In keeping with their storytelling standard, Format67 released a little video on the car that just leaves me wanting more. Watching it fly around the corners, capturing shots inches off the pavement just gives me chills. While the Cayenne and Raptor cameracars are cool, I cannot wait to see where Format67 goes with this, the shots they capture, and the rules they continue to break.

That being said, I want to see a video about this car, the build, and everything. Heck, as a journalist, I want to drive and review this gorgeous machine. What do you say Format67? Can I review it? Let’s make this happen.

Check out more about this car here: http://www.format67.net/camcar

The post This Cameracar Deserves More Attention appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Watching this video gets me all kinds of pumped up, crazing the canyon-carving driving and deep exhaust tone from the hot sedan. Always loved from afar, the M3 has always been a ride I would love to add to my stable. Even as a fanatic Audi fan, I will admit the allure of the newest BMW M3/M4s is big, and when built right, these rides just seem the be the best thing on 4 wheels to hit the roads as of late.

The Imola Media team does a great job of capturing the elements that make this ride special, desirable, and fun, tapping into the carnal desire we all have as automotive enthusiasts.

So sit back and take it all in, let your mind wander to the canyons and listen to every note of that beautiful exhaust. It should get your heart pumping.

The post I Suddenly Want a BMW M3 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ukv9v7IGZw

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While touring Norway as a BMX rider sponsored by GoPro, Didrik was approached by the FlowMotion team to test out a new GoPro stabilizing mount that could be mounted to helmets and bikes as well as hand-held using an extendable pole. Like any proof of concept, the first iteration was less than beautiful. “This thing weighed at least half a kilo,” recalled Didrik, “there was a huge plate and wires were hanging off of it!”

By the second iteration of what would eventually become the FlowMotion ONE, Didrik quickly realized that Lars Flesland and Eirik Dyrseth, were on to a device that could revolutionize videography in the extreme sports industry. He quickly joined the team as their CMO and official spokesperson.

From the beginning, Didrik and the FlowMotion team wanted to “make everything from scratch and control everything in house”, so no royalties or fees for usage rights. Even though Lars, Eirik, and Didrik could have hit the easy button and payed to use a patented 3-dimensional stabilizing formula, they decided to build their own (AKA hire someone “who was way smarter than us!” -Didrik)

“The device runs via two sensors, an accelerometer and a gyroscope,” Didrik explained to me in layman’s terms. “Those two sensors gather data at 1000 times per second, which is enough to know how the GoPro is moving in all three dimensions in real-time.” With that much data, you can tell the small motors in the FlowMotion ONE how to move to correct for shaking, jostling, and general instabilities.

As the FlowMotion team refined the stabilizer, they realized they needed to make a hard pivot to reinvent their product for the cellphone industry. “We developed a GoPro Stabilizer for a long time, then we realized there is so much more you can do with your smartphone,” said Didrik. “Not only did we expand our market, but now users don’t have to move to different devices to shoot, edit, and share their video content.”

Focusing on cellphone videography meant the team could now add Bluetooth technology to the stabilizer as well as a compatible smartphone app. “Customers can give us direct feedback via the app… it’s a great way for us to stay connected with our customer base.” FlowMotion is one of the first accessories I’ve seen to fully utilize the capabilities of a smartphone through user feedback; offering tutorials and tips as users access new features as well as monitoring user behavior and updating the app accordingly.

By the time the stabilizer and app were in their final iterations, the FlowMotion team put their product in front of consumers for the first time with one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever. “We were something like 4400% over our expected goal of $30,000,” said Didrik, “… and right now we are focusing on shipping out to our Kickstarter backers; they are our core focus right now.”

Didrik and the FlowMotion team have no plans of cashing out after their September launch. “The future of making videos is not going to look the way it does now; its shifting from professional cameras to the phone and we have some really cool visions of how we can solve the problem of making video in the future.” Didrik couldn’t give away any more than that, saying that “its all under the radar right now,” and the team is completely focused on the launch of the FlowMotion ONE.

For more on FlowMotion, or to preorder your own FlowMotion ONE, visit Flowmotion.co.

The post Revolutionize the Way You Tell Your Story With FlowMotion ONE appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

I’ve struggled with this for the past 2 months while trying to make original vlog posts for Car-tel Communications. Any smartphone can take video, and newer models can even support 4K, but universal access to video means creating something that attracts more than 10 views on Youtube requires creativity and a unique style.

What you need is $60, an amazon account, and a safe place for your mailman (or woman) to store your precious cargo. The most important piece of equipment is your tripod, because shaky video is terrible video. Amazon recently started to produce their own line of products under the AmazonBasics tagline, and their tripod is top-notch. For under $25 dollars, this 60” tripod is a steal.

