Las Vegas: Edits (2008)

Las Vegas was made to be experienced. After my first time being there in 2005, this return trip in November 2008 was all about taking things to the next level. Upgraded room, Cirque show, trip to the Hoover Dam, and a ride on the Big Shot on top of the Stratosphere tower were just a few of the highlights. With so much to see and do I decided to be a lot more selective about what I shot.

The first time around I decided to make a full blown travelog, and have since cut down the footage into select edits which can be seen here. For this 2008 trip I decided that a few quick cuts and montages were sufficient for creating memorable mini home videos. I treated the shooting far more casually this time (largely because I already captured most of the city on the last visit). It's always a lot of fun catching things in the moment.

These few energetic edits are meant to reflect a glimpse, not document the trip verbatim. The Bellagio Fountain remix I cut was an experiment altogether. With scenery and popular attractions that are familiar to a lot of people, I really just wanted to play with this footage to highlight what makes Vegas so exciting in both my own experience and in a stereotypical sense (the bright lights, etc.).

Take a look at these short edits and let me know what you think. They're fun slice of life/slice of vacation compilations. You can bet there will be a lot more of these types of edits to come.

Las Vegas 2008 - Edit 1


Las Vegas 2008 - Edit 2


Las Vegas 2008 - Bellagio Fountain Remix

Monarch Theatre Project - Medicine Hat

This is a great time to be a Hatter with the return of the Monarch Theatre.

Growing up in a small city like Medicine Hat, Alberta there's a certain sense of pride you feel when your community takes a step in a direction that you feel is long overdue. When I was a kid, and even as recent as my first few years of university (coming home in the summer), I remember going to the Monarch theatre downtown.

It was always the 'old' theatre to anyone my age, with a single screen and those seats that reclined on a spring. The entire theatre sloped on a smooth curve to the front so you'd occasionally hear change or candy make it's way all the way down from the back row. The theatre was opened in 1911 and was renovated in the Art Deco style in the 1930s. In some ways, going to the Monarch movie theatre was an experience in itself.

When the Cineplex opened up at the mall it was really only a matter of time before we lost both old theatres downtown. There's an element of romance when thinking about both the Monarch and Towne theatres because of the memories so many had there, although the reality is that they were both past their prime. Their age was showing and although our Cineplex wasn't really that much to brag about, by comparison it was a significant upgrade. Both downtown movie theatres closed several years later.

The surprising part of this story is that the Monarch theatre was purchased by the city last year and has since undergone renovation to reopen in just a matter of days. This isn't just going to be another movie theatre though. As host to local events like the Medicine Hat Film Festival, the theatre will also be running on a regular basis to play classic, art, and independent films on the big screen. 

The grand (re)opening is taking place on October 24, with a feature screening of Casablanca. Other upcoming films include Vertigo and the Rocky Horror Picture Show just in time for Halloween. I've always felt that there should be more theatres like this that give people a chance to see classic movies as they were meant to be seen. I've got my fingers crossed for movies like E.T. and Indiana Jones.

For a small city like Medicine Hat, the Monarch theatre is made even more special because of its cultural relevance and focus. For those locals who are likely to come across this post, I encourage you to take full advantage of this great addition to our city. It's great to see the Monarch come back stronger than ever and provide a forum for classic and independent cinema. I can't wait to see the results of all the hard work for myself.

Visit the official site for the Monarch Theatre here.

Writer Wanted

As of late I've been looking for ways to expand the scope of my blog by trying to find more creative ways to include other artists. This isn't simply a matter of adding names for name sake, but instead is really just a proactive way of creating a more engaged and discerning group of readers and viewers. Editing Luke will always maintain my personal focus and story as the fundamental motivation behind it, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of other great stories that would compliment my own.

I'm looking for a writer. Someone who's interested in movies, cinema, pop culture, etc. With the popularity of my blog growing each month, with thousands of viewers/readers stopping by, I thought it would be fun to offer a reoccurring movie column to anyone who was interested in writing/creating it. That writer would have creative control over their submission, I would just feature it. I was thinking of a once a month post focused on some aspect of movies - with some consistency in the topic(s) for continued readership. Really I'm open to almost any idea, I'm just interested in providing the forum to for a talented writer who wants an audience.

There are likely to be numerous revisions taking place on this blog to enhance it further before the year is out. Featured writers are just one part of this. Series of posts like Cinematic Acrobatic Presents are further examples of the changes taking place. Anyone who writes for Editing Luke will still get full credit and a featured link to their own blog, email, contact info, or whatever works best for the individual. Your input will be part of creating a more dynamic forum for those interested in independent filmmaking, and you'll also be creating another credit for yourself.

If you're interested or have an idea for a column, contact me by sending me an email (address in the sidebar) or leave a comment. I'll entertain any idea, and whether you have a single post or an idea for a series - the canvas is blank and you can color it however you want.

Do you have an idea for a column?