and thought what the heck right? So I compressed it, and here it is. I hope you enjoy it.
-serra


Click here for movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 3:33

Hammock

We are slowly settling into our new apartment. Today we put up the hammock. Mike set out to take it for a spin, but ended up taking it for a nap.....


Click here for movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 48 seconds

Vlogger Meetup in Cambridge!!

Hey - no video today (I think this is the first text-only post ever) but I just wanted to put the word out that we're hosting a Node 101 Roadtrip video blogger meetup at our home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jan and Randy will be coming through on Sunday, October 9th, at 6PM. And anyone who can get out here is welcome. So let's do it!

Comment for more info, or e-mail, and I'll get back to you...

Heather's Flip Flop

Heather is out new roommate. This is her story.


Click here for Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 2 minutes

Get Off My Case

Mike and Merlin have been bickering a lot lately...


Click here for Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 11 seconds

Stupid Frickin Squirrel: Part 2

We should have him arrested for destruction of property...


Click here for Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 1:23

Stupid Frickin Squirrel

Its funny, I remember my grandmother battling squirrels when I was a little kid and wondering what her problem was - why did she hate them so much? they're so cute! my recent experiences have changed my opinion on that. this bastard ate a good inch of plastic out of my bird feeder, and about a third of the seed within two days of discovering it! most of the video is just the stupid squirrel making a racket continually. this is what we hear pretty much all day when the feeder is out. i mean really - what do you do in this situation?
-serra


Click here for Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)


Runtime is 4:32

Goodbye, Carolina

Carolina has been one of my best friends since I moved to Boston. Although we have known eachother since we were kids, we really bonded once we found ourselves together again, across the country. She's been accepted to Oxford, where she will do her graduate studies on the same side of the Atlantic as her boyfriend. As much as I will miss her, I'm excited for her for both of those things and wish her the best. Here's a video I made that includes some photos we took on the last night we all went out together. Good times. I love you dude, take care of yourself and keep in touch.


Click here for Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is 2:19

We're back!

Hey everyone...

Mike and I have been moving (yes, again) and then off to a folk-dancing camp for Labor Day weekend. because of this, we've not been around for a couple of weeks now, but that will change soon! We didnt take any vlog footage of any of the fun (why? im not entirely sure.. probably because I was too busy participating) so you'll just have to take my word for it, or visit the photos site I managed to make. I hope that everyone is still around and doing well, its going to take a while to catch up on the vloglist if it happens at all...

While i was in media no-mans-land, Hurricane Katrina struck and because I had no TV or internet I was kind of out of the loop. Well, i've had a vague picture of the devestation but just havent seen much coverage myself. Zadi made a beautiful and moving recap of footage from the hurricane katrina nightmare, and since it was one of the first things i saw upon my re-entrance to the vlogosphere i am re-vlogging it before watching or creating anything else. Thank you for this Zadi.. please visit her site to find out where the music and footage came from.

Cap Drain Catastrophe 2: Consolation

So here's the conclusion you've all bean waiting for. One of the upsides to letting the little things bother you is that you tend to bounce back alot quicker. It seems the camera was off for some time after the cap went down. Whatever Jon said seems to have worked, but if I were him I don't know if I'd have mentioned that fork ...


Click to play Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime: 56 seconds

Previously on Cap Drain Catastrophe: Part 1

Mothers

Joe's mom was here to take him to breakfast, and caught us videoblogging him creating a new hole in his belt. Joe's mom is particularly adorable, but has the same worries of any mother, as we come to find out... unfortunately I had to cut the part where she asked if she could borrow mike's pirate hat to wear to breakfast, since she was off-camera and you couldn't really hear her say it anyways. But I felt it deserved acknowledgement...


Click to Play Movie (Quicktime) (in a new window)

Runtime is about 1 min 45 seconds

For Rent

Do you ever think your life is in someone else's hands?



Runtime: 19 Seconds

Happy 80th Birthday, Millie!

Today is Millie Garfield's 80th birthday!
Millie: click on the picture to view your video birthday card!



This runs about 2 minutes

Planned Parenthood Demonstration

Mike went down to a demonstration outside Planned Parenthood on Saturday morning. He spoke with a lot of people demonstrating for a lot of reasons, and the resulting video is a mini-documentary of those reasons. This video is mostly about conversation rather than politics or crowd shots. People from many perspectives speak to us, sharing the difficult and emotional issues surrounding abortion rights and legality. The conversation does not end here.



The runtime is about 10.5 minutes

Cap Drain Catastrophe

So I've finally gotten around to posting another of Serra's baby videos. It's amazing how important some things seem when we're little. I guess part of growing up is learning what really matters to us and let the little things slide. Unfortunately somewhere along the way we lose the ability to be this adorable.



This movie runs for 55 seconds and ends at a cliff-hanger. Stay tuned to see how it turns out.

Every 2 Weeks or so

I haven't posted any personal videos yet, and decided today that it's about time I start. I've had a couple sitting on back burners that I was too nervous to post, largely just because I'm a shy person (including one where I explain that fact), but this one is going up, because I'm feeling brave today.

This movie is of me doing one of my chores that I don't share in common with too many people my age; refilling pill boxes. I take 11 pills per day, every day, and I will tell you a little about why in this video. It's kind of long, but I hope you'll take the time to watch and get to know me a little better. I've been feeling lately like I know a lot of other vloggers to an extent that it's impossible to know me through my videos, and I'm excited to become part of the "vlogosphere" on a slightly deeper level.