Unfortunately, phones do not screw in to tripod mounts like traditional cameras, so you will need to get an adjustable phone adapter. I picked this one because it was recommended for the AmazonBasics tripod. If you made it this far and are thinking, “this only takes horizontal video, and I want vertical video,” we politely ask you to leave now and pick up a different hobby like bird-watching or knitting.

Next, and probably the most important component to creating your own style, is clip on phone lenses. They used to be gimmicks, but now companies like Samsung are jumping into the mobile lens arena because consumers are buying in droves. I like the MPOW 3-in-1 Lens Kit because it comes with a wide angle, macro, and fisheye lens as well as a microfiber cloth and two clips.

Now that you have spectacular video, you need great audio to match. Without purchasing a boom mic, XLR cables, and a recorder, great audio in the field is hard to come by. However, if you are vlogging or interviewing, a good lapel mic connected to the right android app can get the job done. I went with the Royal Voice Lapel Mic connected to the WavePad android app. Bring a friend, borrow their phone, connect the mic and throw it in your pocket. If you adjust the level inside the app your audio should come through crystal clear.

Now that you have the gear, it’s time to practice. With a great idea and the right lighting, you should become a YouTube sensation in no time. And while you are lounging in your golden vlogging throne, don’t forget F24 helped you get there!

TL;DR

For optimal mobile video, consider a $60 investment in:

1. This 60” Tripod
2. Tripod Phone Adapter
3. MPOW 3-in-1 Lens Kit
4. Royal Voice Lapel Mic and WavePad android app

The post Great Video for Under $60 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The Ring Video Doorbell partners with your existing iOS or Android devices.  As long as the device is connected to the internet, you can monitor the Ring.  The product designers planned for most install scenarios.  The packages includes the hardware needed for a new install or an upgrade.  This well thought-out assortment even includes a micro-level.  The level is attached to the mounting plate and makes an aesthetically pleasing install simple.  I was activating my installed Ring only 22 minutes after I removed the old doorbell button.

My first test subject arrived a few hours after the install.  The notification popped up and I accepted the ‘call’.  I spoke into my phone and greeted him with, “How can I help you today?”.  A slightly spooked dealer of wares turned his head to my Ring and said, “This is interesting.”.  The conversation did not go much further.  I politely assured him that I was not interested in Arizona beach front property and pressed the end button.

What if your visitor decides to knock instead of using the doorbell?  Motion sensors are included for this very purpose.  The app allows complete customization of the motion sensor range.  Adjusting the zones and range to match your front stoop will make sure that all visitors are announced.  This feature alone sets Ring apart from competitors.

This addition to your home will provide the luxury of a high-rise intercom system without the price tag.  Eliminate lengthy conversations with unwanted visitors, document exact times of package deliveries, or you know, tell the food delivery person that you need a few minutes to put your pants on…

The post Ring: Your Front Door Watchman appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Daughter as Daft Punk
A guaranteed way to have a successful cover is to slow it down and make it more depressing. Daughter does this beautifully with their cover of Daft Punk’s ubiquitous and completely overdone “Get Lucky”. Here, the song is given new life as less of a party anthem, and more of a unanswered prayer for a good evening.

Bon Iver as Bonnie Raite

This cover of “Can’t Make You Love Me” is on such heavy repeat here that I’m sure we are on several government watch lists. Bon Iver takes Bonnie Raitt’s already depressing ode to unrequited love, and transforms it through his haunting voice. At the hands of Bon, it feels less like love lost than a hopelessly unrequited love.

School of Seven Bells as Joey Ramone

If you’re going to cover Joey Ramone, you damn well better do it with style. His is not the kind of material to be taken lightly – lest his ghost rise up just to kick your ass. School of Seven Bells decided to exorcise that particular phantom by turning “I Got Knocked Down” into a dancy end-of-night anthem for all the tweaking boys and girls of the club scene. Joey is pleased.

Joe Cocker as The Beatles

A total classic. If you grew up during a certain time, this song is enough to improve your whole day. As the lead-in song for The Wonder Years, Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends” defines the word nostalgia. Sit back, crank it up, and delve into your childhood…

Chet Faker as Blackstreet

Time to get funky with the classic “No Diggity” reimagined by the hipster beard of Chet Faker. Suddenly, you can imagine this playing in an office or grocery store, totally innocent and mom-friendly. That doesn’t make it weak though. Far from it. Chet brings the white boy soul to this track, helped by a generous serving of base guitar.

Mumford and Sons as The National

Take an song about England written by an American band, and have an English band cover it. Result? A fantastically patriotic tune. When Mumford sing’s “England”, it is with not better or worse gusto than The National, but certainly a different flavor of gusto. The spicy version maybe.

