SUSO

Magic Fingers

"Flippin' heaven ..."

As we have recently been reminded, a fingerboard (or Finger-Skateboard) is a miniature version of a skateboard complete with moving wheels, graphics and trucks.  Measuring an average 96 millimeters long and 26 to 28mm wide, fingerboards can be employed by those gifted few to deliver the same breadth of board tricks that the better known skater pros deliver through their feet.  Only in this case the tricks are delivered through magic (highly determined) fingers...

And such nimble digits in (or should I say 'on') the hands of a talented cameraman makes for highly imaginative and creative cinema....

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Categories General Tags Sport Film Design

By Juan on 30/1/10

What No Web?

"But Spidey capabilities nonetheless..."

Meet real-life Spiderman Jyothi Raj.  The 22 year old former construction worker from South India dicovered his superhero ability just over four years ago when facing the daily challenge of scaling the bamboo scaffolding widely used across his country.  Recognising his innate ability to place his hands and feet with the precision to deliver the most efficient and rapid of climbs he thereafter applied himself in an effort to turn his talent into an art.

In this part of the world there are no harnesses, there is no net so these rapid 300 ft climbs up the fort wall in Chitradurga represent art in its most creative and determined form.

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Categories Endeavour Tags Sport culture

By Juan on 25/1/10

One Team, One Nation

"Sport's most iconic image and the story behind it..."

To quote John Carlin, author of the book Playing With The Enemy, the basis for the film Invictus that breaks in UK cinemas this month;

"By far the most fabulous and memorable political event I've ever witnesses was the Rugby World Cup Final of 1995."

That Carlin would refer to a World Cup final thus, as a'political event', points to the the power sport genuinely exerts over politics.  And Nelson Mandela, as intelligent a politician as ever there has ever been, was the man to recognise this.  The man to recognise that sport can move people emotionally to such an extent that it could and did unite a once fundamentally fractured nation. The man to move against this opportunity and challenge.  For those familiar with the turmoil of post-apartheid South Africa, the scale of this achievement was and remains breathtaking.

Morgan Freeman has gone on record as saying he had wanted to play Nelson Mandela in a film for many years but it was always about waiting for the right story and formula.  Carlin's tale offered him the formula and angle he was looking for.  And early critique suggest Freeman delivers a masterful performance in the role he was perhaps born to play (so says Mandela's own daughter..).  And while Matt Damon's involvement in the production is an inevitable point of controversy the same critics suggest he delivers a solid performance (with a worthy accent) allowing the focus to reside where it should, on Mandela as portrayed by Freeman.

Ahead of the realease of the film, and in Morgan Freeman's words, here is the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the story behind the image.

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Categories Film Tags Sport Politics Endeavour suso Film General

By Juan on 23/1/10

You Can. You Will.

 "... give meaning to the pain, in training and in life."

Pledge Limited ... now here's a great little idea and company we've come across recently. Founded by Simon Feneche - triathlete, marathon runner and recent conqueror of  the Eagle Isle Ultra (75 miles carrying all food and supplies over 3 days) - Pledge Limited are the creators of the waterproof, sweatproof silicon wristband, available in a range of colours, and otherwise known as the Pledgetag®.

The role of the Pledgetag is simple - to help you stay focused on your most important objective in life and on track to achieve your goal. This by making sure a reminder of that goal is never further away than the length of your arm.

Standard Pledgetags come with pre-designed messages such as "BURN FAT – LOSE WEIGHT" (careful who you give this one to!), "TRI HARDER – GET STRONGER" (I like...) and "YOU CAN – YOU WILL" the classic Armstrong cry from the heart. 

But it's when you start considering the power of a personalised Pledgetag that this idea comes into it's own.  The power of the inspirational message, whether to oneself or to another, is never to be underestimated.   "YOU CAN DO IT DADDY" ... who wouldn't run for walls for that?

Additionally Pledgetags can carry ICE (in case of emergency) details such as a postcode or phone number.  Not to be underetimated for those who like to go training with minimum baggage! 

All things considered, we think the simplicity and power of this idea is as cool as they come.

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Categories Endeavour Tags Sport culture

By Juan on 21/1/10

Happy 20th From Rome

"Birthday tributes roll in as the Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special airs in the US."

Created by Matt Groening,  first aired on the 17th December 1989, and subsequently broadcast to the tune of 449 episodes worldwide - The Simpsons has long been termed 'a satirical parody of a working class American lifestyle'.  For the most of us it is Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the Springfield massive, reminding us in the very funniest of ways of the pure entertainment to be found in american culture, society, television and many aspects of the human condition.

So successful a phenomena has The Simpsons become that, on top of the many awards and significant revenue the show has both won and generated over the years, the Vatican's newspaper (as in the Pope's own!) recently took it upon itself to send The Simpsons its best wishes on the shows 20th anniversary.

