Summer of 2007, Alex and I went to on Birthright to discover our Jewish roots in the holiest of all lands. This awkward video was taken during lunch with Marla and Ben, one of our Israeli soldiers.
I especially appreciate Alex's frustration once the awkward video bandit is revealed.
I hate drinking orange juice after brushing my teeth...it's worse than when you eat a banana and your teeth get grainy (???!!)
People do strange things in inappropriate places all the time. The beauty of traveling is that you always have your camera on you. Like in this instance in Istanbul at a museum...
TIP: pretend to take a photo of someone while you secretly video the awkward.
THE SET UP: Paul Schindler's 60th birthday party...a massive event with hundreds of people dressed in formal attire. In the corner we spot a beautifully decorated birthday cake...
It wasn't until I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain that I discovered a shot of alcohol can make one awkward....Well it always did, but not like this.
Cut to two weeks earlier than this video...my friend Ian and I went to this bar that has a list of 100 "Chupitos" for 1.50 Euro. This was quite the bargain. With over 100 combinations of alcohol, we were overwhelmed and indecisive. We asked our bar tender for 2 of the craziest/best shots they have. He started us off with a shot of rum that was mysteriuosly blue, and had fresh whipped cream on top. This was interesting, fun and unique...sure. We realized this was the "best" shot, after we got the next one (which by default was classified "crazy").
Two weeks later...I overhype this bar to Nikki and Tali, explain how amazing this shot is and video the magic.
NOTE: Schindler's eyes and face of "I know exactly what you're doing...", but as the true friend that she is, she didn't say a peep!
(a peep I tell ya!)
TIP: "Do a funny face...funnier..."
Ode to funny face: We all know how and when to utilize one of the 'funnies" from our arsenal of faces. What we don't expect is a video to capture the transitions between cringes, open mouth, stick-out-tongue-face and rolled back eyes mid seizure while being an indentured servant.
Have you ever been to Disneyland?
I was walking in New York, right along Central Park. It was a gorgeous day. The perfect Sunday really...I walked through the park listening to music, stopped and read a book (Outliers by Malcom Gladwell), ate a fresh salad I compiled at Whole Foods and enjoyed the sun. After the long stroll my legs felt weak, really weak, so I decided to hail a cab. I dont have one of those loud whistles, so I just put my hand out high towards the clouds. "Please pick me", I said to myself. The cab pulled up to my apartment and I realized I ran out of cash!!! He then said I could use the credit card machine that is built into the Taxi. I said "Phew" and used my credit card instead.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I went Back to the Phew-ture.
As Dodgers fans at the Mets game tonight, we were unfortunate to sit next to the number one Mets fan who would not refrain from SCREAMING in our faces...
TIP: Pose complete strangers for a picture and it's 'awkward bound'.
In this instance, two friends were visiting us. A random girl who was visiting someone else, was in our room and I asked her to take a photo with our visiting friends.
The street pose has always fascinated me. To magnify their small presence in a big street, friends often utilize their arms and hands to illustrate an 'interesting' pose for the camera. Nothing screams, "I'm in the street" like a posing your arms.
The streets really know how to deliver the awkward.
While roller skating at the same party, I thought I was taking a photograph (hence the "mouth open face"), but really I was fooled by my inner-awkward-video-bandit.
TIP: Take a series of group (everyone; including yourself) self-timer pictures. When they are least suspecting it, flip it to video and reap the awkward.
NOTE: 1. You are in it, so they don't see it coming 2. You can encourage them to go "crazy" by acting "crazy" yourself 3. This works almost every time
The "Slow Motion Awkward" can be filed under classic. We've all done it and can recognize how unnatural slow motion is on video. You are doing slow motion to pose for a picture, period. Flip it to capture a video instead, now that's awkward baby...
When people pose for a photo, they look awkward. When cameras "malfunction", recipients of a photograph strive to stay "posed". The lapse of time"posing" while the "malfunctioning" takes place is an inviting opportunity for the "Awkward Video Bandits" (AKA "Awkward Video" plotters).
It is important to throw in random words like, "I dont think my camera is working...", "I don't get why it's not taking it!" or even, "OK act CRAZY for this one!"
The icing on the cake is to exclaim "Awkward Video!" at the appropriate moment, in order to cash in on the "post-they-already-know-it's-an-awkward-video" awkwardness.