The post Now Hear This (Covers Edition) appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

https://youtu.be/aSkRGC1lZYI

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https://youtu.be/k3TCQFOzxWs

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Sounding like the love child between Stevie Wonder and Elton John, All This Wandering Around by Ivan & Alyosha is the kind of happy tune to get you out of bed in the morning and forget all about your crippling debt and deadbeat family. So in a way, this song is a hero…

There is more than a bit of controversy about this next song, but that shouldn’t detract for its overall sonic goodness. This video of Young and Unafraid by The Moth & the Flame was “stolen” from the band and posted by a magazine and subsequently racked up millions of hits. The argument boils down to whether this theft is actually a PR stunt or genuine. The master detectives/dicks at reddit have weighed in and roundly pronounced them guilty, but we’ll let you decide for yourself whether the song redeems any possible marketing stunts.

Let’s pick it up a bit with the new Penguin Prison.  Show Me the Way is now your go-to tune when you pile all your friends into your rusted Honda and hit the road to the beach or mountains. You’re welcome. This kind of pop always has a half-life akin to child stars, so enjoy it while you can.

Kickin’ it old school is pretty much a way of life here at FactoryTwoFour. We like our vintage cars, classic fashions, and 70’s soul music. We’re not sorry. And you can keep your Curtis Mayfield’s and Isaac Hayes, because we’ve got William De Vaughn. This slow jam will bring you home every time and let those on the curb know you dig the scene with the gangsta lean.

Every once in a while, you need to just chill the hell out and let your mind wander. Few musical acts are as good at facilitating the zen state of mind as Zero 7. For their latest drop Last Light, they’ve teamed up with one of our favorites Jose Gonzalez. This song is a slow build but it pays off those who stick with it.

The post Now Hear This appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

You need more Texas blues in your life. That’s just a fact. Lightnin’ Hopkins was the undisputed master of this very unique sound, and his utterly smooth guitar picking coupled with his gravel-road delivery created “The Texas Sound” that so profoundly grabs your soul. His catelogue is deep and steller, but to pick just one song leads to the inexorable Jailhouse Blues.

Keeping it old school, the Beta Band cranked out some vicously good tunes, but also a lot of total weirdness. For that reason, it’s not fair to say they are “underrated” or “overlooked”. No, they made some great music and a lot of not-so-great music. But if you are willing to take the time to sort through the not-extensive catalogue to find those gems, it is very worth the journey. Or you can just wait for someone like to us to tell you which tracks to grab.

Stepping out of the Way-Back machine and back into the present, we have this delightful little spring roadtrip song from Alvvays. Filled with sunshine and soaring melodies, “Archie Marry Me” is your prescription for window’s down motoring this warming season. It’s lightweight, non-filling, and slightly frivolous – like a perfect fling. You’ll forget this song in 2 weeks, but for now it just hits the spot.

The Helio Sequence’s new “Stoic Resemblance” is what would happen in Beck ever had a good day. Not that he would. This droning and methodic pop tune harkens back to 50’s surf tunes of old without becoming overtaken with nostalgia. Instead, they layer their wandering guitars underneath abrasive cymbals and a steady beat to make one hell of a song.

Finally ending back on a classic note, I positively DARE you to put this New Order song on and not feel like the king of the world when the lead guitar comes in over the drums during this stellar intro. Go ahead, try. You just failed. Because its a great song that gets you ready to go kick ass and chew bubblegum. You’re welcome.

The post Now Hear This appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Sounding like a breakfast tea-party between the Black Keys and the Shins, Bahamas is the perfect zone out tune smith to let you forget your worries and stresses. All the Time is their latest single, and it is getting heavy rotation on indie stations around the country:

Next up we have The Rosebuds, stepping it up a notch over their previous albums. With the help of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame, The Rosebuds are bringing the noise that drives and pulses. This album is already 8 months old but is just now getting picked up and shared around. And deservedly so.

If Elliott Smith had received 4 and half more hugs during his formative years, you’d likely be left with something sounding similar to Any Shauf. His harmonic melodies and skeletal arrangements bring an intimacy to his music and keep you glued to your headphones. Sing on you sad bastard.

For the southern rockers out there, this one is for you. Alabama Shakes are back with a little dirt under their fingernails and it is better than ever. They must have spent their time between albums doing nothing but listening to James Brown and eating okra. This is the realness.

I’ll just let this YouTube comment sum up our last entry in today’s list – “Good n heavy. You can stay in this piece of shit prison planet, being lied to by a bunch of sissies, but as for me, im following Jesus. Its personal. And it sounds like youre just another slave to the dragon. Good luck with that. C-ya on the flip side sillies”

The post 5 Songs to Listen To Right Now appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=l9GiY_lumM0

Partnering with Beer Snobs United, FactoryTwoFour will be bringing you weekly beer review videos for you to enjoy.  Subscribe to Beer Snobs United’s YouTube for more great reviews and to stay updated.

