Punditry.ca presents the 2010 ECVAs
It’s time again for me to arbitrarily distribute “awards” to candidates based on the content of their candidate videos in a little piece I call the 2010 Election Candidate Video Awards (ECVAs).
In past years, the Elections Committee recorded a video under the direction of each candidate. This year, the committee left candidates to their own devices, and those without the necessary devices or know-how will apparently have to go without. (So much for a level playing field, eh, EC?) So, the videos have been trickling in over the past couple of days, and I’m tired of waiting for new ones, so without further adieu, the ECVAs go to…
Best Use of an ABBA Song Title: Gregory Debogorski for “Take A Chance On Me”
After three campaigns, if we change our minds, he’s the first in line.
Most Testosterone in an Ensemble Cast: Neil Bailey
With his four-member cast (and by that I mean both that there are four people in the video and it’s a sausage fest), Bailey does a good job perpetuating the stereotype that not a single female can be found on Sexton. This one would have gone to Whitfield if not for the girl walking in front of the SUB and the two girls in the Quad, who I suspect had no idea what was being filmed.
Best Music: Rob LeForte
Seriously, who doesn’t get little pangs of nostalgia when they hear “Bittersweet Symphony”. This award, too, could have gone to Whitfield for using a Spoon track, but I couldn’t really hear it or what he was saying.
Best Homage to School Picture Day: Evan Price for that shot with the bookshelves behind him, especially when combined with the necktie.
Best Concrete Idea: Glenn Blake for “Give the Diversity Committee a budget”. As former chair of said committee, I can confirm that this would be much appreciated. Glenn also wins the award for “Most Improved Location Scout” following last year’s recording in a bathroom stall.
Best Backward Walking: Ben Wedge
Be careful, Ben. I recently received an e-mail from Occupational Health and Safety highlighting the workplace hazard that is walking backwards. I know that seems like a joke, but I actually did receive such an e-mail.
Most Colloquial: Carley Nicholson for her list of “things” relating to “stuff”.
Most Annoying Cameo and Worst Sound: The wind in the Studley Quad
You would think that in the age of YouTube, people would realize that those on-camera mics are no good if you are in the wind or more than three feet from the camera. Nicholson, by some miracle, managed to find a relatively calm day for her shoot in the Quad, but those days are few and far between.
PROTIP: I know what the Quad looks like, and I know what the wind sounds like. I want to hear your ideas. If that means sitting quietly indoors, so be it. Some great videos have been shot at indoor locations (see last year’s ECVA-recipient, Shane Simms – I’d post a link, but I can’t seem to find last year’s videos). Ideal locations include, but are not limited to: the library, or one of the multitudinous empty classrooms on campus.
As always, I welcome further ECVA submissions in the comments.
I would like to offer $20.00 to the Presidential candidate willing to sing “The Winner Takes It All” to Gregory Debogorski when he wins this bad boy. I LOVE ABBA. Seriously. I mean, I would vote for him if I could anyway, but anyone with the ability to basically have their platform, etc. set (well) to the Mamma Mia! soundtrack deserves the win.
Also, side note for Gregory: I was driving home from work here in Edmonton and noticed The Lizard Lounge on the corner of 118th Avenue and St. Albert Trail (at the rotary). I know you are from Edmonton and I know you are a champion of Lounge Lizards everywhere so I wanted you to know I would be having a beer there in your honor on election results night. Damn the Man, Save the Empire!
I assume a place called “Lizard Lounge”, in Edmonton, will almost certainly have strippers, hookers, dealers, and mafia ties.
A quick Google shows the summary of their establishment starts by saying “A good stress release for the working class.”
So, uh, yup. Called it.
You say all those words like they are bad or something.
I am a member of the working class, Mr. Intellectual Snob, and people like Gregory Debogorski and The Lizard Lounge owners obviously understand and cater to our (my) unique needs. I didn’t say you had to come have a beer with me, I know how uncomfortable you are outside of your university-maintained ivory tower.
Also I doubt they have wifi and I know you wouldn’t want to be too far from your laptop on election night.
Anyway, I need Rush Limbaugh and possibly Glenn Beck here to properly explain why your way of life is destroying everything and how I am basically Joe Six-pack. I’m not sure I understand it myself, but it is what it is.
Yeah enough of your ivory tower elitism Mike. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
You’ll both be among the first against the wall when the revolution fails.
That’s so adorable that you think that… as if the people’s revolution would allow elitist pigs like you to survive beyond the initial coup. I feel pretty safe right now, but if I were you I would sleep with one eye open tonight Mr. Smit.
Also, I like that the comments of this post have devolved so quickly to Mike and I saying things to each other on punditry.ca that we could just look over and say aloud to one another as we occupy the same couch. I’m sorry readers, we’re still working on our communication skills.
Great post Lisa!
Is it bad that this pretty much conforms to my idea of a normal relationship?
@John Doucette
Unequivocally yes.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but there was a one minute limit for videos, right?
As someone who recently went through the maddening process of cutting a short doritos commercial down to exactly 60 seconds for a contest, I’m a little perplexed as to why the Elections Committee allowed some candidates to go over the limit. I know it is frustrating trimming a video down to one minute when it is only a few seconds over and you can’t decide what could possibly come out, but that’s what reshooting (most of the people who ended up with 55 second videos) or creative cutting (Maggie and Greg, who squeaked in at 0:59 and 1:00 respectively) are for. An extra second or two might be excusable (Youtube sometimes adds small bits of dead space onto the ends), but some of these videos are five or more seconds over the limit. It might not seem like a lot, but the ten extra seconds Rob had (not to pick on him, but his was the longest) for his video can have a huge impact on the overall presentation. If some candidates put in the effort to abide by the rules, I think they probably ought to apply to everyone.
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, brilliant post Lisa.
uh… sorry he-he… *tugs collar*
If its a consolation at all, mine went up this afternoon, and has proceeded to not work ever since. Karma is a cruel mistress.
@John Doucette
There is nothing sad about that at all… Wait until you hear our wedding vows. (Jen Bond intends to live blog the event it turns out, so you can even have colour commentary!)
your video should be working now rob.
@Rob LeForte
Haha, yes, well, about four of those extra seconds are wasted on a snazzy little music fade-out on a black screen that you could probably cut without crippling your message.
@Ann Beringer
It isn’t so much damn the man, as it is create student value within their union.
Honestly, I would be weary of any bar near 118th- even that far west.
Lisa: great commentary. Funny!
Wow, the Diversity Committee has come a long way. I remember a time when it was fairly close to the chop block; and I believe Lisa saved it by speaking up for it during Council. After all, which Executive would want to be the one to kill the Diversity Committee; even if the mandate is broad and everyone is confused every year of what to do with it.
Oh my god! Karen Kwan, ladies and gentlemen. I love punditry. It brings so many people together.