A Filmmaker's Dramatic Spec Ad for Google Glass Is Getting Lots of Fans, Including Google
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Can Google Glass help cross cultural boundaries and even save lives? It can in “Captions,” a 4-minute short film promoting a translation app currently in development.
Writer, director and editor Joe Sill of digital studio Everdream Pictures describes the cinematic clip as a “branded content spec ad,” much like the team’s earlier, unofficial Tesla spot, “Modern Spaceship,” whose admirers included even Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
And sure enough, the new video has also gotten some top-level corporate love, with the official Google Glass page giving it a share on Facebook.
Sam Morrill, senior curator at Vimeo, also left a comment on the clip: “Interesting film. Really sharp look.”
“Captions” focuses on a Glass translation app that helps a photographer in the Mexican desert communicate with a boy who’s been bitten by a snake.
The mood and approach couldn’t be more different than “Modern Spaceship’s” effects-fueled flight of fancy. Washed-out, steamy visuals—shot on location at an orphanage in Mexico’s San Antonio de las Miñas—and naturalistic performances give “Captions” a gritty, documentary vibe.
The slow-burn melodrama is engaging but restrained, and the low-key ending is handled just right.
Ultimately, the film doesn’t oversell its message. It serves as a credible product demo, and a thoughtful meditation on how cutting-edge technology can help people bridge gaps, gain greater understanding and get closer in the offline world.
CREDITS
Created by: Everdream Pictures
Writer and Director: Joe Sill
Executive Producer: James Khabushani
Producer: Jona Ward
Featuring: Amir Malaklou
Assistant Director: Alan Michnoff
Cinematographer: Nick Roney
Assistant Camera: Juancarlos Amaya
Gaffer: Juancarlos Amaya
Makeup: Spencer Reed
Editing: Joe Sill
Color Correction: Nick Roney, Joe Sill
Production Sound: Alan Michnoff
Sound Design: Jackie Zhou
Original Music: Mattan Cohen
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