Announcing the release of Writer/Director Aaron Beckum’s latest short film, “Born Forlorn,” a current Vimeo Staff Pick. Beckum describes the 9-minute, 35mm film as “a deadpan adventure-comedy-musical about a down on his luck country/western singer that tries to make it to Hollywood by driving 100mph through the middle of the desert.”
The film was a lo-fi, no-budget passion project made with the help of some of Beckum’s usual collaborators. Drew Bienemann (Director of Photography) donated the last of the Fuji 35mm film from his freezer and threw in his old Toyota Camry for good measure…which they promptly set about trying to destroy completely.
The experimental film showcases what Beckum is best known for. In addition to his subtle oddball humor, “Born Forlorn” follows in his trend of working with non-actors and using lo-fi practical effects and selective color palettes. Beckum, who plays the film’s country/western singer Dion Horn, doesn’t usually act, but he realized it’s not that far off from performing live music, which he has done for years.
Beckum says, “We pulled it off with a tiny crew and zero budget, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It resulted in a Buster Keaton-influenced slapstick yet surreal, semi-autobiographic piece about heartbreak and ambition and how we’re all just kind of wandering in the desert in the end.”
When not creating bizarre adventure comedies that become Vimeo Staff Picks, Beckum applies his unique vision to music videos and commercials, working with clients like Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Redbubble, and Sony Music. Beckum is represented by Strike Anywhere.
Watch “Born Forlorn” below or on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/276681844
Sonic Branding For Social Media: Engage, Align, Connect
By Chad Cook -- With more than five billion people accessing social media daily, savvy brands understand the importance of cultivating a strong social identity. They devote massive resources toward brand awareness, audience targeting, content strategy and community engagement. Yet, while they know that social platforms are critical to boosting sales and attracting new customers, many neglect one of the most effective tools for connecting with consumers: sonic branding. Marketers often associate sonic branding with catchy mnemonics used by big brands like McDonald’s, Netflix and Intel in their advertising. But that is a very limited view of what sonic branding is and what it can do. Sonic branding is a way to build awareness and stimulate engagement across all touch points, from advertising to broadcast digital, in-person and social. And it’s not limited to members of the Fortune 500. Brands at all levels can benefit from a sonic identity that is memorable, engaging and reflective of its core values. Sound has been scientifically proven to be deeply tied to memory and emotion. There’s a reason that certain songs stick in your head and bring back memories formed years or even decades earlier. So, it’s surprising that sonic branding is often an afterthought in marketing plans. That is especially true in social media marketing. Faced with tight deadlines and strained budgets, creative teams are often tempted to select music for their content simply because it “fits.” Unfortunately, that may result in content that is in tune with what’s trending but is out of tune with brand identity. Effective sonic branding, by contrast, requires thoughtful strategic planning,... Read More