Runtime is exactly 8 minutes. How did I manage to do that without trying?

Baseball

Runtime: 11 Seconds

You're Distorting my Words.

Runtime: 28 seconds

Zombies eat your heads off.

Mike decides, after much thoughtful discussion, that headsoff is the answer to everything. oh, and zombies are like vloggers.



This runs about 4 minutes, but mike's philosophical conclusion is so worth it!

PS: this is a 4-part series starting with the lightning strikes us movie. makes more sense in that order rather than starting here.....

Breaking News

In an unexpected twist, the dead are awoken from the funeral home across the street!



This runs about 2 minutes

The Cops Come

After the lightning took off the top of our telephone pole, the authorities showed up and we taped them because we can do anything we want, because we're videobloggers. Right? Mike sets us straight about how lightning chooses where to strike, and we make fun of the fake lightning effects caused by the real lightning behind him.



This runs about 3 minutes, 40 seconds

Lightning Strikes Us

We had a ridiculous electrical storm last night, and since you all liked the rain so well we knew you would like this. As soon as the camera came out, lightning struck a telephone pole about 20 feet from our porch!



This runs about 3 minutes, and includes some really nice bolts and ridiculously loud thunder claps.

Thank you, Peter and Bre

Bre Pettis and Peter VanDijck were very gracious to us when we showed up in NYC with no plans beyond attending the vloggercue party. We made this video as a special thank you to them for being so open and encouraging.



This runs about 44 seconds and has a surprise ending inspired by Bre's famous quote and quote of a quote!

Interview with Bre Pettis: We Are The Media

Take Bre's advice; get inspired!
Visit We Are The Media and check it out!
This runs about a minute and a half

Learn to Juggle

I was trying to juggle and doing terribly, so Mike decided to set me straight. I hope this benefits more than just me, and you can all learn to juggle if you don't know how already. Then you can be as cool as Mike :-P



The runtime on this is almost 6 minutes, but you can watch the first 20 seconds to see mike just juggling. BYOJB (bring your own juggling balls)
-serra

A Sidebar in the Main bar.

Bre Pettis of We Are The Media spontaneously decided to interview us in the NYC subway a couple weeks ago. Here's his cut of the interview. (wow, that is pretty funny...)



This runs just under 2 Minutes

Davis Square Escalators

I'm pretty sure I have NEVER been in the Davis Square T Stop and seen every escalator working at once. One to all of them are ALWAYS under construction. Always. This, however, is a bit more dramatic than the typical halted escalator with yellow barriers.....



The runtime on this one is about 96 seconds.
-serra

Merlin: Wild Jungle Beast

Joe (who you met previously in the mohawk haircut video) made a video today! I'm so excited, got everyone editing now...

Our cat, Merlin, thinks that my desk chair belongs to him. As a result, he will jump up behind me and try to curl up and push me off when he wants to sit there. Joe took the camera today and decided to document the beast at play.



The runtime on this one is 63 seconds.
-serra

PS: give him some encouraging comments! we're trying to get him to start vlogging regularly!

Thunder Storm

I'm going to try to start posting the length so that you know what you're getting into before you click. This one happens to be about 48 seconds.
-serra

Haircut: Episode 3

As promised, this is Mike's haircut / hack job.



It actually seems slightly less disturbing outside somehow, than when I first watched him cut his hair and he pulled over a trash can in the middle of supper and started hacking away.

I think (hope) we're done with haircuts now, so stay tuned for something completely different.
-serra

Haircut: Episode 2

Meet our roommate, Joe. After the disbelief at my haircut, Joe decided to take the clippers into his own hands. "I dont like the sides", he said...



Stay tuned for Haircut: Episode 3 - Mike's hair cut hack job. Coming soon.
-serra

Getting to Vloggercue

We went to New York for vloggercue this weekend. On our way there, we spent some time contemplating the meaning of security. We felt it was important to give some thought to the orange alert in effect around us. Here are a few things we noticed.




I can't figure out why this doesn't show up in FireAnt - If anyone knows, please leave me a note. -serra

Bed Time Carrot

Incredibly cute and obsessed with carrots; not much has changed in twenty-one years. This is Serra, age 3, with her baby sitter, trying to sneak a carrot into her bed-time routine. Serra has some of the cutest baby videos you'll ever see. Her father eagerly punctuated a conversation lull in my first visit with "Do you want to watch some videos?" He gets a kick out of showing them. Here's the first of the series. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
-mike

A Boston 4th

This is my first year in Boston for the summer - who knew July 4th was such an event??
-serra

Serra's Haircut

I decided that I wanted to go back to the good 'ol days, when my hair was short enough that I didnt ever have to do anything to it. I decided to up the size of the vlogs for an experiment.. you guys can let me know if its worth the extra file size.

Special thanks to Cassie for doing the cutting, Rachel for filming, and Meagan and Carolina for making fun of me throughout. Sorry about the water spot on the lens... Guess I didn't check it out before I handed the camera over.
-serra

Public Art: Cambridge River Festival

Cambridge is pretty cool. We met this guy at the Cambridge River festival. He's a high school art teacher at Cambridge Rindge & Latin, and working artist.
-serra

Mike's First Edit: Politics are So Gay

If you vote in Boston and support gay rights, here are some candidates who showed up to the Pride parade last week that you may want to think about.