StellaArtois.com has launched a cool new site to promote their beer. They went way beyond creating a great looking site by using interactive video to tell a story that the user can participate in.

The user watches video and then has to interact to achieve some result before going on. In most cases I had to try more than a few times to get it right. Which is fun and makes it a game like experience. The setting sun was particularly challenging until I thought diagonally, hint-hint.

The following is an interview with the design/development team that put the site together.

1-What applications did you use to create the site and which were your
favorites? Conversely, which applications were the most challenging to use?

Since the site consists of a lot of filmed material much of this work has been done on film, in 3D and in Adobe AfterEffects.Then it is put together and made interactive in Flash with design made in Illustrator and Photoshop. The filmed material was compressed in Sorensen Squeeze.

 

I guess that all members of the team working with the site had their own challenges but the most challenging application for me personally is also my favourite Flash. I guess thats no surprise since I’m the Flash developer.

2-What was the biggest technical hurdle to overcome?

The balance between filesize and videoquality is always an issue.

But for the “le Courage” site I would say the flash players performance on slower computers. In some cases we would have multiple layers of video, some with blending effects and at the same time 20 moving objects controlled by the users input. We had to work a lot on the optimization to make it flow nicely.

The planning of the filming and/interactive parts in le Courage was a great challenge as well as the post production of the filmed material. To get the right mix of reality and fantasy and to make the filmed material blend in with the different Flash objects without sacrificing the “cinematic values”.

3-If you were starting over from scratch on this project is there
anything you would do differently?

No, this is the perfect project. But of course if we had built it now we probably would have looked at the possibility to build it in AS3 for Flash player 9. That would have solved a lot of issues with performance making it possible to add some of the effects we would have liked to add. Such as using larger video without losing quality and speed and more moving objects.

4-What was your beverage of choice for get-togethers after work at the
local pub?

Stella-Artois in our office since the local pub doesn’t serve it.

5-Is there anything in the site that you added that you are particularly
proud of that you would like people to know about?

I would say the whole experience, how the many parts of the site all works together to create a great atmosphere. And how it’s all focused on the perfect glass of Stella Artois.

6-Was the brewmasters young apprentice hurt when falling of the end of the
world?

No, that was all visual effects, the hen is also OK.

You can also read an interview with the creators at the StellaArtoisBlog.com: part 1, part 2.

I grew up in Alabama and I’ll always be a fan of the Crimson Tide. I randomly ran across this clip at YouTube.com. It was really cool leaning about how The Tide went from being an all white squad in decline to a mixed race team back on top of the NCAA.

Weird Al really has his geek on for these two videos:

Weird Al-Star Wars/American Pie

White & Nerdy

And just for kicks: Amish Paradise

This guy may be a real amateur on the drums and piano, but he’s got game when it comes to video editing.

Okay, suppose you have a car catapult, fortuitously positioned near a large cliff, a few disposable cars and, lets see, what else? Oh yeah, some heavy artillery. Yeah, that sounds like a good afternoons fun.

TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com : I can’t tell, is this an add for HD-DVD or Flash video?

If you’re a doomsday lovin fool like myself then there’s a show coming to the NationalGeographic Channel on Thursday, February 14th called 6 Degrees.

Even if you miss the show the preview videos are good to watch.

Paradox of Choice: (approximately 1 hour long) a lecture by Barry Schwartz - hosted by Google TechTalks, April 27th, 2006.

This lecture covers how with increasing choice comes a decrease in satisfaction. Professor Schwartz talks about how this is true and how it can be managed. It’s full of great data to help you run your life or your company better.

On a personal note: As anyone watches this they will reflect on their decision making process. I find that in most instances I choose the first thing that I believe will satisfy. For instance, the first car that I bought was the first car that I looked at. I knew what my budget was, I knew what I needed the car to do. I test drove it and didn’t look at another. And, I always loved the car.

In contrast I once built a PC that took way more time than I anticipated with researching, building, and troubleshooting. In the end I didn’t use the PC very long and eventually gave it away.

And because of who I work for I wonder if giving a third color option for the Zune was such a good idea. In my forum readings it is the single most complained about feature. It’s striking in that it seems like a non issue. If you don’t like the brown Zune then get a black or white one. However, I believe that most people will be drawn to either black or white fairly strongly. But the brown Zune is the real gray choice. As such no matter which one you get you’ll think to some degree that you should have gotten the other.

This is hands down one of the coolest . . . what the hell would you call this? I dunno. Anyway, brilliant work.

http://www.motionographermedia.com/jarrattmoody/intonation.mov

You think they could do the whole movie this way? Okay, that might get a little old after a while but still.

What a wicked stunt.

I used to be a model - nude - for the NAU art department. I know what it’s like to remain motionless for long periods of time and it is not easy.