A very nice tiny bit of filmmaking

[brooksmoses]

I recently discovered Tom Scott's Youtube channel -- he travels all over many places, making videos about interesting things, often geographical but not always. This video, about possibly the world's shortest river, is a particularly nice example of his craft.

Partly, it's just a nice simple video about a single concept without excess complication, less than four minutes long, with good filmed-on-site illustrations of that concept. But, also, parts of it were clearly filmed at very different points in time -- and parts of it were clearly written after the other parts had been filmed, even -- and yet it flows like a single train of thought. I don't think he actually did the relevant cuts in the middle of sentences, but it feels that way in memory; certainly it was in the middle of paragraphs.

The skill in planning that, and in writing the first part so that the unknown second part could fit into it that cleanly, astounds me.

Comments

[kiya]

Ah. The Sandwich Problem, only rivers.

[brooksmoses]

Quite!

[ckd]

I'm a big fan of his videos, both on his own channel and elsewhere (Computerphile). He pretty clearly does a lot of work to make them look effortless....

[brooksmoses]

Oh, I didn't know he also had videos on Computerphile -- I'll have to look that up. Thanks!

[guppiecat]

I was recently impressed by the skill shown in the Science of Discworld books. To have the story and science wander seemingly randomly but still blend together so well and fit a coherent narrative for each book was impressive as hell.

I read a lot of science fiction and a lot of science fact, but I have never seen the two work together that well.

[hitchhiker]

same! i also love how the first book is really a history of the scientific method.

[brooksmoses]

Oh, nifty -- I actually have not read those; sounds like I definitely should.