A quick heads up: Today the NationÂal Film Board of CanaÂda released a free iPad app (downÂload it here), proÂvidÂing users free access to thouÂsands of docÂuÂmenÂtaries, aniÂmatÂed films and trailÂers. All films (includÂing some in 3‑D) can be streamed over Wi-Fi and 3G wireÂless netÂworks. And you can even downÂload and watch a film offline for up to 48 hours. If you don’t have an iPad, nevÂer fear. The NFB also makes these films availÂable via a free iPhone app and, of course, its web site too.
AspirÂing (or even casuÂal) filmÂmakÂers, get ready for One Day on Earth. On OctoÂber 10th, 2010, thouÂsands of peoÂple worldÂwide will shoot film and proÂduce a crowdÂsourced docÂuÂmenÂtary showÂcasÂing “the diverÂsiÂty, conÂflict, tragedy, and triÂumph that can occur in one 24-hour periÂod on Earth.” You’re invitÂed to take part in potenÂtialÂly the largest globÂal media event ever. The video above spells out the conÂcept, and you can learn how to take part here.
EarÂliÂer this year, LeanÂdro CopÂperÂfield spent days re-watchÂing the films of Quentin TaranÂtiÂno and the Coen brothÂers. Then, using 500+ scenes from 17 movies, he develÂoped a monÂtage tribÂute simÂply called TaranÂtiÂno vs Coen BrothÂers. This pairÂing makes a cerÂtain amount of sense. Both have a wonÂderÂful knack for aesÂthetiÂcizÂing vioÂlence. But what’s the thread that runs through CopÂperÂfieldÂ’s latÂest short tribÂute, Kubrick vs ScorsÂese? PerÂhaps it’s quite simÂply the grandeur of their filmÂmakÂing. About KubrickÂ’s artistry ScorsÂese said, “WatchÂing a Kubrick film is like gazÂing up at a mounÂtainÂtop. You look up and wonÂder, how could anyÂone have climbed that high? There are emoÂtionÂal pasÂsages and images and spaces in his films that have an inexÂplicÂaÂble powÂer…” And, you can’t help but think that Kubrick looked at ScorsÂese’s work with a simÂiÂlar sense of awe.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
In 1900, L. Frank Baum wrote The WonÂderÂful WizÂard of Oz, which went on to become one of the most beloved chilÂdren’s books of all time, reprintÂed and reinÂventÂed in a myrÂiÂad stage plays, films, TV series, musiÂcals and othÂer adapÂtaÂtions. But Baum’s origÂiÂnal tale feaÂtured a litÂtle-known backÂstoÂry about the Tin WoodsÂman – a moralÂiÂty tale about a man who gets so caught up in his work that he losÂes sight of what realÂly matÂters in life.
DirecÂtor BriÂan McCormick decidÂed to capÂture this poetÂic tale and the hidÂden love stoÂry about a simÂple woodsÂman and a beauÂtiÂful maidÂen in HeartÂless: The StoÂry of the Tin Man — an artÂfulÂly shot short film, viewÂable for free online.
Maria PopoÂva is the founder and ediÂtor in chief of Brain PickÂings, a curatÂed invenÂtoÂry of eclecÂtic interÂestÂingÂness and indisÂcrimÂiÂnate curiosÂiÂty. She writes for Wired UK, GOOD MagÂaÂzine, BigÂThink and HuffÂinÂgÂton Post, and spends too much time curatÂing interÂestÂingÂness on TwitÂter.
A quick fyi: Film Annex is now makÂing availÂable two films by the great SoviÂet filmÂmakÂer Andrei Tarkovsky: StalkÂer and Andrei Rublev (Part 1 and Part 2). You can also find them listÂed in our colÂlecÂtion of Free Movies Online. When not makÂing movies, Tarkovsky snapped some polaroids too…
In Book VII of The RepubÂlic, PlaÂto paints a dark scene for readÂers. ImagÂine prisÂonÂers shackÂled in a cave, their heads chained in such a way they can’t look out into the world itself. They can only see manipÂuÂlatÂed shadÂows on walls, and that’s about all. Known as the “alleÂgoÂry of the cave,” this pasÂsage lets PlaÂto offer comÂmenÂtary about the nature of realÂiÂty and human underÂstandÂing. In an episode of PhiÂlosÂoÂphy Bites, Simon BlackÂburn (CamÂbridge UniÂverÂsiÂty) talks with Nigel WarÂburÂton and David Edmonds about what PlaÂto realÂly wants to say here. And, above, some clever artists proÂvide an award-winÂning aniÂmaÂtion of the cave scene using nothÂing othÂer than clay. Big thanks to Eren at FilÂmAnÂnex for sendÂing this one our way.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
Almost a year ago, the Green RevÂoÂluÂtion was ignitÂed in Iran when AhmadineÂjad and the rulÂing clerÂics stole an elecÂtion from Mir-HosÂsein Mousavi and his milÂlions of supÂportÂers. A young genÂerÂaÂtion, intent upon putting Mousavi in office, took to the streets en masse. Protests broke out across the nation … until the holy men decidÂed they had had enough. UltiÂmateÂly, bulÂlets put an end to the nascent demoÂcÂraÂtÂic moveÂment (at least for now), and the bruÂtalÂiÂty of the regime was capÂtured in movÂing images watched worldÂwide: they showed us a young woman, Neda, getÂting indisÂcrimÂiÂnateÂly gunned down by a sniper, her eyes starÂing at us as she lay dying in the streets. Above, we’re feaÂturÂing a newÂly released HBO docÂuÂmenÂtary that introÂduces you to Neda Agha-Soltan and her life stoÂry. WritÂten and directÂed by the award winÂning filmÂmakÂer Antony Thomas, the 70 minute film was creÂatÂed with a fair amount of risk, and it includes interÂviews with Neda’s famÂiÂly in Iran. The IranÂian regime, natÂuÂralÂly doing its best to stop citÂiÂzens from seeÂing the film, plans to release its own docÂuÂmenÂtary, putting the offiÂcial spin on the murÂder.
A four minute film, feaÂturÂing an AmerÂiÂcan pair of Levis travÂelÂing the globe for two years, all shot by a JapanÂese direcÂtor TakayuÂki Akachi. Nice find by Ian in El SalÂvador or … is it now Brazil?
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
A quick heads up: Today the NationÂal Film Board of CanaÂda released a free iPad app (downÂload it here), proÂvidÂing users free access to thouÂsands of docÂuÂmenÂtaries, aniÂmatÂed films and trailÂers. All films (includÂing some in 3‑D) can be streamed over Wi-Fi and 3G wireÂless netÂworks. And you can even downÂload and watch a film offline for up to 48 hours. If you don’t have an iPad, nevÂer fear. The NFB also makes these films availÂable via a free iPhone app and, of course, its web site too.
