Videos – Retrenders

Indie Filmmaking – Do it Yourself Car Rig Mount

May 23, 2012 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

In my ultimate endeavor to make a film, I found myself problem solving the technical needs for filming car scenes before walking into them; the rig type, the construction, the weight load and solid support are only a few of the things I considered when wanting to get those fantastic car driving shots. So I did my research and came across a couple of car mount systems that I liked, but they were just way out of my price range and involved way too many accessorizing tools, so I decided to build my own bare essentials heavy duty car rig mount that was very versatile!

Filed Under: Movies, Videos Tagged With: Art house, car rig mount, DIY, do it yourself, Filmmaking, Gaby & Lucia trailer, Johnny Moreno, movie making

Sean Soong’s SubWars

May 23, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Watch this neat animated short “SubWars” by Sean Soong. Inspired from a mix of anime and Star Wars.

Filed Under: Art, Videos Tagged With: animation, anime, artist, Sean Soong, short film, Star Wars

“The Great Gatsby” Movie Trailer

May 22, 2012 by GuestContributor Leave a Comment

“The Great Gatsby” is terribly near and dear to my heart. It’s quiet, repressed, and introspective nature was beautifully contrasted against the brassy Jazz Age. The trailer looks grand and as lavish as any other Baz Luhrman film, but I don’t know, I’m a little conflicted. The trailer is too fast and focused on the glamorous aspect of Gatsby’s life and is devoid of genuine emotion and complexity. But then again, it’s just a trailer and Baz Luhrman has never been interested in sticking to original source material anyways. But still, what was up with the music choice for the trailer? Talk about awkward.

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By Contributing Blogger: M. Do.

Filed Under: Books, Movies, Videos Tagged With: 2012 movie trailers, Baz Luhrman, Carey Mulligan, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Great Gatsby

LEGO Dark Knight Trailer

May 21, 2012 by SW biko Leave a Comment

If you thought you saw all the Dark Knight trailers, check out this version of the trailers, but done in Lego. We should expect the Lego Dark Knight video game to follow soon. I have to admit though, Lego video games are one of the most kid-friendly game series around.

Filed Under: Toys, Videos Tagged With: Batman, DC Comics, LEGO Batman

Film: Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love

May 17, 2012 by Johnny Moreno

From Barcelona to Paris and now To Rome with Love, Woody Allen has gravitated to a new canvas of success in Europe by making elaborate films where he complicates the lives of his characters through nostalgic temptations in romance, art, and of course, love. As a matter of fact, all his films are about love, indirectly or directly, because it’s the one thing that keeps us wondering, attracts us to a person or a place, and as much as it opens our eyes, it unravels our hearts.

Filed Under: Movies, Videos Tagged With: Alec Baldwin, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Rachel McAdams, Roberto Benigni, Scarlett Johansson, To Rome with Love, Woody Allen

Flashback: Cheesy Cop Shows

May 11, 2012 by GuestContributor Leave a Comment

Cop shows in the 80s were cheesy, yes. But they were darn right FUN!

Here are a few flashbacks to a time when a CHP officer could patrol the L.A. freeways during the day and don a pair of roller-skates in the evening….

CHiPs (1977-1983)

Filed Under: TV, Videos Tagged With: 80s, CHiPs, CHP, cop shows, LAPD, T.J. Hooker

Flashback: 80s Flicks

May 4, 2012 by GuestContributor Leave a Comment

The 80s were a time of newness…a time of happiness…and a time of “geekiness!”

But, what a great time it was! If you were like me, you waited outside a theater or drive-in waiting for the next coming-of-age flick that would set your heart aflutter and your mind at ease…because, after all, we were all geeks. And, somehow, we were all in love with SOMEONE!

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Filed Under: Geeky, Movies, Videos Tagged With: 80s, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science

Cool PES Short Films

May 1, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I just love watching these fun innovative shorts by PES.