In a article titled Aristotles Virtues and Homers Doughnut, Losservatore Romano praised the shows philosophical learnings as well as its often bold take on religion. It went as far as to credit the show for teaching viewers how to laugh! The article cited several episodes centered around religion, including the one where Homer cries out for divine intervention. The newspaper said "America's longest running animated show is a mirror of the indifference and the need that modern man feels towards faith." Wow.

Still the newspaper did find a moment to criticize the shows use of crude language and violence (thank the Lord!).

While beyond Rome there may be more that would refrain from labelling the Simpsons as perfect - in our humble opinion, for its imagination and relentless delivery of creative brilliance, we here at SUSO HQ maintain this show is beyond critique.  Everyone has a favourite clip, and here's one that the Vatican News probably took a particularly close look at! 

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Categories TV Tags culture Film

By Juan on 15/1/10

Pure Irish

“'Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.” 

This was Brian O'Driscoll's widely-quoted philosophical musing when asked to give his view on former Lions team mate and current England manager, Martin Johnson, ahead of Ireland's Six Nations Championship clash with England at Croke Park on 28th February 2009.  He was not drawn in by this most leading of questions, and Ireland went on to win the match and subsequently the Grand Slam.

While this does not immediately confirm him as the Cantonaesque philosopher of the oval ball, few would argue against any comparison in the creative genius of the two respective living legends.  The main difference of course is that one is still playing and set to dazzle us further with his sporting prowess this spring.

Brian O'Driscoll is the definition of the modern rugby player.  As a balanced centre he has everything - pace, strength, flair, and a power when running close to the ground that makes him very difficult to stop.  But in the modern game so much is about what goes on at the break down, and in this area, his rucking game and strength over the ball is as good as many established No7s out there.  Much of this talent is god given but much of it has been achieved through a determination to learn how best to adapt to an ever evolving game and a dedication to self improvement over many years at the top of his sport. 

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Categories Sport Tags

By Juan on 13/1/10

Alot To Live Up To

"The original is a reference for creativity, how will the remake stack up?"

Clash of the Titans, the 1981 fantasy adventure film based on the myth of Perseus, was originally released on June 12, 1981. It cost a significant $16 million to produce (Laurence Olivier never came cheap!) for what was a steady if unspectacular return of $41 million at the box office. However the relative commercial success of the original is perhaps the least significant part of the film. Entirely more significant were the highly creative special effects used to create the imaginative creatures in the film and the extent to which these have come to represent a landmark in cinema history.

This was largely the work of the cinema special effects legend that is Ray Harryhausen and his stop motion animation technique. Although more sophisticated technology quickly eclipsed Harryhuasen’s pioneering approach his contribution to this film and the film industry as a whole is not lost on his ever growing legion of fans who have graduated into the professional film industry over the last decade. Although none of Harryhausen's films were ever nominated for a special effects Oscar, in 1992 he was finally awarded a Gordon E. Sawyer Award for "technological contributions which have brought credit to the industry" and near the turn of the 21st century, Harryhausen was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More significantly in the 2001 Pixar film, Monsters Inc. pays homage to Harryhausen in a scene where characters Mike Wazowski and Celia Mae visit a restaurant named "Harryhausen's". Not quite South Park but a huge accolade none-the-less.

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Categories Film Tags Art culture Design Drama Media

By Juan on 11/1/10

2 Wheeled Artistry

"More from the maestro that is Danny MacAskill..."

In April 2009 rider Danny MacAskill and cameraman Dave Sowerby posted a video online that has since gone on to deliver just shy of 14 million viewings.  Filmed over a few months in and around Edinburgh,  this video of Inspired Bicycles team rider Danny MacAskill has been universally aclaimed as probably the best collection of street/street trials riding ever seen. The riding is literally huge with some of the of the most technically difficult and imaginative lines you will ever see. In terms of trials bike riding it set a whole new standard for the rest to follow.

Well the boy is back.  And while Danny maintains that his motivation to ride has always been about having fun, few would begrudge him the clear commercial success that his talent has carved out as the leading act in VW's latest campaign. 

Enjoy the next 45 seconds of 2 wheeled poetry.

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Categories Sport Tags Sport Endeavour

By Juan on 7/1/10

It's No Joke

"A clever and worthy use of humour?"

Today across the UK there are some highly creative comedians primed and ready to help us get through the dark and cold winter months that lie ahead.  From your mum's favourite Frankie Boyle (not...), to relative newcomers Sean Walsh and Jack Whitehall, from the East End's Micky Flanagan to Xmas DVD favourites Jimmy Carr, Rhod Gilbert, Michael McIntyre, Lee Evans, and Russell Howard - the list of talent is both impressive and comforting.  Comforting in that the last time I looked at my bank balance it's going to take alot to make me smile for the next few months!

In seeking out a SUSO studio favourite Russell Kane this afternoon (it's cold today and we needed cheering up!) we were surprised to come across a new and highly creative online campaign that delivers a pretty forthright message.  It makes you think 'does humour always have to be funny?'  Because just sometimes, it really isn't a joke.

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Categories Fun Tags culture suso

By Juan on 5/1/10