272 replies to this topic

[JMorgan]

I agree with Bates. It does kinda look like it's about achieving long life through yoga or meditation.

With that said, I like both pictures.

[Matt]

It looks like Freedom, vitality, calmness, bright and happiness...

I think its great!

[Mind]

I like the new cover picture with the lady. It might look like something spiritual to some people, or maybe like a workout video (as was mentioned earlier), but it is brighter and more positive, and that is what I like about it.

[lightowl]

I too like the desert image better than the black profile face. Partly because of the brighter colors and partly because it has nature, movement and horizon. Especially the horizon with the path is a great symbol. I agree that it could interpreted it as a workout video, but it could also be seen as a travelers guide or a spiritual video. The fact that it says "SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY" ( with an awesome font I must say ) gives the complete picture. I am missing an ImmInst logo somewhere but otherwise I like it very much.

[kraemahz]

Neither images really do anything for me, so I was looking through the royalty-free section of geddyimages.com for certain concepts that might better fit the cover and came across a few images I thought worked well conceptually (you'll have to search the specific number since I can't link to them directly)

-budding life (symbolizes a new beginning)
UA01931
-hourglass/sand (symbolizes life span, the shortness of time)
comks13070
dv371042 (I like this, but people who complained about the last one being too dark probably won't)
comks13113
-young/old (young and old holding hands)
thic0019164
200151894-001

Other pictures from picturequest:
http://www.picturequ...itemID=22649156
http://www.picturequ...itemID=22254472 (interesting picture, there's a lot going on here)
http://www.picturequ...itemID=22254466 (similar to the last one)

Like any of these better?

[Bruce Klein]

Thanks guys.. really appreciated the instant feedback.

kraemahz, thanks for the great legwork!

Of the mix, this one seems most potential (crisp, intuitive)

He seems a bit depressed though.. will sleep in it.



Forever!

[Trias]

Guys, focus for a second.
Are we doing this film for us, or for the common, average man?

Here we need to play their game, in order to succeed - if people like this Yoga/spirituality shit, and are getting drawn to it, so be it - - let us keep the design with the lady, so what if it arouses spiritual associations? - What's important is that WE'VE GOT THEIR ATTENTION, nothing more. We're not doing the film for immortalists, period - we're doing it for the common deathists.

The right thing to do is following the demand curve - if people like colorful, fantastic, good-looking-girl included covers - - we'll give them that, just to get their attention, after this - they have already begun watching the movie, the incentive is meaningless...
[sfty]

Think about it.


"Ameliorate, forever!"
-Daniel S.

[alex83]

The cover of the movie should imply on the contents, I don't see the connection between the lady and a 'documentary about life extension'.

The picture with the sand clock is more suitable (The man does seem a bit depressed though).

Nevertheless, If I had to choose between the lady and the original picture, I would go for the lady.

Edited by alex83, 16 March 2005 - 02:39 PM.

[alex83]

http://mailweb.udlap..._clock_azul.JPG



http://www.beautiful...s/art/art17.jpg

[Infernity]

Nice pictures Alex, but now when I think of it, smart idea Daniel, here is immortalists already have that notion- will see it to have more fellows to receive the main goal, by the text on the cover.
Spiritualists- might fall for that... [sfty]

Yours truthfully
~Infernity

[LifeMirage]

I would recommend a energy being in the form of a man in space stopping a sand hourglass from falling towards a black hole.

[Infernity]

Heh cosmos, I'd say you should have go through it...
Take a look few posts above- inarchunite:

http://www.imminst.o...586

The idea is to make people change their minds to become immortalists, not let people who already are immortalists see it and that's it. Make people realize truth...
If that's what will attract them to take a look and might change view- let them fall for that!

Yours truthfully
~Infernity

[armrha]

Guys, focus for a second.
Here we need to play their game, in order to succeed - if people like this Yoga/spirituality shit, and are getting drawn to it, so be it - - let us keep the design with the lady, so what if it arouses spiritual associations? - What's important is that WE'VE GOT THEIR ATTENTION, nothing more. We're not doing the film for immortalists, period - we're doing it for the common deathists.

This is true, but trust me, the second we mention spirituality and 'Immortality Institute', the first thing people think is 'cult'. I know from experience.

[justinb]

This is true, but trust me, the second we mention spirituality and 'Immortality Institute', the first thing people think is 'cult'. I know from experience.

I completely agree. The sand dunes in that picture are absolutely stunning.

[Infernity]

Armrha and Justin,
That's the point! So spiritual people would like to watch it. Then they maybe will realize something...

Yours
~Infernity

Edited by infernity, 22 April 2005 - 07:59 AM.

[justinb]

You guys might want to put it in front of a focus group, unbiased of course. These forums are biased as they come!

[jans]

I want to be there, wake up at the open desert, have no limits to what I can acheave, or how far I can go. She seems to be concentrating to get going somewhere, maybe just starting another day of eternity...

[Infernity]

Hmm, interesting jans, really made me think...

~Infernity

[bacopa]

I like the yoga/spirituality pose of the woman. I'd prefer it to reference imminst goals better, like an hourglass motif.