Filed Under: Art, Videos Tagged With: animation, imagine, PES, PES films, shorts, stop motion

Norah Jones x Danger Mouse = Little Broken Hearts

April 30, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

This might be an odd couple – Danger Mouse and Norah Jones. But they’ve been making an album together called “Little Broken Hearts” and the CD will hit retail outlets tomorrow. It’s a mix of jazzy soul and eclectic beats. Like Adele’s 21 album, Jones gets personal and will sing songs about her ex-boyfriend.

Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: album, CD, Danger Mouse, Little Broken Hearts, Norah Jones, pop rock

Mad Men – Bowling Edition

April 26, 2012 by GuestContributor 1 Comment

Not only is Jon Hamm handsome and talented, he’s capable of growing a full and manly beard. Also, he’s apparently a decent bowler. He might possibly be the most perfect male specimen alive.

Filed Under: Geeky, TV, Videos Tagged With: All Star Bowling, HBO, Jon Hamm, Mad Men, Pete Campbell, The Nerdist

Chris Burden’s Metropolis II

April 23, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

LACMA – Chris Burden’s Metropolis II

Artist Chris Burden took 4 years to build this complicated city in motion sculpture – Metropolis II. A mix of HO scale train sets, specific built roadways and highway system built around an incredible looking city. Over 100,000 miniature cars speed around the tracks at 240 mph on a magnet system. Check out this really cool mini-documentary:

Filed Under: Art, Videos Tagged With: Chris Burden, commuting, exhibition, Hot Wheels, LA, LACMA, Los Angeles, Metropolis II, traffic

Flashback: Beat Street (1984)

April 20, 2012 by GuestContributor Leave a Comment

Assemble your crews, make your way to the dance floor, and cue music. It’s time to BATTLE…80s B-Boy Style!

Enter the movie, Beat Street. Dance halls in the 80s were ripe with talent and unabridged creativity. And, you know, they were just plain FUN!

Filed Under: Movies, Music, Videos Tagged With: 80s, breaking, Dance, dance battle, NYC, old school, Roxy

Young Avengers @ Target

April 16, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I have to say this is a really cute and nerdy-cool commercial from Target.

Filed Under: Comics, Videos Tagged With: ad, Avengers, commercial, cute, kids, marvel, Target, Young Avengers

Music: Geek Chic Bands

April 14, 2012 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

I’ve come across a new band I like and they’re from Beijing, China. They emerged from the college scene and are beginning to stand out. I have always been attracted to the sounds and melody of a geek band or singer whether they’re rock or pop because, with their lyrics and unforeseen array of kitsch fashion, they tend to express what I call “the poetry of being unique” and leaving us with a new musical and fashion statement. Here is Mr Graceless followed by a few popular videos of my favorite geek chic bands from the present to the past. Feel free to post me your favorite geek band!

Mr Graceless debut album “The Tree Ever Green” from Beijing, China.

Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: bands, Belanova, Devo, Mr Graceless, The Tree Ever Greeen, Weezer

Spotlight #1: Dog Friendly Places

April 13, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Happy Hour Dog Bar!

Welcome to our debut Retrenders Spotlight episode! Our host Al Morales takes us around San Francisco for dog friendly places.

Filed Under: Drink, Spotlight, Videos Tagged With: Doc's Clock, dog bar, Fort Funston, Mission, SF, SPCA

Viral Video Friday: TRON Dance from the Land of the Rising Sun

April 13, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

To celebrate Disney’s upcoming TRON: Uprising animation series, here’s a TRON themed dance routine. The Japanese dance crew is Wrecking Crew Orchestra. Thanks goes out to gmixalot for letting us know about this!

Filed Under: Geeky, Videos Tagged With: break crew, Dance, Japan, Tron, Wrecking Crew Orchestra

TRON Uprising Animated Series on Disney XD

April 11, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

It looks a little like Batman Beyond but with neon blue lights.

Disney XD will be releasing a new animated series this June 2012 – TRON: Uprising.