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Now, there are some amazing films out there, including the all time  favorite BMW films.  But those felt more cinema-focused and not relatable, with footage so unreal but awesome that they would draw you in.  No, instead, Format67 is telling a human story, one that not just car fanatics will love.  The use of music, the spoken word, and the engine noises take the whole experience to the next level.  You can close your eyes and still imagine the feel the experience unfold in front of you.  And that changed everything for me.  No longer did I care of the compilations, the videos of parties and a lifestyle that I could not relate to.  Now, I wanted to be told the full story in those few short minutes, with the car being a supporting actor and not the main attraction.  I was looking for the enhanced experience, which is still hard to come by.  But when done right, you feel it a sense of drive or passion, and even the smallest of car fans will be impressed.

So what does this mean for the average video producer; can they do it right? Well, yes, and right is not how I define it but how their viewers enjoy watching, and they, of course, enjoy making the video. But there seems to be the need for the automotive films to grow up, to be more than just a highlight of a car, but to tell a story. The car, while the star, should be the exclamation point at the end of the experience.

When done right, you get something that could be considered the best automotive short-film produced to date.

HONDA NSX (EXTENDED VERSION) BY FORMAT67.NET from FORMAT67.NET on Vimeo.

The post The Art of Automotive Films appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

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Glass Backwards (glassbackwards.net) might seem like a contradictory idea at first. Film a drink being made, edit it so it views like a countdown clock back to the start and throw some music to it. But it’s much more than that. It’s a furnished story about the make up of a libation made by skilled craftsmen who don’t care about how fast you can funnel a beer (though they had to get their start somewhere, right?). It’s a cocktail of typefaces, hand-picked music and alcohol. We spoke with creator Jude Goergen about the inspiration, the process, curating the right music, and how shot-gunning beers got the creative juices flowing.

Jasmine Milk Punch from Jugoe / GlassBackwards on Vimeo.

How did Glass Backwards start?

It was a combination of a few things, but one 4th of July I was at party with some college friends of mine and they are notorious for shot-gunning beers and I happened to film it. I slowed it down a lot and played it back in reverse. It was pretty interesting.

Interesting transition from college partying to underground speakeasies.

I talked to a friend of mine who owns a bar here in Chicago and I was explaining to him this video and I was like this might be cool for a cocktail video. I borrowed one of his bartenders and when we started sharing it with other people in the industry, I could tell that it was something that can be a little bit more than just a singular video, but perhaps be an actual series.

So you’re not only showing people elegantly shot videos, but also educating them on how a cocktail is made?

I think more and more people are getting the gist of it but a year or two ago, and still now, people would get really angry because of how long it would take for them to get a cocktail. You don’t really realize how much effort is going into this process.  It’s not like they’re just popping off beer caps. Sure visually it’s a fun thing to watch, but you learn how to make a drink and it promotes the bartender.

These must take awhile to film and edit, where do you find the time?

I started out of boredom because I hated my current job. I was just looking for a more creative outlet and something fun to do. Since, it’s snowballed and I have gotten some other work out of it. And I actually went to school for audio production, so this is all self-taught but it allows me a lot of freedom of expression.

How do you curate the music associated with the videos?

I feel the music is one of the most important parts of these videos. I actually ask all the bartenders to provide me with what they consider would be a good pairing musically. I obviously have veto power so if something works then awesome, if it doesn’t then I’ll go and find something. And to be quite honest, that’s probably the most time consuming part of the whole process.

Is their music pairing as good as their drinks?

There is a little bit of give and take there, a little bit of compromise but at the same time some of their suggestions are 100-percent awesome and perfect. I really enjoy that process. Then again, some are way off.

You’re like a drink DJ.

You factor in not only the type of cocktail but the name of the cocktail and the venue. So trying to encompass all of these things and represent that with music is really fun and challenging but it’s really fun when it works out.

So you probably wouldn’t order a Long Island Ice Tea at TGI Fridays?

That I would do. I would order a Long Island Iced Tea at TGI Fridays. I haven’t one of those in probably 15-20 years and it’s probably been almost as long since I’ve been in a TGI Fridays. I figure I might as well marry the two together. Nothing says long island like TGI Fridays.

Do you see Glass Backwards expanding?

I like the direction that it’s going in right now. The fact that I was able to shoot a couple places in New York in a very organic way and see the results shared on Twitter is cool. I’m not getting paid for any of these videos; legally I can’t specifically because of the music. It’s just a very natural, organic concept, which is fun.

Check out more at glassbackwards.net and congrats to Jude on receiving a second place in the ‘Best Use of Video’ category from Saveur Magazine’s awards!

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