[123456]

Our leader is going to start filming again; Wish him a safe journey and back. [sfty]

[Infernity]

I like the yoga/spirituality pose of the woman. I'd prefer it to reference imminst goals better, like an hourglass motif.

Yeah, good way of thinking...

Our leader is going to start filming again; Wish him a safe journey and back.  [sfty]

Always do, fella, always do...

Yours truthfully
~Infernity

[JMorgan]

If Bruce doesn't stop, he'll have interviewed half the country...

But anyway, my offer still stands, Bruce. If you're in the NY area, let me know. I will do anything I can to help you out.

[Bruce Klein]

Thanks, malchiah.

(From a Motel 8 in Phoenix, AZ)

For this first film, I anticipate this to be the final trip, after which, we'll have captured more than 100 hrs / 80 interviews. A good collection from which to create "Exploring Life Extension" and potentially more films of derivative nature going forward. Perhaps, the next film may focus more on posthuman topics.

[Bruce Klein]

For members who wish to view a special 20 minute preview of the film, send me your current mailing address to bjk@imminst.org

[Matt]

Bruce, Wouldnt it be easier to distribute that 20 minute preview of the film out to members using a Private FTP server?

[Bruce Klein]

Yes, Matt... when I'm back in Alabama, I'll upload the preview to ImmInst's separate FTP server(donated by Canaca.com), to which we can make public. One advantage of mailing out DVD's is that they can be watched on regular TV and then shared with friends, etc. For the film project, I've acquired a 9 disk burner, such that creating DVD's in mass is possible.

[Mind]

I suggest making any previews available only to imminst members, so it can be critiqued and improved before its final release. I feel like if we make too much of it publicly available it will ruin any hype we can build for its release. There should be an element of surprise. The preview should only wet people's appetite.

Anyway, I watched the preview. Looks good so far Bruce. A couple comments. In one, and maybe a couple of the interviews, the audio was not synched with the video. Also, the intro segment with Ben Franklin and some of the imagery seemed a little too slow-paced. Maybe it could be picked up a little. Also, the imagery with the city did not resonate with me. Was it supposed to be a video representation of how many people die each day? Or something else?

Overall, the quality of the interviews is great and the theme in the preview was coherent. Still, I am wondering what type of theme will carry through to the end. Even in a documentary, an element of drama or tension (or mystery) is needed to keep viewers involved. I know you don't have much to work with besides sit-down interviews, but maybe we can think of something if we put our heads together.

[Bruce Klein]

Thanks, Mind.

The city scene was New York's Twin Tower (9/11) theme in contract 30 x more die each day from aging. Sound/voice will be corrected in final version... and I'll keep in mind the other valued suggestions.

[John Doe]

Bruce asked me to post my comments on the initial footage to this thread:

OK I just watched it.

Here are my thoughts (all criticism is intended to be constructive):

1. Could use a less-New-Agey feel (for example: the woman doing yoga in the desert, some of the music). We would like to avoid looking like the fringe as much as possible.
2. Absolutely defying my expectations, the segments with your wife were among the best and most compelling. My initial reaction was "he shouldn't include a non-expert just because she his wife." But after seeing the clip, she came off as infinitely charming and infinitely reasonable. She's an excellent spokesperson for the cause.
3. Perhaps this is just a problem with the preview clip you sent me, and not the film in general, but: the filming quality doesn't need any more work. The script/organization is the only thing that needs work. The special effects, lighting, and such are all sufficient, I think, to get your point across and make an excellent documentary. What needs helps perhaps is the organization and clarity of thought. The documentary seems to meander or wander around a little... from is immortality possible to does God exist to cryonics, and so on. My humble suggestion would be to organize all of these materials in a big outline, with sections and subsections. So perhaps the film could be divided into these three sections: is life extension desirable, is life extension possible, and do religions offer anything better? Also, when planning the outline, you could pick up on pieces of irony, such as Bush's treatment of the Schiavo case (erring on the side of life) versus his Bioethics Council (erring on the side of death).
3. I'm not sure we need the footage of you or Max More's wife (which cut abruptly), esp if you have lots of footage, which you seem to. What might work well instead of that footage of you (with the little argument about immortality being rational) is footage, or voice-overs of you, explaining how you came to be interested in life extension, and how you went on this road-trip to make this documentary. I'm think of Michael Moore's films: you could set up each scene like "because I'm interested in life extension, I drove to So-and-So and asked So-and-So..." and then the interview starts...
4. I loved the Franklin quote, that's a good way to open up.
5. I liked the footage of scenery and cityscapes (reminds me of my favorite movie Koyanisqaatsi), but there was a little too much. Show the good juicy interview stuff, I know you've got plenty.
6. I am very impressed. I think the organization could use a lot of help (as I mentioned earlier) but the audacity, honesty, and urgency of the subject matter made me captivated anyway. That is where I sympathize with ImmInst and you Bruce, the most: complete honesty and audicity in willingness to confront religious bullshit. To show footage of graveyards. To ask people "does God exist" or "what happens when you die?" Because these are very unseemly and disturbing questions--but they need to be asked! Don't ever lose that daring, be willing to make your audience squirm.