Hello and happy winter solstice from the rainiest afternoon I've seen in a while. The days only get longer and lighter from here. Thank goodness.
I have one more recipe for you before the year is out, but I have a feeling that the last thing you need this week is another something to do in the kitchen. Because of that, and also because it's long overdue, I thought I would tell you some more about Eli's company, Directr. When I announced the project back in July, I had to keep the details under wraps. It was fun sharing some of the big ideas behind it, but nowhere near as fun as telling you exactly how it works, which is what I finally get to do today.
Directr is an app, a free app, I should say, that helps you make beautiful short films with your phone. It takes just a few minutes, and there's no editing required. You choose a storyboard from the Directr library, shoot the frames however you'd like, add in your own titles, and hit print. The app stitches your shots into a clean film - backs it with music, too - and you're done. That's it! If you're looking for inspiration, there are suggestions and camera angle ideas included on each frame. Or you can go ahead and shoot what you please. There are holiday-specific storyboards (UPDATE: holiday cards!), storyboards for your walk to work, for your awesome baby, your awesome dog, your awesome morning coffee, and a few blank slates, too. And of course, there's plenty of food. The Directr team is hard at work creating hundreds of storyboards; a new one pops up on the site (and in the app) every day. You can see them all here.
Directr launched softly, quietly, as if on tiptoe, really, a couple of months ago. Now, after much ramping up and steadying of the ship, they're ready for all of us. I've said before that Directr reminds me a lot of what we do here in blogland, making something out of the stuff that surrounds us all the time, looking for the stories in our everyday, and doing our best to get them down somehow. It has been such a thrill to watch as people start doing just that with this thing that Eli and his team are building. Here's a film called Grateful: Finger Dancing that a user named He Ren made earlier this week.
I don't know who you are, He Ren, but I like your style.
And here are some of the other storyboards that I find especially lovely, stirring, and fun:
:: This is me.
:: A snowstorm.
:: Autumn.
:: Baby bathtime and baby eating. (Starring Mia, when she was just a pup!)
:: And finally, dessert. (with a side of my friend Jonah, who loves to dance.)
Eli and I would be honored - and that really is the word - if you'd try out the app and make some films. We've heard from some of you who already have, and it means the world to us.
And hey, if you do make a film, would you share it here in the comments? Pretty please? Or shoot me an e-mail with the link? I do most of the sharing and the showing around here, but I treasure the conversations we've had in this space over the years. It would be such a treat to see a few corners of your world, and of you. Oh, and please don't be shy about speaking up if you run into any glitches or bugs, or if there's something you'd like to see. The Directr team is just getting started, working on new builds all the time, and would be grateful for your feedback.
Thank you, friends, for being here. Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating, and glad tidings to all.