Filed Under: TV, Videos Tagged With: animation, arcades, cartoon, Disney XD, Legacy, Tron, Uprising, video games

9 Year-Old Builds Cardboard Arcade Shop!

April 10, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

If you are ever in East LA and you have a craving for playing classic arcade games – you might want to head over to Caine’s Arcade. This 9 year old – Caine Monroy – built a bunch of arcade games from cardboard at his dad’s shop. At first no customers would show up, but through social media the word got out and now little Caine is running a business.

Filed Under: Games, Videos Tagged With: arcade, arcade shop, Caine, Caine's Arcade, cardboard

A SuperFan Builds Kaneda’s Bike for Charity

April 10, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I want to be in Kaneda’s biker gang!

Akira is one of the most iconic anime films and has inspired many cosplayers and fans building Shotaro Kaneda’s motorcycle. But this new bike has Akira’s creator Katshuhiro Otomo’s blessings. From his hometown of Fukuoka, Japan – Mr. Tejima built Kaneda’s famous futuristic super bike.

Quick stats: The bike took Mr. Tejima 7 years to build and cost him around $121,000USD.

Filed Under: Geeky, Otakudom, PopAsia, Videos Tagged With: Akira, anime, GENGA Exhibition, Japan, Kaneda, Kanye West, Katshuhiro Otomo, Masashi Teshima

Viral Video Friday: He-Man & 4 Non-Blondes

April 6, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

This mashup remix music video came out awhile back, like 4 years ago. It still cracks me up – He-Man and 4 Non-Blondes “What’s Up?”

Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: 4 Non-Blondes, He-Man, mashup video, What's Going On?

Music: Santigold – Master of My Make Believe

April 4, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a different type of sound?

Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: indie, Master of My Make Believe, Pop, rap, rock, Santi White, Santigold

Cup Stacking Competition 2012

April 3, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Japan just hosted the 2012 sport cup stacking competition for Asia. From kids to seniors – these guys are super fast. The World Championships of Sport Stacking will take place in Butzbach (40 minutes from Frankfurt), Germany from April 14-15th, 2012. This invite-only tournament will bring over 250 contestants from 20-plus countries.

For more info, go to: World Sport Stacking Asscociation (WSSA).

Filed Under: Geeky, Videos Tagged With: Asia, cups, Germany, Japan, sport stacking, World Sport Stacking Championships, WSSA

Viral Video Friday: Frou Frou + RahXephon AMV

March 30, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Since the advent of YouTube, everybody and their mom cuts and splices their own fan/tribute music videos to their favorite anime or cult TV show. Here’s a good one using Frou Frou’s single “Must Be Dreaming.”

Filed Under: Music, Otakudom, Videos Tagged With: AMV, anime, anime music video, Frou Frou, Must Be Dreaming, RahXephon, Tower Records

Mad Men Season 5 Premiere: Recap & Review

March 29, 2012 by GuestContributor 1 Comment

After 17 months of hiatus, Mad Men came back and nestled deep back into a specially reserved space back into my heart. Even within the first five minutes of the premiere, my stomach fluttered in such a way that only happens when you reunite with long lost good friends. Okay, maybe that is an exaggeration or maybe I just need to get out more, but it certainly felt that way. During the gap between last season and the premiere, the lives of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce churned away and upon our meeting again, we have caught up with one another on how we’ve been.

Spoilers ahead!

Filed Under: Reviews, TV, Videos Tagged With: AMC, Mad Men, Mad Men Episode 501, Mad Men Episode 502, Mad Men Season 5, recap & review

Viral Video Friday: North Korean Musicians Play A-ha!

March 23, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

These students are jamming A-ha’s classic “Take On Me” with their accordions. Surprisingly, these music students are from the Kum Song school in North Korea and, as you know, North Korea is known for other things.

Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: 1980s, A-ha, accordion, Kum Song School, North Korea, pop song, Take On Me